Early Voting
October 21-28
Early voting for the November 4 election will be Tuesday,
October 21, through Tuesday, October 28. Office hours will be 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. The office will be closed on Sunday, October 26.
On the Ballot:
• U.S. President
• U.S. Senator
• Runoff for U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional
District --Democratic and Republican Party (Second Party Primary)
• Runoff for the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office
• 7 proposed Constitutional Amendments
It’s a runoff!
DA’s race comes down to 2 candidates
The Guardian-Journal
The
results are in and it’s now official. Darrell Avery and Jonathan Stewart will
spend the next four weeks campaigning for votes before the November 4 election.
According
to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Website, the votes broke down like this.
In the district, Darrell Avery received approximately 31 percent or 3,712
votes. Jonathan Stewart received approximately 30 percent or 3,631 votes. David
Newell received 21 percent with 2,531 votes and Chris Bowman came in with
approximately 18 percent or 2,137 votes. In Claiborne Parish, Avery received
636 votes; Stewart received 834 votes; Newell received 1,325 votes; and Bowman
received 779 votes.
In the
other two parishes, Avery received 548 votes in Bienville Parish and 2,528 in
Jackson Parish. Bowman received 530 votes in Bienville Parish and 828 in
Jackson Parish. Newell received 781 votes in Bienville Parish and 425 votes in
Jackson Parish. Stewart received 2,326 votes in Bienville Parish and 471 votes
in Jackson Parish.
There
will be a runoff in the 4th Congressional District race as well. For the
Democratic Party, Paul J. Carmouche received the most votes in Claiborne Parish
coming in with 973 votes, or 43 percent. Willie Banks came in next with 661
votes, or 29 percent. John Milkovich carried 21 percent, with 480 votes and
Artis “Doc” Cash trailed with only 6 percent of the vote, or 142 votes.
In the
district, Carmouche received 36,930 votes or 48 percent of the vote. Banks
received 17,620 votes or 23 percent of the vote. Milkovich received 16,135
votes or 21 percent of the votes.
In the
Republican Party, John Fleming carried 55 percent of the votes in Claiborne
Parish, with 537 votes. Chris Gorman came in next with 28 percent of the vote,
with 277 votes. Jeff Thompson trailed with only 16 percent of the vote, or 161
votes total.
In the
district, Fleming received 14,500 votes or 35 percent. Gorman received 14,070
votes or 34 percent. Jeff Thompson received 12,693 votes or 31 percent.
Foster
Campbell will once again be Louisiana’s public service commissioner as he
received 80 percent of the vote in District 5 with 2,704 votes. James “Jim”
Crowley only received 20 percent of the vote, coming in with 671 votes.
In the
Claiborne Parish School Board race, A.D. Williams will serve a full term now as
he received 55 percent of the vote, coming in with 125 votes. Betty Richardson
received 104 votes, or 45 percent of the vote.
In the Village of Lisbon, Wayne Tanner will serve another term as mayor, coming in with 72 percent
of the vote, or 53 votes. Sonny Greeson trailed behind with 28 percent of the
vote, or 21 votes.
Also in
Lisbon, aldermen elected were Marilyn Lowrey Myers, Jerry W. Clements with
each receiving 30 percent of the vote, or 54 votes each. Andy Roberts came in
with 27 percent, touting 49 votes, and Scott Greeson came in with 24 votes, or
13 percent.
That’s
the overall picture. Here’s how the DA’s race broke down in Claiborne Parish by
precinct
District Attorney, 2nd Judicial District
Darrell
Avery
Absentee,
107; Precinct 1, 71; Precinct 3, 20; Precinct 5, 32; Precinct 7, 51; Precinct
8, 15; Precinct 10, 4; Precinct 11, 16; Precinct 21, 14; Precinct 22, 12;
Precinct 31, 42; Precinct 34, 9; Precinct 35, 7; Precinct 36, 13; Precinct 37,
1; Precinct 41, 4; Precinct 42, 19; Precinct 51, 7; Precinct 81, 21; Precinct
82, 13; Precinct 85, 8; Precinct 87, 10; Precinct 88, 52; Precinct 91, 2;
Precinct 92, 44; Precinct 93, 7; Precinct 94, 1; Precinct 96, 11.
