Homer PD makes Big Bust
Photo courtesy of the Homer Police
Department
Pictured above is the evidence collected
at the scene where Ramundro Knowles and Richard Rickholt were arrested Tuesday
afternoon.
The Guardian-Journal
The
Homer Police Department spent a busy Tuesday afternoon interviewing two people
who were arrested on drug charges.
Ramundro
Knowles and Richard Rockholt, both of Homer, were arrested after Homer Police
Chief Russell Mills observed suspicious behavior.
Knowles
is charged with distribution of marijuana, possession with intent to
distribute, possession of cocaine over 28 grams and possession of Schedule III
CDS (Lortab). Bond is to be set.
Rockholt
was charged with simple possession of marijuana with bond set at $1,000.
According
to police, Mills was in the area of the 200 block of Lisbon Street when he
observed two men, later identified as Knowles and Rockholt, behaving
suspiciously. The chief stopped the two and began talking to them.
During
his conversation with the two, he asked them if they had anything on them or
anything going on.
According
to reports, Knowles said no, and gave the chief consent to search the home,
which is where they appeared to be coming from.
At that
time, Homer Police Sgt. Van McDaniel was called to assist. Upon arrival, both
McDaniel and Mills entered the home with the two men. While interviewing them,
Mills noticed what appeared to be a marijuana stem on the floor. When asked if
there was any other marijuana in the house, they said no, giving police consent
to search the rest of the home.
The
chief walked through the house with Knowles and noticed the back door was open.
The two returned to the living room, but Mills returned to the back door and
while searching the back yard, he discovered a duffle bag around the back side
of the house. When he returned to the living room with bag in hand, he opened
it and found more of what appeared to be marijuana.
As
McDaniel searched the kitchen area of the home, he discovered a spoon and a
razor blade with what appeared to be cocaine residue on them. McDaniel then
questioned Knowles about his discovery, at which time, the suspect admitted to
having drugs in the home, police say.
According
to police, McDaniel and Knowles went to the back of the house, where Knowles
allegedly pulled out several baggies of suspected cocaine from under the steps.
In all,
police collected more than $300 in cash, more than 28 grams of suspected
cocaine, several baggies of suspected marijuana (more than one pound), weight
scales and 12 alleged Lortab pills. All these items were collected and entered
into evidence.
The two
were arrested on the above charges, and as of press time, were awaiting
transport to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center for further booking.
In
other news, De Undre Dunn was arrested on Thursday, January 12, on a warrant
issued for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. This arrest comes on
the heels of his arrest for second degree aggravated battery after he allegedly
hit another man in the face area with the butt of a handgun.
The
incident occurred on New Year’s Eve, when Homer Police were dispatched to Hudd
Drive in reference to a fight. Officers reported that witnesses told them Dunn
pulled a handgun and repeatedly struck the victim, Scott Richardson, in the
face area. Richardson was transported to the hospital for treatment of his
injuries.
Bond on
the second degree aggravated battery charge was $25,000, and bond on the
possession of a firearm charge was also set at $25,000, for a total of $50,000.
KTBS comes to Homer
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
KTBS 3’s Rick Rowe reports live from
Homer Seafood Thursday, January 12, during the station’s Community Caravan
luncheon with a number of Claiborne Parish residents.
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Area
residents packed the house at Homer Seafood/Pizza Pro last Thursday, January 12
to meet and greet with a number of KTBS 3’s news anchors as they visited the
area during the station’s On Your Side Community Caravan.
The
event is an effort by the team at KTBS 3 to visit communities in a 150-mile
radius around the Shreveport/Bossier City metroplex, communities in which the
station provides news, weather, community events and much more.
As the
first Community Caravan of 2012, Claiborne Parish residents packed every seat
as KTBS 3 reporter Rick Rowe greeted those attending.
Citizens
were able to pull up and chair, sit a spell, and have a visit with their
reporter of choice - Rick Rowe, Jan Elkins, the new meteorologist Alexandra
Cranford, who joined the team in October of 2011, and Jody Lowery, who recently
returned to the KTBS family.
