Two stabbing cases headed to court
The Guardian-Journal
Two
women accused of stabbing their spouse and boyfriend are headed to court on
Monday, September 17.
Betty
Reynolds’ and Patishi Kirk’s cases are on the docket for trial on that day.
Reynolds
is accused of stabbing her husband, Kenneth Reynolds, to death during an
altercation which she says was an accident, according to Haynesville Police
Chief Anthony Smith in an earlier report. Reynolds said she and her husband
were involved in a verbal altercation at the time at which point she told him
she wanted a divorce. Allegedly, Smith said, Reynolds told police her husband
slapped her and when he turned around, he walked into a knife.
At some
point during the altercation, Smith said, Reynolds piled her husband’s clothes
in the middle of the floor and attempted to set them on fire.
“When
officers arrived,” Smith said in an earlier report, “the house was in disarray,
but there’s no evidence to support that he walked into a knife.”
Autopsy
reports show that Mr. Reynolds was stabbed in the left chest area, where the
knife punctured his heart.
Reynolds
was indicted on both charges on March 29, 2011 and was arrested on April 19 and
booked into the Claiborne Parish Women’s Jail with bonds totaling $150,000.
While
in the beginning, she obtained counsel through the Indigent Defender Board, she
later obtained her own counsel with Thomas and Thomas of Houston, Texas. Her
attorney, Michael A. Thomas, moved for a bail reduction and also filed a motion
for a right to a speedy trial. His motion on her behalf to reduce bond was
based on a “virtually non-existent criminal history,” according to court
documents, and the fact that she “has young children in Claiborne Parish, is not
a danger to others and will not affect her appearance in court.”
On
November 9, 2011, a continuance was filed and granted and moved to April 16 of
this year, citing the need for time to allow her current attorney to review the
case.
On
November 21, 2011, Thomas filed another “motion for rule to show cause” saying
the jail is opening and reading her mail and that sheriff’s officials are not
privy to that information under the constitutions of Louisiana and the United
States.
However,
according to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, it is common practice for
detention facilities to open and scan mail of inmates to keep contraband from
entering the jail premises. He said it was important to do that to keep
anything out that would hurt other inmates or his prison staff. Things they
looked for include any kind of drugs, dangerous weapons, pornography, or
anything that had the potential to hurt someone.
“We
always open and scan mail,” Bailey said. “If its
legal mail, we give it to them and make them open it up in front of us so we
can check for any kind of contraband. Any other mail is opened, scanned and
read before it’s given to them.”
However,
the case file shows no answer to that motion; instead, the next piece of
paperwork filed was what’s called a “defendant’s motion for bill of
particulars,” which is a detailed, formal, written statement of charges or
claims by a plaintiff or the prosecutor given upon the defendant's formal
request to the court for more detailed information.
In the
Reynolds case, Thomas filed a bill of particulars asking if the state intended
“invoke La. R.S. 14:30.1 (A) (1) and (2) relative to ‘when the offender is
engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of ... aggravated arson.”
The defense also asked if the state intended to offer a theory or evidence that
Reynolds committed a homicide by criminal negligence and a theory that the
defendant was the aggressor relative to the charges under the indictment.
Assistant
District Attorney Jim Hatch filed a motion in answer to those particulars as
well as a notice of intent to use evidence of other crimes committed by the
defendant.
“The
purpose of using this evidence is to show intent and that the murder was not a
mistake or accident,” the court document stated.
The
defense also filed a notice to invoke self-defense, accident and mistake of
fact as its defense. Along with that, the defense also filed a motion to
“quash” the state’s introduction of evidence that would prove intent, saying
this evidence and testimony should be inadmissible, because the evidence
doesn’t relate to conduct that constitutes an “integral part of any act that is
the subject of the present proceeding.” The evidence the state would propose is
an attempt to offer inadmissible “character evidence” in direct conflict with
CE Art. 405 (methods of proving character) and thus, the “balancing test” of CE
Art. 403 (Exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion, or
waste of time).