Chris
Bowman
Absentee,
121; Precinct 1, 26; Precinct 3, 12; Precinct 5, 38; Precinct 7, 41; Precinct
8, 59; Precinct 10, 39; Precinct 11, 27; Precinct 21, 5; Precinct 22, 25;
Precinct 31, 30; Precinct 34, 19; Precinct 35, 9; Precinct 36, 22; Precinct 37,
2; Precinct 41, 7; Precinct 42, 17; Precinct 51, 11; Precinct 81, 15; Precinct
82, 22; Precinct 84, 21; Precinct 85, 19; Precinct 87, 71; Precinct 88, 16;
Precinct 91, 1; Precinct 92, 43; Precinct 93, 51; Precinct 94, 0; Precinct 96,
10.
David
Newell
Absentee,
327; Precinct 1, 44; Precinct 3, 47; Precinct 5, 50; Precinct 7, 86; Precinct
8, 63; Precinct 10, 15; Precinct 11, 20; Precinct 21, 8; Precinct 22, 43;
Precinct 31, 84; Precinct 34, 35; Precinct 35, 21; Precinct 36, 42; Precinct
37, 4; Precinct 41, 17; Precinct 42, 21; Precinct 51, 17; Precinct 81, 19;
Precinct 82, 27; Precinct 84, 46; Precinct 85, 41; Precinct 87, 63; Precinct
88, 62; Precinct 91, 2; Precinct 92, 57; Precinct 93, 48; Precinct 94, 2;
Precinct 96, 14.
Jonathan
Stewart
Absentee,
144; Precinct 1, 34; Precinct 3, 37; Precinct 5, 88; Precinct 7, 156; Precinct
8, 12; Precinct 10, 2; Precinct 11, 6; Precinct 21, 3; Precinct 22, 15;
Precinct 31, 30; Precinct 34, 30; Precinct 35, 7; Precinct 36, 29; Precinct 37,
2; Precinct 41, 8; Precinct 42, 21; Precinct 51, 22; Precinct 81, 13; Precinct
82, 6; Precinct 84, 28; Precinct 85, 8; Precinct 87, 10; Precinct 88, 44;
Precinct 91, 12; Precinct 92, 50; Precinct 93, 15; Precinct 94, 0; Precinct 96,
2.
Homer PD gets taser certification
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Homer Police Chief Russell Mills, center,
experiences the taser firsthand. Assisting Mills are Officers Van McDaniel,
right, and Roger Smith, left. Within two weeks, Mills says he expects all of
his officers to be certified for taser use.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Homer Police Department has now started certifying its officers to use the
taser as another tool to help them do their jobs – and The Guardian-Journal was
invited to witness the exercise.
These
officers are now able to immobilize suspects on the run without injury to the
suspect or themselves. Certified using the Taser X26, five of 11 officers were
tased Tuesday morning. This method was to allow officers to get a first hand
experience of what this weapon will do.
“Believe
me,” said Chief Russell Mills, “it hurts like hell. Every officer that went
through it will tell you that you don’t want to feel it again.”
Officer
Joseph Henry was the first to feel the debilitating effects of the taser – for
the full five seconds. Homer Police Officer J.D. Faulker, now a certified taser
instructor, deployed the prongs, striking Henry in his upper and lower back.
Immediately, his face turned red and his muscles contracted causing his body to
arch. Officers Van McDaniel and Roger Smith stood on either side of Henry
assisting his paralyzed body to the floor.
Faulker
completed a two-day course in Monroe sponsored by Taser International, which
certified him as a taser instructor.
Three
other officers including John Bailey, Nora Banks, Mike Rayburn and Chief Mills
were tased.