Lowery
was even welcomed back by a gentleman named BJ who drove all the way from
Magnolia, Arkansas, who wanted to personally let her know how much he enjoyed
her being back with KTBS.
The
KTBS 3 crew continued around the parish for the remainder of the afternoon and
took shots from the Claiborne Parish Courthouse lawn and a number of other places
on the square and in the area.
Missing man found safe
The Guardian-Journal
The
hunt for a Claiborne Parish man ended safely last Thursday.
On
Wednesday, January 11, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office began a two-day
search for Christopher Lamartiniere, a 53-year-old man from Athens.
Mr.
Lamartiniere was last seen at approximately 6 a.m. on Wednesday, by this
brother. The sheriff’s Office was notified that afternoon that Mr. Lamartiniere
had not returned home.
The
sheriff’s office, with the help of David Wade Correctional Chase Team searched
the area around the residence but were unable to locate him.
On that
Thursday, the search continued with the help of the Louisiana State Police,
which furnished a helicopter for the search and other personnel. Evidence
discovered by Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Christian led to Mr.
Lamartiniere being found by the chase team at approximately 6:40 p.m. in the
woods about one mile from his residence.
He was
suffering from hyperthermia and other injuries that occurred due to his having
spent the night in the woods.
Rape definition expanded
The
Justice Department announced that the decades-old definition of rape has been
expanded.
The new
definition states that any nonconsensual penetration, no matter the gender of
the attacker or victim, will be classified as rape.
“These
long overdue updates to the definition of rape will help ensure justice for
those whose lives have been devastated by sexual violence and reflect the
Department of Justice’s commitment to standing with rape victims,” U.S.
Attorney General Eric Holder said.
Established
in 1927, the old definition of rape was, “the carnal knowledge of a female,
forcibly and against her will.” As we well know, there is much more to sexual
assault than this.
The new
outlook defines rape as “penetration, no matter how slight...” and includes
male victims as well as female victims.
This is
a step closer to identifying the real issues we have regarding sexual assault.
Only
once a problem is correctly identified and recognized can we move forward to
offer solutions.
If you
or someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault, please contact
Victims’ Advocate Deputy Donna Smith, of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
at 318-927-9800.
Sheriff warns of scams
The
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to warn citizens of several scamps
that have been reported in the area.
One
instance consisted of two men posing as “government employees” gaining entry
into the residence of an elderly couple. The subjects told the elderly couple
that in order to possibly receive government assistance with their utilities,
they would have to measure each of the rooms in the house.
While
one suspect kept the couple busy in one area of the house, the other suspect
took money from another area of the residence.
A
second instance involves emails, faxes or phone calls received from various
people regarding different types of money exchanges. They generally consist of
a scenario in which you would transfer, wire or deposit money into an account
and they promise a portion of their funds will be given to you.
Many of
them report some type of political problem with a foreign country or a sudden
death or disaster causing their hardship. The suspects are generally begging
for your help.
Sheriff
Ken Bailey would like to remind you to please be very careful with any
information regarding your finances and do not fall prey to these scams. Here
are a few tips to remember:
• If it
sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
• Get
everything in writing.
• Ask
detailed questions about the offer, including the total price and fees,
interest rate, delivery date, return or cancellation policy and any warranty
terms.
• Think
about the offer before you sign. If you feel pressured, do not sign the agreement.
Take the contract home and read the fine print.
•
Research the company or charity. Does the company have an office, or just a
mailbox? Does the phone number match the address? When hiring a contractor,
check references and negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of
work.
• Never
disclose your credit card, bank account or Social Security numbers to someone
who contacts you by telephone or Internet.
• Do
not deposit a check or money order that you receive from a work-at-home offer
or a sweepstakes. When they ask you to send money back to them, you will be
sending your own money, because they sent you a phony check or money order.
