Relay for Life slated for April 16
The
annual Claiborne Parish Relay for Life will be held from noon until midnight on
Saturday, April 16, at the Ronnie G. Beard Memorial Stadium at Homer High
School.
In
case of bad weather, the event will be held at the Homer High School gymnasium.
For
more information, please contact Nancy Mason at 318-927-2517 or Elbie Dickens
at 318-927-2360.
Black History Parade
When: Saturday, February 26
Time: 3 p.m.
Where: Parade will begin at Homer High School through Downtown
Homer. Lineup begins at 2 p.m.
Note: We are looking for cars, vans, trucks, floats,
groups, walkers, horses, motorcycles, individuals or businesses to be a part of
this year’s Black History Parade. If you wish to participate in the parade,
please contact 318-255-3931 or 318-927-9214.
Holyfield trial set for Tuesday
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
man charged with impersonating a police officer is set to go to trial Tuesday,
February 22 in Bienville Parish, DA officials said.
Bennie
Wayne Holyfield, of Homer, was charged in March 2009 of impersonating a police
officer after an investigation took place following a traffic stop in Bienville
Parish for speeding.
Records
indicate that Holyfield was pulled over on the eastbound side of Hwy. 80, just
west of Gibsland.
When
the deputy asked Holyfield why he was speeding, he allegedly told authorities
that there was a situation in Homer, referring to the officer-involved shooting
death of Bernard Monroe Sr.
He allegedly
told the deputy that dispatch had called all available officers to the scene.
Upon
advisement of the deputy’s supervisor, Holyfield was let go.
It was
at that time the investigation was conducted, which revealed confirmation that
Holyfield was “not an officer of any type” in Claiborne Parish.
Two
warrants for his arrest were then issued -- one for impersonating a police
officer and one for speeding 94/55.
Holyfield
is represented by Attorney Chris Bowman.
Holyfield
ran for Marshal for the Town of Homer, and lost his bid to incumbent Police
Chief Russell Mills.
Voting
records show Holyfield lost the election, garnering only approximately 40
percent of the vote.
CPSB recognizes ‘Students of the Year’
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
The Claiborne Parish School Board
recognized its Students of the Year on Thursday, February 10. Pictured above,
from left, are Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams, Summerfield High
School Senior Amelia Moss, Haynesville Junior High School Eighth Grader Franeka
Taylor, Haynesville Junior High School Fifth Grader Daijah Glover, and School
Board President William Maddox.
The Guardian-Journal
The
Claiborne Parish School Board (CPSB) honored its Students of the Year last
Thursday.
These
honors went to fifth grade student Daijah Glover, eighth grade student Franeka
Taylor and twelfth grade student Amelia Moss. Each student was given a plaque
in honor of this great achievement.
Glover
is an honor student at Haynesville Junior High, and is the 10-year-old daughter
of Deon and Rebecca Glover. She is a member of Hatter’s Chapel Freewill Baptist
Church. Daijah enjoys hunting, fishing, riding her four-wheeler and has a
special interest in art. In the future, she wants to attend Louisiana Tech
University and become a pediatrician.
Taylor
is also an honor student at Haynesville Junior High. She is the daughter of
Frank and Donna Taylor and a member of First Ebenezer Baptist Church. She
enjoys dancing, watching television, reading and texting her friends. In the
future, she plans to move on to college and looks forward to all the new
opportunities life has to offer.
Moss,
also an honor student at Summerfield High School, is the daughter of James and
Patsy Moss. She is a member of Holly Ridge Assembly of God. Amelia enjoys
playing the piano and hanging out with her friends. After graduation, she plans
to attend Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) and major in business
administration.
The
Student of the Year is awarded every school year to outstanding students who
were chosen according to their school and community involvement. Their
academics are included in the criteria as well. These students usually have a
high grade point average and are very involved in school activities as well as
their community. Each student must turn in a portfolio with a biography, which
includes academic achievement, leadership activities, recognitions and
service/citizenship. They also must include a writing sample as well as an
interview process.
A student
from the fifth, eighth and twelfth grade are chosen at the school level and the
winners at the school level are sent to the parish level, and if they win
there, they go on to the regional level.
Homer man busted for drugs
The Guardian-Journal
A traffic
stop made by Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputies turned into a drug bust as
officers found suspected drugs in the vehicle.
