Critical Care...Close to Home
Claiborne Healthcare Foundation reaches
$750k mark
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Citizens Bank and Trust donated more than $3,000 to the
Claiborne Healthcare Foundation on Friday, March 5. Thanks to their generous
donation, the $750,000 mark of the $1 million goal was met in order to begin
renovations of the intensive care unit at Homer Memorial Hospital. Pictured
are, back row from left, Dwayne Woodard, business and industry committee
member, Buddy Pixley, chairman of the Homer Memorial Hospital Board and
Claiborne Healthcare Foundation board of directors member, Doug Efferson,
hospital administrator, Tommy Boggs, Citizens Bank and Trust president at the
Springhill branch, and G. Kent Gibson, CEO of Citizens Bank and Trust. Front
row, from left, are Ray Huddleston, senior vice president of the Haynesville
branch, Alice Gandy, foundation coordinator and George Tigner, vice president
of the Homer branch.
Submitted photo
From left, Doug Efferson, Homer Memorial Hospital Administrator,
Jeannie Vollmer, ICU LPN and Amie Teutch, ICU RN listen in as Buddy Pixley,
hospital board chairman and foundation board member, seated, makes the phone
call to SPA Architects in Monroe to let them know the Claiborne Healthcare
Foundation has reached its $750,000 mark in cash and pledges in order to begin
construction on renovations of the ICU area of the hospital.
Submitted photo
Jess Robertson accepts a business partner’s plaque from Doug
Efferson, Homer Memorial Hospital Administrator, in front of one of the new
Coca-Cola machines in the emergency department waiting area of the hospital.
Robertson, a Homer native, serves as chairman of the board with the CEO Don
Hunter at the Coca-Cola Bottling facility in Minden. Robertson is very
passionate about customer service and supporting civic, school and community
organizations and events. Through his efforts, Coca-Cola has become the 15th
prestigious business partner of the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation.
The Guardian-Journal
Thanks
to the generous donation from Citizens Bank and Trust, the amount needed to
begin construction of the new intensive care unit at Homer Memorial Hospital has pushed their goals over the top.
Donating
just more than $3,000, the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation (CHF) now has
approximately $750,000 in cash and pledges to begin the much needed
renovations. Over the last two years, Alice Gandy, foundation coordinator, and
others have worked tirelessly to raise the needed funds for this much needed
modernization of the hospital.
And
just last week, Buddy Pixley, hospital board chairman and foundation board
member, was given the honor to call Walter Meredith of SPA Architects in Monroe
to tell him that CHF’s cash and pledges have reached the $750,000 goal to get
started on construction, a foundation press release stated.
“Mr.
Pixley became aware of the upcoming gift from Citizens Bank and Trust and made
a personal donation to make sure the goal was reached,” states the press
release.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Minden also became a Business Partner of CHF. Homer Hospital is also proud of its
partnership with Coca-Cola Bottling Company for vending services.
The
modern dispensing machines offer traditional and healthy selections, including
water, vitamin water, energy drinks and soft drinks. Whether a patient, visitor
or employee, Doug Efferson, hospital administrator, cares about the public’s
experience at Homer Hospital and strives to make sure each encounter displays
appreciation for its loyalty and support.
In
August 2009, the foundation board of directors voted to engage the architects
when the goal of $750,000 was reached. The overall goal to reach is $1 million
– which is the cost of renovating the ICU as well as other areas of the
hospital.
According
to the hospital’s website, “the current ICU space is too small and does not
provide restroom facilities for each patient. Of all the projects submitted,
the foundation board believes this project will have the greatest impact on our
community by completing the renovation of patient rooms and enhancing the
privacy of our patients.”
The new
ICU will be located in the same area but will incorporate some of the existing
courtyard, cafeteria and Med Surg. nurse station areas to increase the overall
square footage of the ICU space.
Efferson
explained the projected timeline for renovations. He said 60 to 90 days will be
needed for the architects to complete the architectural plans of the three
renovation areas: the ICU, the Med. Surg. nurse station and Foster Family
Cafeteria. Thirty (30) to 60 days will be needed for the public bid process,
and according to availability of the chosen contractor, construction will
begin.
