As mayor and newspaper editor, I was the victim of a double blow when the competing newspaper came out with the news story that the state had chosen to build a landing strip in Haynesville and not in Homer. In making the announcement, the state representative had given the Haynesville News a scoop. That violated the usual tactic of treating the newspapers fairly.
At this time the state would build a one-mile landing strip in each parish, usually at the parish seat. Homer, being in the hills, had difficulty in finding a well situated mile of fairly level land that could be acquired.
I was not only upset; I was angry. I got in touch with an engineering firm and put together a request for the Federal Aviation Administration to build an airport in Homer. While the FAA had granted funds to improve air port facilities, it had never provided a grant to build an airport in Louisiana. This was a first because Homer was awarded a grant if we could match it. Rep. John Garrett and I traveled to Baton Rouge and met with Governor John McKeithen to ask for matching funds. He pointed out that that would be much more money than the state provided for landing strips, but he agreed.
We still had to provide a suitable site. This is where civic minded friends took over. A beautiful site was located between the upper forks of Lake Claiborne. Land owners were contacted and, while they really did not want to let their land go, they sacrificed and sold the land. Contracts were let and an airport was built; a much better facility than a landing strip.
(I wanted to name the many people without whose help this could not have been done but I know I cannot remember everyone so I decided not to try.)
At this time the state would build a one-mile landing strip in each parish, usually at the parish seat. Homer, being in the hills, had difficulty in finding a well situated mile of fairly level land that could be acquired.
I was not only upset; I was angry. I got in touch with an engineering firm and put together a request for the Federal Aviation Administration to build an airport in Homer. While the FAA had granted funds to improve air port facilities, it had never provided a grant to build an airport in Louisiana. This was a first because Homer was awarded a grant if we could match it. Rep. John Garrett and I traveled to Baton Rouge and met with Governor John McKeithen to ask for matching funds. He pointed out that that would be much more money than the state provided for landing strips, but he agreed.
We still had to provide a suitable site. This is where civic minded friends took over. A beautiful site was located between the upper forks of Lake Claiborne. Land owners were contacted and, while they really did not want to let their land go, they sacrificed and sold the land. Contracts were let and an airport was built; a much better facility than a landing strip.
(I wanted to name the many people without whose help this could not have been done but I know I cannot remember everyone so I decided not to try.)
No comments:
Post a Comment