Haynesville bust leads to several charges

On Saturday, November 21, the Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team (CNET) culminated a six month investigation through the execution of two search warrants.

According to the statement released by Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith and Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, these search warrants were served simultaneously at 257 Pias Davis Road in rural Claiborne Parish and at 1266 Walker Street in Haynesville. These locations were linked together during CNET’s investigation when undercover drug purchases were made from suspect Keith L. Tell at both locations.

Because of a lack of manpower, CNET utilized tactical units from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) and the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) for initial service of the search warrants. The LSP served as the entry team at 257 Pias Davis Road while the LPSO served as the entry team for 1266 Walker Street in Haynesville.

The search of 257 Pias Davis Road resulted in the seizure of small amounts of suspected powder and crack cocaine, packaging materials, digital weighing scales and one firearm. No suspects in this investigation were located at the residence during this search.

The search of 1266 Walker Street in Haynesville resulted in the seizure of crack cocaine, marijuana, one firearm, and a small amount of U.S. currency. The primary suspect in this investigation, Keith L. Tell, was located in the residence and arrested on two counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of distribution of cocaine. Tell was also charged with possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug felony.

Also located in the residence was Ashley Burns. Burns was charged with letting a disorderly place and accessory after the fact, based on Keith Tell’s confession that all drugs and the weapon found in the residence were his. Burns’ charges will be reviewed and may be increased at a later date. Both subjects were booked into jail with bond to be set.

During the search of 257 Pias Davis Road, agents had hoped to find Deanthony J. West and arrested him on two counts of distribution of cocaine; however, West was not there at the time. When agents were unable to locate West, they advised residents of that area that West was wanted and any assistance they could provide would be greatly appreciated.

On Sunday, November 22, CNET agents received information from subjects living on Pias Davis Road that West was at the 257 Pias Davis Road residence. Upon receiving this information, members of the newly formed Claiborne Felony Arrest and Search Team (FAST) were contacted and sent to the residence.

Upon arrival, FAST located West in the front yard of 257 Pias Davis Road, where he was arrested without incident. FAST members later advised that West stated that he wasn’t worried about two counts of cocaine distribution. West was later booked into jail on two counts of distribution of cocaine, with bond to be set.

Sheriff Bailey, Chief Smith and Homer Police Chief Russell Mills encourage the public to notify area law enforcement agencies of any suspicious or illegal activity that is going on in their neighborhoods. Concerned citizens can call CNET at 318-927-9800, Louisiana State Police at 318-676-3200, the Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000, the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1355, or the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011.

Any and all information is considered confidential and is greatly appreciated.

Synco burglarized

Case still under investigation

According to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, between Friday night and Saturday morning, persons unknown broke into Synco Motors.

The burglary was discovered by employees when the business was opened Saturday morning.

Sheriff’s deputies responded and the case is still under investigation.

Because the investigation is still ongoing, no further information is available at this time, the sheriff stated in a press release.

Arson victim gets her miracle

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

Ms. Ida Calome received a check from Crime Victim’s Reparation Board. Pictured above are, from left, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills, Sandra Evans, Calome’s niece, Calome, Deputy Donna Smith and Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.

Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, along with Deputy Donna Smith, victim’s advocate, and Homer Police Chief Russell Mills, presented Ida Calome with a check from the Crime Victim’s Reparations Board.

The money represents compensation for Calome’s loss as the victim of arson. Her home was burned during the commission of a crime and she lost everything she owned.

Chief Mills and the Homer Police Department apprehended the arsonist and the Crime Victim’s Program was able to obtain funds for Calome. This program is offered by the sheriff’s office through the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.

“Thank God!,” Calome responded. “Thank everybody!”

“When we first began working on this claim, Ms. Ida told me that God was going to take care of this,” Crime Victim Advocate Donna Smith said. “She was right. It is exciting for us to be able to help any victim any time, but it is especially wonderful at this time of year. During this season of thanksgiving and celebrating our Savior’s birth, let us remember to reach out to those who need our help.”

Should you or someone you know be a victim of a violent crime, please contact Deputy Donna Smith at the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-9800.

Sheriff: ‘Deck the malls with safety first’

On November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, will kick off what is predicted to be the biggest shopping day of the year. Anxious shoppers and retailers all look forward to this day all year.

Shoppers make their lists and check them twice. But they are probably neglecting to check their safety. Just how safe is shopping at this time of year? Perhaps not nearly as safe as people assume it to be, according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, especially if people shop alone.