He said
he is expecting all construction to be completed by the end of this year, but
in the meantime, where are all those patients going to go while construction is
ongoing?
“We’re
going to occupy some of the inpatient room areas,” Efferson said. “We’re going
to take up an end of a hallway until construction is done.”
The
hospital has seen high volumes of intensive care unit patients over the last
few months, which means it’s been filled to capacity most of the time. The
current ICU only has four patient beds, but the new one will house five.
The
press release also stated that the ICU nurses, Jeannie Vollmer and Amie
Teutsch, who are already members of the employee giving group, the DANCE Club,
approached Gandy to increase payroll deductions in their checks to help raise
more money faster.
“Residents
and friends of Claiborne Parish have the opportunity to participate in this
effort that touches each of us,” Gandy said. “The value of a local hospital is
priceless. Your local hospital provides jobs for highly trained professionals
who sincerely care about every patient, while allowing patients and their
families to stay closer to home.”
To
date, there are a total of 816 donors, which have raised approximately $600,000
in cash and approximately $144,000 in pledges, which totals the $750,000 mark
needed to begin construction. They only need another $250,000 to complete the
$1 million goal.
For
more information, please contact Alice Gandy, foundation coordinator at the
foundation office located in the lobby of Homer Memorial Hospital. The phone
number is 927-1400, or email agandy@homerhospital.com. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Also, visit the hospital’s website at
www.homerhospital.com and click on Claiborne Healthcare Foundation.
KTBS highlights Delta Contract Interiors
in
‘ARK-LA-TEX Made’
The Guardian-Journal photo/Jenni Williams
KTBS 3’s Rick Rowe interviews John
Peters, owner of Delta Contract Interiors, in the drapery factory, located in
the old Wal-Mart building. Delta Contract Interiors was featured in the news
station’s recent episode of “ArkLaTex Made” that is aired each Wednesday on
KTBS Channel 3.
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Delta
Contract Interiors, located right here in Homer, was featured in this week’s
episode of “ArkLaTex Made” on KTBS 3 Channel 3 with reporter Rick Rowe.
Rowe
arrived at Delta Tuesday morning with a warm smile and big welcome to each of
the patrons enjoying breakfast at JavaLink, an intimate little cafe’ serving
breakfast, lunch and desserts, located inside the business.
“ArkLaTex
Made” is a production by KTBS, along with Rowe, that features products made or
produced in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas the station has researched, been
contacted about, or just plain heard through the grapevine about.
Reporter
Rick Rowe spends a day at each of the locations where the product is made,
filming at least an hour’s worth of information that will later be edited down
to a three-minute segment to be featured in a newscast on Wednesday each week.
The
shop is home to many, many gift items, including the Vera Bradley line of
purses and bags, Southern Girl shirts, wind chimes, baby items, Bibles and lots
of LSU and Saints items. It’s also the place to register for china, silverware
and many other wedding gifts. Many different styles of jewelry can also be
found inside Delta Interiors.
While
the gift shop is a one-stop shopping mecca, the real work goes on inside the
drapery factory located in the back half of the business where draperies,
hospital privacy curtains, blinds and many other items are produced.
Leading
Rowe to the hub of the business, owners John and Martha Peters stop in the main
hallway to show Rowe a map of the United States affixed on the wall with push
pins marking the many cities the company has installed their product.
The
company has provided products to hotels and businesses as far north as Boston,
Massachusetts on the east coast and Seattle, Washington on the west coast; as
far south as the southernmost tips of Florida and California.
“We
hope to get an order with a company in Maine, so we can truly say we have
served all four corners of the nation,” John Peters said.
Delta
Contract Interiors personally produces each order, including the mounting
hardware for each specific piece, and hand deliver the product to its final
destination where they personally install the order.
One of
the company’s largest buyers is Willis Knighton Health Systems and many hotels
including Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn,
and the coup de grace was the Waldorf Astoria in New Orleans, which has since
been featured in a magazine publication.
