Parish gets new warning systems fires,
severe weather
Homer Emergency Alert Tower
Haynesville Emergency Alert Tower
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Claiborne Parish has gotten some long awaited upgrades to
better warn its citizens of severe weather and fire warnings.
Two new alert towers have gone up in Homer and
Haynesville, set up through the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, that will
help the parish’s fire departments respond to emergencies faster and warn of
impending severe weather.
“There’s an absolute need for them and this is something
that has been going on for two or three years now,” said Homer Fire Chief
Dennis Butcher. “This has been ongoing for some time.”
Harrington’s Communications was the successful bidder in
this project. Also, Barnette and Benefield Inc., an oilfield construction
company, donated the use of the crane used to erect the towers at both
locations.
Both alert systems were placed on 60-foot free-standing
towers, which will be controlled by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. Both towers were placed at the fire stations in Homer and
Haynesville.
“I think it’s a wonderful asset to our parish,”
Haynesville Fire Chief Mark Furlow said. “It’s going to be a great thing for
us. I think it’s going to be an asset for everybody.”
Butcher said the alert system in Homer is replacing an
old audible fire alarm system that is approximately 50 years old.
“It was part of a pull system,” Butcher said, “and they
got it used from the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant. It hasn’t been reliable
or functional in the last couple of years.”
It was a gamewell fire alarm system that worked off a
pulley system. It was on top of the old fire station in downtown Homer next to
city hall. The pull boxes were scattered throughout the community because many
did not have telephones and this was pretty much the only way to warn people of
fire.
Each tower will have a unique sound for severe weather as
well as for fire. The alert sound for fire will be different for Homer and for
Haynesville. But the one for severe weather will be the same at both tower
locations.
“Everybody is going to work the same, but the fire alert
will come through the sheriff’s office, and we’ll also have a separate alert
for medical calls so that our guys will know whether it’s a medical call or
not,” Furlow said.
Furlow will also have a place in the fire station where
he will be able to set off the alarm himself if the need arises.
He also said that sometimes their pagers don’t go off, so
this way, if their pagers don’t go off, then the alarm will alert them that
there is a fire.
The towers came as a result of a fiscal year 2005 grant
from FEMA that was awarded to through the state to Office of Homeland Security
and Emergency Preparedness. The alert towers cost approximately $40,000,
$20,000 a piece.
Both towers should be up and operational by the end of
the month, Butcher said.
In near future, these alert systems will be tested, and
the Office of Homeland Security will provide public education as to what the
alerts will sound like and what each will be used for. They will use the
criteria from the National Weather Service and/or public reports of severe
weather in the immediate area.
“A lot of times we’ll get severe weather that the
National Weather Service doesn’t catch, so that’s where that comes in,” Butcher
said.
Haynesville warrant sweep nets 4 arrests
The Guardian-Journal
Sheriff Ken Bailey announced that on Thursday, August 30,
the Claiborne Narcotic Enforcement Team, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
and the Haynesville Police Department personnel conducted a warrant sweep in
Haynesville.
During this operation, CPSO and Haynesville police
officers teamed up and went throughout Haynesville in search of individuals
with outstanding warrants. This operation lasted approximately two hours and
resulted in the arrest of four people.
Those arrested were: Tommy Earl Washington on two counts
of distribution schedule II CDS (cocaine); Stephen W. Cheatham on one count of
distribution schedule II CDS (cocaine); Kevin W. Capers on one count of
distribution schedule II CDS (cocaine).
These arrests were based on an undercover operation
previously conducted by CNET and the Louisiana State Police, with assistance
from the Haynesville Police Department. These three subjects were transported
to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and booked. Tommy Earl Washington’s
bond was set at $100,000, Stephen W. Cheatham’s bond was set at $50,000, and
Kevin W. Capers’ bond was set at $50,000. All three subjects are still
incarcerated at this time.