This time of year has a tendency to attract more shopping-related criminal activity because of larger crowds and extended store hours. These factors, combined with the usual distractions related to shopping, create a more favorable environment for petty thieves and other offenders.

In light of these factors, Bailey warns shoppers to be on their guard so that they do not become one of the tens of millions of people a year who are victimized by some sort of criminal activity.

Across the U.S., malls and shopping centers are heightening security measures by hiring additional security personnel and installing surveillance cameras in areas such as parking lots and entrance ways.

“Unfortunately, when shopping, people sometimes have a tendency to become distracted and lose sight of their personal safety,” Bailey said. “However, there are several precautions busy shoppers can take to help eliminate their chances of becoming a crime statistic.”

Those safety precautions include:

• Always try to shop with another person. A single shopper is the ultimate target for theft.

• When going shopping, make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return home.

• Plan ahead. If you know you are going to return to your car after nightfall, park in a well-lit area. Note your parking place. Parking lots have a tendency to look very different as cars come and go.

• If you are in a store and sense that you are being followed, locate a store employee or security personnel. Be prepared to give them a complete description of the person you suspect.

• If carrying cash, keep it in a front pocket. This makes it more difficult for a pickpocket to remove.

• Store car keys in a pant or jacket pocket. If your purse is stolen, you will still be able to drive home.

• Take only one or two credit cards and a couple of checks with you.

• Make a list of all credit card numbers and the numbers to call in case they are lost or stolen. This will make the incident a lot easier to report.

• If you feel uneasy returning to your car alone, find a security guard and ask him to walk you to your car.

• When returning to your car, check around it and in the back seat.

• Have your car keys in your hand to avoid spending unnecessary time unprotected from the security of your vehicle.

“By taking these simple safety precautions, you are kicking off your holiday season in a responsible, savvy way,” Bailey concluded. Don’t let some would-be criminal ruin your holiday season. Be on guard!”

It’s all about giving

The spirit of the holidays is about giving. Thanksgiving, the traditional beginning of the holiday season, is a time for giving thanks. From various local denominations, the givers shown here recently built a handicapped ramp for Mrs. Geraldine Hightower. These are some of the volunteers associated with MCAT, the Men’s Christian Action Team. MCAT donates their time and abilities to help the sick and elderly. Mickey Boyle, Bill Ratliff and Buddy Pixley are shown to the left squaring up the framing. Pictured above are Jimmy Keene, Don Kessler, Buddy Pixley, Mickey Boyle, Billy Joe Bagwell, and Bill Ratliff, some of the MCAT donors. The Hightower Family says “THANK YOU!” to these kind benefactors and invites everyone in the community to reflect the spirit of the season by helping our neighbors.

CPSB on road to recovery

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Claiborne Parish School Board is on the road to recovery since its scathing audit report last fiscal year.

Things are moving forward, and with some steps taken over the last several months, this fiscal year should be much improved. According to Claiborne Parish Schools  Superintendent Dr. Janice Williams, it’s going to be a slow process, though.

During the last fiscal year, Fred Evans was called in to consult with the school board and help all department heads get their books in order. Since the resignation of business manager Ginger Woodall, he has agreed to stay on in a consultant capacity.

“Due to the abrupt nature of the resignation for health reasons, it’s going to be a slow process in order to establish a sense of direction,” Williams said.

Williams said that although they are going back through the books to the beginning of this fiscal year, the day-to-day operations of central office must continue.

“We still have to honor invoices,” she said. “We still have to make necessary deposits and the day to day operations must go on. We are in the process of making sure that everything is as accurate as it’s supposed to be. We’re just doing a double-check making sure that everything is in place as it should be.”

The school board could have lost its state and federal funding had they not worked diligently and quickly to correct some the issues they had. According to former superintendent Wayne King, the problem was internal control over financial reporting.

Several other issues came to light that had to be fixed and had to be fixed right then.

Accounts that were zero balance accounts still had balances. Accounting records had numerous errors. Schools were not turning their records in on time, and the list goes on. (Refer to the story in the May 7 edition of The Guardian-Journal for details.)

Many of those issues fell on the shoulders of the business manager.

The auditors came in the week of October 19 and visited several schools within the parish, “but prior to that, we talked to them over the summer. They had a few concerns, but those have been addressed.”

Several other items were found that needed to be worked on, but as time has gone on, slowly but surely, the school board either has addressed or is addressing those recommendations from the auditors.