Delta
delivers their products personally, not trusting the care to outside commercial
shippers as part of their hands-on approach and absolute control of each order
-- during a recent installation in Puerto Rico, they were forced to ship the
product.
With
such a competitively priced product, Delta doesn’t have to go out and search
for customers. In fact, with the closest competition coming out of Dallas, Texas, a large number of their orders are repeat customers.
What
started as a small local drapery company in 1976 has become a household name
among large hotel conglomerates. The company has grown and expanded as its
customer base has grown and expanded.
“The
Town of Homer has been very helpful to us through the years, helping us acquire
the old Wal-Mart building,” Peters said.
John
and Martha Peters were invited to the KTBS 3 television studio to appear live
during the airing of their “Made in the ArkLaTex” segments at 5 and 6 a.m. Wednesday, March 10.
For
those who missed the airing of the “ArkLaTex Made” episode featuring Delta
Contract Interiors, visit www.ktbs.com and click the “ArkLaTex Made” icon.
Woman arrested for battery
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
woman who hit another found herself in handcuffs last week after Homer Police
followed up on a complaint.
Dorlisha
Hamilton, 19, was arrested Friday, March 5 on charges of simple battery and
simple criminal damage to property. Bond on each charge was set at $500, for a
total of $1,000.
According
to reports, the victim, Amrissia Wortham contacted Homer Police saying that
she’d been hit in the head by Hamilton.
Homer
Police Officers Willie Fred Knowles and Thomas Davis responded to the
complaint. When officers interviewed the complainant, she told them she’d been
at Chick-A-Dilly restaurant, south of Homer, when Hamilton allegedly approached
her and began hitting her car. She then rolled down the window at which time Hamilton allegedly hit her in the head causing a minor laceration on her head.
Officers
observed a dent in the vehicle Wortham occupied at the time of the incident. Hamilton was then placed under arrest on the above charges and transported to the
Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility for booking.
In an
unrelated incident, a Homer man violated probation during an incident last
week.
Orie
Kelly Jr., 57, was arrested on Tuesday, March 2, on a probation violation. No
bond was set.
According
to Homer Police Chief Russell Mills, last week or so, his department received a
complaint from a local business saying he’d entered her business with a
machete.
“He had
the bag that he totes with him all the time and he had a machete,” Mills said.
“According to the Office of Probation and Parole, that’s against the conditions
of his probation.”
Kelly
is currently incarcerated at the Claiborne Parish Detention Center.
Two arrested on drug charges
The Guardian-Journal
Deputies
with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office recently arrested two men on drug
charges.
George
W. Johnson, 47, of Homer, was arrested Sunday, March 7 for possession of drug
paraphernalia (second offense), with bond set at $1,000, DWI, with bond set at
$750, and when lighted lamps are required, with bond set at $500.
On that
day, Deputy Roger Ellerbe initiated a traffic stop on St. John Road in
Claiborne Parish. The driver, identified as Johnson, was initially stopped for
improper display of license plate.
Louisiana
State Trooper Matt Harris was on scene to assist.
Upon
making contact with Johnson, the officers noted a strong odor of alcoholic
beverages emitting from Johnson’s person. A field sobriety test was performed,
which Johnson failed.
He was
placed under arrest, and a subsequent search of his person revealed two metal
crack pipes containing copper mesh inside one end and black rubber and black
tape on the outside of one end. The pipes were discovered in Johnson’s left
front blue jeans pocket.
He was
arrested on the above charges and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention
Center (CPDC).
In an
unrelated case, a Jonesboro man was caught in Claiborne Parish with what
appeared to be a small bag of marijuana.
Rodney
L. Caesar, 40, was arrested Saturday, March 6, for simple possession of
marijuana with bond set at $500.
According
to a sheriff’s office news release, on that day, Deputies J.T. Williams and
Ellerbe were assisting state police with a DWI checkpoint on Hwy. 79 South. A
vehicle traveled through the checkpoint headed south and kept rolling forward.