His
motion goes on to state that the evidence “should be excluded where it’s
probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
confusion of the issues, or to mislead the jury, including considerations of
undue delay or waste of time.” The motion to quash continues, stating that
Article 404B “may not be utilized to prove character as understood in the
traditional, move protective view of such evidence...”
The
state filed a memorandum in support of the motion to use evidence of other
crimes, saying the state filed a motion to use prior crimes to prove intent,
absence of mistake of fact or accident.
“Code
of Evidence 404B permits the use of prior crimes to prove intent, plan,
knowledge and among others absence of mistake or accident,” the memorandum
states.
Following
that motion, Reynolds’ attorney also filed a motion for indigency and
appointment for special assistance for services and counseling for battered
women, stating she has exhausted all funds and is seeking aid of “Battered
Women’s Services” including, but not limited to, counseling, therapeutic and
tactical services relative to her mental health. The state answered by filing a
motion in opposition of his request.
“The
state opposes the state sponsored appointment and payment of a battered women’s
therapist became [sic] (because) the state can present evidence that the victim
was a battered husband, having suffered indignities and physical abuse from the
defendant for the most recent few years of the marriage,” the opposition
document states.
And
while the Reynolds case has been a heated one, Patishi Kirk is also set to face
a judge on September 17. Kirk is accused of the stabbing death of Vincent Dunn
in July 2010. According to police, they received a call on Saturday, July 3,
2010. Police say Dunn was found inside a bedroom in the home and when officials
checked for a pulse and other vital signs, none were found.
At that
time, Kirk was transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Jail for her own
safety. Officers collected evidence at the scene – clothing and other items of
evidence believed to be used during the commission of the crime.
Dr.
D.K. Haynes, coroner, arrived at the scene and assisted officers in the initial
investigation where Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene.
According
to Captain Donald Malray, of the Homer Police Department, Kirk confessed to the
crime when questioned but offered no motive behind the incident.
Police
records indicate officers have been called to the Hunter Street residence
several times in the past in reference to domestic issues. In the past, Dunn
also had a restraining order on Kirk, Malray said.
On
August 3, 2010, her bond was reduced from $250,000 to $150,000, at which time
she bonded out and has been out on bail since.
Assistant
District Attorney Danny Newell is lead prosecutor on the case.
Prayer supper for Emilee Holloway set
for August 24
Picture: Emilee smiling picture
Emilee Holloway
A
prayer supper will be hosted by 
First United Methodist Church in Homer to pray
for Emilee Holloway, who has suffered debilitating seizures most of her young
life.
The
prayer program will begin at 7 p.m. Please plan on being with us for the
evening and if you can’t, please stop at 7 p.m. and say a prayer for Emilee,
her family and her doctors. The family is asking for prayers for no more
seizure activity and for the right side of little Emilee’s brain to pick up the
activity of the left side.
Beginning
at 5 p.m., hamburger plates will be for sale for a $10 donation. Plates will
include a burger, chips, a dessert and a drink. You can pick them up at that
time or stay and eat with all of us.
T-shirts
will also be for sale as a fundraiser for Emilee. For those interested in
purchasing a T-shirt, please contact Allison Dillon at 318-433-0863. Youth
sizes are $12, adult smalls through extra-large for $15, and 2x through 4x are
$17.
Emilee
is expected to have life-altering surgery on September 13 at Cook’s Children’s
Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas where she will undergo a left hemispherectomy.
Surgeons will remove part of the left side of her brain and disconnect the
rest.
Emilee
is expected to be in the hospital for six weeks if all goes well, her mother,
Jennifer Holloway, said. She will undergo therapy for several years of her life
for paralysis on her right side. Once she returns home, she will undergo
therapy every day for quite a while, which will include physical therapy,
speech therapy and occupational therapy.
“It’s a
lot of prayer and hope,” she said. “I’ve been
in contact with other parents whose children have had these surgeries and there
is some hope.”
She
mentioned a woman who has a son who had the same side of the brain removed and
he’s made wonderful progress, saying that he’s now speaking up to 300 words at
age three.
“If it
weren’t for her, I don’t think we’d have the courage to do it,” Holloway said.
The
hope is the seizures will stop with the surgery, because there is no medicine
that will stop the seizures. If the seizures are allowed to continue, they
could end up damaging the good portion of her brain.