Now comes the task of finding a replacement for Woodall. The superintendent said she was in no hurry to find a replacement until everything could be gone back over and Evans could put procedures in place. Once Williams feels comfortable that the school board’s finances are as they should be, the advertising for a business manager will commence.

When that time comes, she and the school board will be looking for someone with knowledge of governmental accounting and the ability to handle daily operations of a business management position. According to Williams, the person chosen for the position will receive training on Claiborne Parish Schools business procedures from Evans.

“I’m going to be in no rush to terminate the training of this program,” she said. “I just want to make sure that the new person is knowledgeable on how the consultant has established procedures.”

Once advertising begins, the school board will have to advertise the position for two weeks in the local and area newspapers, which may be extended for a month. Due to the nature of the position, it could be extended even longer.

Council gets answers to infrastructure questions

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Homer Town Council finally got some answers as to why the town is not receiving many grants to repair its water infrastructure.

Jim Hagan, with Balar Engineering and Associates, came to a special called meeting, held Wednesday, November 11, to answer those questions. He said the main reason the town wasn’t getting the grants it needed is because there’s just not that much money out there to get, and what is out there, the town has to compete for.

Balar has turned in several grant requests for sewer, water and a new roof for town hall, Hagan said, but those requests have not been granted because they are capital outlay requests, which means it falls on the shoulders of the Louisiana legislature to approve them.

The engineering firm also sent in a $1 million application for sewer improvements, money requested from stimulus funds, but they didn’t get that one either.

As the council listened to the bad news, District 3 Councilman Toney Johnson spoke up, asking what needed to be done to get moving on getting the money to redo the entire water system.

Unfortunately, many requests to lay new water lines are turned down, Hagan said, because usually the state feels the individual municipalities can handle the costs. The problem is the Town of Homer doesn’t have that kind of money, and the tax base is going down.

Hagan suggested applying for a USDA loan, which is better than a LCBDG grant. He also suggested possibly going through the Department of Health and Hospitals as well to get those grants.

In other news, the council – with one opposed – approved a motion to pay the bill for repairs at the home of Rita Williams, who had sewer back up into her home recently.

“Our line is what caused the problem,” Johnson said. According to the councilman, the town’s line is what collapsed, causing the problem in the first place. There are many areas of town where old clay pipes are still in place.

Homer officer gets certification

The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates

Homer Police Officer Van McDaniel graduated from the North Louisiana Criminal Justice Academy on Friday, November 13, after 12 weeks of intense basic training. McDaniel is now a POST (Peace Officer Standard Training) certified officer. Pictured with McDaniel is Homer Police Chief Russell Mills.

CPPJ to hold open house December 9

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Claiborne Parish Police Jury is expected to hold an open house following their regular monthly meeting on December 9.

The police jury is inviting the public to come see all the new additions and renovations that have been done. The regular monthly meeting begins at 9 a.m., and the open house will follow the closing of the meeting. Refreshments will be available.

Over the past year, much has been done in the way of renovations and repairs to the police jury complex, and to say the least, police jurors and those working for the police jury are proud of it.

Earlier this year, the “big room,” where many meetings are held throughout the year, was remodeled into what is now the police jury’s meeting room. A panel was built where all police jurors in the parish now sit to hold their meetings. The change was much needed, because for years the police jury meetings have been held in a small meeting room near the front entrance. There just wasn’t enough room.

Now the police jury has enough space to spread out and the public has a bigger space in which to sit and be comfortable. The press even got a table and chairs, making it more comfortable to cover the monthly meetings.

Also, repairs to front façade have been made. The façade was in bad disrepair, and according to police jurors, it was becoming a hazard. Pieces were beginning to fall to the floor, which could have quickly become a liability. Repairs have now been made.

Also, due to a Homeland Security grant, two new offices were built to house the Claiborne Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

In other news, the police jury has been working diligently in the process to purchase the USDA building, located at 324 Beardsley, to house the district attorney’s office in Claiborne Parish. For a while now, the district attorney’s office, currently located on The Square, has served in different capacities, but the main issue is the current building they are in has its share of problems.

The police jury has dealt with mold issues as well as just not enough space. In an earlier interview with Second Judicial District Attorney Jonathan Stewart, he says the USDA building will offer the space his office needs in order to run more efficiently. The assistant district attorneys will have a room in which to hold meetings, and there is more office space as well as a more secure building.

The police jury approved a resolution to authorize Police Jury President Scott Davidson to sign and execute documents on behalf of the police jury to purchase the building for $79,500.

In other news, the police jury:

• Rejected all bids for the necessary repairs to replace the roof at the Claiborne Parish Library. The police jury is expected to re-advertise for bids.

