Investigation Continues In Counterfeit
Case
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Town Attorney
David Newell fined Jermaine Willis, 17, of Homer $320
during magistrate court proceedings on Tuesday, July 19. Willis was arrested
July 5 and charged with "attempted theft by fraud" after he attempted
to cash a $20 bill at the Handee Pak on Hwy. 79, when
he knew the bill was counterfeit. Willis had previously attempted to exchange
the bill at the Pak-A-Bag on West Main but was told by the store clerk the bill
was not real. Willis has until September 15, 2005 to pay the fine or spend 30
days in jail.
According to
the Secret Service website, counterfeiting of money is one of the oldest crimes
in history. At some periods in early history, it was considered treasonous and
was punishable by death. (www.secretservice.gov/counterfeit.shtml)
To resolve the
national counterfeiting problem, a national currency was adopted in 1862, but
the counterfeiting problem grew so extensively, the U.S. Secret Service was
established on July 5, 1865. The federal agency has continued to work closely
with state and local law enforcement agencies over the past 140 years, as well
as with foreign agencies, to aggressively pursue counterfeiters. Although
counterfeiting has been greatly suppressed through the efforts of the Secret
Service, it still represents a danger to the nation's economy.
The U.S. Secret
Service is presently working with the Homer Police Department and the Claiborne
Parish Sheriff's Office to solve the recent rash of counterfeit bills being
distributed in Claiborne Parish.
Counterfeit
detector pens are effective only on U .S. currency dated 1959 or after. If the
mark on the bill is yellow, the bill is good. If the mark is black or brown,
the bill should be further checked. It is important to replace caps on pens
immediately after use. Point cannot be exposed to air for more than 30 seconds.
What to do in
the event a person attempts to pass a counterfeit bill:
1) Take
possession of the bill
2) Call 911 or
your local law enforcement agency
3) Ask the
person with bill to wait until officers arrive, but do not try to forcibly
detain them.
If the person
chooses not to wait, make a note of their physical description, the description
of the vehicle they are driving whether other passengers are in the car, and
the number on the license plate.
Anyone with
information on this or any other crime is asked to contact the Homer Police
Department at 927-4000 or the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office at 927-2011.
Arrests Made In 4-Wheeler Thefts
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Several arrests
have been made by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office for theft of a several
four-wheelers over the past several months according to Sheriff Ken Bailey.
Gregory Blake Nelson, 18,
and a 15-year-old juvenile, both of Homer, were arrested June 16,
2005 for the theft of 4-wheelers on Ford Road in Homer and at 168 Morris Circle
in Homer on June 5, 2005. He was charged with two counts of theft over $500. He
was booked into the Claiborne Detention Center, then
released June 21 on $5,000 bond.
On June 14,
2005, a Homer Foreman 400 ATV was reported stolen by a Minden resident. In the
course of this investigation, CPSO Detective Duffy Gandy and Detectives Dustin
Reynolds with the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office and Scott Tucker with the
Minden Police Department were searching an area north of Homer on the old
Colquitt Road when they discovered the Honda ATV in a wooded cutover. Also
charged with this theft was Gregory Blake Nelson and
two juveniles, one age 15 and one age 16.
Further
investigations led detectives to Fordyce, Arkansas on June 21, 2005 where
Detectives Gandy, Reynolds, and Tucker, along with Fordyce Police Detective
Brad Mayhue and the Dallas County Sheriff's Office,
recovered four (4) stolen four-wheelers, one from Union County, Arkansas; two
from Minden, and one from Homer.
Arrested in
Fordyce by the Fordyce Police Department was Jonathan Denard
Monroe, 21, of Homer. As a result of this arrest, warrants were issued June 23
from Claiborne Parish for Monroe on two counts of illegal possession of stolen
things over $500 and two counts of criminal conspiracy. Monroe was extradited
to Claiborne Parish on June 24 where he was booked into the Claiborne Detention
Center. He was released the next day on $30,000 bond. Additional warrants for
Monroe have been obtained by the Minden Police Department and the Webster Parish
Sheriff's Office.
The
investigation is continuing and other arrests may be forthcoming according to
Sheriff Ken Bailey. Bailey encourages anyone who may have information regarding
these or any other crimes to call the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office at
318-927-2011.
URS Releases Summary Results On I-69
Comments
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The URS Project
Team recently completed a summary of comments received regarding the selection
of the preferred alternative corridor for Interstate 69 between El Dorado and
Haughton during the public comment period held between April 8 and May 30,
2005. Approximately 400 persons attended the three public hearings held in May.
During the comment period, a total of 4,726 valid comments were received. Of
those received, 55.56%, or 2.625 chose Alternative 5 and 39.06%, or 1,846
selected Alternative 4 with options 2 & 3. A small number of comments
favored other options of Alt. 4 or Alt. 5, seven (7) comments supported not
building an interstate at all, and 67 other comment forms indicated no
preference.
There were also
1,314 comments that opposed one alternative or another. Of those, 49.70%, or
653, opposed Alt. 5 and 48.64%, or 639, opposed Alt. 5 with option 1. There
were 18, or less than 2%, who opposed some combination of Alt. 4.