In addition to these three, Quinton Manning was arrested
on a Haynesville Police Department warrant for failure to appear and was
transported to CPDC and booked with bond set at $500.
Bailey, Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith and Homer
Police Chief Russell Mills advised that local law enforcement intends to
conduct more of these operations in the future.
Bailey ended by reminding the public to notify area law
enforcement agencies of any suspicious or illegal activity that is going on in
their neighborhoods. Concerned citizens can call CNET at 318-927-9800, the
Louisiana State Police at 318-676-3200, Homer Police Department at
318-927-4000, the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1355 or the
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-927-2011.
Any and all information is considered confidential and is
greatly appreciated.
Shoplifter arrested at Dollar General in
Homer
The Guardian-Journal
A shoplifter was caught in the act at the Dollar General
Store after trying to take some small items from the store.
Officer Mike Rayburn responded to the call. When he
arrived, the assistant manager of the store stated that Jackie Boyd, 49 of
Homer, had some items in his clothes. Upon consent to search, Rayburn found two
packages of men’s boxers and six cans of deodorant in his clothes. The total
cost of the items was $30.65. He was arrested for theft of goods with bond yet
to be set.
Boyd also has an active bench warrant for failure to pay
a fine from a previous shoplifting arrest in May. This arrest now makes his
fourth for the same crime.
In another incident, Homer Police were dispatched in
reference to a 911 call stating someone had been pushed down some stairs.
Officers Van McDaniel and John Bailey responded to the
call with Officer Ken Wood arriving just behind them.
When the officers arrived on scene, Willie Kimble, 31 of
Homer, fled the apartment on foot after one officer saw him in a window. The
officers repeatedly told Kimble to stop, but he did not. Once Kimble was
caught, he was arrested and charged with simple battery (domestic violence) and
resisting an officer by flight. Once the officers arrived at the police
department with Kimble, he was later charged with disturbing the peace in a
public building for his continued use of loud, profane language within the
police department, which is considered a public building.
Bond is yet to be set.
White collar crimes on the rise says the
sheriff’s office
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office has seen an
increase in white collar crimes this year, specifically counterfeit checks and
money orders.
Chief Detective Chuck Talley said that his office, the
Criminal Investigations Division, has seen an increase in the number of people
receiving counterfeit cashier’s checks, about 35 to 40 cases this year alone.
The amounts range from approximately $3,000 to approximately $30,000.
What’s happening is that someone will send a letter,
along with a cashier’s check, stating that they’ve won the lottery in a foreign
country. The letter goes on to give the recipient instructions on what he or
she needs to do to receive their money.
The letters will state that the sender wants the
recipient to deposit the check into a bank and the recipient is to keep a
certain amount out of that money for the services rendered by the recipient.
Then, the recipient is to send the money somewhere else, via Western Union or
some other wire service, to a specific account.
So, when the sender of the letter receives the amount
sent to the account by the wire service, and the check bounces, then the
recipient of the letter is stuck owing the bank the amount of the counterfeit
cashier’s check, plus the wire service fees and the non-sufficient funds (NSF)
fees that the recipient’s bank will charge them.
“If you ever get a check in the mail that doesn’t make
sense to you, call the proper authorities immediately,” Talley said. “The main
thing we’re looking at is counterfeit cashier’s checks and U.S. Postal money
orders.”
Talley specified what kinds of counterfeit checks he’s
looking for by saying that if the cashier’s check or money order is for a
substantial amount of money, call the authorities. Basically, he said, just use
your judgment.
“They are being counterfeited, and they are being given
to people,” Talley said, “but they don’t know it until it comes back.”
If the U.S. postal money order is counterfeit, then the
sheriff’s department is required to call the Secret Service, because it is a
federal matter.
If someone gets suspicious mail saying they have won the
lottery, a grand prize or a big vacation, call the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Department at 927-2011, or call the local police departments, Homer Police at
927-4000 or Haynesville Police at 624-1311.
