Prayers abound as kids go back to school
The Guardian-Journal photos/Jenni Williams
First Baptist Church of Homer hosted its 10th annual
Back to School Prayer Walk Sunday night on the courthouse lawn. A number of
students, athletes, teachers and faculty of our area schools gathered in prayer
over the new school year upon us. The overall theme for the event was “Make
this a school year with no regrets. Start it off right and give it to God!”
Participants were given ‘cheat sheets’ on ways to pray for our students and
schools throughout the year.
South Claiborne Water System under boil advisory
South Claiborne Water System in
Athens is under a Boil Advisory. The areas in the advisory include: the
intersection of St. John Rd and Highway 146. Follow Highway 146 west towards
Homer -- this includes Pixley Rd, Kings Point and Hammontree Rd. Customers need
to boil their water for at least 1 minute before using.
Child struck by truck
The Guardian-Journal
A Haynesville child was
airlifted to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center after being
struck by a pickup truck in Homer.
According to reports, Friday
afternoon, August 16, the Homer Police Department received a call in reference
to the incident which occurred at the intersection of West 4th and Kendrick
Streets, but the boy was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure
because of his age.
Reports indicate the 10-year-old
was headed east on Kendrick Street on his bicycle approaching the intersection
of West 4th Street, where he failed to stop at the stop sign. Patrick Shelman,
of Homer, was headed northbound on West 4th Street.
When the boy came into the
intersection, police said, Shelman attempted to avoid a collision with the
bicycle but was unable to do so. Reports indicate the bicycle was dragged under
the vehicle a ways before coming to a stop.
The child received moderate
injuries as a result of the crash. He was transported by Pafford Ambulance to
the awaiting helicopter for transport to LSUHSC.
No citations were issued, and as
of press time, the child’s condition is unknown.
Officer Terry Yetman was the
investigating officer with the assistance of Lt. Roger Smith.
Sex offender wanted for rape arrested
The Guardian-Journal
A sex offender wanted for rape
has been arrested.
According to a news release from
the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Ken Bailey stated on August 14,
Dennis Tyrone Knowles, 29, of Homer, was arrested in Haynesville by Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s detectives and the U.S. Marshal’s Office on warrants for duty
of offender to notify law enforcement of change of address with bond set at
$5,000, aggravated rape with bond set at $100,000, second degree kidnapping
with bond set at $25,000, reckless operation with bond set at $500 and driving
under suspension for certain prior offenses with bond set at $500.
According to Detective Randy
Smith, Knowles left his address of registration at 230 Beardsley Avenue in
Homer on July 27 without notifying law enforcement as required by convicted sex
offenders. The additional charges Knowles was arrested on were warrants
obtained by the Homer Police Department.
Smith contacted the U.S.
Marshal’s Office for assistance in locating Knowles. The investigation led
officers to Springhill where they were assisted by Springhill Police Chief Will
Lynd in gathering information on Knowles’ whereabouts.
Haynesville Police Chief Anthony
Smith was contacted and assisted in locating the address where Knowles was
staying in Haynesville.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
detectives and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team located
Knowles at 2138 Dogwood Drive in Haynesville, where he was arrested without
incident.
Knowles was booked into the
Claiborne Parish Detention Center with total bonds set at $136,000.
Claiborne Electric warns members of local scam
Claiborne Electric General
Manager and CEO Mark Brown wants to warn Co-op members and area residents about
a utility scam currently taking place in the area.
Late last week, a member
services representative in the Homer office received a call from a Claiborne
Electric member in north Webster Parish. The member had been called by a man
with a foreign accent saying he represented Claiborne Electric. He told the
member she had an overdue electric bill and threatened to disconnect her
electric service if she did not make a payment to him. The member told the man
she would check into the situation and would call him back. She then placed a
call to Claiborne Electric to find that her account was not past due and she
was not facing disconnection.
