Claiborne Sheriff Sends Deputy, Bus Drivers To New Orleans
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff's Office sent one deputy, two school buses and four school bus drivers to New
Orleans last week to help with the rescue effort. Sheriff Ken Bailey sent
Deputy Randy Pugh who is a member of the North Louisiana Sheriff's Association
Task Force. Pugh joined Union Parish Sheriff Bob Buckley and several other
North Louisiana officers. There were more than 500 deputies from 71 departments
across the state.
Pugh arrived at
the Command Post located at the Lamar Dixon Expo in Gonzales on Tuesday, August
30. Their first mission was to help secure about 7,000 inmates from an Orleans
prison. About 96 inmates were transported to the Claiborne Detention Center,
and another 150 inmates have been placed at Wade Correctional Center.
Although
officers were ready to go in and begin the boat rescue operation, they were not
allowed to because it was too hostile. They were however able to rescue several
New Orleans police officers who had been trapped near Harrah's Casino for three
days, with no water, no food, and little ammunition.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN JIM McCRERY, after traveling through 13 parishes in four days, made his final stop
in Homer Tuesday to meet in closed session with Claiborne Sheriff Ken Bailey,
Bienville Sheriff John Ballance, OEP directors Dennis
Butcher in Claiborne and Rodney Warren in Bienville, Haynesville Mayor Pro Temp
Joyce Majors, Homer Mayor Huey Dean, Chamber President J. T. Taylor, DOTD District
Engineer John Sanders to give an update on relief efforts in South Louisiana.
Of 27 shelters in his Congressional District, only 5 are Red Cross shelters.
All 23 shelters were doing a superb job without the help of the Red Cross, but
realizing local efforts would eventually need assistance, McCrery has been
working to get FEMA funds to assist those shelters. FEMA is also placing an
unprecedented 45,000 mobile homes across the U.S., mainly in Louisiana, to
house persons displaced by Katrina.
Donations Needed For Victims
The Office of
Emergency Preparedness is collecting monetary donations and other items for
victims of Hurricane Katrina. For those who would like to contribute to help
provide meals and housing for individuals seeking refuge in Claiborne Parish,
make your checks payable to the Claiborne Parish O.E.P. and deliver to the
Police Jury Complex. Other items being collected at the Police Jury Complex
include such items as paper goods, linens, toiletries, and disposable diapers.
Haynesville Police Make Arrests
The Haynesville
Police made several arrests over the past several weeks. On August 15, officers
James Bolton and John Barnette responded to a
domestic disturbance on Walker Street in Haynesville. Apparently, David Fitzgerald, had been living at the residence and was being
kicked out. Officers were informed by Steve and Patricia Hicks that their son, Lavelle Hicks' 2001 Honda Rancher 4-wheeler might be at
that address. It had been missing for four months but they had failed to report
it as stolen due to misinformation. After confirming the ownership of the
4-wheeler and obtaining a warrant, officers arrested David Fitzgerald and
charged him with possession of stolen items over $2,000. He surrendered to
authorities on Sunday, August 21 and was booked into the Claiborne Detention
Center on $10,000 bond.
While stopped
at the Sonic Drive-In in Haynesville on Thursday, August 15, Police Chief
Anthony Smith noticed a vehicle driven by Alberto Luna of Athens, playing music
excessively loud and spinning tires. After stopping the vehicle and issuing
citations for disturbing the peace and reckless operation, Smith noticed a
strong order and asked for permission to search the vehicle. Assisted by
Officer Barnette, Smith discovered a McDonald's sack
containing what appeared to marijuana, a small black pipe, a bottle of Canadian
whiskey, and a bottle of pills. Two minors were in the vehicle with Luna.
Luna was
charged with possession of Schedule I CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia,
two counts of open container, and minor in possession of alcohol. He was booked
into the CDC on $500 bond for each charge.
During an
investigation of a theft at Yesterday's Grill, officers were questioning Locken D. "Shurn"
Hudson as a person of interest. He gave verbal permission to officers to search
his vehicle. Three pills believed to be Hydrocodone,
but later found to be a generic brand of Zanax, was discovered. Hudson was arrested August 22 and placed
under $10,000 bond.
Mark Lorenzo
Lane, 35, of McDonald Street in Haynesville was driving an 18-wheeler through
town on Saturday, August 20 when he ran off the edge of the roadway at the
intersection of Fairgrounds Drive and Bailey Street. The truck was stuck high
center and had to be towed. Lane failed a field sobriety test was performed by
officers Bolton and Barnette and was arrested for
suspicion of DWI, driving while intoxicated.