Barbara Kimble—“Volunteer Public
Servant”
Local woman commended for the service
she gives Homer
Barbara Kimble performs a valuable public
service at no cost to local residents.
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
A “public servant” could include anyone providing
services on behalf of a community. Municipal, stat, and federal employees come
to mind as public servants.
While those are examples of paid public servants, our
area is fortunate to have another public servant—Barbara Kimble. Although not
on the town or parish payroll, she is certainly a public servant.
And just who is Barbara Kimble? Many Homer and parish
residents have probably seen her at one time or another, the woman with her
cart and bags, usually trundling about picking up cans.
It’s in the upper-90s around noon as I spot Ms. Kimble on North 4th in Homer.
Wearing a long skirt and gloves, Ms. Kimble is a lean
woman. She discreetly goes about her self-appointed mission of picking up cans
along the streets and roadways.
I stop to chat and learn that she was born and raised in
Homer, attended Mayfield High, then Homer High in the 1970s.
She has a daughter Melissa and grandson Jer-Kerrion who
live in Dallas. “I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like to. It’s expensive
to go to Dallas,” she says.
I ask if she has any particular route she follows in
ridding the town of cans. “No,” she replies. “I don’t usually decide until I’m
ready to go out. I just go wherever the notion takes me.”
When I ask if she has trouble finding cans to pick up,
she replies that she doesn’t. “And some people stop and give me cans,” she
adds.
I inquire about problems related to what she does.
“Sometimes my asthma acts up. I been troubled with that for years. Dust and
smoke and strong smells can cause my asthma to bother me,” she replies.
Lauren Tichenor, volunteer with Keep Claiborne Beautiful,
praises Kimble’s avocation. “When it comes to Keeping Claiborne Beautiful,
she’s a great role model. What she does has positive effects for us all.”
O.P. Pearson, another volunteer public servant, adds,
“The Town of Homer needs more people like Barbara Kimble. As Chairman of
Homer’s Clean City Committee, we praise her contributions to a cleaner town. We
are pleased to furnish her with a pick-up device to help in her efforts.”
Most days, area residents will see Barbara Kimble,
Volunteer Public Servant, with her cart and bags contributing to a cleaner
community for us all. Thanks, Ms. Barbara.
-0-0-0-
“It’s important [to] make a difference.”—Clay Aiken,
singer
Accident slows traffic on Hwy. 79 North
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
An
accident involving an 18-wheeler and a pickup truck on Highway 79 North at
Goodwin Lake Road, near Haynesville, had traffic moving slowly for
approximately two hours Tuesday morning.
Robert
Glenn, the driver of a tan GMC Sierra pick up received a call from his wife
earlier that morning stating that she had a flat tire.
He left
his home in Haynesville to go to his wife, and when he saw her on the
northbound side of Highway 79, stopped, with his blinker on, to turn.
“I just
went to turn off to change my wife’s tire,” Glenn said, “and he didn’t see my
light.”
Glenn
said the driver of the 18-wheeler clipped him on the driver’s rear fender,
spinning him around and hitting the driver’s door of the truck.
Joe
Hall, the driver of the 18-wheeler, said Glenn had to have been going about 45
miles per hour.
He said
Glenn saw his family on the other side and whipped in front of him to turn
around.
Emergency
responders including the Haynesville Fire Department and Pafford EMS responded
to the scene. Also, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Department directed traffic
until the Louisiana State Troopers arrived to take care of the scene.
The
18-wheeler is a tanker, in which Hall said he’d just unloaded gasoline.
The
empty tanker made the situation all the more dangerous in that there was a risk
of fire if someone had hit the trailer.
“It’s
more dangerous now than when it was loaded,” Hall said. “It’s a danger if
somebody hits me.”
Glenn
was cited for improper turn.
Local resident speaks at NCIS conference
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Retired Special Agent David Watson, of Homer, spoke at a
Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) conference in San Diego, California, recently, where he spoke to those attending the conference about white collar
crimes, specifically bank fraud and identity theft.