Please
be at the church at 7 p.m. and come pray for Emilee and her family.
Traffic stop leads to drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
A
routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a Homer man when drugs were
discovered in his vehicle.
According
to a news release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday,
August 4, Lt. Roger Ellerbe was on routine traffic patrol and observed a
vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. 79. There was also no license
plate on the vehicle.
Upon
stopping the vehicle, Ellerbe found the driver to be Jeffery D. Hamilton, 20,
of Homer, and there was a passenger in the vehicle.
Deputy
Shane Huffstetler arrived to assist.
Ellerbe
conducted a traffic investigation and found that Hamilton did not have a valid
registration for the vehicle, nor proof of insurance. During the course of
further investigation, deputies discovered a small amount of what appeared to
be marijuana in the driver’s side floorboard. Hamilton advised that the
marijuana was his.
Hamilton
was placed under arrest and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention
Center. He was charged with speeding with bond set at $500, no license plate
light with bond set at $500, invalid registration in vehicle with bond set at
$500, no motor vehicle insurance with bond set at $500 and possession of
Schedule I CDS (marijuana) with bond set at $500.
Man gets 38 years in international porn
ring case
The Guardian-Journal
Eight
more defendants, including Edward Oedewaldt, 49, have been sentenced for their
involvement in an international criminal network organized to sexually exploit
children in connection with their participation in the Dreamboard Child
Exploitation bulletin board, said U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley.
Altogether,
these eight defendants received a collective total of 169 years. Oedewaldt, of
Arcadia, was sentenced for engaging in child exploitation enterprise and
possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison and
placed on lifetime supervised release for his conviction on charges of engaging
in a child exploitation enterprise and possession of child pornography.
While
living in Arcadia, Oedewaldt was a moderator of Dreamboard, handling technical
matters including the encryption of posts so that law enforcement could not
catch participants on the board and the mentoring of members. He was a longtime
collector of child pornography, having been a member of several other child
pornography bulletin boards and the administrator of at least one other child
pornography bulletin board.
To
date, he is the highest level member of the board to be convicted. U.S.
District Judge S. Maurice Hicks handed down the sentences.
“The
sentences reflect the seriousness of this criminal activity,” Finley said. “We
know that there is more work to be done, and we will continue investigating and
prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the laws. We want the
community to know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of
Justice, along with our federal, state and local partners, are committed to
protecting children from these vile criminals. They can’t hide on the internet,
in other countries or behind fake names.”
Special
Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans,
Raymond R. Parmer Jr. said, “This week alone we have seen eight significant
prison sentences handed down under Operation Delego to men involved with child
pornography, with more soon to come. Due to the outstanding teamwork demonstrated
in this case by HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of
Louisiana, we are aggressively seeking out child predators in our communities
and prosecuting them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Forty-two
out of 72 individuals have been convicted for their participation in an
international Dreamboard network. The network was dedicated to the sexual abuse
of children and the creation and dissemination of graphic images and videos of
child sexual abuse throughout the world.
The
charges against these defendants were a result of Operation Delego, an ongoing
investigation that was launched in December 2009 that targeted individuals
around the world for their participation in Dreamboard. Dreamboard was a
private, members-only, online bulletin board that was created and operated to
promote pedophilia and encourage the sexual abuse of very young children in an
environment designed to avoid law enforcement detection.
Operation
Delego represents the largest prosecution to date in the United States of
individuals who participated in an online bulletin board conceived and operated
for the sole purpose of promoting child sexual abuse, disseminating child
pornography and evading law enforcement.
All 72
of the defendants were charged with conspiring to advertise and distribute
child pornography, and 50 of the defendants were also charged with engaging in
a child exploitation enterprise. Out of the 72 charged defendants, 55 have been
arrested in the United States and abroad. Forty-one individuals have pleaded
guilty, and one defendant was convicted after a four-day jury trial. Thirty-six
of the 41 individuals who have pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy
have been sentenced to prison and have received sentences ranging between 10
years and life. Thirteen of the 72 charged individuals remain at large and are
known only by their online identities. Efforts to identify and apprehend these
individuals continue.
