Mayor turns hospital board upside down
Chairman removed from board of directors
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Devastated,
hurt and angry – those are just a few of the words that come to the mind of
Buddy Pixley, the now former chairman of the Homer Memorial Hospital Board of
Directors.
In a
recent chain of events, Pixley was removed from the hospital’s board of
directors in what Homer’s mayor, David Newell, said was an effort to “find
common ground among our city leaders and elected officials on a number of
important and far-reaching issues,” in a letter to Hospital Administrator Doug
Efferson.
Newell
informed Efferson in that letter written Monday, March 22, that on Friday,
March 19, Pixley “informed me of his resignation as a director of the Homer Memorial Hospital [sic].”
Pixley
disputes that claim in a letter to the editor published in this week’s edition
of The Guardian-Journal. In that letter, he said, “I was never informed
(and as of this date/time have not been) nor was anyone at the hospital
informed that I had been ‘fired.’”
The
issue stems from a meeting Newell and Pixley both said was held at the mayor’s
private law office on that Friday afternoon. According to Pixley, the mayor
asked his advice on how to keep the town council from abolishing the hospital
board and keep the issue off the April agenda of the Homer Town Council. He
replied that he had no advice because he wasn’t aware there was an issue.
Pixley
continues in his letter saying that later that Friday afternoon, the mayor
informed him that he and Homer’s District 2 Councilman Michael Wade had reached
an agreement; in order for the issue to remain off the agenda, Pixley would
have to resign as chairman of the board.
“In
shock, I told him that I would go home for the weekend and prepare a letter of
resignation if it would protect the hospital and the administrator, Doug
Efferson,” Pixley states in his letter. “After due consideration and much
prayer, I decided that, since I had done nothing wrong, I would call a special
hospital board meeting and invite the city council to try to find out what
issues were working behind the scenes.”
A
special meeting was called for Tuesday, March 23, but to everyone’s surprise,
the mayor sent an unsigned email to Efferson saying a special meeting could not
be held because Pixley did not have the authority to do so as he was no longer
chairman of the board.
In the
letter duly posted on Tuesday morning, Newell said, “For the record, I met with
Mr. Buddy Pixley last Friday (March 19). He informed me of his resignation as a
director of the Homer Memorial Hospital [sic]. The fact is that he holds no
office from which to resign. He serves as a director as the Mayor’s designee at
the pleasure of the mayor. As of Friday, he no longer holds that position. He
has no authority to call for a meeting of the board, any of its committees or
any of the staff.
“Accordingly,”
Newell continued in the letter, “I am directing you (Efferson) to give notice
through your staff to the other directors that no meeting is to be held on this
matter.”
According
to Ordinance 839, of the Homer Code of Ordinances, adopted in 1999, the mayor,
with the advice and consent of the board of selectmen (town council), shall
appoint the members of the board of directors. Also, Ordinance 838, adopted the
same year, the hospital board of directors shall be responsible for the
appointment of the hospital administrator and hospital personnel, but it goes
on to say that the “nominee” for administrator of chief executive officer must
be presented to the mayor and board of selectmen for “advice and consent” by a
majority vote of the council.
The
meeting was never held, Pixley was ousted from the board of directors and it
all begs the question: Why? No one seems to have that answer, but one thing is
clear: there are several people who are upset and confused as to why these
actions took place and what the hidden agenda is, if any.
“I’ve
been under four different mayors and nothing like this has ever happened,”
Pixley said in a phone interview Tuesday morning. “There is a hidden agenda
coming from somebody, but nobody wants to say why. To be under attack for
something I know nothing about, it really hurts me. Nobody knows what’s going
on behind the scenes.”
In a
written statement released exclusively to The Guardian-Journal, Newell alluded
to some answer as to why this all took place.
“Several
months ago, members of the Homer Town Council expressed some concerns about a
number of issues related to the administration and management of Homer Memorial Hospital,” he said in the statement. “Members of the council have directed
some inquiries both formally and informally to the administrator.
Unfortunately, their concerns have been met with indignation by the
administrator.”
He
continued by stating that by Efferson allegedly not cooperating with elected
officials, he has “waged a campaign attacking by name elected officials, who,
after all, are given the responsibility of managing the resources of the town.
Because of this failure by the administrator to be responsive to the elected
officials, a majority of selectmen have expressed to me their resolve in seeing
a change in the administration of the hospital.”
“This
comes at a time when the town is experiencing many challenges, both financially
and politically,” Newell said in his statement. “It is a time when I feel most
personally challenged to provide renewed leadership to bring the spirit of
cooperation and reconciliation throughout our community.”
According
to the public notice posted on that Monday regarding the Tuesday morning
meeting, the agenda states that Wade was the councilman who wanted Pixley to
resign and “abolish the entire hospital board and run the hospital through the
town council.”