Brown explained this type of
scam has made its way across the nation, but this is the first time he has
received a report of a Claiborne Electric member being contacted. The scammers
routinely convince people to make payments using bank account information, a
credit or debit card, or a pre-loaded money card. Many times, these payments
are for hundreds of dollars each. The payer thinks he has made a payment to his
electric account, and does not realize he has been taken advantage of until he
receives his next electric bill.
“These thieves have been working
their way across the country for years, using fear and intimidation to steal
money. It upsets me that they are now directly targeting Claiborne Electric
members,” Brown said. “Please be aware of this scam, and help us spread the
word to your friends and neighbors.”
Brown said the Co-op does make
personal phone calls to members facing upcoming disconnection. These courtesy
calls are made by live, local member services representatives from each office.
He suggests if you are suspicious about a call from the Co-op, hang up and call
your local Claiborne Electric office for verification.
Barbers offer free haircuts as school kicks off this
Friday
Mayor Alecia Smith is pleased to
announce that with the help of some of our community's barbers - more than 60
students got a fresh look right before school starts.
Students lined up at 8 a.m. at the
Homer City Hall to take advantage of the free cuts. This event marks the first
day of the two-day Back to School Give Back. Students had an opportunity to
receive free school supplies on the final day of the event which included
giveaways, face-painting and other planned activities.
"We are just so delighted
and pleased to see so many students attend the back to school events,"
said Mayor Smith. "Back to school costs add up and the local barbers
wanted to help the parents by providing these events; I am so appreciative of
the kindness the barbers have shown. Indeed it is great to be a blessing to the
families in our community."
This is the second year that
Mayor Smith and the Town of Homer has co-hosted this event, with the assistance
of Richard Smith owner of Smitty's Barbershop.
Pictured from left are: Richard
Smith of Smitty's Barbershop, Mayor Smith, Gerald Monroe of Monroe's Barber and
Beauty Shop and William X. Not pictured is Tycoon Taylor of Curry's Cutz. Mayor
Smith would like to thank these barbers for providing an outstanding service to
our students.
On Tuesday, August 20, the Town
of Homer hosted another back to school event providing school supplies for
students of Homer Elementary, Homer Jr. High and Homer High School.
Sheriff: Think Safety as kids return to school Friday
As summer draws to a close,
back-to-school season is in full effect.
“Safety should be a priority for
every family as children return to classrooms this fall,” said Claiborne Parish
Sheriff Ken Bailey.
It is important for parents to
stay up-to-date on the proper safety precautions and share this information
with their children to keep them safe throughout the school year. Whether
children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely
important that they take proper safety precautions.
Motorists are also reminded that
state law requires vehicles to stop for school buses loading and unloading
children unless the bus is across a divided highway with a median. Drivers
should also remember that children will be gathered at bus stops on the side of
the road beginning this week and should be alert to kids that may be crossing
the road to reach a bus stop. Parents should insure that children have a safe
area to wait for the bus that is off the roadway and visible to oncoming
traffic.
Here are some simple reminders
for drivers:
• Slow down and be especially
alert in the residential neighborhoods and school zones.
• Take extra time to look for
kids at intersections and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways
slowly and carefully.
• Watch for children on and near
the road in the morning and after school hours.
• Reduce any distractions inside
your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Put down
your phone and don’t talk or text while driving.
Reminders for your kids:
• Children should cross the
street with an adult until they are at least 10-years-old.
• Cross the street at corners,
using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Never run out into the streets
or cross in between parked cars.
• Make sure they always walk in
front of the bus where the driver can see them.
Home Alone Safety
The start of school means time
at home unsupervised for many area students. Here are some suggestions to help
“home alone” kids feel safe and protected. Teach your "home alone"
children:
• To check in with you or a
neighbor immediately after arriving home.
• How to call 9-1-1 or your
area's emergency number.
• How to give directions to your
home in case of emergency.
• How to use the door and window
locks and the alarm system if you have one.