The annual conference of the Association of Certified
Fraud Specialists, of which he has been a member for about four years,
consisted of agents and detectives involved in fraud investigations and fraud
prosecutions – judges, prosecutors, investigators and auditors.
“The topics included the financial abuse of elders,
identity theft and there were different sections in the conference that
specifically address the needs of different conference attendees,” Watson said.
In other words, there were special sections in the
conference. For example, one section would be for auditors, one for
investigators and another one for prosecutors and investigative tools in which
the keynote speaker was the Inspector General for the State of Texas, Brian Flood.
Watson’s presentation centered on a case study of bank
fraud that was committed by a group of people, which included some active duty
Navy personnel, who had access to people’s identifying information. It started
as a simple identity theft and they used the information to access people’s
bank accounts, transfer all the money out, or if they didn’t have a bank
account, take out a loan in their name and disappear with the money. As of his
retirement in November 2006 and into December, three of the individuals in this
case were prosecuted, Watson said.
“There are still several that are pending prosecution,”
he said. “The others that were prosecuted were all in the military, and they
are no longer in the military or were not in the military at the time. They’ll
have to be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office or by local
district attorneys.”
Some of the victims that money was taken from in this case
were elderly, and some were either active military people, retiring military
people or family members of military personnel. They had access to those
victims’ identifying information such as their social security numbers, dates
of birth and home addresses.
“They used that information to call a credit union and
impersonate that person over the telephone and get the money transferred out of
the accounts,” he said.
The suspects in the case would give the credit union the
intended victim’s name and tell them what they wanted to do (transfer funds).
The bank would then ask the impersonators a series of questions to ensure their
identity.
“Of course they had all that information sitting right in
front of them, so they could answer almost any question – their telephone
number, their date of birth, their wife’s name, childrens’ names. These were
the security questions,” Watson said.
The calls were made on other people, but the
impersonators could not get the financial institution to move any money. Watson
said those people had protected themselves by adding optional security features
to their accounts, such as a code word. The particular credit union involved in
this case, he said, had set up optional security features that customers could
add to their accounts.
“Because they did that, we know that their money was not
taken,” he said, “and because they did that, we know that the suspects called
and tried to take their money. And when they found out that there was a code
word for security purposes, they gave up.”
NCIS handles criminal investigations,
counterintelligence, espionage work, counterterrorism work and dignitary
protection for the Department of the Navy, which is the Navy and the Marine
Corp. Watson was a special agent from 1975 until November 2006.
He received his bachelor of science degree from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston in accounting and his masters in criminal justice from
Southern Mississippi University.
Watson has been honored with numerous awards including
the NCIS Special Agent of the Year for Fraud Investigations; two Navy
Meritorious Civilian Service awards; one Navy Superior Civilian Service award;
and the Desert Shield/Desert Storm Civilian Medal.
He is presently a consultant and professional trainer on
investigative techniques.
Vehicle search leads to the discovery of
cocaine
The Guardian-Journal
Two people were arrested in Bienville Parish Saturday,
September 1, after traffic stop lead to the discovery of nine pounds of
cocaine.
At approximately 10 p.m., Louisiana State Troopers stopped
a 2005 Honda passenger car on Interstate 20 in Bienville Parish for two
separate traffic violations.
Statements volunteered by the driver about the vehicle
and her travels during the traffic stop led troopers to request a consent to
search. After a refusal, a near-by Troop G K-9 handler and his Belgian
Malinois partner, Arrak, were summoned to the traffic stop. After Arrak
alerted on the trunk area, approximately nine pounds of cocaine was discovered.
The owner/operator, Brande L. Stow, active duty Air
Force, along with her passenger, Terrance Lawrence, were arrested and
transported to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Department for booking. Louisiana
State Police Bureau of Investigation and its North District Narcotics section
are assisting with the arrests, evidence and continuing investigation.