The
Taser X26 is a weapon used to immobilize suspects who are combative or violent.
It is considered one of the safest methods of subduing a suspect without
pulling a firearm. According to Taser International, these weapons are
considered safer “use of force” weapons than traditional hands-on tactics.
“There
have been over 120 independent studies of TASER devices,” the website states.
“This body of scientific evidence shows that while TASER devices are not risk
free, they are among the safest use-of-force alternatives available. In fact,
TASER devices are among the most extensively studied use-of-force options on
the market today.”
Here’s
how it works. The taser uses electrical impulses to stimulate the sensory and
motor nerves. Called neuromuscular incapacitation, “it occurs when a device is
able to cause involuntary stimulation of both the sensory nerves and the motor
nerves,” the website stated. The sensory nerves carry information from the body
to the brain. The motor nerves carry commands from the brain to the muscles to
control movement.
The
Homer Police Department received a grant in 2007 from Claiborne Electric for
the purchase of the tasers. Since then, much research has been done and a
policy was written for their use. The policy ensures that these weapons are
used properly and are not abused.
Location changed for B&G fundraiser
Sen. Mary Landrieu to be guest speaker
The 10-year celebration Friends and
Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Claiborne to be held at 6:30 p.m. has been moved to Claiborne Electric on Hwy. 9 south in Homer. Louisiana
Senator Mary Landrieu will be the guest speaker. Donations are $30 for single
and $200 for a table of eight. For more information or to get tickets, contact
Tinsley Inc. at 927-9866.
Jindal says ‘Thanks’ to Claiborne Parish
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Gov.
Bobby Jindal came through Homer last Wednesday to thank all emergency personnel
and the people of Claiborne Parish for their hard work and open hearts during
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
“I’m
here to say two things,” Jindal said, “One is to say thank you for your
response and second is to say that we’ll be with you every step of the way when
it comes to fighting for recovery.”
Col.
Mike Edmunson with the Louisiana State Police, Mark Cooper, GOSEP, General
Bennett Landreneau with the Louisiana National Guard and the president of the
Louisiana Sheriff’s Association all accompanied Jindal to Homer.
“They
played an instrumental role in the response to these storms and to make sure
that we do everything we can to help speed up this recovery,” Jindal added.
The
governor spoke highly of the people of Louisiana and praised them for their
tenacity and their ability to adapt. He told story after story of people who’d
lost their homes and businesses in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and just as
they were getting back on their feet, they were flooded by Ike.
The good
that came from these storms, he said, is the people of Louisiana, because even
though they had lost, they were out in their own communities attempting to help
their neighbors.
“I went
to Cameron Parish,” Jindal said. “Ninety-seven (97) percent of their structures
were flooded, damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Rita in 2005. The only thing
left intact was their courthouse. When we got there, there was a pastor there
with a smile on his face.
“He
said, ‘Governor, our church flooded in ‘05.’ For three years they have been
working to open that church. A week ago Sunday, they were supposed to have
services for the first time. It flooded again. They didn’t even get to worship
there once after they’d finished that church, but he had a smile on his face.”
The pastor
told the governor not to worry, because he and his congregation would find a
place to worship.
“What
an amazing attitude,” Jindal said. “They got flooded out twice and here he was
saying, ‘Don’t worry about us, we’ll find a place to worship.’”
There were
many, many more amazing stories of resilience. That same resilience shone
through as well with state agencies. Before the hurricanes, Jindal had signed a
contract with an out-of-state bus company that was going to provide several
high-tech air conditioned, comfortable buses for evacuees to travel to safer
ground. When the time came to load up evacuees, the buses never came. In
response, school buses were sent from all four corners of the state to help
transport evacuees. Places as far away as Canada sent help to Louisiana. Some
evacuees were flown out, others were taken by train and still others by car.
“We got
500 of our National Guardsmen as drivers and called up our school systems to
send 1,000 buses,” he said. “Nobody complained, they all said absolutely and
got everybody out of harm’s way. Same thing happened Sunday. All those
out-of-state ambulances never showed up. We called our National Guardsmen and
had helicopters set up all over the state to evacuate medical patients.”