Ellerbe
instructed the driver, identified as Caesar, to stop. Upon requesting the
proper paperwork from Caesar, Williams noted a strong odor of marijuana
emitting from the vehicle.
A
subsequent search of Caesar’s person revealed a small bag of suspected
marijuana in his left front pocket.
Caesar
was handcuffed and transported to CPDC on the above charges.
Homer Lions Club gives to Haiti relief efforts
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Earlier
this year, the Homer Lions Club donated $100 to the Lions Club International
Foundation (LCIF) fund for relief efforts in Haiti.
According
to LCIF, there are currently three tent cities established in Port-au-Prince
neighborhoods of Delmas, Blanchard and Carrefour-Feuille, which are housing a
total of 3,000 people. An additional 240 tents are being sent to the region.
“Lions are
now working to fully equip these tent cities with sanitation, kitchens and
health clinics,” according to Al Brandel, LCIF Chairperson. “Still the creation
of more permanent housing is becoming increasingly important as the rainy
season approaches. The need will be great for many more years to come, and
LCIF’s long-term efforts ensure that communities, lives and families will be
rebuilt.”
According
to Lion Don Brown, Louisiana District 8 governor, Lions Club International has
given $2.2 million to the Haiti relief effort to date.
“This
is much more than many entire nations will give,” Brown said. “But remember the
Homer Lions are part of the world’s largest service organization. We are 1.3
million strong and are in 205 countries worldwide. Our motto ‘We Serve’ says it
all.”
Lionism
was started in 1917 in Chicago, Ill., by a businessman, Melvin Jones, and the
LCIF was incorporated in 1968 for funding relief efforts such as Haiti, he continued.
Since
1968, LCIF has contributed more than $90 million for disasters such as this.
Since 2005, there has been more than $5 million donated to hurricane relief on
the gulf coast, much of it here in Louisiana.
The
primary funding of LCIF is through donations from clubs who honor members of
their clubs and communities by bestowing a Melvin Jones Fellowship to deserving
recipients by making a $1,000 contribution to LCIF.
Lion
Dick Dorrell, Homer Lions Club director, who also made the motion at a recent
board of directors meeting, said it was important to help the Haitians in their
time of need.
“Everyone
needs help no matter where they live,” he said. “The Lions Club has a relief
fund that goes directly to them (the people of Haiti), and it goes straight to
the people, not the government. Please take the time for prayer and donations
for these people.”
LCIF
officials also say they are working with local leaders, government officials
and other non-governmental organizations in Haiti to “further leverage our
immediate and long-term impact.”
Brandel,
along with other Lions leadership, met with the United States Ambassador to Haiti, the mayor of Port-au-Prince and other non-governmental organizations pledging their
support to the Lions’ efforts.
Multiple
districts of Lions Club International are also raising funds for Haiti’s relief. Some of those include donations from Japan, Belgium, Spain, Norway, England and many others.
Relief
efforts are also underway in Chile, where the recent 8.8 earthquake hit. Their
website says the earthquake is one of the largest ever recorded, resulting in
more than 800 deaths and leaving 2 million people displaced. Emergency grants
from LCIF have already been awarded, each for $10,000 to several districts in Chile.
For
more information on the latest news on relief efforts going on there and in Haiti, go to their website at www.lionsclubs.org or www.lcif.org.
Town seeking grants to fix hole
The Guardian-Journal file photo
Grants are currently being sought to
properly fix the dangerous washout at the corner of West Fourth Street and Edgewood Drive. Although dirt has filled in the hole, it’s only a temporary fix.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
Town of Homer is working diligently to find a solution to pay for repairs to
the road at West Fourth Street and Edgewood.
According
to Homer Mayor David Newell, although the road has been temporarily filled in
with dirt to keep traffic from falling through, it’s only a temporary fix.
“It’s
only a short term fix because the creek and the rain will wash it out again,”
Newell said.
During
the recent heavy rains Claiborne Parish has experienced over the last several
months, the lack of maintenance over several years has caused the road to cave
in.