According
to a news release, Zackery Chad Smalling, 25, of Homer, was arrested on
Thursday, February 10, and charged with simple possession of marijuana with
bond set at $500, possession of drug paraphernalia with bond set at $500, tail
lamps required with bond set at $500, disobeying stop/yield signs with bond set
at $500, and driving under suspension with bond set at $500.
On that
date, Deputy Steve Harbour was patrolling south on Hwy. 79 when he observed a
vehicle with no tail lamps. Harbour observed the suspect vehicle fail to stop
at a red light and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.
The
driver was identified as Smalling.
At
that time, Deputy Aaron Christian arrived on scene to assist.
A
further check of Smalling’s information revealed that his driver’s license was
suspended. Christian’s K-9 partner alerted on the vehicle as to the presence of
illegal drugs.
A
search of the interior of the vehicle revealed a package of rolling papers and
a plastic baggie containing suspected marijuana.
Smalling
was placed under arrest and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention
Center and booked on the above charges.
Seeds of Light ministry growing
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Seeds
of Light Ministry now has an office in Homer where several activities for
offenders’ families can be held and nurtured.
Dr. Pat
Bates, founder, approached the Claiborne Parish Police Jury during their
regular monthly meeting last Wednesday and shared the news with them. Working
in conjunction with Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, the office space will
allow more programs for inmates as well as their families to give them the
opportunity to break the cycle of crime and lead productive lives as crime-free
citizens.
The
office, located at 607 Main Street behind Gray’s Jewelry, will allow space for
storage of items donated such as clothing, toys and food. It will also allow
enough space for a classroom where those inmates who wish can obtain a General
Equivalency Diploma (GED) or other school programs.
According
to the brochure, Seeds of Light is a faith-based nonprofit corporation whose
mission is to help communities by restoring justice by offering support to at-risk
families and children affected by crime.
“Our
vision is that these families and children will grow into productive citizens
contributing to the public good,” Dr. Bates says in the brochure.
Seeds
of Light Ministry operates under three tiers. Tier One is the welcome center,
which provides a thrift shop, toy room, food pantry and play yard/hobby farm.
“The
Center serves our communities’ at-risk, low-income children and the families of
the men and women incarcerated in Claiborne Parish,” she said. “We serve these
children and families with free food, clothing and household items as needed
and are available to meet their needs seven days a week.”
Tier
One also offers literacy classes that are open and free of charge to adults. It
also provides an after-school program for the children each Wednesday and an
all-day program most Saturdays.
Tier
Two provides support for inmates during their incarceration. Weekly GED classes
and Bible studies at the women’s facility, and other activities are provided.
Other activities include monthly worship services at David Wade Correctional
Center (DWCC) and occasional worship services at the Claiborne Parish Detention
Center.
In
2009, Gov. Bobby Jindal recognized Seeds of Light with a Governor’s Award for
Humanitarian Service.
Tier
Three is an extension of Tier Two as inmates re-enter society.
“We
assist the newly released with clothing, job placement, location of safe,
affordable housing and other basics,” the brochure states. “Every case is
individual; so we individualize our assistance. The goal of Tier Three is to
reduce recidivism among the population we serve, to encourage independence, and
to promote responsible adult/parenthood.
For
more information about Seeds of Light Ministry or to volunteer, please call Dr.
Pat Bates at 318-523-9353.
Openings left for Folk Art Workshop
There
are several openings for anyone wishing to take the Ford Museum's Folk Art
Workshop. The workshop instructor is Mrs. Chris Broussard. Classes will be
Monday, February 21, Wednesday, February, and Friday, February 25 from 5 pm - 8
pm. There is a $20 registration fee. All materials will be provided for
participants. Call 318-927-9190 or e-mail . Come and
enjoy and be creative!
CPSB audit keeps improving
Audit report shows fewer findings
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Claiborne Parish School Board (CPSB) received good news last Thursday on their
annual audit.
The
2010 fiscal year audit has improved tremendously from previous years, according
to Margie Williamson, auditor for the school board. They received an
unqualified opinion, which is the best opinion they could receive. This means
that all financial statements were fairly stated, she said.
“The
audit was much easier this year,” Williamson said. “They (CPSB) were ready long
before we got here.”
Not
only that, but the school board has greatly reduced its number of findings, or
issues they need to work on or correct. The 2009 audit showed eight findings,
however, with the hard work of the staff, department heads and business manager
Fred Evans, several of those findings were corrected.
According
to the audit report, the school board does have a repeat finding, which
included a lack of sufficient internal control in the school activity funds.