The day
before Gustav came ashore, seemingly every news station in the country was in New Orleans anticipating the breach of the Industrial Canal. When it didn’t breach, Jindal
said, they all left and wrote the same story.
“Louisiana dodged a bullet,” the governor said. “I wish that were true. I wish they had
stayed and seen all the damage that those storms caused. We didn’t dodge a
bullet. We had a storm that cut up through the entire state of Louisiana. It stayed in Louisiana and two-thirds of our people and businesses lost electricity
throughout our state.”
Jindal
praised the response time of the Louisiana National Guard and other state
agencies that brought relief aid to the southern parishes. The levees that were
breached were getting repairs within two days after the storm. Water rescues
were taking place as soon as possible in both the southwest and southeast
parishes, Jindal said. And because it took too long to get help from FEMA, the
state called on the faith-based groups, and it was those groups that cooked hot
meals every day for evacuees.
Just as
rescue and relief efforts began from Gustav, Ike comes ashore flooding the
entire coastline.
“Some
parishes got two feet more water than they got when Rita came in 2005,” Jindal
said. “I am so proud of the people in our state. A lot of people have commented
about what went right. 1.9 million people were evacuated, the largest
evacuation in our state’s history. There 10,400 medical patients evacuated out,
the largest medical evacuation in our state. Eight thousand prisoners were evacuated.
But, they didn’t see how adaptable and flexible our people are.”
HHS 2008 Homecoming Court
Submitted Photo
The Homer High School 2008 Homecoming
Court will be presented at halftime of the Homer-Lakeside football game on
Friday October 10. Left to right, Sophomore Maids Katie Baker and Alexis
Willis, Junior Maid ABC Turner, Senior MaidNyeisha Warren, Football Sweetheart
Afton Owens, Queen Treasure Norton, Senior Maid Andreanna Hartwell, Junior
MaidBriana Walker, Sophomore Maid Jasmine Lewis, Freshman Maids LaFaye Muse and
Jasmine Dupree.
Campers arrested on drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
Two Texas campers were caught in Claiborne Parish carrying illegal paraphernalia and drugs last
Sunday.
On
October 5, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Deputies J.T. Williams, Roger Ellerbe and
Sedrick Millage responded to a disturbance call at Corney Lake. The deputies
talked to campers Joey Everett Smalley, 45, of New Caney, Texas, and Dianna R.
Gerik, 37, of Waco, Texas.
After
investigating the complaint, deputies discovered that Smalley had an
outstanding warrant from Union County, Ark. He was placed under arrest, and
upon a search of his person, deputies discovered a black bag containing small,
clear rock-like substances in his left front pocket.
Upon a
search of the vehicle, deputies found two syringes in the center console. A
search was then conducted of the tent and two more syringes were discovered
beside the air mattress in the tent. Upon turning the air mattress over,
deputies discovered an approximate 4-inch white plastic pipe commonly used in
inhaling illegal drugs.
Smalley
was arrested and charged with possession of Schedule II methamphetamines and
possession of drug paraphernalia. Gerik was arrested and charged with
possession of drug paraphernalia. Smalley was booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center with bond to be set. Gerik was booked at the Claiborne
Women’s Jail with bond set at $500.
Smalley
also had a hold placed on him from Union County.
Ford Museum Offers Images of America: Claiborne Parish
JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer
The
release of Ford Museum’s Images of America: Claiborne Parish is fast
approaching. This priceless collection of 232 historic photographs that
chronicle the parish’s history is sure to become a family heirloom.
These
vintage pictures feature many schools that no longer exist, well, other than in
our memories. Early settlers established farms and churches, many of which are
preserved for posterity in this book, Images of America: Claiborne Parish.
Relatives, long gone but not forgotten, appear in many of the school and sports
photographs.