Newell
said the cement barrier between the creek and the main road gave way, and when
it did, it started washing everything out. An additional issue, he said, is
there are fragile water and sewer lines that run through the area.
“I
personally don’t like the ditch being so close to Edgewood,” Newell said. “It’s
dangerous.”
The
problem is, the town doesn’t have the needed equipment to repair the road, nor
does it have the funds. Newell said the next step will be to hire a contractor
to fix it.
Shelly
King, of King Consulting, was hired recently by the town council to secure
grant funding for several projects the town wants to get done – and according
to her, this hole at the corner of West Fourth Street and Edgewood Drive is a
high priority.
“I rode
by (that area) and looked at the site, she said, “and it’s deplorable.
Searching for funding for this project is a high priority, so as soon as
something becomes available we’re going after it.”
But
nothing has turned up yet, she said. At this time, she said there are some
funds out there – transportation and infrastructure funding – but she has to
wait until they become available.
“In the
meantime, I’m looking for other alternatives, other sources of infrastructure
funding that would match the criteria for road infrastructure,” King said. “The
difficult part for Homer is that they are not in a financial (position) to be
able to match funding, so they have to find funding that doesn’t require a
match.
“When
you’re looking for funding vehicles, whether it’s an appropriation or a grant,”
she continued, “Homer is at a point where we’re trying to find funding that
doesn’t require a financial match. It’s a little more of a challenge, but that
doesn’t stop me. They’ve done such a good job of putting themselves in
financial order that we don’t want to put them in a financial strain.”
Newell
also said he is working with Balar Engineers and Surveyors out of Shreveport requesting several grants, but none have come through yet.
“I’m
still trying to get a resolution with the state of Louisiana,” he said. “If I
can’t find the funds to fix it right, I’m going to fix it temporarily and put
it back to use.”
How
that will be done is up to the engineers, he said.
As of
press time, no one at Balar Engineers was available for comment.
PSC Foster Campbell set to visit Homer
on March 25
Louisiana
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will visit Claiborne and Union
Parishes on Thursday, March 25 to answer questions from local residents about
their utilities.
“I
invite citizens to attend and discuss any concerns they may have about their
electricity, natural gas and other services,” Campbell said.
Campbell will hold his town meetings at:
• 9:30 a.m., Thursday, March 25, at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury meeting room, 507 West Main in Homer, and
• 3:30
p.m., Thursday, March 25, at the Union Parish Courthouse Annex, police jury
meeting room, 303 East Water Street in Farmerville.
Campbell said he would ask representatives of local public
utilities to attend and address questions that arise.
Campbell will also be the guest speaker for the Bernice Business
Club at noon on Thursday. In addition, he will host a special public meeting at
6:30 p.m. at Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Downsville concerning plans by
CenterPoint Energy Gas to abandon service to 28 local residents.
For
more information, contact Commissioner Campbell’s office toll-free at
1-800-256-2414.
Pelican Bass Tourney set for March 27
The
21st annual Pelican Bass Tourney will be held on beautiful Lake Claiborne.
Entry
fees will be $25 per man, with an optional $10 Big Bass Pot. Cash prizes will
be awarded to the top three places, with additional prizes being given.
Weigh-in
is at 3 p.m. at Pleasure Point Marina.
All
proceeds go to the Homer Pelican Quarterback Club.
Entry
sheets can be picked up at Keith’s Food Mart or at Fred Smith & Sons. For
more information, call Glen Kyle at 927-4658 or 318-548-3274.
CCC Lecture slated for March 15
The
Community Coordinating Council participants of the Homer-Athens area group will
host a lecture on “Diabetic Foot Care” at Homer City Hall on Monday, March 15
at 1 p.m.
Kathy
Dodson, RN, Claiborne Home Health will speak on diabetes, related foot disease
and care of the diabetic foot. She will be joined by Jay Zaffeter, certified podiatrist
with Artexx Medical.
Jay
will speak on custom diabetic shoes and their benefits for the diabetic
patient.
Everyone
is invited to come.