However, this finding was at the school level and is not an uncommon finding,
Williamson said. The issue was tracing deposits from the original source to the
bank.
“We
need to tighten up on internal control,” Evans said. “We have to be able to
trace it. This includes school game tickets, concessions and other activities.”
The
condition, according to the report, states, “Ticket reconciliation for sporting
events were not being performed; there was no audit trial where receipts of
school funds could be traced to the accompanying bank deposit; and start up
money for sporting events was being withheld from the gate receipts when the
deposit was made.”
The
recommendation states, “All schools should adhere to the best practices stated
for student activity funds in the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s School
Accounting Procedures Manual.”
The
second finding had to do with Title 1 and Special Education funds. According to
the audit report, there were two sets of reports filed inaccurately.
“The
Title I periodic expense report number 3 for the period ended March 31, 2010
was filed using quarterly financial data in the accumulated expenditures to
date column instead of year to date cumulative date as requested on the
reports,” the schedule of findings stated.
The
Special Education Maintenance of Effort report was also filed using the wrong
AFR information. Instead of suing the 2007-08 fiscal year information, they
used 2006-07 information.
Finding
three stated that Title I and Special Education programs “did not have controls
in place during the year to ensure that payments are not made to vendors who
are either suspended or debarred.” In other words, there was no documentation
if a vendor was suspended or debarred before a purchase was made.
In
other school board news, Captain Reggie Jackson, with David Wade Correctional
Center, said the inmates from the Offender Program want to build a gun cabinet
to auction off. Once complete, the gun cabinet will be put on display at the
Herbert S. Ford Museum with bids beginning in April. The proceeds from this auction
will go to Homer Elementary School.
According
to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams, if the auction goes well this
year, then another school will be selected to be the recipient of the funds
raised next school year.
The
school board also selected its committees for the year. They include:
• Long
Range Committee: District 9 School Board Member Joey White, chair, District 3
School Board Member Linda Knox and District 4 School Board Member Yolanda
Coleman.
•
Executive Committee: School Board Vice President Vera Meadors, chair, District
1 School Board Member Danny Lee and District 8 School Board Member Almeter
Willis.
•
Finance Committee: Linda Knox, chair, District 6 School Board Member Tommy
Davidson and Joey White.
•
Transportation Committee: District 5 School Board Member Stanley Edwards,
chair, Tommy Davidson and District 10 School Board Member B. Stewart Griffin.
• Drug
Committee: Almeter Willis, chair, B. Stewart Griffin and Yolanda Coleman.
•
Buildings and Grounds Committee: Danny Lee, chair, Yolanda Coleman and Stanley
Edwards.
•
Educational Committee: Vera Meadors, chair, Linda Knox and B. Stewart Griffin.
In
other news, the school board chose a demographer to study reapportionment, or
possible redistricting for the school board districts. Because the school board
districts run along the same line as the Claiborne Parish Police Jury’s, it’s
not likely any district lines will have to be redrawn. The school board also
voted to put $6,000 toward the total cost. Gary Joiner, with Precision Cartographics,
will do the school board’s study. The total cost of the study is $18,800.
In
personnel actions, there were three retirements and one resignation. Christene
Baker, a teacher at Homer Elementary, Beverly Curry, a teacher at Summerfield
High School and Debbie Mckinsey, a cafeteria technician at Homer High School,
all have retired. Jessica Sims-Beal, a teacher at Homer High School resigned as
she is relocating.
The
next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in the
school board meeting room at central office in Homer. For more information or
for questions, please call their office at 318-927-3502.
Redistricting not likely for Claiborne
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Reapportionment
The
Claiborne Parish Police Jury (CPPJ) and the Claiborne Parish School Board
(CPSB) have approved a company to study 2010 Census data to possibly
reapportion their district lines.
However,
it’s not likely either governing body will have to move their district lines,
even though preliminary Census numbers show an increase in population by 344
people. According to CPPJ Secretary Treasurer Dwayne Woodard, the parish’s
population is actually higher than expected. The 2000 Census shows that
Claiborne’s population was about 16,000, but the 2010 Census numbers show an
increase to 17,195.
It’s
still too early to tell whether the increase is concentrated in one district or
if it’s spread out over the 10 districts of the parish. District lines are
redrawn if there is more than a five percent increase or decrease in
population in each district.
Once
the breakdown of numbers come in, and if there is an increase or decrease of
five percent in a district, then the demographer will look at how to change the
district lines to bring it back within that five percent.