Pictures
of early Homer, Haynesville, Summerfield, Athens, Lisbon, and other parts of
the parish are included as well as images documenting the influence of L&NW
Railroad, the Oil Boom, our historic courthouse, and other Claiborne Parish
treasures.
Linda
Volentine, Director of Ford Museum says, “It’s been a delight to work on the
Images project, and there are so many to thank for their help.
“In addition
to the vintage pictures we have in the Ford Museum collection, others who
freely shared with us include the Claiborne Parish Library, the Claiborne
Parish School Board, The Guardian-Journal, and the private collections of many
individuals.
“Those who
want to order copies of the book by mail should do so right away because we
ordered only a limited printing.”
Available
in a few days, copies may be purchased at Ford Museum beginning October 13 for
$20 each. Copies by mail are $22.50 each, which includes postage and handling.
Order yours today!
Claiborne Parish CERT to hold training
courses
CERT is
offering emergency preparedness courses to train Claiborne Parish citizens in
disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical 1 and 2, light search and
rescue, CERT organization, disaster psychology and terrorism and CERT. On the
last day of training, there will be a review and disaster simulation drill that
morning.
DATES
Monday, October 27
Monday, November 3
Monday, November 10
Monday, November 17
Saturday, November 22
This
course is approximately 20 hours and will prepare volunteers to help their
families, then branch out and help their neighbors when police or emergency
personnel cannot get to them because of the enormity of the disaster.
This
course is free and open to the first 20 people who sign up. To sign up, please
call Sheila Washington at the police jury office at 927-2222.
Constitutional amendment not a tax
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
There
are several constitutional amendments on the November 4 ballot in which voters
will be asked to make a decision.
There
are seven listed and the proposed severance tax cap increase is one of those.
In the next four weeks, The Guardian-Journal will discuss each proposed
amendment to give voters a better understanding of what they will be voting on.
In light of this, the first one to be discussed will be Proposed Amendment No.
4. In fact, through research, The Guardian-Journal found that many Claiborne
Parish voters deem this amendment the most important one on the ballot. On the
flip side, many Claiborne Parish voters do not even know what it is. So, please
read the following very carefully before making a decision on November 4.
Proposed
Constitutional Amendment No. 4 is asking voters for a raise in the severance
tax cap from $850,000 to $2.85 million. Currently, the severance tax cap is set
at $850,000, an amount that was just increased from $750,000 in 2007. This
means that of the 100 percent of oil and gas tax revenue, 20 percent up to
$850,000 is coming back to oil and gas producing parishes to help repair roads
destroyed by these companies’ heavy equipment.
This
severance tax cap, if passed by Louisiana voters, will mean that oil and gas
producing parishes will get back approximately $1.2 million more from the state
to spend on roads and parish infrastructure. It is NOT a tax.
Currently,
Claiborne Parish brings in approximately $14-15 million in tax revenue on oil
and gas, according to police jury records, and most of that is going into the
state’s general fund to be spent as the state sees fit. If passed, $2.85
million of that $14-15 million would come back to Claiborne Parish.
Historically,
each time a bill has been sent to the Legislature asking for an increase, the
state did not allow as much as the bill was asking for. Louisiana
Representative Rick Gallot said the state did not have the budget surpluses it
has now. In 2007 alone, the budget surplus was approximately $1.4 billion, and
to date, there is approximately $700 million in additional revenue.
So what
makes this bill different than the ones previous? Gallot said they used the
same argument Gov. Bobby Jindal has used in the past in Congress to get more
oil and gas royalties from offshore drilling.
“All he
was asking for was our fair share,” Gallot said of Jindal’s argument. “Plus
we’re doing fairly well financially, and we don’t have some of the financial
restraints we once had.”
The
addition of the Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund does not affect Claiborne
Parish, but was added to the bill in order to get it passed in both the
Louisiana House and Senate.
Gallot
has been instrumental in bringing this monetary increase to the front burner.
In May, it passed through the House with flying colors. It later passed through
the Senate without much opposition. Gallot, in an earlier interview with The
Guardian-Journal, said Gov. Bobby Jindal would not oppose the bill when it came
across his desk.