According
to court documents and evidence presented at the trial of defendant John Wyss,
aka “Bones,” Dreamboard members traded graphic images and videos of adults
molesting children 12 years of age or younger, often violently, and
collectively created a massive private library of images of child sexual abuse.
The
international group prized and encouraged the creation of new images and videos
of child sexual abuse -- numerous Dreamboard members sexually abused children,
produced images and videos of the abuse, and shared the images and videos with
other members of Dreamboard.
Dreamboard
members employed a variety of measures designed to conceal their criminal
activity from detection by law enforcement. Members communicated using aliases
or “screen names,” rather than their actual names. Links to child pornography
posted on Dreamboard were required to be encrypted with a password that was
shared only with other members. Members accessed the board via proxy servers,
which routed Internet traffic through other computers so as to disguise a
user’s actual location and prevent law enforcement from tracing internet
activity. Dreamboard members also encouraged the use of encryption programs on
their computers, which password-protect computer files to prevent law
enforcement from accessing them in the event of a court-authorized search.
Membership
was tightly controlled by the administrators of Dreamboard, who required
prospective members to upload child pornography portraying children 12 years of
age or younger when applying for membership. Once they were given access,
members were required continually to upload images of child sexual abuse in
order to maintain membership. Members who failed to follow this rule would be
expelled from the group.
According
to court documents, Dreamboard members were divided into groups based on status
and ranking. The highest level of membership was “Super VIP(.).”
Individuals
who maintained that title had created new images of child pornography by
molesting children and shared those images with the board administrators. The
next level of membership was “Super VIP,” which was comprised of trusted
members of the website. The next level after Super VIP was the “VIP” rank.
Individuals in the lowest level of membership were called “Members.”
Those
in the lower ranks could only access a limited quantity of child pornography on
the bulletin board. The higher the rank, the more material was available to the
member. Individuals advanced to higher levels of membership by providing child
abuse images that the individual had produced, providing a large number of
images, or providing images that had never been seen before.
Operation
Delego involved extensive international cooperation to identify and apprehend
Dreamboard members abroad. Through coordination between ICE, the Department of
Justice, Eurojust, the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, and dozens
of law enforcement agencies throughout the world, 20 Dreamboard members across
five continents and 14 countries have been arrested to date outside the United
States, including two of the five lead administrators of the board. These
countries include Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala,
Hungary, Kenya, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden and
Switzerland. Numerous foreign investigations related to Operation Delego remain
ongoing. The location and arrest of Dreamboard members abroad have led to the
capture and investigation of other global targets.
The
case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker of the
Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorneys Keith Becker and Anitha Ibrahim
of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice
Department’s Criminal Division. The Criminal Division’s Office of International
Affairs provided substantial assistance. The investigation was conducted by
ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, the Child Exploitation Section of ICE’s
Cyber Crimes Center, CEOS, CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit and 35 ICE
offices in the United States and 11 ICE attaches offices in 13 countries around
the world, with assistance provided by numerous local international law
enforcement agencies across the United States and throughout the world.
The
investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to
identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human
traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers and
foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
Staying safe in the heat
NWS offers tips to prevent heat-related
illness
The Guardian-Journal
It is
HOT, HOT, HOT! At least that’s according to weather forecasters and the
National Weather Service (NWS).
With
Louisiana now in the throes of the “dog days of summer,” it is important for
people to remember a few tips when out in the heat and how to tell if someone
is suffering from a heat-related illness. But first, let’s take a look at a few
definitions, what constitutes a heat wave and what the conditions are.
According
to the National Weather Service, the heat index is “an accurate measure of how
hot it really feels when the Relative Humidity is added to the actual
temperature.” Relative humidity is the amount of atmospheric moisture present
relative to the amount that would be present if the air were saturated.
“Since
the latter amount is dependent on temperature, relative humidity is a function
of both moisture content and temperature,” their website states. “As such,
relative humidity by itself does not directly indicate the actual amount of
atmospheric moisture present.”