• To never let anyone into your
home without asking your permission.
• To never let a caller at the
door or on the phone know that they're alone.
• To carry a house key with them
in a safe place - don't leave it under a mat or hidden outside the house.
• How to escape in case of fire.
• To not go into an empty house
or apartment if things don't look right - a broken window, ripped screen, or
opened door to let you know about anything that frightens them or makes them feel
uncomfortable.
Sheriff Bailey wants to take
this time to remind parents to take these simple steps to insure that you and
your child will have a safe and productive school year.
Piney Hills Harmony, “Elvis” to rock ‘n’ roll
Saturday, August 24 at Monroe Civic Center
Area residents can recapture
doo-wop, rock 'n' roll classics and overall grooviness Aug. 24 when Piney Hills
Harmony Chorus and Todd C. Martin join together to present "Rock Around
the Clock."
Piney Hills Harmony is an
award-winning four-part a cappella group based in Ruston. Martin is a
well-known Elvis tribute artist from Monroe.
"We're going to present a
full-blown variety show with songs from the '50s, '60s and '70s – a revival of
the popular show we presented in 2012," said Chorus President Carol Ogle.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 24 in the Jack Howard Theatre at the Monroe
Civic Center.
Two Homer residents will be
among the performers at the show – Chris Brady and Lisa Holmes.
In addition to the chorus and
Martin, the program will include comedy skits by chorus members and the emcee,
Kelly Aaen, of Monroe. Appearing will be Ethel and Lucy from "I Love
Lucy," characters from the "Laugh In" TV show, and Edith Bunker
from "All in the Family."
The event, sponsored by Care
Solutions Inc., is a benefit for Angel Ministries, a non-profit organization
that cares for those unable to care for themselves and also teaches them to
help themselves. The agency provides many services including two hyperbaric
chambers for use by those needing wound care, respiratory therapy and treatment
for autism.
Piney Hills Harmony draws
members from throughout North Louisiana – from Sterlington to Shreveport. Also
performing on the show will be Grace Notes quartet from Piney Hills Harmony and
Bayou Blend quartet from the men's Note-torius Chorus, of Monroe.
"As before," Ogle
said, "this is going to be a real production complete with stage sets and
a variety of entertaining aspects. Some of our more popular skits will be
expanded, and we've learned several new songs such as 'Blue Moon,' 'Fever,'
'California Dreamin',' 'Happy Together,' 'Take a Chance on Me' and 'When Will I
Be Loved?'"
Martin's music will complement
the chorus's as he dons costumes and croons tunes from three decades as well.
He is regarded as one of the top Elvis tribute artists in the world, having
ranked third in the international Images of the King competition in Memphis,
Tenn., in both 2008 and 2010.
"I like the way the chorus
has designed the show," Martin said. "The span of music will appeal
to a huge array of people; it's a great combination."
Tickets are on sale at the
Monroe Civic Center box office, (318) 329-2338, or through Ticketmaster,
1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Adult tickets are $16; seniors 60 and
older, $13; children 12 and under, $13; and premium Silver Seating (front
center), $31.
More information is available at
www.pineyhillsharmony.org and www.toddcmartin.com or by calling Ogle at (318)
348-2291.
Dr. Williams welcomes students back to school
To the Employees, Parents,
Students, and Community Members of Claiborne Parish Schools:
It is with sincere optimism and
motivation that I extend a heartfelt welcome back to school to all of those who
play such an important role in the educational process of our District’s children.
Each year brings a new spark of hope, vision, excitement, and with many,
anxiety of what the new school year may bring. As we begin this school year, I
wish the greatest success for all of our students, employees, and others who
work so hard to facilitate the infrastructure of our schools.
This year, we will embrace 20
new staff members at various school sites, with two vacancies yet to fill.
