MICKEY MAYS, Lincoln Parish Police Jury
president, (standing) shared his concern over HB-388 recently
passed by the State Legislature that changed the "critical"
designation for areas of the Sparta Aquifer to "areas of concern"
with members of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District Board. Also attending
the meeting from Ruston were Richard Durrett,
president of Sparta Groundwater Commission; Rick Hohlt,
publisher/editor of The Ruston Daily Leader, Ben McGee with the US Geological
Survey; and from Minden, Webster Parish Police Juror and Sparta Commissioner
Herb Byars. They believe HB-388 is a setback in
finding a solution for the Sparta and urged area residents to contact their
legislators and Governor Blanco, asking her to veto the bill.
Critical Designation For
Sparta Essential
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Commissioners
of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District voted to reiterate their support for
the critical designation for portions of the Sparta Aquifer at their quarterly
meeting held June 16.
In 2002, the
Sparta Groundwater Commission requested the State name all or parts of eight
parishes including Claiborne as "critical groundwater areas." Three
years later, in April 2005, a Draft Order was issued by Louisiana Office of
Conservation Commissioner Jim Welsh designating three areas served by the
Sparta (West Monroe, Ruston, and Jonesboro) as critical areas. The next day,
Welsh issued another statement that the order would not become final until
August 16, 2005.
Within days,
Rep. Jim Fannin of Jonesboro and Sen. Bob Kostelka of Monroe pre-filed HB-388, removing the
"critical" wording and replacing it with an "area of groundwater
concern."
Attending the
Watershed meeting to express their support for the "critical"
designation and their outrage at the recent passage of HB 388 were Lincoln
Parish Police Jury President Mickey Mays, Sparta Commission President Richard Durrett, Rick Hohlt,
editor/publisher of the Ruston Daily Leader, Ben McGee with the U.S. Geological
Survey in Ruston, and Webster Parish Police Juror Herb Byars
who also serves on the Sparta Commission.
The Sparta
aquifer, which serves 16 parishes in Louisiana, over 20 counties in Arkansas,
and hundreds of municipalities and rural water systems, has been dropping at an rate of more than 2 feet per year and between 4 and 6
feet in some areas, according to McGee. Latest studies show more than 70
million gallons of water are being pumped from the aquifer every day, more than
35 percent more than the aquifer is capable of handling. McGee said the rate
would have to be reduced well below the sustainable rate of 52 million gallons
per day to around 30 million gallons per day to see a substantial reversal in
water levels.
In 1991, the
Arkansas Legislature established criteria for critical groundwater areas and
designated 11 counties, including Union, as critical. Mays said in 1999,
Arkansas passed Act No. 1050, authorizing the creation of county conservation
boards in critical areas. One of the first steps was to put meters on wells to
find out exactly where the water usage was, and setting water conservation fees
for users at 36 cents per 1,000 gallons. The public and most industries had no
problem with it. Durrett said, "They realized
they had a problem, they addressed the problem and they are ten years ahead of
us right now."
HB 388 was
filed by five north Louisiana legislators because they were apparently
concerned the "critical" designation would keep potential businesses
from locating in north Louisiana. Rep. Rick Gallot
had expressed support for the "critical" designation, but ended up
voting in favor of HB-388.
The
Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, along with other public bodies and private
organizations in Lincoln and Union parishes, supported the critical
designation. Hohlt said a survey conducted by the
Ruston Daily Leader showed 86 percent of the 512 respondents favored the
"critical" designation. He said, "There is huge support for
critical designation in Ruston area." He said he hoped they could find a
way to come together and represent the vast majority of citizens in north Louisiana,
and he would continue to do what he feels is best for the Sparta.
Richard Durrett, who serves as president of the Sparta Groundwater
Commission and is a member of the Louisiana State Groundwater Commission, said
the decision to postpone labeling portions of the Sparta as critical is like
watching ten years of work go down the drain. "You can't refute the facts;
we have a serious problem and something has to be done now," Durrett said. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to
figure out we've got a problem and it is not getting any better."