• Never
pay an upfront fee in order to collect a lottery or sweepstakes prize. If they
ask you for money before you can collect a prize, then it’s a scam.
• Check
for fraud on your credit card billing statements and credit reports. Keep all
of your paperwork, including copies of any complaints you file against a
business.
•
Password protect your financial and utility accounts and vital personal records
with a clue that is not easily determined.
• As
for identification from the individual at the door if they identify themselves
as a local, state or federal employee, they will have some form of government
identification. Most companies, such as UPS, FedEx or Entergy require their
employees and subcontractors to wear a company shirt and/or an identification
card.
Anyone
having information about this or anyone encountering these situations should
contact the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office immediately at 318-927-2011.
Lisbon Landing de-silting project
suspended
The Guardian-Journal
Members
of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District unanimously decided to suspend the
Lisbon Landing de-silting project in light of problems they did not foresee.
According
to Watershed District Chairman Dr. Robert Haynes, a representative from the
Corps of Engineers said they could dredge the boat launch area and channel as
long as it didn’t kill any trees. Dr. Haynes took the representative to Lisbon
Landing, showed him what they wanted to do, but on the west side, the cluster
of trees is considered a wetland -- which is protected by state law.
However,
according to Brad Graff, with Cothren, Graff and Smoak Engineers, a berm could
be built with the silt that has been moved from the launch and channel, but it
can’t go any further west.
“If we
did any more than that, we would have to get an individual permit,” Dr. Haynes
said.
Which
poses another problem -- the permitting process. If they only use a half acre
to build the berm, then they would only have to apply for a national permit.
However, if they use more than a half-acre, then they would have to get
individual permits, which would take longer and cost more.
“It’s
silly to just move the dirt and not put it back where it came from,” District
Member Phillip “Butch” Fincher said.
Because
the lake levels are rising again with all the much-needed rain recently, if
they had decided to move forward with the project, it would have had to be done
hydraulically, where they could move the dirt out of the lake and haul it off.
Doing it that way is much more expensive, but it would have been the best route
to take. And, Graff said, if they decided to remove the silt hydraulically,
then it would allow them to obtain a general permit.
Fincher,
treasurer, raised concern about the mounting costs they were discussing, saying
he would vote against anything that would raise the expenses of this project.
He then suggested applying for a grant to help defray the costs if they have to
haul the dirt out instead of disbursing it.
“No
matter which way you go, it’s still going to be expensive,” Graff told the
commission.
In the
end, the Commission decided to stop advertising for bids on the project and
Graff is to continue working towards getting the needed permits to de-silt the
launch area and channel. They also decided to wait until the next drawdown,
which is expected to be in six years.
In
other news, the commission elected officers for the current term. All officers
will remain the same as last year: Dr. Haynes, president, Chic Hines, vice
president, Wayne Kilpatrick, secretary and Fincher will again serve as
treasurer.
The
next meeting of the Claiborne Parish Watershed District Commission will be at
5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 22, in the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Complex’s
conference room. For more information, or for questions, please call their
office at 318-927-5161.
State superintendent choice causes
concern
The Guardian-Journal
Gov.
Bobby Jindal has appointed a new state superintendent, and while some are
pleased with the choice, others are not, namely the Louisiana Association of
Educators (LAE).
LAE
published a press release stating they did not agree with how the choice was
made because the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)
did not allow for an open, transparent selection process.
On
Wednesday, January 11, BESE approved Gov. Jindal’s choice for the state
superintendent, John White. According to BESE’s minutes, the vote was nine in
favor, one against and one abstention. BESE Board Member Lottie Beebe was the
only vote against. According to LAE, Beebe was concerned about White’s
credentials and level of experience.
“I
believe that John White is a very charismatic, kind-hearted and courteous
fellow,” said LAE President Joyce Haynes. “Unfortunately, now we will watch him
struggle as he makes the changes that Governor Jindal wants.”
And
while Claiborne Schools, along with every other school system in Louisiana,
deal with these changes, LAE and Beebe are still upset with the fact that White
was appointed and not chosen by requirements established in law and BESE rules.