Homer Elementary:
Jane Brown, Principal
Phaedra Burks, Administrative
Assistant
Teachers: LeAnne Ragas, Kendra
West, Shalethia Haulcy, Barbara Kemp, Misty Laster
Bus Operators: Mike Blackwelder
and Morris Shelton
Homer Junior High:
Dr. Sue Barfield, Principal
Homer High School;
Paul Bean, Principal
Andre’ Washington, Assistant
Principal
Lakeia Williams, Counselor
Teachers: Cher Wallace, Julie
Alexander, Rodney Heard, Pedro Gutierrez, Josh Willeford, Christina
Thompson,
Paraprofessional: Michelle West
Haynesville Elementary:
Jennifer Ware, teacher
Summerfield High School: Tracie
Kirkpatrick, Paraprofessional
During the summer, our teacher
leaders have worked diligently preparing to implement new instructional
strategies and approaches in the areas of English/ Language Arts and
Mathematics. These new strategies will help catapult our students’ learning in
these areas as we embark upon implementing the Common Core State Standards for
Louisiana. Students will be provided with deeper and broader opportunities for
exploration in ELA and Math, while advancing their skills and knowledge. The
teachers will be supported through ongoing professional development.
Secondly, our District has made
great strides in the area of technology. Classrooms and schools are equipped
with cutting-edge tools such as iPADS, interactive white boards in every
classroom, and mobile computer labs, just to name a few. Teachers are being
provided with professional development to ensure that technology becomes a
fully integrated tool for teaching, learning, and student engagement. Through
technology- integrated teaching and learning, students are able to master a
wide range of critical thinking, reasoning, and practical application skills
related to information, media, and technology that will support lifelong
learning and success in the 21st century. We are working to capitalize on the
students’ existing knowledge of technology to endure that students experience
rich and diverse learning opportunities.
Thirdly, teacher collaboration
efforts will be enhanced greatly. The District is committed to monthly
parish-wide teacher collaboration meetings whereby teachers will be able to
exchange ideas in both grade and subject areas. Administrators will also
receive extensive professional development in the areas of data analysis,
professional learning communities, and teacher evaluation procedures, just to
name a few.
Lastly, the maintenance
department has worked assiduously to renovate facilities. Some of the
renovations include: (a) preparing the new site for the combined Primary Living
Skills classes, located on the campus of Homer Elementary; (b) repainting the
Homer High Football Stadium; (c) waterproofing Homer High School; (d)
installing new entrance doors at Haynesville Elementary; and (e) installing a
fence around Haynesville Jr.-Sr. High School for added student safety, (f) replacing
doors at the gym in Haynesville Jr.-Sr.; (g) installing a covered walkway from
the elementary wing to the cafeteria at Summerfield High , and (h) replacing
doors and fixtures in the restrooms at Summerfield High.
I commend the employees of
Claiborne Parish Schools for their hard work and dedication throughout the
years. As we know there are many challenges with each new school year. We are
committed to embracing and conquering each challenge as presented. With this
renewed commitment to our employees, students, and community members we are
anticipating a wonderful year. I look forward to serving you throughout the
2013-14 school year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Janice Williams
Superintendent
Claiborne Parish Schools
Community meeting sheds light on schools’ plight
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The question of many in
Claiborne Parish remains, “What can we do as a community to help our school
system?”
During a community meeting,
hosted by the Claiborne Parish Branch of the National Association of the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Saturday evening, community members came
together to find out what’s going on in the schools and how they can help.
“You have been targeted,” said
Terry Willis, Claiborne NAACP president. “What I mean by that is we hear a lot
that the parents don’t care and the community does not care about what’s going
on. So, it is evident here today that someone cares about the students here in
Claiborne Parish schools.”
School officials and faculty
spent much of the meeting explaining where the school system stands regarding
the new state curriculum and how it’s affecting students and teachers alike.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janice Williams said the school system – and
those across the state – didn’t reach this point overnight.
