CA assistant coach arrested
School community expresses shock,
sadness following drug bust
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A
former assistant coach from Claiborne Academy is behind bars after he was
arrested on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, leaving a school
community in shock.
According
to Springhill Police Chief Will Lynd, the arrest of Reuben Clay Arnold, 36, of
the 100 block of Blocker Road in Sarepta, was the culmination of a three-month
investigation in which the Webster Narcotics Task Force made two undercover
buys from him.
Jim
Colvin, president of CA board of directors was contacted regarding this issue
and he said Arnold was terminated effective the day of his arrest. A full
criminal background check was run on his date of hire and his record came back
with no blemishes, he said.
“We
have great faculty members out there,” he said. “Coach Arnold was passionate
about football and the kids loved him. We were all shocked by the whole thing.”
On
Thursday morning, November 1, Lt. Shawn Baker of the Webster Parish Sheriff’s
Office, Lynd and Springhill Detective Ronald Wedgeworth staged in a location
near his home and waited for him to go to work. When Arnold left his home in
his vehicle, officers initiated a traffic stop and arrested him on two warrants
for distribution of methamphetamine, CDS Schedule II. During the traffic stop,
officers searched Arnold’s person, in which they found about a quarter gram of
methamphetamine in his wallet.
“We
went back to his residence and during the search of his residence, we found
another three grams of methamphetamine plus needles and other drug
paraphernalia,” Lynd said.
Other
items discovered during the search were digital scales, burnt tin foil and cut
straws.
Altogether,
Arnold was charged with two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, with
bond set at $150,000, possession with intent to distribute and possession of
drug paraphernalia.
Also
arrested at the residence was Julie Taylor, 30. She was charged with possession
with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jason
A. (Taylor-made) Taylor, 28, also at the residence, was arrested and charged
with possession with intent to distribute and drug paraphernalia.
“Jason
Taylor was in the bathroom preparing a spoon of Methamphetamine to be injected
in his person,” Baker said.
Claiborne
Academy officials made no comment on Arnold’s arrest. However, on behalf of the
board of directors, Colvin released a statement, and it follows in full:
“On
behalf of the Claiborne Academy Board of Directors, faculty, staff, and the
Claiborne Academy family, we learned yesterday morning (Thursday, November 1)
that Clay Arnold had been arrested for drug possession. Upon our headmaster,
Ms. Jane Brown, learning of this, she contacted board president Mr. James
Colvin, and the decision was made to terminate Coach Arnold immediately,
effective October 31, 2012.
“Prior
to his employment with Claiborne Academy, an exhaustive background search was
conducted that involved checking all of his previous employment references at
his former jobs as a coach for other area schools, as well as an extensive
criminal background search. All inquiries and criminal background checks revealed
nothing to suggest that Coach Arnold was capable of such criminal conduct.
“Claiborne
Academy is greatly saddened and shocked by these events, as Coach Arnold was
known only for his passion as a football coach.
“Claiborne
Academy is dedicated to ensuring a drug free educational environment. Students
are randomly tested during the year, and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
[Office] randomly brings drug dogs to the CA campus for inspections. CA is not
aware of any drugs that Coach Arnold may or may not have taken onto CA’s
campus.”
As of
press time, it is not known whether the football team was drug tested at the
time of Arnold’s arrest and if any of those tests came back positive for drugs.
However,
Claiborne Academy has a strict drug free policy. According to the school’s
handbook, all students in grades 7 through 12 are subject to drug testing at
any time without notification at the sole discretion of the headmaster and the
CA board of directors.
“The
administration of the school is authorized to take any action to ensure the
safety, welfare, and security of the CA student body and faculty and staff,”
the handbook states. “These actions include, but are not limited to, the
inspection of lockers, vehicles and personal effects of students without notification.”
However,
this only applies to the students.
According
to CA’s drug test policy, they do not randomly drug test teachers, but they
reserve the right to test faculty or staff on an individual basis, based on any
suspicious activity or conduct, Colvin said.