However,
according Title 28, Part 1 of BESE’s rules, “the state superintendent has to be
chosen by a two-thirds vote by the BESE board,” and White received more than
that.
“The
state superintendent shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the total
membership of the board, subject to confirmation by the senate.” (LAC 309:A.1)
And
even though LAE is not happy with the way things were handled, BESE and Gov.
Jindal’s actions have a much farther reach than many realize.
Claiborne
Schools Superintendent Dr. Janice Williams, while not happy with the decision,
said she intends to work with White as best she can.
“I’m
going to do the best that I can to work with the new state superintendent,” she
said, “however, my main concern is and always will be the students of Claiborne
Parish. I have to do what’s in the best interest of the students.”
However,
Jindal praised White for “a great job for the Recovery School District.”
“Improving
our educational system will require bold leadership and innovative ideas, such
as empowering parents with more choices, rewarding highly effective teachers,
and giving our schools the flexibility to pursue the most effective reforms for
students in their communities,” the governor said in a press release.
White
takes over for Ollie Tyler, who stepped in to serve as acting superintendent
after Paul Pastorek stepped down last May. His entire pay package his not yet
been disclosed, but his annual salary will be $275,000, according to LAE.
White,
who began his career as a high school English teacher, is currently the
Superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD). He took the
position in May 2011. White also served on the senior leadership team of New
York City’s Department of Education before coming to Louisiana.
White
said in a press release that he was happy and humbled to become the state’s new
superintendent.
“The
growth Louisiana has made over the last several years is unprecedented and
represents the greatest potential we have to ensure our next generation
succeeds in school and in life,” he said. “I’m humbled
and honored to serve Louisiana’s children, and I thank you for your confidence
and support. At the same time, given our charge and what’s at stake for our
children, I’m eager to get to work with BESE, the administration, local communities
and educators across our state so we can focus on improving our schools and the
academic success of our students.”
White’s
appointment has been highly anticipated since the elections for the board this
past fall ensured he would have the eight-vote supermajority needed to become
the next superintendent. But, according to the Department of Education, White
does not quite meet the requirements to be a superintendent because he doesn’t
have his teaching certificate. Title 28, Part 1 309(A)1.a, under the qualifications
for superintendent, gives a little leeway stating he has to have an “advanced
degree in public administration, education, or related area.”
And
while he takes the top education spot, many school officials are still very
concerned about the impact of his appointment and the passage of Act 54.
With
the implementation of Act 54, which was signed into law in May 2010, big
changes have come and will still be coming in the 2012-13 school year.
Changes
such as moving forward with charters, the use of vouchers and the flawed
value-added teacher evaluation model brought forth by Act 54, the LAE press
release states.
In
November 2011, board members called a special meeting to explain what the
letter grade system, which is part of Act 54, and one of the changes being made
to School Performance Scores (SPS). According to Janet Holland, Claiborne
Schools Accountability Coordinator, 45 percent of schools in the state received
a “D” or “F” score. But, the 45 percent does not accurately depict the number
of schools that actually failed, because Jindal did not list three percent of
the schools, which are charter schools in the New Orleans Recovery District --
the position White comes from within mere months of taking the job of School
Superintendent of the Recovery School District.
And
with those reforms comes the domino effect of what will happen in the future.
School officials in Claiborne Parish believe the voucher system used in New
Orleans is going to hurt the public school system tremendously because state funds
will no longer be distributed to public school systems as they are today.
Also,
another fearful factor for teachers is that 50 percent of a teacher’s
evaluation will come from student performance. If after three years, teachers
don’t improve, they can be removed from their positions.
Holland
said state officials are informing school districts that the new reforms could
potentially lead to teacher tenure being done away with, teacher retirement
being deeply affected, and it would open the door for out-of-state corporations
to run charter schools with non-certified teachers in the classrooms with only
five weeks of training.