The
amendment reads as follows:
“Proposed
Amendment No. 4
ACT
NO. 932 – House Bill No. 420, Regular Session 2008
To
increase the maximum amount of the severance tax imposed and collected by the
state on natural resources, other than sulphur, lignite, and timber, which is
remitted to the parish governing authority where the severance occurs from
eight hundred fifty thousand dollars to one million eight hundred fifty
thousand dollars, for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 and to two million eight
hundred fifty thousand dollars for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 and thereafter; to
require at least fifty percent of the excess severance tax remitted to a parish
because of this constitutional amendment to be used within the parish only in
the same manner and for the same purposes as money received by the parish from
the Parish Transportation Fund; to increase the amount of such severance taxes
collected by the state, not to exceed ten million dollars each fiscal year,
which is to be deposited to a special fund created in the state treasury to be
known as the Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund, in order to fund projects
contained in the state or federal Basin master plans or an annual Basin plan
developed by an Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board and other such
advisory or approval boards, all of which the legislature must create and
provide for by law within the Atchafalaya Basin Program, or to provide match
for the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, Louisiana Project, all as the
secretary of the Department of Natural Resources shall direct, provided that
eight-five percent must be used for water management, water quality, or access
projects, and the remaining fifteen percent may be used to complete ongoing
projects and for projects that are in accordance with the mission statement of
the master plan, further provided, however, that up to five percent of the
money allocated in any one fiscal year may be used for the operational costs of
the program or the department; all to become effective July 1, 2009. (Amends
Article VII, Section 4(D)(3); Adds Article VII, Section 4(D)(4) and (5))”
Again,
to be clear, this amendment is not a tax. It is a state constitutional
amendment that if passed will mean money that parishes already pay in to the
state will come back to the parishes that produce oil and gas and other natural
resources. Claiborne Parish is one of 31 parishes in the state that produce oil
and gas.
Town to clean up blighted property
The Guardian-Journal
The
Town of Homer made a decision Monday night to clean up its blighted property.
One
case, in particular, has to do with property that has been the topic of
discussion for two to three years.
District
2 Councilman Michael Wade made a motion to clean up the properties belonging to
Lonzie Green, which passed. Notices have been sent to Green for at least 2 to 3
years to clean up the property.
Last
month, a public hearing was held in which Green pleaded his case and said he
had begun working to get the properties in question cleaned up. Given another
30 days, Green did not show up at this month’s council meeting.
The
properties in question include a home on Lyons Hill Road, which was to be
boarded; Lot 17 Ferguson/Mayfield addition; property located at 4187 Hwy. 79;
903 Nunley and Lot 4 Deloach Subdivision.
In
other news, the council passed a resolution allowing Alliance Engineering, the
town’s engineers, to apply for a state grant with the Louisiana Department of
Transportation’s Aviation Division for the improvements at the Homer Municipal Airport. Projects included in this grant application include runway
lighting rehabilitation, improve fencing, construction of a partial parallel
taxiway and runway and apron rehabilitation. The total cost of the project is
estimated to be approximately $2 million.
Also, a
resolution was passed for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to
submit the annual municipal water pollution prevention audit report. According
to Marios G. Papadopoulos, general manager of American Water and Wastewater
Management LLC, this audit report must be submitted to the LADEQ to show
compliance with their environmental compliance program. The report will be forwarded
to the DEQ.
“This
document contains information about the wastewater treatment plant, the sewer
collection system, financial issues, [and] other pertinent issues,”
Papadopoulos stated in a letter to Homer Mayor David Newell.
The
purpose of the resolution, he said, is to show the DEQ that the necessary
actions will be taken to stay in compliance and prevent violations.
In the
case of Rhodes versus the Town of Homer, which was listed on the agenda under
public comment, nothing was said or done because Jerome Rhodes, the plaintiff,
did not come to the meeting. This case has been ongoing for more than a year. Rhodes is suing the Town of Homer for approximately $36,000 for allegedly relocating a
mobile home without cause from his property due to a zoning issue.
