Homer Town Council meeting rescheduled
NOTICE: The regular monthly meeting of the Homer Town
Council has been moved from
Monday, November 2, to Tuesday, November 3. For
more information, please call
Homer Town Hall at 927-3555.
DA to review Kelly death
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The 2nd
Judicial District Attorney’s office has received the completed report in the
death of Charles Ray Kelly, according to Assistant District Attorney Jim Hatch.
“The (Louisiana) state police have turned over their report to the district attorney’s office in
Homer,” Hatch said. “We’ll review the file within the next week or so and make
a decision based on the state police report.”
According
to the initial Homer Police Department press release, Kelly was found dead in
the neighborhood of East College Street on August 9, 2008. When police arrived, they found Kelly, 52, lying near a fence and sidewalk in the area,
unresponsive and not breathing. Once he was pronounced dead at the scene, he
was transferred to Little Rock, Ark., to Dr. Frank Peretti, forensic
pathologist for the Arkansas State Crime Lab, for an autopsy. According to
earlier reports from the state police, Peretti ruled Kelly’s death as a
homicide.
No
information on the case is being released at this time.
Hatch
said that until the case could be reviewed, there is no way to know if there
are any persons of interest or suspects.
Once
the file has been reviewed, the DA’s office will either choose to write a
letter to state police saying that no charges will be filed, or if there is
sufficient evidence to show criminal culpability, then the state could take it
to a grand jury.
DART vigil to be held Thursday
These 27 red, life-sized silhouettes on the
Courthouse Square each represents an area woman or child brutally killed as a
result of domestic violence. According to an FBI report, Louisiana ranks number
one in the nation for the rate of women killed by men during incidents of
domestic violence. Claiborne Parish DART’s annual vigil to remember these
victims is set for noon Thursday, October 29, on the Courthouse Square.
Dixie Mart thief caught in the act
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
man was caught in the act after trying to take several bottles of beer from a
local convenience store.
Kevin
D. Boyd, 32, of Homer, was arrested Saturday, October 24, and charged with
theft, with bond set at $2,000, resisting an officer, with bond set at $500,
possession of drug paraphernalia, with bond set at $500, and another charge of
theft, with bond set at $8,000.
According
to police reports, Officer Scott Glenn was dispatched to Dixie Mart convenience
store on West Main Street regarding an alleged theft in progress.
Glenn
arrived at the scene, at which time he observed a black male attempting to
remove a bottle of beer from his pocket. The officer engaged the suspect, later
identified as Boyd, giving him several verbal commands to stop, but Boyd
allegedly refused to do so.
While
Glenn attempted to subdue Boyd, reports say, the suspect pulled a silver pipe,
commonly known to be used for smoking crack cocaine, from his pocket.
Once
the suspect was subdued, Glenn placed Boyd under arrest. After he was read his
Miranda rights, Glenn performed a search of his person, which revealed several
other items taken from the store, mainly beer. The beer, as well as the silver
pipe, were recovered at the scene.
Boyd
was transported to the Homer Police Department for processing, and he was then
transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked on the
above charges.
According
to Police Chief Russell Mills, Boyd’s record shows he’s been arrested several
times this year on other charges. On Monday, October 26, Boyd was also served
other warrants for theft by Officer Roger Smith.
Local veterans honored by governor
Vets program slated for Nov. 11
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes
huddle at Claiborne Academy will host a Veteran’s Day observance on Nov. 11. As
in past years, the program will be held in the school gym beginning at 11 .m.
All veterans and their spouses are invited to attend. All guests will be served
lunch by the student members. A brief program about veterans and Veterans Day
will be presented by students. This will be followed by recognition of veterans
in attendance.