• Approved a request from Attorney Danny Newell for the police jury to enter into a quit claim deed for a piece of adjudicated property which will now return the property to the Gessner Bailey Estate. The property, according to Secretary/Treasurer Dwayne Woodard, was adjudicated to the police jury in the 1950s, and the police jury was double taxing the property. That issue has now been resolved.

• Approved the reappointment of Dump Hatter, Keith Killgore and Donald Trimble to new terms on the Board of the Claiborne Parish Hospital Service District No. 1.

• Approved the highest bids for surplus equipment, except for the two John Deere tractors. Those two bids were rejected.

• Approved a request for proposals from the buildings and grounds committee for a new roof at the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, located at 613 East Main Street,  and for the Police Jury Complex.

The next meeting of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, December 9, at the police jury complex. For more information on the meeting or the open house, please call the police jury office at 927-2222.

Homer man arrested on array of charges

The Guardian-Journal

A police pursuit ultimately ended in the arrest of a Homer man who fled police when they attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.

Jeffery M. Williamson, 41, was arrested and charged with four counts of disobey stop/yield signs, with bond set at $500 on each count, stop lamps/turn signals required, with a bond of $500, aggravated flight from an officer, with bond set at $500, improper lane usage, with a bond of $500, reckless operation of a vehicle, with a bond of $500, criminal trespass, with a bond of $500, display of plates, with a bond of $500, resisting an officer by flight, with a bond of $500, and open container, bond set at $500.

According to police reports, on the night of November 16, Officer Scott Glenn noticed a vehicle make a turn with no turn signal in the Dutchtown area. When Glenn attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle, identified as a 2006 GMC Sierra four-door pickup, sped up.

At this time, reports say, the driver, later identified as Williamson, ran several stop signs while fleeing police. Homer Police Officer Thomas Davis joined Glenn in pursuit on Martin Luther King Drive and Hwy. 79. The pickup truck continued to flee police.

When the vehicle headed toward the corporate limits, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified, but could not give a clear license plate number, reports said, due to the obstruction by an object on the vehicle. It is reported the driver still refused to stop until he reached Claiborne Animal Clinic, at which time, he exited the truck and fled into the woods on foot.

When officers arrived on scene at the animal clinic, a passenger was found in the vehicle. According to reports, the passenger claimed he was trying to get Williamson to stop and let him out. The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s K-9 unit, Deputy Paul Brazzel and his partner Rico were called in to track the suspect to no avail.

The next day, November 17, after warrants on the above charges had been issued, Homer Police Officer Roger Smith placed Williamson under arrest after he turned himself in. Bond totaled $6,000.

In other crime news, two people in unrelated incidents were arrested on charges of domestic abuse battery.

Constance Emerson, 24, of Homer, was arrested on November 17 and charged with domestic abuse battery. Bond was set at $2,000.

According to reports, Davis was dispatched to the 800 block of South 4th Street in Homer in reference to a domestic situation. Upon arrival, the officer observed several people on the porch of the residence and in the yard. Davis made contact with Emerson and began the initial investigation into the incident.

At that time, Officer Van McDaniel was called to the scene to assist.

Reports say he made contact with another person inside the residence, at which time, the officer observed a cut on the man’s head. Pafford EMS were called to the scene to treat the man, but he refused medical attention.

According to reports, an argument had taken place between Constance Emerson and her father Eddie Emerson, at which time Constance allegedly hit him in the head.

Constance Emerson was then placed under arrest and transported to the Homer Police Station for booking.

Upon arrival at the police station, Constance allegedly made a comment to officers, at which time, she was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital for observation. Once cleared by a physician, she was transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility, where she was booked.

In an unrelated domestic incident, Kevondric M. Shyne, 21, of Homer, was arrested for domestic abuse battery. His bond was set at $5,000.

According to reports, Officer Van McDaniel was at Homer Memorial Hospital on November 17, attending to another subject arrested earlier in the evening, when a black male entered the emergency room. The black male was later identified as Shyne. McDaniel noticed a cut on his face and collar bone area, which appeared to have been made by a sharp knife or blade, reports said. According to police, Shyne allegedly told McDaniel that he’d cut himself on some tin after tripping over some barbed wire. When his story didn’t add up, McDaniel investigated his claims, finding no proof other than the barbed wire.

While investigating what Shyne had told him, the officer ended up in the 400 block of Meadow Drive where he questioned witnesses about the incident. According to witnesses, police said, an argument had taken place and Shyne was observed on top of the victim and was punching her in the face. Shyne denied being in a fight with the victim.

