Food drive huge success
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Brookshire Grocery Co., in conjunction
with the Homer Lions Club, teamed up with Claiborne 4-H members again this year
for the annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive. Packing approximately 200 boxes
of food, 4-H members spent the morning organizing and filling boxes for those
in need. The food boxes, which this year contains a coupon for one baking hen from
Brookshires, are packed with non-perishable goods and lots of love. Boxes went
to families in Homer, Haynesville and Summerfield. Homer Lions Dick Dorrell,
pictured right, and Pat Gladney spent the morning in the kitchen at First
Presbyterian Church whipping up a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausage and
biscuits for the gang as boxes were prepared. The Haynesville Lions Club also
participated this year by distributing boxes in the Haynesville area.
Sheriff Bailey stresses holiday safety
The
Christmas season is a time for sharing and enjoying family, friends and loved
ones.
Sadly
and unfortunately, it is also a time for criminals who will maximize their
expanded pools of targets carrying extra money with lowered awareness. The
hurried pace of the season can also bring with it the potential for anxious
travelers to overlook some basic safety precautions before taking to the roads.
“But
don’t become so preoccupied with the thrill and excitement of shopping and
holiday travel that you lose your sense of good judgment when it comes to your
personal safety and that of your family,” warns Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken
Bailey.
Bailey
wants you to think about safety and keep your guard up during this holiday
season. He offers the following tips to help you stay safe:
Before
you hit the road:
• avoid
car maintenance scams
•
schedule a check with a trusted auto repair shop
•
ensure the shop is affiliated with a group such as AAA or uses ASE certified
technicians
• watch
as our car is repaired and review your bill before leaving the shop
• ask a
trusted neighbor or friend to watch your house and pick up your mail and
newspapers while you are away
• make
sure your house looks “lived in” while you are away. Lock all doors and
windows, set household lights (inside and out) on times, and have a neighbor
park his or her car in your driveway to make it appear as if someone is at your
home at all times.
• file
a “travel plan.” Let someone know where you are going, the route you plan to
take and when you plan to arrive. If you deviate from that plan, let someone
know.
Watch
out for clever criminals:
• Do
not stop if your car is bumped from behind or if someone says there is
something wrong with your car. Go to a service station or a well-lit, populated
area and call for help.
• Fill
the gas tank before dark and lock your car doors, roll up your windows if you
step away from the car for any reason.
• Never
leave items of value such as car phones, cameras, jewelry or other expensive
belongings visible in your car. Lock them in your trunk or take them with you.
Enjoy
your time away:
• Carry
money separately from credit cards. Carry your purse close to your body and
your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
• Ask
the hotel desk clerk to tell you quietly the hotel room number. Do not
overburden yourself with luggage to avoid being an easy target.
• Use
deadbolt and other locks provided by your hotel – including locks on all guest
room entry and connecting room doors.
• Never
open the door for a stranger. Only open the door for hotel staff if you
requested their presence.
Bailey
concluded, “Have a safe and joyous holiday season from your Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s Office.
Several arrested on drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
Two
Homer residents were arrested on drug charges after a warrant was served.
Lury
Dale Crew, 36, and Esther R. Crew, 44, were both arrested Friday, December 18,
and charged with possession of marijuana.
According
to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Agent James Spillers, assisted by
personnel from the CPSO, Homer Police Department and Haynesville Police
Department served a warrant on Pearl Street.
Both
were booked into jail with a bond of $500 each.
In
other crime news, the Homer Police Department arrested a Homer man after drugs
were found on his person.
Blake
C. Mcgee, 22, of Haynesville, was arrested Thursday, December 17, on one count
of possession of a Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance (Lorcet), with
bond set at $5,000.
According
to reports, Homer Police Officer Scott Glenn initiated a traffic stop for a
busted tail light. While Glenn was speaking with Mcgee, reports say he was
acting nervously and there were three passengers in the vehicle. The officer
then called for assistance.
Upon
arrival of Officers Van McDaniel and John Bailey, McDaniel conducted a pat down
of Mcgee for officer’s safety, at which time, pills suspected to be Lorcet were
found in his pocket.
He was
placed under arrest and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
In an
unrelated incident, Fredrick Kelly, 24, of Homer, was arrested on the same date
for possession of Schedule II CDS (cocaine), with bond set at $5,000, and a
parole violation with no bond.