“It took years to reach this
slippery slope,” she said. “We are at a very critical point. Educators don’t
even know where we’re going. We get a laundry list of things to do and a
snapshot of what it looks like.”
She explained the new state
curriculum under which teachers and students are expected to meet certain
guidelines by the end of the year. Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the
state curriculum, is much different than in years past. English Language Arts
and Mathematics will be implemented this school year.
Homer High School Principal Paul
Bean, a Math teacher for 17 years, said the math portion of CCSS is
“atrocious.”
“Students will miss 60 percent
of Algebra coming from eighth grade to ninth grade,” he said. “We are set up
for failure so badly that we worked hard for weeks to get our schedules set up
for our kids. I may have to change every kid’s schedule that I have.”
He explained students will be
taught about 10 percent of Algebra I, while 60 percent will be Algebra II,
bypassing much of the foundation students need for Algebra II.
As for testing, he’s not even
sure if freshmen students will take the tests in the spring, because so much of
it the students will not have seen before – which leads to a whole other set of
issues for students and teachers alike.
“The worst part of this is these
kids that are coming in as freshmen this year are not taking Algebra,” he said.
“And they’re going to be tested. Not only are they going to be tested on
Algebra, but they’re going to be tested on Algebra II on this test that
somebody is making up. Then (the teacher is) going to have to hit these
expected growth targets with these kids.”
Even the teachers are evaluated
differently, Dr. Williams said, explaining the evaluation system under which
teachers are “rated.”
Out of approximately 124
teachers, seven were rated ineffective.
If a teacher is rated
“ineffective,” this means that teacher will spend six months to a year in
intensive assistance training. Bean went further, saying sometimes it’s not the
teacher’s fault because in many cases, teachers are being evaluated on student
performance from the previous year – students who were under another teacher.
“One of my biggest qualms in the
education system right now, is that every year the state decides that a
teacher’s students have an expected growth,” he said. “You come to my
classroom, I raise your score by 30 points and I can still be rated
ineffective, because somebody said through a formula that nobody has ever seen
that that student’s score should have been 34 points. If they don’t hit that
growth target, they can be rated ‘ineffective.’”
He also addressed failing
schools – of which Homer High School is one.
“Homer High School is not what
it needs to be,” he said. “When it comes out in the paper that our school is
failing, I find it embarrassing. Homer High School will not be a failing school
by the end of this year. And in the subsequent years, I expect you to hear very
good things about Homer High. I’m not talking about a ‘D’ level school either.
That’s not good enough.”
Alternative School Principal
Craig Roberson also spoke about the alternative school explaining what it’s for
and how it works. While the students are getting their lesson plans, they are
also counseled throughout the course of the day, he said.
Several questions were asked
included issues like communication between the schools and parents, state
testing, the high school diploma structure and others.
Sadie Flucas, Claiborne NAACP
Education Committee Chair, said it is time for the community and the school system
to come together to help the kids.
“Unless we talk together, we
cannot act together,” she said. “We can’t preach our way out of this. We have
to talk together in order to act together. We’re all in this together.”
But again, how does the
community come together to help the students?
“What can we, as a community, do
to help you?” Willis asked. “What can we do to help the students?”
In the Haynesville area, the
Boys and Girls Clubs of Timber Ridge have worked with the Haynesville schools
to offer tutoring and after school enrichment programs. The schools also offer
after school tutoring, but how do students get the help they need if they
aren’t showing up? That was a question put forth by School Board Member Stewart
Griffin, District 10.
Griffin said the kids need these
programs.
“The most immediate thing I can
see that we can do is to help the principals with these after school programs,”
he said. “The funding is available for certified teachers to stay after work
two days a week. It’s been tried and it starts out with 15 and by three or four
weeks, it’s down to four or five. That’s where we come in as a community. Have
a coalition of churches, church vans and let’s work together to do something
about enriching those students after school. Only the people in the community
and the parents can make it work.”