Former NCIS agent gives tips to prevent
white collar crime
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
David Watson, a retired NCIS agent specializing in fraud
crimes, gave several tips on how to prevent, or at least lessen the chances of
someone becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.
“There’s a strong probability in everyone’s life that
they’re going to be a victim of some kind of crime, whether it’s a property
crime, or the victim of embezzlement or financial crime, or something worse,”
he said. “Really, what I did, and what the other agents did for personnel in
the Department of the Navy, is the same thing that the police department and
the sheriff’s department does for the people here. We try to respond,
investigate the crime and see if there’s a prosecutable crime.”
People should be very suspicious of someone trying to
sell them something over the telephone or at the front door, unless that person
is someone they know. They should be suspicious of anything they receive in the
mail that starts out that they’ve won a prize or they’ve won a vacation or
anything like that.
People should be very careful with their personal
information (social security number, date of birth, driver’s license number,
any details about their family.)
“It’s best not to have those things printed on your
check,” he said. “If you need to write them on your check, you can. It’s a good
idea not to carry your social security card with you. Rarely should you have to
show that. Most places that ask you for it, it’s optional to give it to them.
If they ask you for it, then you should ask them why they’re asking you for it.
If it’s something that’s optional, then don’t give it. There’s really no
reason, in most cases, to give that information.”
In other words, don’t carry a social security card with
you unless there is a specific reason to have it.
“I also recommend that people not write a check to pay a
bill and then put it in their mailbox and put the flag up,” he said. “That also
let’s some person who might be involved in an identity theft know that there’s
a good chance that there’s information in that mailbox that would be useful to
them.”
For instance, if a person writes a check to pay a credit
card bill, and that person puts that in his/her mailbox, if the criminal gets
that information before the post office does, then they have the victim’s
credit card number, his/her home address, his/her bank and bank account number,
all in one.
“Instead of putting it in your own mailbox,” he said,
“take it to the post office or one of the blue drop boxes owned by the U.S.
Postal Service.”
He also said to be cautious of doing business with a
company that a person doesn’t know.
“People should also be wary of doing business with repair
companies that you don’t know,” he said. “For instance, if someone comes to
your door and says that roof needs repair, and they would be happy to do it for
you, be very suspicious of that. It’s always better to do business with a local
company and preferably with someone you know or can give you references or this
company has been referred to you by a previous customer.”
He said many of the home repair scams that are done are
done to elderly people, and they criminals are people who come to the door, and
they are people they don’t know.
“The typical scheme is that they take a large deposit of
your money, do a little bit of work and then they disappear,” he said.
“If anyone gets a feeling that something is just not
right, call the police department or the sheriff’s department, and ask them
about it,” he continued. “If they feel they’ve been a victim of something like
this, there’s a natural tendency to be embarrassed, and to not report it. We
all need to get over that and report it to the police, and help prevent someone
else from becoming a victim. These people are very good at convincing. That’s
their job.”
He said the fact that you’ve been a victim is not
something to be ashamed of. He agreed that even if you’re wrong about someone,
it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Other tips, taken from the Federal Trade Commission’s
website concerning identity theft, include: shredding charge receipts, copies
of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank
statements, expired charge cards and credit offers received in the mail.
The website also suggests that people place passwords on
their credit card accounts, bank records and phone accounts. Avoid using easily
available information such as mother’s maiden name, birth dates, the last four
digits of a social security number or phone number, a series of consecutive
numbers or a single word that would appear in the dictionary. The website says
that a combination of letters, numbers and special characters make the
strongest passwords.
The website also says to verify the source before sharing
information. Don’t give out personal information over the phone, through the
mail or on the Internet unless contact has been initiated and you are sure you
know who you’re dealing with. Also, secure personal items like wallets and
purses. Carry the only identification information necessary when you need to go
out.