In
published reports, Wade adamantly disputes the claim saying in The Haynesville
News that he was totally unaware of “any proposal concerning Buddy Pixley; had
not spoken to either Efferson or Pixley and felt like he was being used as a
scapegoat and his name had been slandered.”
Newell,
in the letter to Efferson, backed up this claim by Wade saying “that the
characterization of Councilman Wade’s ‘proposal’ is totally inaccurate.”
“Nothing
herein should be construed as a criticism of Mr. Pixley or a lack of
appreciation for his years of service and dedication to this hospital service
district and to the Town of Homer,” Newell continued in the letter.
But,
according to Wesley Emerson, now interim hospital board chair, the issue has
been worked out and everyone agreed to communicate on a regular basis – but as
to what that agreement is, nobody’s talking. As of press time, Emerson has not
returned phone calls to The Guardian-Journal requesting comment.
In a
memo to all the hospital employees and physicians, he says, “As Chairman, I
have had the pleasure of meeting with Mayor Newell and a representative of the
Town Council today (Wednesday, March 24). We had a very open, candid and
mutually satisfying discussion with regard to recent issues and concerns. As a
result, all present walked away with an agreement to communicate regularly and
informally before issues become overwhelming or public.
“Our
core issue resolved is that the Town Council has no interest in running Homer Memorial Hospital directly,” he continued in the memo. “They fully support the use of
a Hospital Board. I hope all recognize and support this new understanding
between the Homer Town Council and the Homer Memorial Hospital Board of
Directors as a bridge to get past the current crisis and on a road to positive
and long-term understanding between the two groups.”
Newell
said in his statement that he would personally be attending the hospital board
meetings from now on as Pixley no longer served as his designee on the board.
“I must
take steps to ensure that the board and the administrator are responsive to the
elected officials,” he stated. “I have no concern that the council has any
desire to be involved in the day-to-day management decisions, but their
responsibilities must and will be respected. Any effort to portray this action
as anything other than this is inaccurate and does the elected officials and
community as a whole a disservice.”
Another
concern raised was how this issue would affect the Claiborne Healthcare
Foundation, which has diligently raised more than $750,000 towards the capital
project of the intensive care unit renovations. Ronald Day, president and
chairman of the foundation board, said in a letter to all that this issue would
in no way affect the efforts of the foundation.
“Please
allow this letter to serve as my assurance to you that these actions do not
affect the incorporation or mission of the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation,”
the letter states. “The Foundation Board will receive a new Hospital Board
representative as outlined in the Foundation Bylaws. Claiborne Healthcare
Foundation will continue to operate as a 501(c)(3) corporation for the sole
purpose of funding capital projects of Homer Memorial Hospital.”
It is
clear that Pixley will be missed as a vital part of the hospital’s board of
directors. The mayor has thanked him publicly for his years of service to Homer Memorial Hospital and says he also holds no ill will toward him. Efferson also, at
last Thursday’s Homer Lions Club meeting, expressed his appreciation for the
man who so loves his community.
“I appreciate
your five years of service and dedication to Homer Memorial Hospital,” Efferson said, “and I have absolutely no understanding of what’s going on around
here. Wesley (Emerson) has stepped in as interim chairman for the moment, but
the hospital has healthcare to tend to and will continue to concentrate on
that.”
Day, in
this time of confusion and upheaval, said in his letter that the community
needs to keep their eyes on God and seek His guidance.
“As
volunteers and Foundation donors, I commend your service to this parish in
promoting our local hospital,” he said in his letter. “We are blessed to have
strong hospital leadership and highly skilled professionals who work, live and
support local businesses in this area. Please continue to be a shining light
and know that God rewards those who strive to do His will. We seek His
blessings in our efforts and give Him all the praise and glory for the success
of Claiborne Healthcare Foundation.”
Easter - a time of renewal
JENNI WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
Easter
is the time of springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the tulips, the
crocuses and the dogwood trees, that are just beginning to bloom.
It’s a
time of new suits, new dresses and patent leather shoes. And a time of
chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and colored eggs.
Its
also a time for Christians to celebrate the life, death and resurrection Jesus
of Christ.
In the
United States it is celebrated in many different ways by many different
religions. Mostly it is celebrated with traditional church services and family
festive celebrations, by people of Christian faith.
It’s
the principal feast of the Christian year, where Christians commemorate the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Many
Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the
agony and suffering of Christ on the cross in which he was crucified.
Whether
or not Christians choose to “celebrate” Good Friday, the events of that day
should be ever on our minds because the death of Christ on the cross is the
paramount event of the Christian faith.