Deadline for mayor’s recall here
The Guardian-Journal
The petitions to recall Homer
Mayor Alecia Smith have now been turned in.
According to Registrar of Voters
Patricia Sanders, the petitions were turned in on Friday, August 16. Because
August 18 was on a Sunday, the deadline was the next business day, August 19.
“I have 15 days to certify the
petition and then I’ll send it to the governor,” Sanders said. “Then the
governor has 15 days to make sure there are enough signatures and everything is
correct. If there are enough qualified voters on the petition, then he will
issue a proclamation calling for a special election of either recalling the
mayor or not.”
The 15 days for each are 15
business days. She said it would be sent to the governor regardless of whether
there are enough signatures.
A proclamation by the governor
has to be issued on or 46 days before the general election, which means if it
goes before the voters it will be on the November ballot. It will be a for the
recall or against the recall.
Recall petition chairman Willie
“Hoghead” Curry said the goal of this recall was not to create division in the
community.
“Friday, we submitted
approximately 800 names in the recall regarding the mayor,” Curry said. “Our
goal is not to create discord or division. Quite the contrary. Our goal is to
remind our current and future elected officials that we live under a government
of, for and by the people. We do not live under a dictatorship.”
Recall petitions for all five
council members and Mayor Smith began circulating shortly after the council
voted to abolish the Homer Police Department and reduce Chief Russell Mills’
title and pay to marshal. During the same meeting, the council voted to do away
with term limits for the council and the mayor.
An injunction was filed by Chief
Mills to the Second Judicial District Court, which was upheld. In March, Judge
Jimmy Teat found in favor of Mills and the police department, deciding the vote
to abolish the police department was illegal. The town, represented by Town
Attorney Marcus Patillo and outside counsel Tom Arceneaux, admitted in open
court the votes by the council were done improperly.
A court date for September 12
has been set in the continuing court battle between Mills and the Town of
Homer.
The recall petitions for all
five council members failed.
In order for the recall issue to
be put before voters, at least 660 signatures must be certified by the
governor.
The finishing touches on park mural
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
The final touches were painted onto the mural at the
old Coca-Cola plant in Homer Monday afternoon. Louisiana Tech Art Instructor
Nick Bustamante and art students Whitney Causey and Daniel Moore were finishing
up a several months long project that depicts life in Homer from the 1950s and
‘60s. The original painting was done by local artist Judy Peterson Buckner.
Claiborne Fair a little different this year
The Guardian-Journal
The Claiborne Parish Fair will
be a little different this year due to scheduling conflicts.
According to Lee Faulk, with
Claiborne Parish 4-H, the carnival portion, or the general fair, will be the
week of September 16, with the livestock sale and show on October 15-17.
“Hopefully, this is a one-year
deal,” Faulk said. “We hope go back to a one-week fair next year.”
He explained the week of
September 16 will also include the food exhibits, art contests and all the
events that come with the fair.
“We had some problems with time
for some of the producers,” he said. “A lot of the producers didn’t have enough
time to change some of their practices to get their animals ready for the fair
in time. With that said, we’re going to have the same events; it’s just going
to be separated. The fair board has worked with us very diligently to make this
happen.”
According to Claiborne Parish
Police Jury President Scott Davidson, an election was scheduled which means the
fair dates had to be moved.
“It created a problem with the
livestock breeders,” Davidson
said. “They already had their animals bred to deliver at certain times.”
He further explained these
animals have to be a certain weight in order to be entered into the livestock
shows, and time did not allow for that.
“I want to encourage everyone to
attend both events at the fair this year,” Faulk said. “They’ve put a lot of
work into the fair this year, and we hope this is a one-year deal.”
Davidson praised Faulk and
everyone who worked on it for working together to make it come out for the best
for everyone.
More information will become
available as the week of the carnival and general fair approaches.
If anyone has any questions
regarding the Fair, please contact the LSU AgCenter Claiborne Parish Extension
Office at 927-3110.