They
take the actual temperature and the relative humidity and add it together to
get the heat index, which represents what it really feels like outside. For
example, if the temperature is 96 degrees and the relative humidity is 65
percent, that means the heat index would make it feel like 121 degrees outside.
If the
heat index is expected to exceed 105 to 110 degrees, then an alert would be
issued.
Now
let’s take a look at the alerts issued when warranted. The NWS will issue a
watch, warning and advisory depending on the current and/or expected conditions.
An
excessive heat outlook is when the potential exists for an excessive heat event
in the next three to seven days. An outlook is used to indicate that a heat
event may develop. It is intended to provide information to those who need
considerable lead time to prepare for the event, such as public utilities,
emergency management and public health officials.
An
excessive heat watch is when conditions are favorable for an excessive heat
event in the next 12 to 48 hours. A watch is used when the risk of a heat wave
has increased, but its occurrence and timing is still uncertain. It is intended
to provide enough lead time so those who need to set their plans in motion can
do so, such as established individual city excessive heat event mitigation
plans.
An
excessive heat warning/advisory is when an excessive heat event is expected to
occur in the next 36 hours. These are issued when an excessive heat event is
occurring, is imminent or has a very high probability of occurrence. The
warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. An advisory
is for less serious conditions that cause significant discomfort or
inconvenience and, if caution is not taken, could lead to a threat to life
and/or property.
So how
does one protect themselves during the hottest part of the day? Here are a few
tips to remember when out in the heat.
For
Adults:
• Slow
down. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest
time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay
in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
• Dress
for Summer. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and
sunlight.
• Put
less fuel on your inner fires. Foods, like meat and other proteins that
increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
• Drink
plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids. Your body needs water
to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. People who
have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease, are on fluid restrictive diets
or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before
increasing their consumption of fluids. Do not drink alcoholic beverages and
limit caffeinated beverages.
•
During excessive heat periods, spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air
conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the
heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, go to a library, store or other
location with air conditioning for part of the day.
• Don’t
get too much sun. Sunburn reduces your body’s ability to dissipate heat.
• Don’t
take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
For
Children:
• Make
sure your child’s safety seat and safety belt buckles aren’t too hot before
securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has
been parked in the heat.
• NEVER
leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Teach
children not to play in, on, or around cars.
•
Always lock car doors and trunks -- even at home -- and keep keys out of
children’s reach.
•
Always make sure all children have left the car when you reach your
destination. Don’t leave sleeping infants in the car -- EVER!
Vehicle
Heating Dynamics:
Each
year, children die from hyperthermia as a result of being left enclosed in
parked vehicles. Hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body
absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. This can occur even on a mild day.
Studies
have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise rapidly to a
dangerous level for children, adults and pets. Leaving the windows slightly
open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The effects can be more
severe on children, because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults.
The
atmosphere and the windows of a car are relatively “transparent” to the sun’s
shortwave radiation and are warmed little. However, this shortwave energy does
heat objects that it strikes. For example, a dark dashboard or seat can easily
reach temperatures in the range of 180 to more than 200 degrees. These objects
(dashboard, steering wheel, child seat) heat the adjacent air by conduction and
convection and also give off long wave radiation which is very efficient at
warming the air trapped inside a vehicle.
And
while it is important to adhere to these safety tips, it is also just as
important to recognize the symptoms when someone gets too hot.
A
sunburn causes redness and pain. In severe cases, swelling of skin, blisters,
fever and headaches have occurred. First aid for this condition includes
ointments for mild cases if blisters appear and do not break. If breaking
occurs, apply dry, sterile dressing. Serious, extensive cases should be seen by
a physician.
Heat
cramps are painful spasms usually in the muscles of the legs and abdomen with
heavy sweating. First aid for this condition includes firm pressure on cramping
muscles or gentle massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water. If nausea
occurs, discontinue water.
Heat
exhaustion occurs with heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale, clammy skin,
thready pulse, fainting and vomiting, but may have a normal temperature. First
aid for this condition includes getting the victim out of the sun. Once inside,
the person should lie down and loosen his or her clothing. Apply cool, wet
cloths. Fan or move the victim to an air conditioned room. Offer sips of water.