Mays said, `The whole
Sparta system qualifies for critical designation if you use same definition as
Arkansas did." He urged everyone to contact their representatives and Gov.
Kathleen Blanco to ask her to veto the bill, or at a minimal, to keep the three
areas previously designated critical.
Commissioner
Butch Fincher suggested the Board also seek the support of the Claiborne Parish
Police Jury, the Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and other business
organizations.. He also recommended forming a
multi-parish organization that could work together to put pressure on
legislators. Mays said we already have an organization—the Sparta Commission.
Stewart stated
there were a number of surface water bills before the Legislature this year,
most from north Louisiana. Some were for reservoirs and some for watershed
districts. There was some concern because what happens in one parish will be
affecting another and there is growing demand for surface water. Claiborne
Parish is blessed with 50 inches rainfall per year. To make it useful, however,
it has to be treated, stored and delivered. Legislators have been working to
develop a comprehensive water management plan for Louisiana, but have only
gotten through groundwater quantity. They are still working out surface water
development and management.
Chris Piehler with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
in Baton Rouge shared information on the quality of water across Louisiana and
in Claiborne Parish. He presented a brief slide show which showed Corney Lake was the only body of water in Claiborne Parish
that was impaired due to a mercury advisory issued May 29, 2003. Women of
childbearing age and children less than seven years of age should consume no
more than one meal per month (one half pound) of largemouth bass or bowfin
combined from the advisory area. Other adults and children seven years of age
or older should consume no more than four meals per month. For more information
on mercury advisory, go to the DEQ website at www.deq.state.la.us
Last spring,
Governor Blanco asked the DEQ to develop a plan to reduce the number of
impaired water bodies in the state by 25 percent by the year 2012. Department
of Environmental Quality Secretary Mike McDaniel hired Piehler
to direct the Clean Water Project and to develop a plan by the end of the year.
This will mean improving the quality of water in 77 of 310 impaired water
bodies for fishing and 28 of 111 water bodies for swimming. Water bodies are impaired for fishing
primarily due to low dissolved oxygen usually the result of nutrient over
enrichment, mercury advisories, or elevated chlorides and sulfates. Swimming
impairment is almost entirely from coliform bacteria
from untreated sewage. He divided sewage releases into three categories: the
unknowing, the unwilling, and the financially unable. Much of the plan,
according to Piehler, will address ways for state and
federal agencies to work with local bodies to coordinate efforts to identify
and stop pollution. He sees the program being watershed-based, using systematic
sampling. Piehler said the biggest fallacy in Baton
Rouge is thinking the DEQ can make your environment better. He said,
"Without willing local entities, we are not going to be very
successful."
How To Contact Your State
Legislators:
State Representative Rick Gallot
800-676-2111 or 318-251-5018
P. O. Box 1117
Ruston, LA 71273
State Senator Robert Barham
800-259-6830
P. O. Box 249
Rayville, LA 71269
State Senator Robert Adley
800-878-8005
716 Main Street
Minden, LA 71055
Governor Kathleen Blanco
Office of the Governor
Attn: Constituent Services
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA. 70804-9004
Telephone Numbers: 1-(866) 366-1121, (225) 342-0991 or (225)
342-7015
Website: http://gov.louisiana.gov/contact.asp
CLAIBORNE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE arrested three Ruston men on June 14 and charged them with nine counts
of simple burglary. Sheriff Ken Bailey (right) and Detective Duffy Gandy
display stolen fishing equipment valued at approximately $6,300 stolen from nine
camps located on Lake Claiborne on Memorial Day.
Burglaries Solved By Claiborne Sheriff’s
Office
The Claiborne
Parish Sheriff's Office received several reports of stolen items on Memorial
Day, May 30, from people who have camps on Lake Claiborne according to Sheriff
Ken Bailey. Various fishing equipment had been stolen from boats located at the
camps, some on Pleasure Point Road and some on Coleman Road. Nine individuals
reported stolen items valued at approximately $6,300.