According to the victim, the two did argue and Shyne did allegedly punch her in the face and beat her.

Once Shyne was transported to the Homer Police Station from the hospital, reports say he told police that he and the victim did indeed argue, but he did not hit her. He then claimed the victim had cut him when he went back to his residence a couple of houses down to pack some clothes.

Shyne was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was booked on the above charges.

Warrants in this incident are pending.

SHS raising funds to go to Washington

JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal

Several junior high and high school students from Summerfield  High School will be having the experience of a lifetime this coming summer -- that is, if they receive lots of support from area communities.

Students, grades 6-12, who are in good academic and behavioral standing will have the opportunity to take a trip to Washington , D.C. to learn more about the nation’s capital.

The trip is scheduled to take place in mid-June 2010. Summerfield students are looking forward to this opportunity to see many of the places they have been learning about in Social Studies and History classes.

During this trip, students will get to see firsthand what they have been studying in the classroom. Students become players in the dramatic history of America while exploring the Capitol Building and the Smithsonian Museums.

They  hope to learn to appreciate the true meaning of the conflict and many sacrifices at the Vietnam, Korean and Iwo Jima Memorials.

This trip will help to bring classroom learning to life as students gain a deeper understanding of how the past shapes the present and the future. It will also be a learning opportunity that will significantly impact the life of each of the students able to attend..

The four day trip will cost $1,585 per student.

“It’s not cheap, but I have done a lot of research on WorldStrides, the organization coordinating the program, and I believe you get what you pay for! This student travel organization has been in business for more than 40 years and knows how to maximize the learning opportunities for kids,” Denise Baugh, Summerfield teacher/sponsor said about the trip.

“I am excited to be able to work with them and make this experience available to our students,” she continued.

WorldStrides is an organization that offers educators, students, and parents a personalized approach to student travel. One of Worldstride’s goals is to create an educational experience for each student that is unsurpassed by any other student travel organization in the marketplace.

According to its website, Worldstride believes in engaging students and helping them develop life-long skills and a passion for learning that extends well beyond the classroom.

With more than four decades of experience that has shown that travel enriches students’ lives and opens their eyes to different cultures and perspectives, Worldwide is passionate about its role in creating future leaders that have a stronger understanding of the world around them.

They are committed to providing exceptional service, superior safety for the travelers, and memories that will last a lifetime.

In showing her commitment to her students and in making this trip a reality, Baugh is asking everyone in the community to support these students in their efforts to raise the funds for this once-in-a-lifetime educational trip.

Any assistance provided is greatly appreciated. Within 30 days of a donation, a letter of acceptance will be mailed that will serve as a tax receipt. In addition, the school would like to use your name on shirts to be created  for the students.

More fundraisers will be held throughout the school year to help raise the funds needed for these students to make the trip. Please continue to watch future editions of The Guardian-Journal as details are made available.

Baugh continued, “Please don’t hesitate to contact me at the school if you’d like additional information about our program. Thank you for your help in providing this fabulous opportunity for students from Summerfield.”

For more information or for questions, contact Baugh at the school at 927-3621.

Haynesville cleanup a success

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The Town of Haynesville’s citywide cleanup was a resounding success due to the hard work of the council, youth and community members.

According to District 5 Councilwoman Carla Smith, approximately 120 people showed up to do their part. A special thank you went out to Keith and Beverlee Killgore for spearheading the event. Thanks also went to the council and the mayor for their efforts

“It made me proud to live in Haynesville, that there were that many people that were concerned about the cleanliness of Haynesville,” she said. “The Garden Club planted several plats of pansies at Parker-Newell Point, and it all looked really good. It was just such a good turnout.”

There was such a wide variety of people there, she said – a wide variety in age, men, women, boys and girls.

“Everybody was just working together,” she said. A teacher at Haynesville High School even gave her class extra bonus points for showing up and helping out, Smith said. According to her, the teacher had just given a lecture to her students about volunteerism.

Although she was proud of the turnout and the amount of work that was done, she was disappointed as well, because the next day, trash began showing up in the areas that had been cleaned up.

“I was just so disappointed,” she said, “and I think that the people that litter don’t read the paper, so they don’t know how we feel. We care about our town, and we just have to get the word out.”

Haynesville Mayor Sherman Brown agreed, saying that anyone caught throwing trash out of their car, can be cited for it.