According
to police, the Homer Police Department assisted Probation and Parole with the
serving of a warrant. Allegedly, bags with suspected cocaine residue were found
inside the residence.
He was
then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for booking.
Thornton sister passes away
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Rosie
Lee Thornton Warren, just a few weeks shy of her 104th birthday, has passed
away.
The
youngest of the oldest living African-American siblings, passed away Friday,
December 18, at approximately 8 p.m. in Minden.
Visitation
for the public will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 23 at Benevolent
Funeral Home in Minden. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 24, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, located between Minden and Athens, which is Warren’s hometown.
According
to sources with Cultural Crossroads of Minden, Rosie and her sister Carrie have
been fighting illnesses.
In
November, a celebration was held for Rosie and her two sisters, Carrie, 107,
and Maggie, 114. The trio was recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records
as being the oldest living African-American siblings in the country.
Rosie
and her two sisters were born to Dellie and Wylie Thornton Sr. in Athens in Claiborne Parish. Rosie was born January 6, 1906. Affectionately known as
“Squate,” Rosie finished the eighth grade and went on to become a sharecropper
and also worked in private homes. She married Tom Warren, and they had seven
children. Her husband and two of her children are now deceased.
She is
preceded in death by her husband Tom, and two children, Bertha Capers and L.C.
Taylor. She is survived by her two sisters, Carrie, 107, and Maggie, 114, five
other children, Retha Brown, Lovie Warren, Ella Warren, Lillie Phenix and Eddie
Warren, and a host of family and friends.
“We
love the Thornton Sisters!!!!” Chris Broussard, of Cultural Crossroads said in
an email. “And we are so saddened by the news of Rosie’s passing but we rejoice
in knowing that she has gone ‘home.’”
She
will be sorely missed.
Ordinance process explained
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
proposed ordinance to amend the charter from an elected marshal/chief of police
to an appointed one will likely be introduced at the January 2010 meeting of
the Homer Town Council.
In
December’s meeting, Town Attorney Jim Colvin explained the process of getting
the charter amended, but in an email later sent to The Guardian-Journal, he
clarified a few things.
The
proposed ordinance would be introduced at January’s meeting and could be “voted
on and finally approved at the February 1 meeting,” he stated in the email. “To
adopt the ordinance, it only has to be published once. It just cannot be
submitted to the governor until it has been published three times (in the legal
journal), and 30 days have elapsed.”
The
process will proceed as follows. If the ordinance is introduced at the January
meeting, it could be published in the legal journal for three weeks in January.
Then in February, the council could adopt the ordinance, however, “we would
have to wait until the end of business on March 1 to see if any objections were
received.”
If
there are no protests or insufficient protests, he said, a request would go to
the governor with paperwork for approval of the charter amendment.
If
there are protests, the governor’s route would be abandoned until an election
could be held. According to the email, that election date could be as late as
October 2010.
The
council is clearly divided on the issue with the 3-2 vote cast for the charter
amendment process to begin. District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford, one of
the votes against it, stated in the meeting that she felt like those members of
the council in favor of it were trying to say the people of Homer weren’t
intelligent enough to choose the chief of police. Quickly, District 2
Councilman Michael Wade countered saying he didn’t think the people of Homer
were “stupid.” He just feels the council should run the town, he said in an
interview after the meeting, that this was not personal.
When
District 1 Councilman Scott “Doc” Roberson first asked about the hiring
practices of the police department and the mayor, he suggested changing the
charter to allow the council by vote to determine who is hired and who is
terminated within the police department and the administrative office in town
hall.
The
Shreveport Times published an article on Sunday, December 20, saying the issue
stems from dissatisfaction with the Homer Police Department in the shooting
death of Bernard Monroe Sr. in February. Monroe was shot and killed in his
front yard after he allegedly engaged two police officers with a loaded
handgun. Homer Police say he had a gun. Witnesses at the scene say he did not.
The
Rev. Willie Young, president of the Claiborne chapter of the NAACP, says he
feels it’s a good idea to have an appointed chief because it gives credibility
to the town council as well as giving the town a better system of checks and
balances.
”We’re
in a position now that we can turn this negativity around,” he said, regarding
all the criticism surrounding the Homer Police Department as well as the death
of Monroe. “It’s not against Russell personally. We’ve had an appointed chief
before.”
It’s
unprofessional to say that it’s personal, Young said, because the town has had
an appointed chief before.