“We
don’t have any idea what district it’s in,” Woodard said. “When they (numbers)
do come in, they compare the numbers from the 2010 census and 2000 census and
look for an increase or decrease of five percent. What it all boils down to is
that we had an increase in population. That’s always a plus for this parish.”
During
February’s meeting of the police jury, jurors approved Demographer Gary D.
Joiner of Precision Cartographics who will study Claiborne Parish and make a
recommendation to both the police jury and the school board on how they should
redistrict Claiborne Parish if it’s needed.
The
school board is partnering with the police jury because the district lines for
both governing bodies are the same.
In
Joiner’s proposal, he outlined a timeline for the study and when it would be
completed. With public hearings and other events that must take place, the
study could be completed as early as August of this year.
Here’s
how the timeline in his proposal breaks down:
On
February 2, the Census delivered the geography of the Louisiana State
Legislature. February 15 was the anticipated delivery date of Census
information to consultants and government organizations. During the third week
of February, Joiner will present his initial findings to the police jury and
the school board and declare malapportionment, if necessary.
The
fourth week of February through the end of April, the police jury and the
school board will work on plans, make progress reports and work with
stakeholder groups.
The
second week of May is the absolute latest date for public hearings. The third
week of May is the latest date for the first reading of the reapportionment
plan. The first week of June will be the latest date for the police jury and
the school board to adopt the reapportionment plan.
Finally,
June 23 will be the date the final package can be sent to the Department of
Justice.
This
shows a tight timeline, Woodard said, because everything has to be in place by
election time. It has to be done before qualifying for the fall elections.
According
to Woodard, Louisiana is one of the first states to get their numbers back
because of the way its election cycles fall. Qualifying for the October 22
primary election will be September 6-8. The general election will be held
November 19.
Statewide,
legislators are working diligently to study the 2010 Census data to find out
how their districts will be reapportioned, and according to Rep. Richard “Rick”
Gallot, D-Ruston, Louisiana will lose a district. Congressional lines will be
moved this time, he said. It will change the districts for Gallot, Adley and
Walsworth. However, congressional lines have nothing to do with the number of
school board or police jury seats of representation, Woodard said.
In most
parishes, the school board district mirror the police jury districts, and the
closing or consolidation of schools have no effect on the representation of
districts. In other words, even if district lines had to be redrawn, the number
of police jurors and school board members would remain the same.
The
cost of the project will total $18,800, with $6,000 coming from the school
board.
Other
bids submitted to the police jury included ones from Redistricting LLC, Data
Center and Doug Mitchell.
I-69 Corridor
In
other news, the police jury tabled a motion to contribute $3,000 to the I-69
Coalition in order to gather more information on what other governing bodies
are doing.
J.T.
Taylor, a longtime advocate of the I-69 corridor, said that due to the economy,
progress has slowed somewhat on making the corridor in Claiborne Parish a
reality. Other setbacks include the retirement of John D. Caruthers, who worked
diligently to get things done on the corridor.
However,
Taylor said, several states have already approved several hundred miles of the
corridor, but more studies have sidetracked progression. According to his
reports, Indiana has already been set and approved as well as in Tennessee and
Mississippi.
Jurors
wanted to know what the money would be used for since the $3,000 contribution
was set to be an annual one.
“The
money mainly goes to lobbyists who go to Congress to push for it,” Taylor said.
The
CPPJ last contributed $3,000 in March of 2003.
Claiborne
Parish is in Section 14 of the corridor, which runs to Interstate 20.
While
the I-69 issue was tabled, the police jury through approval, made a decision on
what to do with the remaining Kisatchie RAC funds, which is about $50,000.
Representatives of Kisatchie attended the meeting, and the option the jury
chose was agreeable to both parties.
While
Option 1 would cost the jury a total of $138,000, Option 2 was more agreeable
in that it costs $50,000. The jury voted to dispose of the main building, the
latrine, well house, bunk house, classroom, maintenance building, sewage system
and fence. The jury will also clean up the site, returning it to Kisatchie as a
green area. The police jury will also plug the existing water well.
In
Option 1, the above mentioned buildings would have been rehabilitated, except
to dispose of the well house, the bunk house, classroom and maintenance
building. The jury would plug the existing water well and install a water main
from the Summerfield Water system to the site.