Some
comments on the website of KTBS Channel 3 in reference to this story aired the
day of Arnold’s arrest were positive ones about the school. Here are two:
“Please
do not think that all faculty members at Claiborne Academy are like this.
Claiborne Academy has wonderful teachers and administrators. He just happened
to slip in through the crack. He has only been there since the beginning of
this year.”
Another
says, “Claborne [sic] Academy is a wonderful school and has a great program.
This was definitely something they would never endorse. Please do not let one
incident form your opinion of a great institution.”
Bonnie
Culverhouse, managing editor of the Minden Press-Herald contributed to this
story.
Homer scrap yard struck again
Bonnie
Culverhouse, Special
to The Guardian-Journal
Two
Minden men have been busted after making trips to Homer to sell stolen iron to
a scrap yard there.
Charles
Jones, 42, of the 100 Hollis Lane, was arrested by Minden Police on a warrant
for felony theft over $1,500 after making four separate trips to the scrap yard
where he allegedly sold more than 8,000 pounds of iron with a value over
$4,500.
Coyde
Jones, 22, who lists the same address, was arrested on charge of felony theft
over $500 and reports indicate that during the month of October, he allegedly
stole more than 2,000 pounds of iron from his employer. Estimated value is
$1,050.
According
to Chief Steve Cropper, the iron was stolen during September and October.
Ofc.
Kenny James, Ofc. Ben Allen, Ofc. Chris Hammontree, Det. Sgt. Chris Cheatham,
Lt. Dan Weaver and Det. Sgt. Keith King, Jr. went to the residence to serve the
warrant.
“While
they were there, one of the arresting officers was bitten by the Jones’ Pit
Bull when it got out,” Cropper said. “The dog got loose, came out during the
arrest and bit Ofc. James on the back right calf, leaving a puncture wound that
required three stitches.”
The dog
was taken by animal control to be monitored for 10 days, according to the chief.
Both
men are incarcerated at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
Charles
Jones is held on a $25,000 bond; however, Cropper said Probation and Parole has
placed a hold on him.
Bonnie
Culverhouse is the managing editor for The Minden Press-Herald. This story was
reprinted with permission.
Here’s how Claiborne Parish voted in
Tuesday’s Election
The Guardian-Journal
While
it may be well after press time before citizens in Claiborne Parish know who
their next president will be, voters in Claiborne Parish made their decisions
just as this edition was completed.
Here’s
a breakdown of how you voted for each item on the ballot. (These results are
for Claiborne Parish only.)
President
of the United States
Incumbent
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden took 44.77 percent of the
vote, or 3,014 votes. Challenger Mitt Romney and Vice Presidential Hopeful Paul
Ryan took 54.20 percent of the vote, or 3,649 votes. Others in the race
included Green Party’s Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala Green with just .34 percent
of the vote, Libertarians Gary Johnson and James P. Gray with .30 percent,
Constitution Party’s Virgil Goode and James Clymer with .07 percent of the
vote, Justice Party’s Ross Anderson and Luis Rodriguez with .09 percent,
Prohibition’s Jack Fellure and Toby Davis with .03 percent, Socialism and
Liberation’s Peta Lindsay and Yari Osorio with no votes, Socialist Equality’s
Jerry White and Phyllis Scherrer with .01 percent, Socialist Workers James
Harris and Alyson Kennedy with .04 percent and We the People’s Sheila Tittle
and Matthew Turner with .13 percent.
U.S.
Representative, Fourth Congressional District
Incumbent
U.S. Representative John Fleming took the parish by a landslide against Randall
Lord. Fleming received 72.69 percent of the vote or 3,402 votes, while Lord
only raked in 27.31 percent, or 1,278 votes.