As part of the
comment review process, the Project Team summarized respondents' comments that
specifically addressed issues or effects into three categories including
alignment issues, human effects and environmental issues. Of the 1,846 who
selected Alt. 4 with options 2&3, there were 2,795 issues listed regarding
alignment, 4,286 for human effects, and 5,952 which included environmental
issues, for a total of 12,133 individual statements related to the effects in
support of Alternative 4 with Options 2&3. The
total individual statements related to effects in support of Alternative 5 were
5,310. Of those, 824 dealt with alignment issues, 4,397 listed human effects,
and 89 were related to environmental issues. There were also 3,194 issues
listed in opposition of Alt. 5 and 3,179 in opposition of Alt. 5.1. Of those,
2,553 and 2,544 respectively were regarding environmental issues. Only 23
issues were listed in the comments opposing the various options of Alt. 4.
The primary
reason listed for selecting Alt. 4 with options 2 and 3 and opposing Alt. 5 and
option 1 was the minimal adverse effect to Bayou Dorcheat.
This was also identified as a primary concern in the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement. The secondary issue was the adverse effect to the Sparta Aquifer
recharge area. The primary reason
for selecting Alt. 5 was improved accessibility, personal access, emergency access, access to urban facilities and to areas
where there is no current interstate. Economic development was the secondary
reason for selecting
Alt. 5.
Once all
agencies are in agreement and a joint meeting is held, a record of decision
will be issued naming the preferred alternative. This will be the final
decision. The next phase of the project will include design and mapping,
followed by right-of-way acquisition. It could be 6-10 years before actual
construction of the interstate would begin
Local Teens Perform Good Deed
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
"Children now love luxury; have bad manners, contempt for
authority; disrespect their elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children now are tyrants...they no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They
contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the
table...and tyrannize their teachers." (attributed
to Socrates)
The philosopher
Socrates who lived over 2000 years ago had not met Terrocus
Lewis and Bryan Franklin, two polite youths who live in the Forest Grove
Community.
Homer Fire Chief Dennis Butcher said Lewis, 17, and Franklin,
16, saw smoke coming out of Layden Davidson's house
on Bolling Drive just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July
12. According to Butcher, a woman called to report the fire while Lewis and
Franklin beat on the windows and doors to alert anyone inside the house.
Lewis, a senior
at Pineview High, and his friend Franklin, a junior
at Pineview, had been playing basketball at Mayfield
Park earlier in the evening. Having left the park, they were nearing Homer High
School when an unknown at the stop sign near the school told the two
young men smoke was coming out the roof of a house on Bolling
Drive. She asked if they had a cell phone. They said yes. Within minutes the
Fire Department arrived.
Both young men
are guards on the Pineview Trojans basketball team, a
team that has gone to the state championship repeatedly. Lewis, a parttime courtesy clerk at Brookshire's, likes chemistry
and English literature in school and has plans for college after graduation. He
is unsure what major to pursue.
Franklin has
played piano for years and is taking piano lessons to develop his talent. He is
also building
his computer skills and has used his computer abilities as president of a
church youth group.
Butcher said,
"As a result of their quick action, there was minimal damage to the house.
We need more young folks like Terrocus and
Brian," Butcher said.
Library Added To Jr. High Project, Track
On Hold
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Superintendent
James Scriber met with Homer board members prior to the regular meeting of the
School Board on Thursday, July 14 to discuss the next phase of the Homer School
project. Scriber said the last bid on the junior high project was almost $2
million less than the first bid. This will leave some money to complete other
aspects of the bond issue. The estimated cost to renovate Homer High is $1
million. This does not include renovation of the old gymnasium.
Work on the gym
will need to be completed when students move into the new junior high building
next year. The high school shop class has already removed the bleachers. Plans
are to close existing staircases to the gym and place new stairs and an
elevator outside the building.
Scriber had
been working to obtain QZAB money for the renovation but found the State was
holding around $300,000 approved more than a year ago due to an audit by the
IRS. The IRS is withholding all QZAB funds from the state. He called
Congressman Jim McCrery's office to find out why the IRS was holding up QZAB
money in Louisiana, but not in other states.
Scriber asked
board members for some direction regarding the track and the addition of a
library. Blake Hemphill said to forget the track for now. Board members agreed
to add a library to the back of the building on the southeast corner, similar
in size to the two additional classrooms.
Police Jury Discusses Industrial Park
Road
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Police Jury
held a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, July 19 to address a number of items
including the turn lane on Hwy. 79 at the Industrial Park, approval of a
resolution for Hospital Service District 1, the appointment of an interim
justice of the peace and a turnaround at the home of Eula
Mae Malone.
Claiborne
Chamber of Commerce President J. T. Taylor explained there was some
misunderstanding about the turn lane at the Industrial Park on Hwy. 79 between
Homer and Haynesville. He had spoken with State Rep. Rick Gallot
about overlaying the Industrial Road and the possibility of a turn lane, but
was unaware the a $50,000 grant had been awarded until
he read it in the newspaper. In no way was it his intent to bypass the Jury.