Louisiana’s
State Superintendent of Education is responsible for recommending and
implementing public education policy for 70 local school districts, comprised
of nearly 1,500 schools, serving approximately 690,000 students. The role also
oversees the activities of the Louisiana Department of Education, as the
agency’s chief administrator.
FD #3 board president removed
The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Parish Police Jury President Scott Davidson made it clear that blatant ethics
violations will not be tolerated following the removal of Fire District #3
Board President Danny Mills.
According
to a letter from West Ogden, District #3’s Board Secretary, Mills was in
violation of several ethics laws and asked the police jury to remove him from
the board, effective immediately. Ogden said that Mills was “knowingly breaking
the law by being on the board and his son being employed by the District.”
“Danny
Mills was contacted by District #3 lawyer (Jim Hatch) on January 6, who
informed him that he was in violation of these laws,” Ogden stated, “and the
only two things that can now be done, is that he, Danny Mills, step down from
the board, or his son, Larry Mills, be terminated.”
Larry
Mills is a paid employee of Fire District #3.
According
to Ogden, Mills’ actions were “unbecoming” when he stepped down from the
District #3 Fire Department by throwing his pager at the fire chief (Mark
Furlow) and “admitted to breaking law by not stepping down and by letting his
son come to work (after being told that he was in violation of the law).”
Mills
has also been accused of going over the board attempting to get the treasurer
to pay for things that were not approved, or made aware of, by the board.
“We as
public officials, whether elected or appointed, we have to consider our actions
and our words, because we can’t even begin to give the appearance of
impropriety,” Davidson said. “There are limits and boundaries, but you’ve got
to adhere to the rules that have been put in place.
“If you
have an attorney with the ethics board saying you’re in violation, then we
don’t have much of a choice,” Davidson continued. “That’s why I felt the jury
needed to act and we did what we thought was right. We just didn’t have any
choice. It would not make any difference who it was. If we’re made aware of
something like this, in my opinion, the result would be the same.”
District
#3 Fire Chief Mark Furlow, also District 2’s Police Juror, abstained from
voting on the matter due to any possible conflicts of interest.
Also,
Board Member Timothy Thomas submitted his letter of resignation on District
#3’s board because he had to move outside the district. He then submitted his
recommendation to take his place, Alan Fanning, who lives within the district
and is a very active member of the Haynesville Fire Department. The police jury
voted unanimously to accept his resignation and appoint Fanning to the board.
In
other fire department news, Danny “Doc” Lee resigned from Fire District #6’s
Board of Directors saying that after serving 17 years on the board, he felt it
was time to resign. At the recommendation of the board, Brandon Forgey’s name
was submitted to the police jury and it was approved. Forgey will begin his
service on the board beginning in February.
In
other police jury news, the state is allowing Claiborne Parish to “pick up two
structures for replacement that currently qualify” under the Federal Off-System
Highway Bridge Program.
According
to Road Superintendent Tommy Durrett, “if approved, this will only allow us to
submit the projects to the state district bridge maintenance for their approval
before the structures will be placed in the program.”
These
bridges include Lyons Hill Road (Caney Creek) and Flat Lick Road (Flat Lick
Bayou).
The
board also approved:
• 2012
Committees, which include the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Claims
Committee, Finance Committee, Garage Committee, Grants Committee, Housing
Committee, Personnel Committee and the Road Committee.
•
Meeting dates for 2012, which usually fall on the first Wednesday after the
first Sunday of each month. In September, the date may be changed based on the
need for the Board of Review for the Tax Roll. The Claiborne Parish Police Jury
acts as the Board of Review.
•
Ordinance 764, Declaration of Certain Adjudicated Properties as Surplus. These
properties may be viewed by the public at the police jury office.
•
Ordinance 765, the operating budget for the police jury for 2012.
• The
reappointment of Frank T. Speer to the Library Board of Control for a five-year
term.
The
next meeting of the Claiborne Parish Police Jury will be held at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, February 8, in the meeting room. For more information or for
questions, please call their office at 318-927-2222.