Tony Osbon, a detective with the
Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Office, contacted CPSO detectives on Wednesday, June 1
with information related to these burglaries. The following day, CPSO Detective
Duffy Gandy traveled to Ruston and met with the Lincoln Parish detectives. The
ensuing investigation resulted in the recovery of approximately $4,300 of
stolen fishing equipment from the Lake Claiborne area.
On June 14, 2005, three individuals were arrested, each charged
with nine counts of simple burlary. Arrested were
Michael W. Jones, Jr., 17; Jason W. Ledet, 19; and
Gavin Lee Gresham, 17, all of Ruston, with bond set at $45,000.
Junior High Bid Awarded To Pro-Build
Construction
School Board Adopts Revised Budget Down $528,387 For Year
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne
Parish School Board awarded the contract to construct a junior high facility on
the Homer High campus to Pro-Build Contractors of Homer. Pro-Build had the low
bid of $1,994,231, which included two additional classrooms. Superintendent
James Scriber said architect Hugh Parker had reviewed all the bids received.
Other bids were $2,150,000 from Don Leach Construction, $2,173,000 from Traxler Construction, $2,184,000 from Don Barron
Construction, and $2,228,000 from Lincoln Builders.
Scriber said
there is $2,927,000 left in the bond money. Besides the construction of the
junior high, the
project includes renovation of the high school estimated around
$1 million and the construction of a new track. Scriber said surveillance
cameras were not included in the bids for the junior high, but they would be
bid separately. The old gymnasium will be renovated and used for junior high
practice. Junior high games will be scheduled in the high school gym located in
the student center.
The Board
approved a revised budget showing a deficiency of ($115,438.49) in general
funds, sales tax and contingency and a deficiency of ($150,810.13) in
non-federal and special funds. A total of all fund balances at the beginning of
the 2004-2005 year was $8,269,273. The total at the end of the year was
$7,740,886, a drop of $528,387. Scriber said a large portion of this deficit
was due to increased costs of insurance and retirement benefits being paid to
the state. Ten persons have been cut through retirement or attrition, which
will only cover the expected increase next year. Business Manager Ginger
Woodall said the increase for next year will be $532,000.
Scriber warned
the board to expect further deficit spending with increased costs next year.
This will mean more cuts in personnel. "When you can afford low
pupil/teacher ratios, when you can afford a lot of administrators in school,
when you can afford things in the central office, that's good, said Scriber,
"But when you can't afford them any longer, you have to start looking for
places to cut.. That time is here." He added, "That is not any fun
for me or for you, but we are the ones responsible for it."
Haynesville Council Hears I-69 Comments
BY K.H. Hightower, The
Guardian-Journal
The final
meeting of the Haynesville Town Council for Mayor Mickey Mayfield and three of
the current councilmen included the adoption of the amended budget for
2004-2005 and the budget for 2005-2006, along with a discussion of the building
owned by the Town of Haynesville currently leases by Fred’s. Also included on
the agenda were J. T. Taylor, president of the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce
and a member of the I-69 delegation and John Watson of the Claiborne Chamber of
Commerce.
MARY ELLEN GAMBLE shows off the children's area at the local D.A.R.T. office in Homer.
From January 2003 through June 2004, Aarin Austin
served as child advocate. Since that time, however, they have not been able to hire a child
advocate due to lack of funding.
DART At Top Of
Domestic Abuse Programs In State
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Mary Ellen
Gamble told Homer Lions at their last meeting she was the Rural Parish
Organizer for the local D.A.R.T. office, but she says she is much more than
that and prefers the title "advocate." Gamble began working for
D.A.R.T, the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team, in 2002 when they opened their
office in Claiborne
Parish.
DART has been
serving five North Louisiana parishes (Lincoln, Jackson, Bienville, Union and
Claiborne) since 1994 and was recently cited by the Governor's Office of
Women's Policy and the Family Violence Program as one of three Leadership
programs in the state that addresses the issue of domestic abuse. Currently,
there are 21 Domestic Violence programs under the umbrella of the Louisiana
Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Louisiana.