Constitutional
Amendment No. 1 -- Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly
Yes:
75.76 percent or 4,276 votes
No:
24.24 percent or 1,368 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 2 -- Right of each citizen to keep and bear arms
Yes:
82.12 percent or 4,602 votes
No:
17.88 percent or 1,002 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 3 -- Prefiling DL/for retirement/public employee
Yes:
67.26 percent or 3,533 votes
No:
32.74 percent or 1,720 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 4 -- Surv. Spouse/Deceased Veteran/Homestead Exemp.
Yes:
77.34 percent or 4,090 votes
No:
22.66 percent or 1,198 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 5 -- Forfeiture Retirement Benefit Pub. Ofc./Conv. Felon
Yes:
69.73 percent or 3,757 votes
No:
30.27 percent or 1,631 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 6 -- Gov. Auth. of New Iberia - prop. annexed by the city
Yes:
45.59 percent or 2,284 votes
No:
54.41 percent or 2,726 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 7 -- Provides filling appts./Vac. on Bds./Comm.
Yes:
61.23 percent or 3,072 votes
No:
38.77 percent or 1,945 votes
Constitutional
Amendment No. 8 -- State Bd. of Comm./Industry Tax-Exempt Contracts
Yes:
57.73 percent or 2,919 votes
No:
42.27 percent or 2,137
Constitutional
Amendment No. 9 -- Security District/Parcel Fee w/in District
Yes:
55.75 percent or 2,823 votes
No:
44.25 percent or 2,241 votes
PW
School District -- Local Option -- Term Limits
Yes:
79.66 percent or 4,340 votes
No:
20.34 percent or 1,108 votes
Evergreen
Fire Prot. Dist. -- 10 mills -- BOC -- 10 yrs.
Yes:
88.46 percent or 23 votes
No:
11.54 percent or 3 votes
All
these numbers are unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s
Office. For more information, or to see votes by precinct, please go to
www.geauxvote.com or go to the Claiborne Parish Clerk of Court’s office.
Old Homer Cemetery Walk Saturday
The
Jubilee Players will tell the stories of seven former citizens who are buried
at the old Homer cemetery off West Third Street at three pm this Saturday,
November 10. Individuals to be portrayed are as follows:
John
Lumpkin Garrett, a cotton farmer from the Antioch vicinity, whose son gained
some fame as Sheriff Pat Garrett who finally got Billy the Kid, depicted by
John McClelland.
Rosa
Wilder Blackman, Homer artist and creator of internationally known clay dolls
depicting certain African American citizens of the Claiborne Parish community
which were so realistic that they were recognizable, depicted by Darlene
Norcross.
Anna
Gladden Berry, noted artist and horticulturist from Homer, the last person to
be buried in the old Homer cemetery, depicted by Suzanne Ford.
Franklin
Pierce Berry, III, her son who was killed in 1942 in an accident while he was
training troops in the Naval Air Corps, depicted by Chet Andrews.
G. G.
Gill, Homer merchant who was proprietor of the largest retail establishment in
North Louisiana, depicted by Jim Ford.
Mary
Wilder Otts, homemaker and grandmother of Herbert S. Ford, depicted by Penny
Andrews.
The
Rev. J.T. Davidson, farmer and school teacher who was the first resident pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church of Homer, depicted by Jim Norcross.
Guiding
the tour groups will be Karen Emerson, Wanda Smith and Cynthia Steele. Dump
Hatter and others will also perform music of the past.
Tickets
are available at the Claiborne Chamber of Commerce for $10 as well as at the
cemetery entrance. The walks will begin at 3 pm and continue at regular
intervals until 5 pm. Attendees are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes.
The
Jubilee Players began last year to develop stories into plays and to present
them at area events. Those who are interested in joining this volunteer group
either to bring stories or to act should call Cynthia Steele, 927-2566. The
Jubilee Players are especially interested in stories about people and places of
this area, but welcome everyone and their stories.
Mark Your Calendar!
CAC/HBC Biannual Trash Pickup Day this Saturday
The
Haynesville Citizen Advisory Committee and the Haynesville Beautification
Committee invites everyone to help clean up Haynesville from 8 a.m. until noon.