If nausea continues, discontinue water. If vomiting occurs and/or continues,
seek immediate medical attention.
Heat
stroke, or sun stroke, is a high body temperature of 106 degrees or higher. The
skin is hot and dry. The person will experience a rapid and strong pulse and
possible unconsciousness. First aid for this condition means get medical help
or take the victim to the hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a very severe
medical emergency. Any delay can be fatal.
While
waiting for emergency assistance, move the victim to a cooler environment and
reduce the body temperature with a cold bath or sponging. Use extreme caution.
Remove clothing, use fans and air conditioners. If the body temperature rises
again, repeat the process. Do NOT give fluids. Persons on salt restrictive
diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.
For
more information on heat-related safety, go to www.srh.noaa.gov/shv/.
Historic Recognition Sought for St. John
School
St.
John School was the first four year high school for black children of Claiborne
Parish. It was located about six miles southeast of Homer, Louisiana, just off
the "White Lightning" Road, now La. Hwy 146.
The
school began as a little country elementary school. Facilities consisted of a
one room building with a front door, one window on each side, and a raised
platform (or stage) across the back of the room. Heat was provided during cold
weather by a wood-burning stove. Pupils sat on wood benches eight feet long.
Later, classes were taught in the St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Only
three teachers could teach during a school session because the church was so
small. Professor Ford served as the school's first principal.
In
1916 the people of St. John Community donated logs to be traded for lumber to
construct a Rosenwald School Building. Mr. Fred Jones and Mr. Robent Lewis
led this movement, and the result was a two-story building consisting of five
rooms.
A
series of principals followed Professor Ford at St. John. Professor Hawk from
Gibsland, Louisiana, and Professor J. C. Jones were next in line. During
Jones' tenure, St. John became a training school. Shops were established at
the school to teach useful crafts. The girls learned to make mats and baskets,
as well as cooking, sewing, and homemaking. The boys learned to make brooms,
mattresses, axe handles, hoe handles and other items for farm use. Some adults
were taught these crafts, too. Professor Grant followed Jones as principal,
and he continued this type of program which was a big help to the community.
In
1926 Professor John S. Davis was appointed principal. Under his guidance two
additional rooms and a library were added. St. John School then became the
first four year public high school for black children in Claiborne Parish. The
first graduates were Mr. Orange Lewis, Jr., Miss Corean Brown, Miss Christell
Jones, and Miss Fannie Pickens.
Soon
the name of the school was changed to the Claiborne Parish Training School, and
its role changed somewhat. At that time there was no teacher training on the
state level for black teachers, and a course in teacher training was offered
the fourth year of high school. The State Department of Education administered
a test, and those who passed were issued a teacher's certificate.
The
Claiborne Parish High (Training) School fulfilled the need until Grambling
College was established for the training of teachers. Some of the teachers
during this period were Mr. John Holland, followed by Mr. Meyer, Mr. Frank
Davis, and Mr. J. E. Williams.
During the last years the school was in existence, vocational agriculture and
vocational home economics were the two courses taught. When the building was
destroyed by fire in 1945, Superintendent F. C. Haley moved the school to Homer
and combined it with Mayfield High School. Mr. John S. Davis became principal
of the consolidated high school. It prospered as a fine institution of
learning for black children until being combined with Homer High School in 1970
when all-black schools were discontinued.
In 1945
Superintendent F. C. Haley moved St. John School to Homer and combined it with
Mayfield High School. Professor John S. Davis became principal of the
consolidated high school in Homer.
The
elementary school remained open at St. John from 1945 until October 1952 when
the school was destroyed by fire.
Through the years the St. John School performed a very worthwhile service both
to its community and Claiborne Parish. It trained and educated many useful
citizens of Claiborne Parish who otherwise may not have had such an
opportunity.
After the school was destroyed by fire on October 25, 1952 Claiborne Parish
School Superintendent F. C. Haley donated the remainder of the buildings and
approximately 40 acres of land back to the St. John community.
In
the late 1970s one of the buildings was renovated during the leadership of the
late Rev. Joe T. Isiah, who was the pastor of St. John Baptist Church. That
building is still in use by the church today.