Gamble said
domestic abuse is a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviors used to gain
power and control over another person. It can be verbal, emotional,
psychological, financial, sexual and/or physical. Domestic violence is not an
isolated, individual event, but a series of controlling and manipulative
behaviors used to control the victim, and usually escalates over time and can
result in serious injury or death.
In the past
three years, the Claiborne Parish office has opened case folders on 150
individuals, an average of 50 per year. This does not include those who call or
come by but decide to take no action.
DART is a
non-profit organization and they rely heavily on community support. Funds
approved by the legislature will keep the program in Claiborne Parish, but only
provides necessities to run the local office. DART will continue to conduct
fundraisers and will gladly accept any private contributions.
Gamble said
thanks to local law enforcement agencies, particularly the Homer Police
Department and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office, domestic violence is
being taken seriously in Claiborne Parish. She said, "We are beginning to
get the message out that domestic abuse will not be tolerated in our
community."
DART offers
thanks to every person who supports their efforts you and appreciates any and
all contributions. With the help of the Claiborne Parish community, DART will
continue to work toward ridding our parish of this crime. For more information,
call Mary Ellen Gamble at 927-2818.
ONE OF TEN CABINS constructed at the Lake Claiborne State Park in the summer of 2000
offers park visitors a luxurious camping experience, complete with cable television,
microwave, and dishwasher. All you need to bring is your clothes. Reporter
Jimmy Dean said, "Now this is my is my idea of
camping out."
Lake Claiborne State Park
Another Jewel In
Claiborne Parish
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Lake
Claiborne State Park - (225 State Park Road, Homer, LA 71040; 318-927-2976 or
1-888-677-2524) is located in North Louisiana, seven miles southeast of Homer
on LA 146. The park offers a multitude of recreational opportunities on and
near the 6,400-acre Lake Claiborne. To reserve a campsite or the picnic
pavilion, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA toll free (877-226-7652).
That is how the
Louisiana State Parks website (www.lastateparks.com) describes Lake Claiborne
State Park. This is another article of several that focus on local recreational
choices.
"Outdoors-challenged":
That is me. I should not be allowed around combustible materials—like trees and
matches. My past camping experiences included bugs, snakes, wet, too hot, too
cold, etc. So I am not a-tingle with excitement when the editor tells me to go
to Lake Claiborne State Park and write about the cabins, camp sites, and other
attractions.
But trooper
that I am, I mosey on out to the park and meet up with Park Manager Lonnie
Dean. He provided informative commentary ("Here's a fish cleaning station
on the left"_"Those are shower facilities
over there") as we toured the campgrounds, beach, fishing piers, cabins,
pavilion, picnic areas, playground, foot bridges, boat houses—no wonder the
brochure says, "Something for Everyone."
Despite my
initial apprehension, I am impressed with Lake Claiborne State Park. As Lonnie
shows me around the park, I can see myself relaxing on the deck of a cabin
enjoying the cool shade and the tranquil view through the trees around the
lake. As Lonnie walks me through a cabin, I am surprised to find myself tilting
in favor of a family week-end on the lake. "And there's central air and a
remote control TV," Lonnie says. Now that's my idea of camping.
Each two-story
cabin is about 1300 square feet and provides sleeping accommodations for 6 to 8
people. The loft bedroom has a queen-size bed while the downstairs bedroom has
two sets of bunk beds. If needed, the living-room sofa opens up to provide
another queen size bed.
Not only is
there central heat and air, the cabins have a freestanding "Franklin
style" fireplace. Kitchens have pots and pans plus spoons and forks and
plates and glasses and eating stuff for up to eight. (Lonnie says I have to
bring my own food.) There's also a dishwasher, microwave, full-size
refrigerator, and electric stove.
The screened
entry porch has a small picnic table. The back deck also has a picnic table as
well as a charcoal grill.
All this and less for only $65 a night. By "less,"
I mean there's no phone. But DirecTV Satellite Service is available at
additional charge. Some cabins are handicapped accessible. Pets are not allowed
in the cabins, on the porches, or the decks.