Volunteers will meet at Main Street Corner at 7:45 a.m. Drinks and snacks will
be furnished. Gloves, hand sanitizer and grabbers will be given to all the
volunteers. Please come and help keep our community clean! Everybody welcome,
everybody needed!
Taste of Homer this Saturday
“A
Taste of Homer” will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Homer City Hall and
will feature special homemade dishes from over 100 talented area cooks. Tickets
for the meal are $10 each and proceeds from the meal go to the Claiborne Parish
Christmas Festival committee to purchase Christmas lights for Homer. Your $10
ticket will allow you to sample plenty of peas, sweet potato casserole, turnip
greens, shrimp gumbo, chicken and dumplings, crawfish bread, stuffed cabbage
rolls, lots of salads, tons of desserts and many other side dishes. It’s all
served buffet style so you can eat as much as you want. Every time you purchase
merchandise from one of the participating merchants Nov 1 to Nov 10th you can
register to win a $250.00 shopping spree. So everyone make plans to spend
Saturday, November 10th in Claiborne Parish. Enjoy a great meal at “Taste of
Homer” and then visit area businesses and “Shop Claiborne First”.
CA Veterans’ Day Observance November 12
The
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle at Claiborne Academy will host a
Veterans’ Day observance to recognize and honor all veterans at 11 a.m. All
veterans and their spouses are invited to attend. After a short program in the
gym, lunch will be served to the veterans and their spouses by FCA members.
Please call the school at 318-927-2747 if you can attend.
Fuller Center seeking volunteers
The
Fuller Center for Housing of Claiborne Parish is seeking volunteers to help
build and repair homes. The Fuller Center is also asking for monetary donations
to help eradicate poverty housing. Those interested in giving a helping hand
may get involved through their church, business owners or individually. For
anyone who would like to help, please contact Jeffrey Rhone at 318-927-1161 or
David Colbert, Family Resources, at 318-624-1698 or 318-225-2344. The Fuller
Center for Housing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax
deductible.
Town seeks funds to purchase electronic
medical records system
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A
proposal to use hospital revenue bonds to allow Homer Memorial Hospital to get
electronic medical records for the hospital has a green light to go before the
State Bond Commission.
In
Monday night’s Homer Town Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to
adopt Resolution 12-010 to purchase the equipment and software and to pay the
cost of the related financing not to exceed $500,000.
“This
is a preliminary resolution authorizing Homer [Memorial] Hospital to get bond
commission approval,” said Homer Mayor Alecia Smith. “This is a resolution
authorizing the hospital to go to the bond commission for installation of
electronic medical records at the hospital.”
In
other words, this resolution allows the hospital to apply to the bond
commission to get these funds.
The
motion was made by District 2 Councilman Michael Wade, seconded by District 3
Councilman Don McCalman and unanimously adopted.
In
other news, the council also approved allocations of industrial funds for a
proposal for a project completed at the wastewater treatment plant. According
to Smith, the grant was applied for in 2010 and matching funds of approximately
$65,000. Smith was asking for roughly $25,000 from the industrial fund to be
paid for part of the project. She hopes not to have to come back and ask for
more, but she said she couldn’t “make that promise.”
The
grant was for $100,000 and they had to match it with $65,000.
The
project included the installation of valves, electrical services, control
panels and compartments.
“If you
haven’t been to the wastewater treatment plant, I would ask that you go,” she
said. “You have to climb about 20 steps to see it, but it is state-of-the-art
equipment.
She
said the town also applied for another grant in 2011-12 but was denied because
it didn’t create long-term job activity.
“They
were only approving grants that created jobs,” Smith said. “We didn’t have a
project that created long-term jobs; we just wanted to complete our wastewater
treatment plant.”
The
motion was made by McCalman and District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford
seconded, with the item passed unanimously.