Scott Davidson said he saw no problem with Taylor speaking to Gallot about needs on a state highway.
Mark Furlow told Taylor, "I appreciate you trying to get
some money and I am all for the work at the industrial site and I am all for
turn lanes and improving the roads." He only wanted to be notified of what
was going on in his district if someone asked him.
Taylor told
jurors that Karl Malone, who recently purchased 113 acres in the North Industrial
Park, was presently developing the
property to be used as a "wet yard" for tree length pulpwood. He
recently traveled to Baton Rouge to meet with Rick Gallot
and several
state economic development officials. Taylor said, "Karl knows the state
of the economy in Claiborne Parish and wants to help." He returned from
his trip very excited about what he could do for Claiborne Parish.
Malone's future
plans include adding a service station for diesel trucks, a restaurant to serve
the truckers, and a truck car wash.
According to Lavelle Penix, the cost of the
turn lane will well exceed $50,000. Scott Davidson reminded jurors that Gallot said at the last meeting he might could
acquire additional funds if needed to complete the turn lane. Engineer Brad
Graff said it may be possible the grant money could be used for overlay. The
Jury could then apply for other funds for the turn lane which is considerably
more complicated and costly to construct.
Although Gallot indicated the Jury would do the work, Road
Superintendent Dean Busby said he was unsure whether the parish could work on a
state highway, due to permits and specifications. All the Jury can do now is install culverts.
Taylor asked
Jurors to consider placing MC-30 primer on that road, about quarter mile, to
seal the dust on the road. Busby said one shot would take two hours and about
1,500 gallons at $1.04 per gallon, however the Jury
would have to purchase a load of 6,500 gallons. Busby said it might need two
shots. Jurors agreed to consider the request at their next meeting.
Jerry Adkins
suggested they keep Gallot advised of the Jury's
priorities. Willie Young said collaboration was good, but when something was
done in his district, he wanted to know. He said, "I took an oath of
office to abide by the law." He said he was more concerned about following
the law than trying to please people.
Wildlife & Fisheries Officials Share
Boating Safety Tips
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Sgt. Kenny Balkom told the Homer Lions Club that recent boating
accidents and the drowning incident on Lake Claiborne on July 4th could have
been prevented if information provided at their boating safety courses had been
applied. The safety course
offered by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
teaches what to do when a person is struggling in the water.
Balkom said the first mistake is to go into the water
without a life vest. There are four points to remember—reach, throw, row, and
go. Balkom said, "Going into the water is the
last thing you do."
1) Reach the
person with your arm, a stick or a pole.
2) Throw
something into the water, anything that floats such a boat cushion.
3) Row or paddle toward the person, then try to reach them or throw
something to them.
4) Go into the
water as a last resort but make sure you have your life vest on. Persons in
trouble in the water are panicking and will grab and pull you under.
What game
wardens look for on lake:
1) too many people in boat, is it overloaded.
2) life jackets for everyone on board
3) Coast Guard
approved throwable device
4) boat registration card and boat decal with letters reading
from left to right
5) fishing license
6) fish limits
7) impairments
"Our job
is to prevent accidents from happening on the water," said Balkom. "I'd rather make someone mad writing them a
ticket than working an accident like the one recently on Lake Claiborne."
For more
information on the Boating Safety Education Classes which are offered locally
and on-line, call 318-371-3049. Classes are free.
Following In Their Father's Footsteps
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Ronny
Beard began his career
as an English teacher. So did his son, Keith Beard. William
"Billy" Kennedy Sr. started out as a math teacher, as did his son,
William "Bill" Kennedy, Jr.
Ronny Beard was
named principal at Homer High in 1980 and served until his retirement on June
30, 1995. Billy Kennedy served as principal at Summerfield High School from
1987 until his retirement on June 30, 1992.
On July 1,
2005, both sons once again followed in their father's footsteps, taking over
duties as principals_Beard at Homer Junior High and
Kennedy at Haynesville
Jr.-Sr. High. Both credit the influence of their
fathers for their decision to go into the teaching profession.
"One-Kid Crime Wave"
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Naomi Taylor,
local businesswoman, said she went to Emerson Oil on Sycamore to get gas on
July 4. As she pulled in by the pump, she put down the passenger's side window
for air circulation. "I was on the phone with my husband Ed when this
little kid came up and said, `Give me your purse!'"
She told him
she wasn't going to. "He just looked like a little kid, maybe 12 or
13." He said it again, "Give me your purse—or I'm going to kill
you!" As he said that, he reached toward his backpack.
Taylor said
loudly into the phone to her husband, "Do we still have that gun under the
seat?" That's when the youngster ran away. She immediately reported the
incident to local police who arrested the youth. Taylor went in and made a
positive identification. It turned out the boy was sixteen years old and had
recently been arrested for another theft.
Local residents
are advised there have been several similar incidents of theft around town in
the past few weeks.