Chief Detective Chuck Talley, of the Claiborne Parish
Sheriff’s Department, said his office has received approximately 30 cases of
fraud and identity theft. Many times, he said, the theft is committed by people
outside the United States, which makes it hard to prosecute. If the amount of
theft is $100,000 or more, then the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) will
get involved and prosecute the case. Then again, many ID theft crimes are below
that amount.
“My main objective,” Talley said, “when someone comes to
me with something like this, is to try to assist people so that they can get
their credit back in proper standing and get it to where the victim doesn’t owe
that debt.”
To see other suggestions on how to prevent identity theft
or fraud, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov.
Hunter’s education to be held later in
September
The Claiborne Parish Sheriffs’ Office along with David Wade Correctional Center will be sponsoring the Hunter Education Courses for 2007.
The Hunter Education Course will be conducted at the
Homer Fire Station beginning the 29 Aug 07 thru 01 Sept. 07.
Class schedule: September 26, from 6 until 9 p.m.; September 27, from 6 until 9 p.m.; and September 29, from 8 a.m. until noon.
Anyone interested in this Hunter Education Class must pre
register with the Claiborne Parish Sheriffs Department at: 927-2011 or by contacting
Colonel Brad Rogers at 927-0453.
In 1985, hunter education became mandatory in Louisiana. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1969 is required by law to complete the
Louisiana Hunter Education course before purchasing a hunting license. The minimum
age for certification is 10.
CPOEP to host training in October at Camp Minden
Claiborne Parish Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness is organizing Community Emergency Response Teams in Claiborne
Parish. We are looking for a few volunteers to train as instructors. Claiborne
Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will be hosting a CERT
Train the Trainer Program on October 2-4, at LSU Fire and Emergency Training –
Pine Country, located at Camp Minden. Those wishing to train, please call Scott
Greeson at 318-927-9400.
What is CERT? CERT is about readiness, people helping
people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.
CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations
where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a
difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small
fires; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and
organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective. Those
interested please call Scott Greeson at 318-927-9400.
Rachel Cotton honored for 100th birthday
Photo/Special to The Guardian-Journal
A reception was held Saturday, August 25, in honor of Ms.
Rachel Cotton, who celebrated her 100th birthday Friday, August 24. She
received a proclamation from Homer Mayor David Newell, presented by District 1
Councilman J.C. Moore, proclaiming Saturday as “Rachel Cotton Day.” She also
received a certificate from Governor Kathleen Blanco honoring Cotton on her
special day. Pictured from left are Moore, Cotton’s son Mail, Cotton, and her
daughter Ruby.
Several police jurors join Jindal in his
‘Fresh Start’ coalition
The Guardian-Journal
Scott Davidson, Robert E. McDaniel, and Willie J. Young,
Sr.—three Claiborne Parish police jury members—are joining hundreds of other
local elected officials across Louisiana to support the “Jindal Coalition for a
Fresh Start.”
The Bobby Jindal Campaign Office in Baton Rouge issued a
press release describing the coalition as part of an effort to make a “fresh
start” for the state of Louisiana.
Jindal’s
campaign office says that almost 400 local mayors, sheriffs, police jurors,
school board members, and other elected officials are supporting Jindal for
governor. The office adds that “around 40 percent of . . . [coalition members]
are Democrats.”
Jindal’s press release continues, “I am honored to have
the support of so many elected officials across Louisiana, and I look forward
to many more joining with me in the days and weeks ahead. The fight against
corruption, government incompetence, and out-of-control spending will not be an
easy one, but I know it is a fight worth waging; and with the support of these
leaders and Louisianians everywhere, I know it is a fight we can win.”
Asked about joining the coalition, Scott Davidson, juror
from District 6, says, “Our state could benefit from a ‘fresh start,’
especially when it comes to becoming ‘business-friendly.’ I hope Jindal will
make some changes that cause businesses to want to come to Louisiana.”