Reservations
may be made through Central Reservations (877-226-7652) up to 11 months in
advance.
Lonnie tells me
there are 87 campsites with water and electricity, picnic tables, and barbeque
grills. Primitive group camping is available in addition to the 10 comfortable
cabins. A comfort station and laundry facilities contribute to a pleasant
camping experience.
Fishermen and
water sportsmen can rent boats or launch their own craft from several boat
ramps. Boathouses with restrooms and several fishing piers are scattered around
the lake The website also mentions primitive canoe
campsites are also available for the adventurous. (I won't be trying those,
thank you.)
For swimming, a
sandy beach is
situated on an inlet of the lake protected from boats and water skiers. A park naturalist regularly presents
nature-based programs and gives guided hikes.
Although summer
is the busiest time around the lake, Lonnie says cabins are available
year-round. He says if you want a cabin for the week-end, call as far ahead as
possible. Of course, you won't have to wait as long for a reservation if you
plan to stay during a week-night or two.
See ya at the lake!
MEMBERS OF THE
WILLIS AND WYMAN FAMILIES recently spent a day in Homer, visiting the
gravesites of parents of Ethel Willis White in Forest Grove Cemetery and the site
of the homeplace where Ethel grew up. Two of the
Wyman children, Deehan and Virginia grew up in
Seattle, Washington under the loving care of Ethel, after being hired in 1947
by their parents, Helen Marie and David Wyman. Juanita Hamilton, a friend of the
Willis family (l.-r.), Dee, Maggie B. (Ethel's sister), Virginia (kneeling),
and Maxine (Ethel's niece) toured the Ford Museum while in town. Dee and
Virginia both agree, Ethel, who died in 2003, was an
extraordinary person who had a profound effect on their family.
Willis & Wymans,
Match Made In Heaven
The Two Families Are Perfect Blend Of Two Cultures
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Ethel Willis
White grew up in the Forest Grove Community near Homer. In 1947, at the age of
27, she headed to Seattle, Washington where she would secure a position with a
young white couple. Little did she know at the time, this union would become a
match made in heaven. More than 55 years later, the
effects of that relationship is still being felt.
Helen Marie and
David Wyman hired Ethel to run their household, help with their five children,
and prepare their meals. She would also manage and hire other employees, and
help with the laundry and cleaning.
Ethel died in
March 2003. The opening line of the eulogy prepared by the Wymans'
youngest daughter, Virginia, read, "Ethel saved my life two years before I
was born when she came to work for our family." She went on to say,
"Ethel had a way of bringing people together, and making them comfortable
with each other. Ethel's range of vision was so much larger than life. Her
capabilities for love, and wisdom, and grace were far beyond any that I have
ever seen." That is the way it was, and still is, for Virginia.
Ethel married,
but she and her husband LaVerne never had any
children of their own. The Wymans became her
children.
Dee remembered
the time Ethel took them to an outing in the park. They were the first to
arrive. Other children began to show up; all were black. Because they arrived
first, it didn't seem unusual at all for white children to be at the park. That
was Ethel's brand of integration. According to Dee, "That was how
sophisticated Ethel was. She never used words. She just did things the right
way,"
Ethel was all
about Homer. Every year she would come back to see her family, but she would
never share her childhood experiences with the Wymans.
That intrigued the Wyman children, making them want to know more about the
community that produced such an extraordinary person. So, last April, Virginia
and Dee traveled to Homer with Ethel's younger sister, Maggie B. Willis Beard of Lewisville, Texas
and Maxine Applewhite Henderson of Dallas, the daughter of Ethel's sister, Emma Applewhite. The four visited the Forest Grove Cemetery,
where Ethel's parents, Arthur Dozier Willis and Nora Lewis Willis, are buried. and took pictures of where the old Willis homeplace once stood.
Arthur and Nora
married when she was just 14 years old. In 1928 the couple moved with their
children to the Forest Grove community. They lived on the 644-acre farm owned
by Arthur's dad. The couple would eventually have 13 children, but only eight
would live to adulthood.