Some in
the community have expressed outrage over the entire incident, including their
dissatisfaction with the Homer Police Department as well as the amount of time
it has taken to render a decision on whether the shooting was justified or not.
The Monroe family, as well as witnesses at the scene, all say Monroe did not have a gun in his
physical possession at the time of the shooting. The elder Monroe was known for
keeping a handgun on his porch, but witnesses say at that time, he wasn’t on
the porch when he was shot.
The
Claiborne Parish District Attorney, Jonathan Stewart, held onto the case for
nearly four months before turning it over to Louisiana Attorney General Buddy
Caldwell, who according to published reports, is still reviewing the case. He
is expected to hand it over to the Claiborne Parish Grand Jury sometime in
January.
The Monroe family has also retained the services of the Southern Poverty Law Center,
specifically Attorney Morris Dees, a well-known civil rights attorney. Rumors
of a civil case were in the air as the district attorney announced the changing
of hands of the case. Dees said during the press conference held on the Courthouse Square in Homer that he and the family would wait and see if a civil suit would
be filed. Right now, he said, they are all awaiting word from the grand jury.
Dees assured everyone present at the conference that the
truth would come out – whether it’s through a criminal case or a civil one.
Haynesville honors Golden Tornado
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Coach David Franklin, left, and Haynesville High School Principal Bill Kennedy, right, accept a proclamation and a key to
the city from Mayor Sherman Brown, center. The Haynesville Golden Tornado won
the 1A State Championship game over the South Plaquemines Hurricanes 19-12 on
Saturday, December 12, at the New Orleans Superdome.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Council
chambers in Haynesville were full of pride as the Golden Tornado 1A state
champs filed in.
The
Haynesville Golden Tornado traveled to the Superdome in New Orleans on Friday,
December 12 to the state championship games. On Saturday, December 13, the team
beat the South Plaquemines Hurricanes 19-12, bringing home a trophy and the
title of 1A state champions.
After
the initial business of the meeting was done, Mayor Sherman Brown and the town
council presented Louisiana Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year David
Franklin and Haynesville High Principal Bill Kennedy with a framed copy of a
resolution paying tribute to the team, coaches and staff, and a proclamation
declaring Thursday, December 18, as Golden Tornado Day.
Franklin
and Kennedy were also presented a key to the city in honor of these
accomplishments. According to Brown, this is the second presentation of the key
to the city since he became mayor.
Also,
the town received a letter from U.S. Sen. David Vitter, recognizing the
football team for their accomplishments, but also mentioning Coach “Red”
Franklin for starting a tradition.
“I know
that Coach ‘Red’ Franklin is proud of his son and the team for continuing the
tradition that he helped establish by winning 11 state championships,” the
letter said after recognizing the team and Coach D. Franklin. “The success of
the Golden Tornado is a tribute to the administration, faculty, parents and
students of Haynesville High School.”
To
Brown, the letter continued, “Take pride in your city and school, for they are
a shining light in Louisiana and it is an honor to serve as your senator.”
Each
football team member also received a Haynesville lapel pin.
“I
thought it very fitting to take this opportunity to recognize the 2009
Haynesville Golden Tornado football team,” Brown said. “We are very
appreciative of you all being here tonight in order for us to thank you for
representing Haynesville not only in the Dome, but in the playoffs as well as
during the regular season.”
Although
Brown could not attend the game, he said he did listen to most of it on the
radio. There were many personal fouls called during the game – but they weren’t
against the Tors.
“That
shows the characters of the players and the coaches, and I think that speaks
well,” he continued. “We, as a council, just wanted to take this opportunity
tonight to let you all know how much we are appreciative of you representing
Haynesville the way that you have done this year.”
As
football is a family tradition with the Franklin family, Coach Franklin’s
father was in New Orleans to share in the joy of bringing home the gold. He
also followed his former alma mater into the council chambers Thursday and
showed his pride in his son, the team and their achievements.
“These young
coaches did a super, super job during the playoffs and all during the year,” he
said, “teaching it to these youngsters and getting them to carry it out. That’s
what I’m proud of. I told one of the reporters in New Orleans that I believe I
was more excited over this one than any others that I coached. They did a super
job.”
Each
council member said a few words to the team, not only congratulating them on
their achievements, but also encouraging them to set a good example and be
proud of where they are from.
Haynesville
Police Chief Anthony Smith said when they left Haynesville that day headed to New Orleans, there were approximately 30 cars in the entourage. By the time they reached Alexandria that number had grown to nearly 40-50 cars.