Good
Friday, also called Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday, is the Friday
preceding Easter Sunday or Pascha. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus
Christ and his death at Golgotha.
Easter
Sunday is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25
and is therefore called a movable feast.
Easter
is the time of the year when Christians remember the death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ.
They
believe that Jesus, the son of God, died for everyone's wrong-doings and then
came back to life three days later to defeat death and evil, so that by
believing in Him you will live forever in Heaven.
The
word Easter comes from two old pagan spring festivals, the old European pagan
festival of 'Ostara' that celebrated new life and Arabian Sun festival of
'Ishtar'.
The
early Christians took over the festivals and turned the pagan festivals of new
life to mean the new life that Jesus gave the world when he rose from the dead.
Jesus
died at the time of the Jewish Passover festival. The Passover festival dates
from about 4,000 years ago when Jewish people remember that God saved them from
slavery in Egypt.
Jesus
was a Jew and so celebrated the Passover. Passover takes place in the first
month of the Jewish New Year. The Jewish calendar follows the cycle of the
moon, so the date changes a bit
The
first Jewish Christians added Easter celebrations to the Passover festival and
because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, Easter Day became the first
Sunday after Passover.
Over
the years, the Christian festival moved the date slightly from the Jewish
Passover. The Christian date for Easter also follows the moon, so it changes
each year.
For
Christians, the full Easter period lasted for a long time. Easter officially
starts with Lent on Ash Wednesday, 46 days before Easter Day. (Lent lasts for
40 days but you don't count the Sundays.)
Then,
39 days after Easter Day, Christians celebrate Ascension Day, when they
remember Jesus going back into Heaven and promising to come back to earth one
day.
Easter
officially ends 49 days after Easter Day with the Christian Festival of
Pentecost, when Christians remember that God sent his Holy Spirit to help
Christians. Easter is a very busy time for Christians.
Two Haynesville men arrested for
aggravated rape
The Guardian-Journal
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) was contacted Wednesday, March 17 in regards to
a reported rape in the Haynesville area. The victim was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital and the Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into the matter.
Pursuant
to the investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division of the CPSO, a
grand jury was called to hear the case and indictments were handed to the two
men involved in the case.
Cameron
D. Cockrell, 31, of Haynesville was charged with aggravated rape, aggravated
battery and false imprisonment by an armed offender with a dangerous weapon.
Jermaine
R. Johnson, 29, of Haynesville was charged with aggravated rape.
The two
men were placed under arrest on March 25 by the US Marshal’s Office, in
conjunction with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and were transported to
the Claiborne Parish Detention Center and booked into the facility on March 26.
Bond
was set for $100,000 on the aggravated rape charge, $25,000 for the aggravated
battery charge and another $25,000 for the false imprisonment - offender armed
charge for Cockrell, and $100,000 for Johnson on the aggravated rape charge.
In
other arrests, Claiborne Parish Deputy Marc Herring stopped a silver Nissan
Altima on March 18 after observing the car cross the fog line.
After
making contact with the driver, Lisbon resident Robert B. Evans, 26, was only
able to provide a valid driver’s license when asked for all the proper
paperwork.
At that
time, Deputy Herring detected a strong odor of unburned marijuana coming from
the interior of the vehicle and Evans’ person.
Deputy
J.T. Williams was on scene to assist Herring and conducted a search of the
vehicle and Evans. Upon the search of Evans’ person, Deputy Herring discovered
two plastic bags filled with suspected marijuana and one rolled cigar
containing suspected marijuana in Evans’ left boot.
Evans
was then placed under arrest and transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center. He was booked for improper lane usage with a bond set $500, no
insurance with a bond of $500 and possession of a Schedule I controlled
dangerous substance - marijuana, with a bond of $500.
Three arrested for theft
Fourth suspect still at large
The Guardian-Journal
Three
suspects were arrested for armed robbery and a fourth suspect is still at large
pending an investigation into the case.
Claiborne
Parish Deputies Aaron Christion and Roger Ellerbe responded to an armed robbery
call on Highway 9 in Summerfield March 16.
The
victim stated that there were four people that had been visiting the residence
before holding the victim at gun point and demanding money. The four were also
accused of stealing four guns, cell phones, the victim’s wallet and jewelry.
At that
time, Detective Randy Smith with the Criminal Investigation Division of
Claiborne Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene to further the
investigation.
The
investigation led to the identification and arrest of three of the four
suspects.
Twenty-four
year old Felicia Nicole Smith of Junction City was arrested by Detective Smith
on March 18 and was charged with armed robbery with use of a firearm with a
bond of $10,000 and theft of firearms with a bond of $10,000.
On
March 22, Detective Smith placed 22 year-old Whitney Ayahna Baker of Junction City under arrest. She was charged with armed robbery with use of a firearm with
a bond of $10,000 and theft of firearms with a bond of $10,000.