Many of Claiborne Parish’s past teachers, public employees and citizens were
educated at St. John Colored School. Descendants of these successful students
have been employed all over the United States, in positions as varied as the
Library of Congress, the TV show All My Children, doctors and rapper artist
E-40.
Today, there are few of the pioneers and students still alive. Some have
relocated to other regions of the country and world. Those who still live in
the community are trying to keep history alive for the generations to come.
Recently, a committee was organized by descendants of past teachers, pioneers
and citizens of the community to get St. John Colored School added to the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and to erect a permanent monument
at the site. The committee is asking for financial support and ideas, which
will be greatly appreciated. Committee members are Rev. Cleon Warren, pastor
of St. John Baptist Church, and John S. Davis, Jr., son of Professor John S.
Davis, Sr.
Interested persons may call or send responses to: Ella Cooper Isiah, 3020 Hwy
146, Homer, LA 71040, 318-927-9318; John S. Davis, Jr., 906 Lee D. Nellams,
Homer, LA 71040, 318-927-6566; Annie R. Cooper, 337 Ivory Hall Rd., Homer, LA
71040, 318-927-2309.
Concerned residents and committee members of the St. John community are Vivian
Lopo, daughter of Professor John B. Lopo and descendant of property donor,
Robert Lewis; Ella Cooper Isiah, widow of former pastor Rev. Joe T. Isiah, and
daughter of L. P. and Pervis Johnson Cooper; Annie R. Cooper, former student,
lifetime member of St. John Baptist Church, and daughter of Calvin and Ethel
Hall; Darwin and Fannie Patton, who recently returned to the community after
retirement in Chicago, Illinois; and Doris Jackson Jones, a permanent resident
of St. John community.
The
objective of this committee is to make the public and all concerned persons
aware of this project.
—Submitted
by
Ella
Isiah
Homer’s official journal changes
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
After
many years, the Town of Homer has a new official journal.
In
Monday night’s town council meeting, council members voted unanimously to make
the Haynesville News its official journal for the fiscal year 2012.
District
5 Councilwoman Patricia Jenkins was absent.
Homer
Mayor Alecia Smith said the town received a letter from the Louisiana Secretary
of State explaining that they were supposed to adopt an official journal in
June but had failed to do so. The town’s fiscal year begins on July 1 of each
year and ends on June 30 of the next. The town is supposed to adopt an official
journal at the end of each fiscal year, which means the first meeting in June.
District
3 Councilman Don McCalman made a motion to adopt a “journal,” but did not say
which one. Smith asked him to clarify which journal, but he failed to do so.
District 2 Councilman Michael Wade said something in private to McCalman, and
at that time, he rescinded the motion.
District
1 Councilwoman Linda Mozeke made the motion to adopt the Haynesville News as
the town’s official journal, which was seconded by District 4 Councilwoman
Carlette Sanford. It was adopted 4 to 0 with Jenkins absent.
And
while the town adopted the Haynesville News as its official journal, the town
did not seek bids or notify The Guardian-Journal.
In
other news, the town approved a consultant position for town committees,
economic development and tourism. The position is budgeted through March 2013,
Smith said.
In the
mayor’s report, Public Works Supervisor Lee Wells said he wanted to hire two
men part time for a six-month period. Duties will entail weed eating, pick up
and other duties. The schedule will be for Monday through Thursday.
Smith
said the Mayfield Water Well project is complete. In collections for water
bills, Smith said the town collected $108,745.48 and it collected $149,930.64
in sales tax collections.
The
council also met in executive session to discuss an update on the Bender
litigation with Attorney Jim Colvin, discuss investigative findings by Captain
Donald Malray of the Homer Police Department, discuss an update on a human
resource claim by Town Attorney Marcus Patillo and discuss long term and
strategic planning by Mayor Smith.
Following
executive session, no action was taken on any of these items.
The
next meeting of the Homer Town Council will be at 6 p.m., Monday, September 10,
in council chambers, located inside Homer City Hall, 400 E. Main Street. The meeting
will be held September 10 due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 3.
The town council meets the first Monday of each month.