These
are the names of the 137 recipients of the Louisiana Medal of Honor from
October 16’s ceremony in Homer. Gov. Bobby Jindal presented these awards to
each veteran present. As of press time last week, the names were not available
for publication. Those names were made public after deadline. They are:
Michael
Allen, Todd Anders, William Bazwell, John Ballen, Tommy Boddie, Robert Bond,
James Branch Jr., Jerry Brown, John Buggs, Willie Curry, Brandon Daniels,
Jessie Davis, George Dixon Jr., Johnny Eley, Floyd Ellerman, Gary English,
Frank Evans, Jerry Flora, Stovall Foster, Edmund Frankie, Norman French, Frank
Goodwin, John Goodwin, James Grafton, Fred Graham, Lonzy Grigsby Jr., Thomas
Guice, James Hatch, Dump Hatter, Joseph Hightower, Earnest Hoof, Clyde
Hightower, Darryl Kelly, Jack Kelly, Donald Kessler, Gerald Lee, Michael Lee,
Millard Lee, Prentiss Lee, Gerald Manzanares, John Markley, Elvan McDaniel,
Charles Meadows, Joe Michael, Robert Miller, Thomas Nelson, James Parden, Bobby
Perritt, Edsel Peters, James Pike, Elmer Poss, Kenneth Rinehart, James Rinehart
Sr., Francis Robinson, Arthur Scott, Diane Shelton, Roy Shepherd Jr., Reed
Simpkins, Dennis Simonelli, William Simms, Lugene Smith Jr. T.F. Greeson, Jared
Speer, Jack Stubbs, Mark Swaney, Sydney Tatum, Connie Teutsett, Tara Thornton,
John Towns, Fredrick Volentine, Ronald Wafer, Wilbur Walker, Robert Wallette,
David Watson, Freddie Watts, Lee Wells, Brandi White, Ardifene Williams Jr.,
Ardifene Williams, Thomas Wyant, Scott Yarnell, Frederick Young, Francis
Andermann, Frances Andermann Jr., Almer Anderson, Marion Aycock, Marvin Bailey,
Harold Berry, Alvin Bradley, William Brame Jr., William Bullock, Purvis Carter,
Billy Copeland, Leonard Daniels, Claude Durrett, Ted Frazier Sr., Richard
Gandy, Paul Gray, Johnny Greene, Glynn Haynes, Cecil Hefner, Gregory Holland,
William Holland, Willie Howard, Leslie Jackson, Charles James, Vernon James,
Jesse Jimerson, Robert Jones, Angelo Julien, William Kinman, Ricky Lane,
William LeBlanc, Henry Lester, John Levingston, Revis Mays, Angela McAfee,
Richard Myers, Alvin Mitchell, Marvis Murphy, James Newsom, Edward Nugent,
Barney Peters, Jack Phillips, Hillary Quin, Byron Rainwater Jr., William
Rasbury, Edward Rolf, Raymond Sanders, George Scriber, James Skinner Jr.,
Charles Wall, Michael Wall, George Washington Jr., Donnie Watson, Milton
Watson.
Congratulations
to all these veterans!
Voters to decide on Pineview proposition
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A
special election has been slated for November 14 on the tax renewal of Pineview
funds.
Proposition
16, the funds previously used for Pineview School, is a tax renewal, that if
passed, will follow the children who attended the school.
According
to an opinion returned to the Claiborne Parish School Board from the Louisiana
Attorney General’s Office, the school board may “rededicate the proceeds of the
tax heretofore and hereafter collected for the purpose of supporting the
education of students who reside in School District No. 16 and attend public
elementary and secondary schools in Claiborne Parish.”
The
children who attended Pineview School were distributed between Homer schools
and Summerfield after it was closed. Afterwards, questions were raised as to
what to do with the funds the school board receives each year for those
students.
According
to Dr. Janice Williams, Claiborne Parish Schools Superintendent, the money will
follow the children. That means that whatever money was dedicated to the Pineview School District will follow those children who attended Pineview.
Following
the closing of the school, though, those funds that were received after the
closing were frozen until an opinion was rendered by the Louisiana AG’s office.
Pineview
was closed as part of a federal court order to desegregate schools. Pineview,
at that time, carried a low enrollment, which made it difficult to fund
expenses incurred. In fact, it was difficult enough that revenue set aside for
maintenance was being used for other things to keep the school up and running.
According
to the agreement made between the U.S. Justice Department and the school board,
several things have been put into play for the next three years to satisfy the
judgment against the school board.
The
proposition reads as follows:
“Summary:
10 year, 5 mills property tax continuance for giving additional support to the
public elementary and secondary schools in the District, including paying the
cost of acquiring, constructing, improving, operating and maintaining public
school buildings, facilities and equipment, and supporting the education of
students who reside in the District and attend public schools in Claiborne
Parish outside the District, with all such purposes also being applicable to
the proceeds heretofore and hereafter collected from the five (5) mills tax
authorized to be levied by the District through the year 2009 pursuant to an
election held on March 14, 2000.
“Shall
School District No. 16, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (the “District”) levy a
five (5) mills tax on all the property subject to taxation in the district (an
estimated $100,100 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the
levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with
the year 2010 and ending with the year 2019, for the purpose of giving
additional support to the public elementary and secondary schools in the
District, including paying the cost of acquiring, constructing, improving,
operating and maintaining public school buildings, facilities and equipment,
and supporting the education of students who reside in the District and attend
public schools in Claiborne Parish outside the District, with all such purposes
also being applicable to the proceeds heretofore and hereinafter collected from
the five (5) mills tax authorized to be levied by the District through the year
2009 pursuant to an election held on March 14, 2000?”
