Kidnapped Baby Returned
Unharmed
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Lakynn Futch, the 9-month-old
son of 
Clay Futch and Jennifer Powell of Homer, was returned unharmed to his
parents on Saturday, July 15. Arrangements were made through Juvenile Officer
Ben Booth, who had been called in to assist with the investigation, to have the
child brought to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office about 8 AM. The baby’s paternal
grandmother, Linda Futch, was called to come pick up
the child.
According to Sheriff Ken
Bailey, his office received a call regarding the abduction of the child on
Wednesday, July 12 at approximately 8:47 PM. Deputy David Morgan responded to
the call, then contacted Chief Detective Chuck Talley,
who initiated an investigation.
The child had been forcibly
taken by members of the child’s family and was not believed to be in any
danger, therefore, did
not meet requirements for issuing an Amber Alert. Arrest warrants
were issued for four of the five individuals who were identified by Jennifer
Powell.
Jennifer said Clay left the
house around 8:30 PM Wednesday, headed to McDonald’s in Homer. Minutes later,
someone was knocking at the door. It was Powell’s mother, Sandra Johnson, and
husband, Jerry Mosley, of Blanchard; her uncle Timothy
Holden and wife Deanna; and a third unidentified man. Jennifer attempted to
run, but Holden grabbed her by her hair, beat her over the head, and dragged
her to a Suburban parked in front of their residence on Holly Springs Road.
Others grabbed the baby who was
asleep at the time. Holden told her to
get ready for a long ride. Fearing no one would know what happened to her and
Lakynn, she jumped out of the vehicle when it slowed at the intersection of
Hwy. 79, ran to a neighbor’s house who then called 911.
On Tuesday, July 11, about 7:11
AM, the day before the child was taken, Johnson had left the following message
on Linda Futch’s answering machine, “Miss Linda, you need to get hold of your
son. I need to see Lakynn. I need to see him regular. I’ve been raising him for
9 months, and until I do, I’m going to keep on. I’m fixing to get nasty.” Linda
said this was not the first message left by Johnson.
That same morning, Jennifer and
Clay met with Attorney Danny Newell and voluntarily signed over custody of Lakynn to Clay’s mom,
Linda, in hopes of avoiding any battle over the child. Those papers were later
signed by the judge and filed at the Clerk of Court.
Linda said Jennifer, Clay and
the baby are staying with her, afraid to go home. No arrests had been made as
of Tuesday, but Sheriff Bailey said the investigation was on-going.
Homer Council Approves
Hiring
One Police Officer
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
At a special called meeting
Tuesday, July 18, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills told the Homer Town Council since
their last meeting, he lost two certified officers and he is now short four
officers. As he said he tried to explain at the last meeting, this was exactly
what he was anticipating to happen. It was the reason he had not approved the
request for vacation by Sgt. Jimmy Hamilton.
At the July 10 meeting, the
Homer Council voted 3-0-2 to reverse Mills’ decision and approved Hamilton’s request for vacation on
the following days: July 13, 17, 27; August 18, 19, 20; September 7, 12, 21,
29, 30; and October 1. Voting to approve Hamilton’s vacation were Jesse Ford,
Billy Kirk Jenkins, and J. C. Moore. Toney Johnson and Carlette Sanford
abstained.
Mills said Officer Thomas Davis
resigned to take a position at Lake Claiborne State park at $11.70 per hour, up from
the $9.50 per hour he was making as a Homer Police officer. His last day to
work was Saturday, July 15. Davis told him he had to do what was
best for his family.
Officer Roger Smith, who is a
member of the National Guard Reserves, was deployed to New Orleans for 30 days, with the
possibility of being deployed again to Mississippi at the end of those 30 days.
Johnson asked, “How are you
covering your schedule?” Mills said they were still working a 12-hour schedule,
rotating one day off instead of two. Everyone is having to work. He said, “It is hard
to do with five people. You can’t do it.”
He told the Council there was no way to avoid paying some overtime.
Mills said if he can hire two
officers, he will be fully staffed once Malray and Smith return to work. He
thought he had one certified officer from Grambling, but he has since called
and withdrew his application after getting a better offer from Arcadia, who
agreed to him pay $10 hour with a guaranteed $1per hour raise in a year. They
will also pay all his insurance and half for his dependents, where Homer pays
insurance for employees, but nothing for dependents.
Mills asked the Council to
approve hiring John Bailey, who he said was the only one willing to come to
work. He is not certified, but has given 779 hours free as a reserve officer to
the Town of Homer and will do anything he is asked.
J. C. Moore said he thinks the
town attorney should draw up a contract requiring any new uncertified officer
to work at least six months to a year in return for sending them to the
academy. Mills said other departments do the same thing. Johnson suggested they
hire the officer now and deal with changing policy later. The State reimburses
about 85% of the cost of the academy.
Other police departments, such
as Bossier, are reportedly having the same problem retaining officers. Mills
said Homer will continue to have the same problem as long as officers can go
elsewhere and make more money.
The Council voted 3-1 to
approve hiring Bailey. Jenkins, Johnson and Sanford voted yes and Moore voted no. Jesse Ford was
absent.