Robert McDaniel, juror from District 6, comments, “It’s
great that Jindal has stepped up and is willing to tackle corruption and
incompetence and out-of-control spending. As I talked with him, I was impressed
with his honesty and integrity. If he accomplishes only some of what he is
focusing on, it will mean a lot for the state.”
Introducing:
Deborah Carey, Nurse Practitioner
Photo/Special to The Guardian-Journal
Deborah Carey is shown here examining
patient Ronald Toney.
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
Homer’s Family Medical Clinic recently added Nurse
Practitioner (NP) Deborah Carey to their professional team.
Visiting with her the other day, I ask just what an NP
is. She replies, “The NP is a registered nurse who has completed advanced
education—at least a master's degree—and has training in diagnosing and
managing common medical conditions. We can provide a wide range of health care
services.”
Asked for examples, she recites a bunch: Writing
prescriptions; prescribing physical therapy; providing prenatal care; ordering
and interpreting diagnostic tests such as lab tests and x-rays; diagnosing and
treating acute illnesses, infections, and injuries; diagnosing, treating, and
monitoring chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure; and much
more.
Because I had never heard of an NP as a kid, I ask when
the profession began. Carey replies, “Over 40 years ago because there was a
shortage of family practice physicians, especially in rural areas like
Claiborne Parish. The first in the profession were trained at the University of Colorado in 1965, and NP programs began spreading across the nation. Now
there are over 100,000 in practice.”
I inquire, “Why did you want to become an NP?” Carey
answers, “As a nurse, I went on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic some years ago with Dr. Harold Pader, a Minden physician. I saw such a
great need for medical care for those people and felt I could do more, and that
moved me to go back to school with the goal of providing better healthcare for
the under-served. I can do that by means of short-term mission trips and also
by providing better healthcare to our rural people.”
Asked why she wanted to come to Homer, she says, “I’m
from Stone County in southwest Missouri. Frankly, Homer reminds me of where I
grew up, a rural area with a small population. And I’ve always wanted to treat
those who would otherwise have little or no access to quality healthcare.”
She continues, “I’ve found everyone at Dr. Salmon’s
office to be well-qualified and a joy to work with. They have an excellent
working relationship with Homer Hospital’s emergency room NPs Camille Wise and
Debra Baggett-Woodard. By the way, Debra and I teach Advanced Cardiac Life
Support (ACLS) together.”
I inquire about her background and training. Her
education includes attendance at several colleges, e.g., LSU in Monroe and Shreveport; McNeese, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches as
well as Drury College and Burge School of Nursing. (“My mother was a nurse and
graduated from Burge, too,” Carey mentions.)
Carey has a Masters in Nursing (she graduated with
honors) and belongs to several professional medical associations. She currently
teaches Basic Life Support and ACLS to other healthcare professionals.
Asked what she enjoys most about being an NP, she
answers, “I’ve provided all sorts of medical care for 24 years: dialysis;
pediatric, cancer, geriatric, and hospice care—staff nurse, trauma care nurse,
Director of Nursing—taught CPR and ACLS classes and provided patient care in
the ICU, emergency room, OB-GYN, and psychiatric settings. All of that has
contributed to my development as a nurse practitioner, but if I had to specify
one area I like most, it’s teaching and counseling. I am contributing in a
meaningful way to improving the quality of life for our patients.”
Asked about her family, Carey says her husband Richard is
in food sales and her 17-year-old son is a high school junior at Caddo Magnet.
For fun Carey enjoys reading, traveling, playing piano
and saxophone, and singing. “I love spending time with my family,” she says,
“and am active in my church. I also like learning. While some people may not
care for attending conferences, I love it. Oh, and I’m a St. Louis Cardinals
baseball fan.”
Asked for a closing comment, Carey says, “I’m happy to be
here in Homer. I feel that being an NP is what life’s journey has prepared me
to do. I considered becoming a music teacher but chose medicine instead, a
choice that has proven very satisfying.”
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He who has health has hope; he who has hope has
everything.—Arabian Proverb
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