Detective
Smith then contacted Detective Williams Shorter with the El Dorado Police
Department to aid in the continuing investigation and on March 24, Detective
Shorter was able to arrest the third suspect, Billy Ray Jones, 20, of El Dorado, Ark.
On
warrants obtained by Detective Smith, Jones was charged with armed robbery with
use of a firearm, theft of firearms and aggravated simple burglary.
Jones
was extradited back to Claiborne Parish where he was booked into Claiborne Parish Detention Center on $140,000 bond.
The
Criminal Investigation Division is in the process of identifying and arresting
the fourth suspect.
Light up the night
Dedicate
a luminaria in honor of someone who has fought cancer, or in memory of someone
you have lost to cancer.
The
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life offers you the opportunity to
celebrate the lives of those who are surviving cancer today, remember the loved
ones you have lost to cancer, and fight back against the disease by helping the
American Cancer Society in the mission to find a cure for cancer.
Please
contact Luminaria Chairperson Barbara Lindsey for information to dedicate a
luminaria in memory or honor of your loved one. The address is 242 Bolling Drive, Homer.
The
luminaria will be lit during a special ceremony at 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 23 at the annual Relay for Life Event which will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 6 a.m. Saturday, April 24.
Forms
can be found in this week’s edition and may be mailed to the address above.
Annual Homer-Haynesville Football Game
in Jeopardy
BILL W. HIGHTOWER, Special to The
Guardian-Journal
A longtime high school football rivalry unequaled in the
state of Louisiana may be near an end. The storied Homer-Haynesville gridiron
series might be just a memory if a proposed rule change under consideration by
the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) is adopted.
Passionate football fans of the Homer Fighting Pelicans
and Haynesville Golden Tornado would have to find other schools to replace
their much-hated rivals located 14 miles away in Claiborne Parish. From the
first day of school each fall, students and fans look to the annual parish
“Super Bowl.” The winners have bragging rights after the game for twelve
months, while the losers can’t wait to get revenge next year.
Readers will recall that Homer and Haynesville first
played in December 1907, when Homer hosted Haynesville and won 10-5. A month
later Homer traveled in wagons to Haynesville for a rematch, with the home team
prevailing 5-0. (A touchdown equaled 5 points from 1897 thru 1911, increasing
to 6 points in 1912.)
In consideration of the struggling national economy,
escalating travel expenses and shrinking budgets, the LHSAA is looking at
options to cut expenses for member schools. Proposals for rule changes in all
sports are considered by different committees, i.e. the Rules Committee, the
Competition Committee and the Classification Committee. Any proposals adopted
by these committees are voted on by all member schools.
LHSAA rules require that classification and districting of
member schools be changed in even years to become effective in odd years.
Changes in classification and districting are made at regular two-year
intervals. Thus, any rule changes made in 2010 would become effective for the
2011-2012 school year.
Following the committee meetings, one proposal up for
adoption by the general membership has sparked much debate. This proposed rule
change would require each member school to schedule ALL football games with
schools IN THE SAME CLASS as that member school. Class 5A schools could only
play other Class 5A schools, Class 4A schools could only play other Class 4A
schools, etc. This would also end the practice of LHSAA schools scheduling
out-of-state schools, such as Evangel frequently does by playing one or more
distant nationally-ranked teams early in the season.
One of the points being touted for this proposal is the
likelihood of more accurate power rankings of schools for the playoffs because
of same-class scheduling in the regular season. Other benefits would include
the leveling of competition, the reduced number of injuries and fewer “blowout”
games (many of these due to small-class schools playing large-class schools).
The proposal would only apply to football, it being the sport with the greater
number of serious injuries.
Once a year each school principal sends the LHSAA a
Classification Enrollment Form reporting the number of students enrolled in
grades 9-10-11-12. Each student is counted as one (1), regardless of the
percentage of hours enrolled. Every student is counted, not just male
students. Current enrollment figures place Homer is in Class AA and
Haynesville in Class A. There would have to be a significant change in the
number of students in the two high schools before both could be reclassified in
the same class.
Lasting memories of Homer & Haynesville series abound:
the games played on Thanksgiving Day afternoon (starting in 1923) for many
years, Haynesville’s multiple state championships, Homer’s two championships,
the 1971 Pels-Tors championship tie game decided on first downs (11 to 9), the
Pelicans’ heroic 1957 Iron Men team, etc. Tales are recounted whenever the
fall air turns crisp. Hopefully, the 2010 Homer-Haynesville game will NOT be
the last one in this historic series.
Readers: Look again at the article. Note the first letter
of each paragraph. Put ‘em all together, and what do they spell? GOTCHA!