“If we can get a description, we don’t have to get them right then,” he said. “The police can write a ticket at their home or wherever they find that vehicle. We’ve done that. If it’s seen and recorded, we can follow up on it.”

Referring to the cleanup, he said, “We thank everyone who played a part in that.”

Martha Trinko, representing the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), said it was a good idea to get the youth involved, and it’s a really good community project.

“The cleaner we can keep our town, the more respect we’ll get from outsiders,” she said.

Trinko also brought up an issue that many have noticed around town – cigarette butts on the streets. She suggested purchasing cigarette containers that people can put their butts in instead of on the street.

Smith said that although many people coming into town or through contribute to the issue, a lot of the butts come from employees throughout downtown who smoke on their breaks.

Smith suggested sending a letter from the CAC to Main Street businesses in regards to the issue.

In other news, a community-wide Christmas Carol singing will take place on Tuesday night, December 1, at 6 p.m. Please mark your calendars.

The council also approved:

• a resolution to adopt the compliance questionnaire in regards to the LCDBG grants

• a LCDBG resolution – Haynesville is applying for a portion of $385,000.

The next town council meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, December 17, in council chambers, located behind city hall. For more information, please call 624-0911.

Claiborne Parish tourism initiative is underway

JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer

The Claiborne Chamber of Commerce has put together an assortment of materials to highlight where to go and what to do and see in Claiborne Parish. “Whether you’re a visitor or a local resident, Claiborne Parish has a driving tour CD set that you will find interesting,” says John Watson, Executive Director of the Chamber.

“The CD is one part of a major initiative aimed at helping others see and appreciate what is wonderful about Claiborne Parish,” Watson notes.

Asked what else is a part of the initiative, Watson explains that a colorful tourism brochure has been prepared. In addition,  there is a new website www.claiborneparishtourism.org.

Also, a cemetery brochure includes a map of the parish with the locations of 156 cemeteries in the parish or within a few miles of the parish line.

Finally, television ads have appeared describing Claiborne Parish as a desirable tourist destination.

Describing the tourism brochure, Watson says it highlights points of interest in Homer, Haynesville, Athens, Lisbon, Summerfield, and other areas of Claiborne Parish. It points out that 10 buildings in the parish are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The brochure includes pictures of the Claiborne Parish Courthouse, Herbert S. Ford Museum, Lisbon’s Killgore House, the mural on the west wall of Haynesville’s Killgore Pharmacy,  Homer’s Old Town Cemetery, the Hill Farm, Summerfield’s Alberry Wasson House, and Lake Claiborne.

The cover of the “Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, Cemetery Guide” notes that it is intended to be “A guide to finding the resting places of your ancestors.” A brief description gives directions for each of the 156 cemeteries There is also a map in the brochure marking the approximate location of each.

The new tourism website, www.claiborneparishtourism.org, describes Lake Claiborne State Park and lists local lodging such as Panther Creek Bed and Breakfast at Summerfield and Lake Claiborne Vacation Cottage on Harmon Loop.

The website describes “eateries” such as the Rebel Stop and Moon’s toward Summerfield, Port-au-Prince on Lake Claiborne, Sunrise Bakery and Restaurant and Homer Seafood and Pizza as well as Yesterday’s Grill in Haynesville.

Highlights related to Homer, Haynesville, Lisbon, Athens, Summerfield, and the parish’s historic cemeteries are all mentioned on the website.

Some parish events are plugged including the Butterfly Festival, the Claiborne Jubilee, the 4th of July Fireworks and Boat Parade, Lake Claiborne Antique Auto and Bike Show, and the Christmas Festival.

The set consists of two CDs with 41 tracks of information highlighting areas of interest around the parish. For only $3 visitors or local residents can learn things about Claiborne Parish that’s not in the history books, stories passed down from grandparents to grandchildren that has become the stuff of local legend and lore.

Of course, the internet website is free as is the tourism brochure. With the cemetery guide available for $1 and the driving CD sets for $3, the whole tourism package is available for $4, a token cost to cover expenses of production.

Many local citizens donated many hours to the brochures, the cemetery guide, the driving CDs, and the website.

Brochures and CD sets are available at the following locations:

* The Grapevine

* The Raven Bookstore

* Port-au-Prince Restaurant

* Killgore Pharmacy

* The Rebel Stop

* Claiborne Parish Library

* Delta Interiors

* The Chamber Office at Ford Museum

Brochures only are available at the following:

* Courtyard Florist

* Lake Claiborne State Park

* Haynesville City Hall

* The Guardian-Journal

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