District
3 Police Juror Bob McDaniel updated jurors on the progress of the old Claiborne
Drug building, which if all goes well, will become the district attorney’s
office. According to McDaniel, their engineers have looked at the building, and
the proposed changes to the building include a reception area up front, three
cubicles, three enclosed offices and a conference room. They will also delete
the raised portion where the pharmacy used to be. It would cost approximately
$35,000 to renovate the building. It will be discussed with District Attorney
Jonathan Stewart for his approval before proceeding.
In the
garage committee report, District 5 Police Juror Lavelle Penix made the
following recommendations:
• To
declare a 1998 Ford Van E-450, a 2000 Dodge Van, three 6 ft by 15 ft metal
culverts and a 12 ft by 24 ft building all surplus items. They also have
several 4 ft by 18 ft walking pallets 6 inches thick.
• There
are also several bridge timbers, which were set at $100 each. According to Road
Superintendent Tommy Durrett, the prices were set in order to keep from having
to bid them out.
• The
purchase of a dump truck was also recommended. The police jury approved the go
ahead to purchase a 2012 Mack dump truck equipped with Davis 14 ft end dump
body. According to Penix, the truck would cost around $114,000 when all is said
and done.
In the
personnel committee report, District 2 Police Juror Mark Furlow updated the
jury on a couple of things happening. Truck driver Ricky Bearden resigned,
which leaves a position open in the highway department. Furlow recommended
going through Manpower, an employment company the police jury contracted with.
He made it clear, though, that anyone hired would be from within Claiborne
Parish.
The
police jury also unanimously approved:
• A
request for a nomination for a Claiborne Parish representative to serve on the
board of directors of the Local Governmental Entity, a part of the state’s
Department of Health and Hospitals. Dr. Alice Stewart was nominated for that
position with the understanding that she could turn it down if she chose to do
so.
• A
request from the U.S. Forestry Service asking assistance in plugging the
abandoned water well on the old LA Tech Forestry site.
• A
request from Trailblazer RCD, requesting $1,200 in annual support, which was
included in the 2011 annual budget.
• A
request from Claiborne Parish Fire District #3 for the parish
appointment/reappointment of board members. District 2 Police Juror Mark Furlow
abstained from vote because he is the fire chief of both District #3 and the
Haynesville Fire Department. Those prospective board members included Danny
Mills, Freddie Crump, Eddie Bailey, West Ogden and Tim Thomas. Board members
Tom Crocker and Jimmy D. Bower resigned.
• A
request for permission to advertise a “Request for Qualification Statement for
Engineering Services” for drainage improvements under GOHSEP HMPG grant.
The
next meeting of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury will be held at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, March 9, in the police jury room at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury
Complex. For more information or for questions, please call 318-927-2222.
Flames turn to heavy smoke
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
White plumes of smoke plagued downtown
businesses Tuesday afternoon as a this yard debris fire, located at 304 West
3rd Street, burns a little too hot for comfort. Bright orange flames quickly
turn to heavy smoke, then on to a huge, soggy mess as Homer Fire Department’s
Tommy Sanders, along with other members of the HFD quickly bring the blaze
under control. Thankfully the fire was extinguished before any damage to
surrounding properties occurred.
NAACP kickoff meeting of competition
program this Saturday
Claiborne
Parish NAACP is happy to announce the kickoff of a competition program, Afro
Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics, for high school students.
Although this is the first year that the program is being offered in Claiborne
Parish, more than 260,000 youth from across the country have participated in
the program since its inception in 1978.
Students
can compete in up to three categories in the science, humanities, performing
arts, visual arts, and business. The sciences include biology/microbiology,
chemistry/biochemistry, computer science, earth and space sciences,
engineering, mathematics, medicine and health, and physics. Humanities include
music composition, original essay, playwriting and poetry. Performing arts
include dance, dramatics, instrumental and vocal classical music, instrumental
and vocal contemporary music, and oratory. Visual arts include architecture,
drawing, filmmaking, painting, photography, and sculpture. Business includes
entrepreneurship.
To
participate a student must be considered an amateur in his/her area(s) of
competition and must have a parent or guardian living in Claiborne Parish.
Winners will receive an expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles for national
competition in July.
Interested
students and a parent/guardian should come to a 10:00 AM meeting Saturday,
February 19, 2011 at New Hope Family Center, 1435 Monroe Avenue in Homer.
For
additional information e-mail claiborneparishact.so@gmail.com or call Mrs.
Sadie France Flucas at 318-299-8211.