The
introduction of a new police hire was on the agenda, but because Homer Police
Chief Russell Mills was not at the meeting, the item was moved to the December
meeting. In a special called meeting on October 26, the hire of Ray Yetman of
Minden was approved by the council. He began his employment within a few short
days following the meeting.
Lt.
Roger Smith stood in for Mills at Monday’s meeting.
In the
mayor’s report, Smith reported that the Mayor’s Youth Council has been busy
over the last few weeks with several activities, which included participating
in the Claiborne Parish Fair Parade. The youth council also initiated
Candyland, the distribution of Halloween candy at City Hall.
The
youth council has also started the “Fight Hunger” canned food drive in all
Homer schools. All grades in Homer schools are competing, the mayor said. The
grade with the most canned/perishable items will win a day to wear jeans to
school. All food collected will be donated to a local organization/food bank to
help those less fortunate during the holiday season.
In
other youth council news, the teens will donate their time to Homer Elementary
School and the Christmas Festival to read Christmas stories to the younger
children. They will also serve as ambassadors for the Claiborne Parish
Christmas Festival and Parade.
Mayor
Smith also reported that Gems and Jewels will volunteer time at the local
nursing homes during the holiday season.
A
reminder, she said, is the upcoming Christmas Festival and Parade on Saturday,
December 8, in which the Town of Homer will participate in activities.
She
also spoke of the holiday committee, which consists of June McClure, Patricia
Jenkins, Alisha Mitchell and Maxine Wilson. They are working hard to get the
Christmas decorations ready for the holiday season.
“We
appreciate Warden Goodwin for allowing us to use the crew from the [Claiborne
Parish] Detention Center,” she said.
In
other announcements, Smith said the town now has a Facebook page. Citizens can
“friend” the town at Homer, Louisiana, to learn of all the upcoming events in
town.
In the
public comments portion of the meeting, the Rev. Ray Jiles said he is concerned
about the narrowness of West 4th Street at Nelam Street.
“The
street is constantly getting smaller and narrower,” he said. “It’s hard for a
person to walk down the street as cars are coming. There have been several
incidents that have happened there and something needs to be done about it.”
Pedestrians
either have been or could have been hurt because there is no room on either
side of the street for pedestrians to walk.
It’s a
well-traveled street and he fears something bad happening there. The street has
steep ditches and if some of those low spots were filled in, it would help, he
said.
Councilman
Wade said the issue was brought up before with the previous administration, but
nothing was ever done about it. Mayor Smith said she would contact Claiborne
Parish Police Jury Road Superintendent Tommy Durrett about the issue.
Homer recommended for Bond Commission
approval
The Guardian-Journal
Governor
Bobby Jindal has recommended to the Louisiana State Bond Commission that the
Town of Homer receive $150,000 in Priority 2 Funding for town hall renovations,
planning and construction.
The
town’s city hall is in dire need of repairs, and as the money has come in, the
town has been able to rehabilitate a portion of its roof, stopping leaks into
the auditorium.
Homer
Mayor Alecia Smith said the funds are slated to be used for repairing or
replacing the rest of the roof over city hall, the business office, the
conference room, the “garage” and the Homer Police Station.
Smith
said the project will entail extensive repair and will have to remove every
clay tile off the roof and replace them once repairs are made.
She
said she hopes to renovate the second floor of city hall as well, which
includes a conference room, office and storage areas.
She
extends a special thank you, on behalf of herself, the town council and the
grant committee, to Senator Mike Walsworth and Representative Patrick Jefferson
for taking the time to help the Town of Homer.
“The
grant committee has been working closely with them throughout this process, and
we just want to say a special thank you to them,” Smith said. “We also want to
say thank you to Gov. Jindal for making this possible.”
Jindal
recommended this project, along with many others across the state that totaled
$62 million in support for higher education and infrastructure throughout
Louisiana.
Since
2008, the Jindal administration has supported more than $700 million in
critical higher education and infrastructure investments across the state,
including more than $225 million for Louisiana Community and Technical College
campuses.