“Everybody
believed in you – we did too,” Smith said. “Congratulations.”
Both
Coach Franklin and Kennedy were also given the opportunity to speak, and both
were very appreciative of the council’s recognition, saying the players were a
good group of kids.
“I
thank you for everything that you’ve done,” Coach Franklin said, referring to
the council. “This is very nice to be recognized like this. These are a good
group of kids, and they’ve come a long way this year in their football. They’ve
come a long way in their behavior and the way they carry themselves, and that
speaks a lot for them. We thank ya’ll for recognizing us tonight, it means a
lot.”
“This
is a good group of kids,” Kennedy said, recognizing the coach and his staff for
how the team is taught. “It’s not just for the winning. It’s what he instills
in the children. He tries to make them good citizens and I appreciate that from
him. I’m proud of every one of you.”
When
the council returned to the agenda, they set the holiday schedule for 2010. It
is much the same as was this year. They also approved the following:
• the
hiring of an additional employee to the work crew,
• drug
policy revision which will now change the wait time from three days to 24
hours.
•
intergovernmental agreement with the Claiborne Parish Police Jury for a
building inspector. The parish currently uses IBTS for their building
inspector. This would apply to all new construction and major renovations.
The
council did not renew a contract with the website company, Schaffer Design. The
town received an invoice for $50, and Brown expressed his dissatisfaction and
warned the council that the town could lose the current domain name. The motion
to change the domain name to “.org” or “.net” was approved in the event they
lose the website altogether.
He suggested
an alternative which would allow Mary Presley to update and upgrade the
website. Because The Guardian-Journal and The Haynesville News are both weekly
papers, he said, having someone local to take care of the website would allow
them to get the word out about events other than word of mouth. Sometimes,
events can’t be turned in to the newspapers in time, he said.
The
next meeting will be held in January 2010.
Channel markers going up soon
JENNI WILLIAMS, The Guardian-Journal
Lisbon
Landing is the staging area for dozens of poles to be used for the permanent
channel markers on Lake Claiborne.
These
poles were the main topic of discussion at the recent Claiborne Parish
Watershed District (CPWD) regular meeting held on December 10.
The
board is in the process of writing regulations pertaining to the addition of
any signage, yo-yos, or any other item attached to the permanent marker poles
once they are placed in Lake Claiborne.
A fine
will be enforced for any items placed on these poles when the culprit is
caught. The board is also in the process of hiring lake patrol by a Lake
Maintenance Officer to keep an eye on the channel marker poles and to remove
any additions that may have been added by the general public.
The
board has made these decisions because of the large cost of this project and
the fact that the poles must be maintained for a minimum of 25 years, according
to project regulations.
Any
holes left behind by nails or screws will be immediately patched by the person
conducting the lake patrol or a member of the CPWD board.
The
Lisbon Landing project is also currently underway. The form for one of the
concrete bases is already in place and work will commence when all the
paperwork is officially finished.
A water
supply station is still up for discussion by the board and will be brought
before the public at a later meeting after all research into the project has
been completed.
The
CPWD is looking to produce a brochure/map of the new permanent channel makers
to be available for a nominal cost to the public. The board will be generating
sponsors for the maps and they will be available to the public upon completion.
Also
discussed was the point at which Lake Claiborne should be closed to boating
traffic due to high water. The decision was made to close the lake at two feet
above pool stage. Pool stage is when the lake is level with the top of the bowl
at the Lake Claiborne dam.
The
lake will then be reopened when it has fallen back to less than 18 inches above
pool stage. It will only be reopened if there is no significant rain in the
forecast for the near future.
The
decision will be made each time from the sheriff, fire chief and a member of
the police jury.
The
board also discussed, approved and adopted the budget for the year 2010 with
minimal changes.
The
office administration budget was raised to account for the hiring of a lake
patrol officer and the maintenance of the channel markers.
Under
expenses, the Promotion and Community Relations account, created to help in the
promotion of brochures and maps of Lake Claiborne, was allotted $2,000. These
maps and brochures will reflect the completion of the channel markers.
Most
other areas of the CPWD budget remained the same.
The
board is in the process of creating and maintaining a website for the CPWD and
Lake Claiborne. A budget of $2,500 was set aside for that project.
The
budget was approved as posted by the members of the CPWD by a unanimous vote.
The
next regular meeting of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District will be March 26, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at the Police Jury Office Complex.