Subsequently, he claims, the trailer was destroyed by a fire while in the
possession of the town.
The
next council meeting will be held Monday, November 3, at 6 p.m. in council chambers, located at the Homer Police Station. For more information, please call
the Town of Homer at 927-3555.
In memory of ‘Mutt’ Slaid
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
A memorial marker now makes its home in
front of the recently donated flag and flagpole in Haynesville. In memory of
the late H.U. “Mutt” Slaid, the marker was placed there by his son, Buddy. That
same courtesy has been offered to the Kendrick and Buggs families, in memory of
the late Alvin Kendrick, District 1 councilman, and the Rene Lincoln-Buggs,
District 4 councilwoman. Haynesville Mayor Sherman Brown said this is an
ongoing project. Trees are expected to be planted at a later date in their
memory and Brown said he would like to see two benches set out there as well.
Sad, stressed, anxious . . . just the blues
or something else?
The Guardian-Journal
Feeling
sad, stressed, or anxious? A normal reaction to life events or something more?
With
the financial crisis, the rise in home foreclosures, and increasing prices for
everything, many are feeling anxious and overwhelmed. These days it is common
and understandable to be angry, worried, even gloomy, especially if you lost
your retirement fund, your job, your house, or are stressed about paying the
bills.
Worry,
anger, and stress are normal, appropriate reactions to life's difficult
moments. But when negative feelings keep you from carrying out daily activities
or interacting with others, it may be time to seek help.
October
10 has been designated National Depression Screening Day (NDSD), a day for
supporting one another in seeking help during these difficult times. To provide
help and direction, a website has been set up: mentalhealthscreening.org.
The
website points inquirers to almost a thousand sites nationwide that will
provide free anonymous testing to see if you might suffer from depression or a
related disorder and learn how to get help.
In just
a few minutes a questionnaire helps gauge your likelihood for depression,
generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar
disorder. Each participating location offers a range of educational resources
geared toward a variety of audiences. You can either attend a screening event
for yourself or gather information in the interest of someone close to you. You
can also meet one-on-one with a mental health professional about your personal
concerns.
In
summary, the website at www.mentalhealthscreening.org provides further
information such as locations providing free screenings and educational
materials as well as free online screening for those who cannot attend an NDSD
event.
—o—
“ . . .
there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in
prosperity, or undue depression in adversity.”—Socrates
Some Facts About Depression
•
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults—almost
10 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older—in a given year.
•
Trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful
situation may trigger a depressive episode. Subsequent depressive episodes may
occur with or without an obvious trigger.
•
Depressive disorders costs employers more than $51 billion per year in
absenteeism and lost productivity, not including medical and pharmaceutical
bills.
• More
than 80 percent of those with clinical depression can be successfully treated.
With early recognition, intervention, and support, most individuals can lead
productive lives.
(For
more information about NDSD, to locate a site that is offering screening on
October 10th, or to take a screening online, visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org.)
‘Halloween Hayride’ at Lake Claiborne State Park
Be
thrilled and chilled by all kinds of scary creatures, during a ride on the hay
wagon through the Scary Pine Hills of Lake Claiborne State Park. The fun begins
on November 1 at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Participants should meet at??
Afterwards,
enjoy more fun and games, along with Claiborne Parish Library staff reading
ghost stories from some of Louisiana’s best-known authors. Please come out and
join in the fun-filled evening.
Lake Claiborne State Park
is located 12 miles southeast of Homer and 23 miles northwest of Ruston on Louisiana Highway 146. Entrance fee into the park is $1.
For
more information, call 1-888-677-2524 (toll free) or 927-2976 in the Homer
area.
Information
about upcoming events sponsored by the parks of Louisiana in general can be
found on the internet at http://www.lastateparks.com.
This Film by Michael Haynes Productions was created in conjunction with 