Voters
affected by this election include all of precincts 11 and 81, and part of 08,
10, and 92.
Banquet honors volunteers
Sheriff Ken Bailey (above, left) is shown
with others who attended the 8th Annual Volunteer Banquet held at 6 pm October 22 at Claiborne Parish Detention Center (CPDC). Honoring more than 100
volunteers who assisted with inmate rehabilitation activities this past year,
the program began with lively singing by the CPDC Choir. Several inmates s
expressed gratitude for the volunteer program and described how their lives
have been positively affected, then attendees enjoyed a meal of ribs, chicken,
sausage, fish, and all the trimmings. In closing comments Sheriff Bailey said,
“Whether GED or AA, religious or educational, the rehabilitative successes here
at the Detention Center greatly depend on the efforts of volunteers who donate
their time and talents to help inmates. We appreciate all you volunteers.”
Halloween safety tips from police chief,
sheriff
The Guardian-Journal
Halloween
is this weekend, and law enforcement agencies are asking citizens to use
caution when taking the kids (and adults) trick-or-treating this year.
Halloween
will be observed from 5:30 until 8 p.m., Saturday, October 31.
Homer
Police Chief Russell Mills is asking Homer citizens to follow a few tips that
will help make Halloween safe for everyone this year.
Mills
is advising those participating in Halloween activities to leave their porch
lights on. For those who will not be handing out candies and goodies, please
turn off the porch lights during the time designated. Mills also advised
trick-or-treaters not to knock on doors at residences where porch lights are
not on.
Also,
parents need to make sure their children are wearing something reflective on
their costumes to make them easier to see once it gets dark outside.
Motorists
are also urged to travel at idle speed due to the heavy foot traffic that will
be on the streets Halloween night.
When
the children get home with all the goodies collected that night, it is
important that parents inspect the candy and treats. Mills is urging
participants not to accept anything that is not prepackaged. Also, homemade
treats should not be given to children due to safety concerns.
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey said his office will be handing out candy from 5:30 until 8 p.m. The Homer Police Department will also be giving out candy during those
hours as well.
Bailey
also offered a safety tip or two.
“Make
sure you go to houses that you know,” he said, “and make sure parents check out
the candy before the kids eat it.”
Bailey
also advised kids out in the parish not to ride their bicycles while
trick-or-treating. Please ride in a vehicle with parents, he said.
“We
hope that Halloween will be enjoyable for everyone,” Russell said. “Please be
careful and have a safe night out.”
Santa train to visit area
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
The
L&NW Santa Train, Santa's favorite way to travel when he visits the good
boys and girls in Louisiana and Arkansas, will be making a scheduled stop in
the area on December 12, 2009.
Santa
and his elves will be making an early Christmas arrival this year along the
L&NW rail route between Gibsland, Louisiana and McNeil, Arkansas.
His
arrival will give area children one last opportunity before Christmas to get
their wish lists given to Santa, and it will give parents the opportunity to
take some great holiday photographs.
Mark
December 12 on the calendar to make sure the kids get to visit with Santa
during his stop in area towns.
The
2009 L&NW Santa Train is making its debut this year across North Louisiana and Southern Arkansas, carrying Santa to four towns in Louisiana and three
towns in Arkansas.
The
train will be making stops in Gibsland, Athens, Homer and Haynesville in Louisiana and Emerson, McNeil and Magnolia in Arkansas.
The
Santa train is expected to arrive in Athens at 10:45 with the location to be annouced at a later date. It will then travel on to Homer and make its stop at
Insurance Consultants Inc. at approximately 11:30.
After
leaving Homer, the train will make its next stop in Haynesville around 12:40 and that location will be announced at a later date, also.
The
Santa train will then stop in Emerson around 1:40 p.m., Magnolia, where it will be stopping at Albemarle at approximately 2:55 p.m. and then on to McNeil at 3:35p.m.
Santa
and his elves are busy getting ready for Christmas. Help them out by e-mailing
Santa a letter this year by visiting the L&NW Santa Train website at the
site listed below.
Also,
after writing Santa a list, check out Santa's blog to see some of the letters
he has already received this year. Your letter might be published next.
Santa
is currently looking for companies who want to host him during his visits to
see the kids this Christmas season. For those interested, e-mail the L&NW
Railroad at www.lnwrrsantatrain.com or call 927-2031.