Officers were
transporting Lane to the Claiborne Detention Center when he kicked out the rear
window and ran down the road. He was apprehended by Bolton and taken to CDC
where Claiborne Ambulance personnel examined him. He was transported to Homer
Memorial Hospital and released after being examined by a doctor. Lane made a
second attempt to escape, jumping through the broken window while handcuffed
and was apprehended a second time.
Lane was
charged with two counts of simple escape, DWI, criminal damage to city
property, and failure to maintain control. He is being held with no bond on a
parole violation.
Four
individuals were arrested August 28 after following a routine traffic when
Chief Smith smelled marijuana
from the vehicle. A search uncovered what appeared to be
marijuana. Arrested were Gary B. Williams, 19, of Magnolia, and passengers
Brandy Harden, 18, Antonio Jamerson, 18, and Freddie
Easter, 20, all of Magnolia. They were charged with possession of Schedule II
CDS and transported to the CDC under $500 bond each
GURVIS VINES heads up the
feeding program for the evacuees at Camp Harris. He shows off the 250 lbs. of
sausage purchased by Karl Malone and Malone Properties. The meat was shipped
Federal Express overnight in boxes with dry ice. Another 300 lbs. of frozen
vegetables and 300 lbs. of chicken was expected
Friday.
Senior Expo Canceled
The S.A.L.T.
Council, Claiborne Parish TRIAD and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office have
announced that the Senior Expo scheduled for Saturday, September 24 has been
canceled due to circumstances involving the local relief effort for the victims
of Hurricane Katrina.
CLAIBORNE PARISH OEP (Office of Emergency
Preparedness) opened a phone bank in the lobby of
the Police Jury Complex last week to assist Hurricane evacuees with needed
information through the efforts of Loy Weaver and Dennis Butcher. Doug Folts (center) is overseeing the volunteer operation. Candie White (rear) works as a volunteer. Front left, Meg McCowen discusses the electronic photographs and video she
took of displaced children in Claiborne Parish which is set to go on-line Wednesday
at oep.claiborneone.org.
Hurricane Evacuee Students Enroll In
Parish Schools
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Children of Hurricane Katrina
evacuees have been welcomed into the Claiborne Parish School system, Claiborne
Academy and Mt. Olive Christian School since their arrival into Claiborne
Parish in the aftermath of this horrific disaster. The continued education of
school age children - both primary and secondary - is one of the major concerns
of Superintendent of Schools James E. Scriber as well as their families.
Supt. Scriber
said the current uniform policy has been waived for a period of time to be
determined in the near future. He added that persons wishing to make donations
such as basic school supplies (pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, etc.) along
with uniforms, shoes, socks, and other essentials may take them to the
Claiborne Parish School Board office, 418 East Main in Homer.
He said he has
visited the different areas the evacuees are being housed offering the services
of the Claiborne Parish Schools.
The number of
children enrolled in the public and private schools in Claiborne Parish per
school as of Tuesday, Sept. 6 _
The office of
Homer Elementary, Pat Lee, principal, had no enrollment numbers available.
Keith Beard,
principal of Homer Junior High, said one student had enrolled. He also noted
that along with basic school supplies the students would be
needing map pencils and gym clothes.
Dwight
Mitchell, principal of Homer High School, stated no students had been enrolled
but anticipated some during this week.
Robert Bond,
principal of Haynesville Elementary School, said one student has been enrolled.
Bill Kennedy,
principal of Haynesville High and Haynesville Junior High School, said they had
a total of seven students.
Craig Roberson,
principal of Athens High School, said 20 students had been enrolled and they
were expecting more during the week.
Pineview High School has enrolled 11 students, according to
Sandra Boston, principal.
D'Arcy Stevens,
principal of Summerfield High School has currently enrolled five students and
was expecting more by the end of the week.
Both Claiborne
Academy and Mt. Olive are accepting donations of basic school supplies and
uniforms for the students entering the schools _
Michael
Hardwick, headmaster of Claiborne Academy, said approximately 30 students have
been enrolled as of Sept. 6.
Linda Gantt,
principal of Mt. Olive Christian School, stated five students have been
enrolled.
DAVID DELISE, JODY COLLINS, and Cindy Delise Mouton met other family
members at Camp Harris last Friday after traveling for days and spending a
terrifying night on Interstate-10 near the ramp where guards were watching
inmates from a New Orleans prison.