According to
the biography written by her daughter, Maggie B., Nora taught her family about
God, love, how to work, and cooperation with other children. If the children
disagreed, she would make them hug and kiss. She taught them everything they
used in life.
The Willis' attended Forest Grove CME Church, where Maggie B. once
remembered once Ethel inviting the preacher and his family home for Sunday
dinner without asking her parents' permission. The situation was tense
for awhile, but their mom made the most of it, sending Ethel ahead to start the
fire and clean the chicken.
Virginia said,
although very direct, Ethel was a sort of an enigma, like the Sphinx. She said,
"Describing Ethel is like describing God; she was always there. I still
miss her very much."
Once while
shopping in a mall in Kansas City just five or ten years ago, during one of the
Willis' many family reunions, Ethel's niece Maxine recalled the group getting
separated and remembers Dee calling out in the store, "Where is my brown
mother? Where is my brown mother?"
Ethel heard Dee
and said, "Oh my god, let me go find this child and shut her up." At
the time, Dee was hardly a child. She was close to 50 years old—a perfect
example of her lighthearted, playful personality. Ethel's response was typical
of her stately fashion. Dee said everyone respected Ethel because she was able
to translate this remarkable demeanor of stature and dignity. She would make others feel the way she felt
about herself.
Virginia said
trying to view their relationship with Ethel objectively was difficult, because
she was such an integral part of her life. It is, however, abundantly clear
what she got from Ethel—everything she needed. Ethel may have received
financial stability from the Wyman family, in response to a remarkable need,
career, and livelihood. She also found community and a place she could make a
difference, not only for the Wymans, but throughout
the entire community. Everyone who came to the Wyman house would make their way
to the kitchen to see Ethel. Virginia said, "She was an anchor for
everybody. Everyone gained strength and wisdom from Ethel."
With tears
welling up in her eyes, Dee told how hurt she was to hear stories of prejudice
against blacks. Why? Because she knew it would hurt Ethel.
Although Ethel
never shared such stories of racism with them, Virginia knew it existed. "Racism is so deep,
we only know ten percent of what we ought to know." Somewhere along the
way, Virginia began to buy and read African-American literature and today has
about 500 books on the subject in her library. One lesson she learned from
Ethel, "Most white people will never understand the black
experience."
After Ethel's
death in March 2003, the Wyman children established an endowment for books of
African American interest at the University of Washington Press in Seattle,
with a contribution of $62,500. Once the endowment reaches $100,000, it will
bear the name, "The V. Ethel Willis White Endowment for African American
Literature and History." The Wyman Youth Trust also contributed $50,000 to
the Northwest
African American Museum in Seattle.
The house Ethel
and her husband purchased in 1965 for $19,000, Dee managed to sell in 2003 for
$500,000. A portion of that money was used to purchase a home in Dallas for
Ethel's sister, Maggie B.
For years,
Ethel gave to the Wymans. She gave them her strength
of character and her wisdom. Today, the Wyman children are giving back—a legacy
to Ethel, a legacy of hope for the future. Virginia said, "We've been able
to be a bridge for advocacy for black people in the white world, which is so
needed, because of the way Ethel taught us."
For information
on how to make a donation to the Ethel Willis White Endowment Fund, contact
Nina McGuinness at the University of Washington Press
at (206) 543-4053.
Malone Purchases Dogs For
Union Parish Sheriff's Office
The Monroe
News-Star reported this week that former Summerfield basketball star and NBA
legend Karl Malone purchased two German shepherds for $12,000 each, then donated them to the Union Parish Sheriff's Office.
The
two-year-old dogs were purchased from the California K-9 Academy and will be
used primarily to detect narcotics., but will
also be used to assist deputies in
pursuing late-night prowlers, inspecting suspicious vehicles and finding lost
children. Malone, who is a reserve deputy in Union Parish, reportedly told
deputies the canines were for their protection.
At a news conference
held Monday in Farmerville, Malone said, "This is about a human being
giving something back to the community."