The Council also voted 4-0 to
hire Bonnie Ferguson at $7.50 per hour to temporarily fill in for Dispatcher
Linda Featherston while she is on vacation July 24-August 11.
Police Jury Terminates
Secretary-Treasurer
Elected Officials Invited To
Discuss Future Of Parish Economy
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish Police
Jury voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel issues with the
office staff, Cynthia Steele, Desi Goss, and Sheila Washington, at the end of
their regular meeting on Wednesday, July 5. After reconvening in open session,
jurors voted unanimously to terminate Secretary-Treasurer Steele effective
immediately. No reason was given for their decision. The Jury then voted to
advertise the secretary-treasurer position. Goss and Washington will fill in
during the interim, until a new secretary-treasurer is hired.
Jury President Roy Mardis
invited elected officials from across Claiborne Parish to attend the meeting,
mayors and councilmen from Homer and Haynesville, parish and municipal law
enforcement officials, School Board Superintendent James Scriber and members of
the School Board. Each official was given an opportunity to comment on the
closure of Wal-Mart and offer suggestions on what could be done to coordinate
efforts to reduce the cost of government in an effort to adjust to the loss of
sales tax revenue. He suggested they consider ways to join forces and pool
their resources, and to come up with a vision where we are all trying to go to
the same place.
Mardis said several years ago
the Jury did not want to change from the ward system to go parishwide, but they
saved more by doing so. There are a lot of different agencies. The School Board
needs to come in and combine forces; the highway department, water systems,
police jury and town councils, law enforcement, etc. Government may need fewer
people.
James Scriber said, “First, we have to
sell ourselves to ourselves. When we all learn to pull together, we will do
better.” When we improve education, the infrastructure, then we will be more
attractive. Joyce Majors agreed, stating
we have to want Claiborne Parish to move forward and realize it will take all
of us.
Alvin Kendrick said, “We have
to learn how to get together and work for what is best for Claiborne Parish.”
Even in a little town like Haynesville, we have problems agreeing on what is
best.
Watershed Commissioner Chic
Hines said one of Claiborne Parish’s best assets is Lake Claiborne. Water is one resource
industry looks at and 63 million gallons of water goes over the Lake Claiborne dam every day. The 1/8 cent
sales tax proposition on the September ballot will provide needed funding to
address some of those concerns.
Mardis suggested forming a
committee with representatives from each elected body in the parish to continue
working together. The Jury authorized allowing Mardis to form a committee to
research and look for some options for the future of Claiborne Parish and to
add representatives from Athens, Lisbon, and Summerfield.
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce
President J. T. Taylor gave jurors an overview of the 15th annual meeting of
the I-69 Coalition held in Memphis, Tennessee June 29-30 and a seminar he
attended on innovative financing. Several from Louisiana attended including Chairman
John D. Caruthers and Secretary of Economic Development Michael Olivier. Taylor said there was a need for
public/private partnership to build I-69, since the Highway Trust Fund is projected to have a
negative balance of $2.3 billion by the end of 2009. Stakes have been placed on
the center line of I-69 through Claiborne Parish.
Taylor said the State is proceeding
on turn lanes on Hwy. 79 in the Brookshire’s area and at the intersection of
La. 2. For the past 2-3 weeks, they have been in town surveying the project.
Louisiana Films North recently
previewed the promotional film put together as a joint venture of Claiborne and
Webster A premiere showing will be held soon.
Taylor said Wal-Mart has agreed to
pay the equivalent of one year’s taxes, approximately $500,000 with most going
to School Board and Town of Homer. Mardis said they also indicated they would
use persons from their economic development department to assist in marketing
the building,
JEREMY WATKINS THANKED EVERYONE
who attended the Skeeter Fest and for their kind donations to the auction held
to raise money to offset medical and other expenses after his accident last
April.
“Skeeter Fest”, Auction
Raises $7,000 For Watkins
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The annual Skeeter Fest was
held Saturday, 
July 8 at the Valhalla Motorcycle Campground on Dutchtown Road southeast of Homer, as a benefit for
Jeremy Watkins. According to Valhalla owner Curtis Nelson, the free benefit
concert and auction raised close to $7,000 for medical and other expenses for
Jeremy Watkins
Valhalla accepted individual donations and contributed 100% of
the proceeds from food sales to Watkins was paralyzed from the chest down in a
one-vehicle accident on Liles Road near Athens, just one mile from his home on
Saturday, April 15.
Watkins’ aunt, Stacey
Hollenshead, organized the auction held in conjunction with the Skeeter
Fest. The Skeeter Fest was the brainchild of local artist Scott Ferguson who
set it up several years ago at his home to give family members an opportunity
to hear the bands perform. Bands normally play in clubs that are off limits to
children.
Bands who performed at the
Skeeter Fest included Deacon Black (Scott Ferguson’s band), Dick’s Hatband
(Dick Dorrell, Patrick Gladney and John Zeitz), Jealous Mistress (Christy
Gladney), The Vibe (Julie Bray), Johnny and Jason Ellis, and Greg McHam.
An enjoyable time was had by
all who attended. Several hundred area residents spent the day eating,
drinking, dancing and singing. And, of course, a Skeeter Fest wouldn’t be a
Skeeter Fest without the “skeeters”.
The auction which lasted almost
two hours raised more than
$6,000. Another $1,000 was raised through individual donations,
hamburger and hotdog sales.
Jeremy Watkins attended the
Skeeter Fest, along with his dad and wife, Keith and Cindy Watkins, of Athens;
his mom, Tanya Wilhite of Quitman; both grandmothers, Pat Folks of Quitman and
Maxine Watkins of Jonesboro; as well as Jeremy’s girlfriend, Julie Taylor of
Haynesville. Also attending was Don
“Chic” Cecceralli Sr. who was paralyzed July 14, 2005 in a boating accident on Red River.
SEVERAL HUNDRED AREA RESIDENTS
attended the annual Skeeter Fest held at Valhalla Motorcycle Campground on
Saturday, July 8. Scott Ferguson and band Deacon Black organized the first
Skeeter Fest to give family members an opportunity to hear the band.
Voters Overwhelming
Approve
Renewal Of
Tax Propositions
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne Parish voters outside
Homer and Haynesville went to the polls on Saturday, July 15 and overwhelmingly
approved the renewal of the 10-year, 1% sales tax proposition. Only 24 persons (or 3.43%)
voted against the renewal of the tax proposition which will continue to pay for
garbage collection for all rural residences in Claiborne Parish including Athens, Lisbon, and Summerfield. Of the 700
registered voters who voted Saturday, 676, or 96.57%, voted in favor of the
proposition. Any excess tax collected can be used to pay for materials to
overlay and maintain public roads throughout Claiborne Parish, with the
exception of those inside the corporate limits of Homer and Haynesville.
Registered voters in Fire Protection District #6 voted to renew the 11.31 mills
property tax by a vote of 202, or 95.28%, in favor and only 10, or 4.72%, who
opposed the tax proposition.
Board Gets Update On School Projects
BY
SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
Ronnie McKenzie gave an update
on school projects. He said the new Homer Junior High was 95% complete and they
had begun to move desks and equipment into the building. Cracks in wall at
Homer Elementary and the roof at Haynesville Jr.-Sr. High have been repaired.
Superintendent James Scriber
said the contract on the Homer Junior High gym/library had been signed and
Architect Hugh Parker had given Pro-Build permission to begin construction
immediately.
McKenzie was in the process of
negotiating sale of the Penix property on the south end of the new Homer Junior
High.
Scriber informed the Claiborne
Parish School Board that Wal-Mart had agreed to pay the equivalent of one
year’s sales taxes to Claiborne Parish to offset the loss of sales tax revenue
due to the closing of the Homer store. The School Board is expected to receive
about 60 percent of an estimated $500,000.
The School Board approved the
appointment of Charles Bryan as assistant principal at Haynesville Jr.-Sr. High
on a one-year interim basis.
THE HOMER TOWN COUNCIL is proposing
an ordinance that would change this section of East 2nd Street
between First Guaranty Bank and St. Margaret Catholic Church to a “one-way
street”. Vehicles
would no longer be able to enter the street from North 2nd and
travel south to North Main.
“Do Not Enter” signs would be placed at the north end. Vehicles would only be
able to travel from North Main
to North 2nd. A public hearing will be held by the Homer Town Council on
Monday, August 7, at 6
PM.
Homer
City Hall
To Feature
“Night At
The Movies”
Tuesday Night at the Movies is
the theme for the world premiere of North Louisiana - a Film Maker's Dream to be
held Tuesday evening, August 1, at Homer City Hall.
Starting at 7 PM, the evening will include
appearances by the actors from the film and the film maker himself, Michael
Haynes; as well
as popcorn, hot dogs, and traditional movie candy. Actors will be in costume in
order for those attending to have their pictures made with the stars. The film
will be shown at 7:15 pm followed by a question and answer session. The film will
be shown a second time before the evening's end and copies of the film will be
available for those interested.
The purpose of making the film
was to promote North Louisiana, particularly Claiborne and Webster parishes, as film
locations. The film will be sent to those in the industry who are considering
various settings for their next film. Michael Haynes, a Springhill native, has
been in the film industry all his adult life, and has already made numerous
contacts.
The film features the many
varied landscapes of this area as well as the tax advantages and the extremely
cooperative citizenry those who have already made films here have found.
Claiborne Parish entities
funding the making of this promotional film include the Claiborne Parish Police
Jury, the Claiborne Industrial Development Board, the Claiborne Watershed
Commission, the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce, and First Guaranty Bank.
Louisiana Films North is the non
profit organization with representative of both Claiborne and Webster parishes
who arranged for the film to be made and distributed. An office for La Films
North is in Springhill. It is staffed by Cindy Allen who can be reached at
539-5552. La Films North is sponsoring the premiere to raise funds to continue
distributing the film and make contacts with the film making community. The
economic benefits for the local communities where films are made are great
since easily 30% of any film's budget remains in the locale where it is made.
Tickets for the premiere are
$15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. They are available from the
Claiborne Chamber of Commerce in Homer or any board member.
For more information contact
John Watson at 927-3271.
