Homer Hospital breaks ground for new ICU
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
Construction of the new intensive care
unit (ICU) at Homer Memorial Hospital is well on its way to begin. Officials
from the hospital board, the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation and staff
officially broke ground for the new ICU on Thursday, September 22.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Homer
Memorial Hospital broke ground on its new intensive care unit (ICU) Thursday
morning.
On a
bright, sunny morning, officials from all over the area gathered for the
momentous occasion as the dirt was turned. And an updated ICU has been a long
time in coming.
Three
years ago, through Pride Philanthropy, the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation was
formed to raise funds for the hospital. It was through this foundation they
chose the ICU, the nurses’ station and the Foster Family Cafeteria as their
project in which to raise the funds. With outdated equipment and minimal space,
nurses and staff just haven’t been able to provide the top-notch care they feel
their patients deserve.
ICU
Nurse Manager Wendy Burnham thanked everyone from the bottom of her heart on
behalf of all the nursing staff at the hospital. Employed with the hospital for
20 years, she has seen a lot in her time there. And because of the space
restrictions, she said the job was a little more difficult.
And
now, the new ICU will tout a six-bed unit, instead of the current four, and a
new, spacious nurses’ station will be constructed as well. This will allow the
nurses more space to work as they take care of their critical patients. Also,
restroom facilities will be added to the ICU unit.
The
entire cost of the project is estimated to be $1.216 million.
“For
those of you who have not seen the ICU, it’s a very small area of the hospital,
a very critical area of the hospital,” Burnham said. “A couple of years ago,
when we found out the goal of the foundation was to build a new ICU, I was
very, very excited. We’ll be able to take care of more patients, give doctors
more beds to admit patients and more areas for the nurses to work. We have
great physicians here, the nursing staff here is absolutely top notch. Our
hearts are in this 100 percent, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. From
the nursing staff, we are truly, truly thankful and excited.”
To be
built by Garcia Construction in Homer, officials are very excited about the
project. And after the new emergency room was built two years ago, it’s amazing
that they can take on another huge project this soon.
“Everybody’s
been involved, and the foundation deserves the most credit, because that’s
where the money’s coming from,” Wesley Emerson, hospital board chairman, said.
“Considering that two years ago, we were doing a substantial expansion to the
hospital, and to turn around like this says a lot about the people of Claiborne
Parish and the hospital.”
Hospital
Administrator Scott Barrilleaux extended his appreciation for the efforts put
forth by not just the community, but the hospital and its staff as well.
“Our
team here at the hospital is running, and we’re going to be the best hospital
in Louisiana before it’s said and done,” he said. “We have talent here,
starting with our medical staff all the way to our staff members. We provide a
good product, we provide a great service and we have a tremendous asset for
this community. We have a lot to be proud of.”
Others
extended their thanks and appreciation for such a job well done, including
Foundation Chairman Ronald Day, Foundation Treasurer Sally Ann Martin, Dr. Mark
Haynes and Homer Mayor Alecia Smith.
The
hospital was approved this month by the Louisiana State Bond Commission for
nearly $1 million to not only purchase new equipment, but also to round out the
rest of the $1 million needed to build the new ICU and nurses’ station. The
$900,000 approved will also go towards acquiring laboratory and
endoscopy/laprascopy imaging equipment for the hospital.
It’s
broken down like this: $400,000 will go towards purchasing the equipment, which
includes approximately $105,000 for the endoscopic equipment, $220,000 for the
Omnicell pharmacy dispensing system and another $80,000 for the laproscopy
equipment. The other $500,000 will finish up what the hospital needs to complete
the ICU/nurses’ station project.
So far,
the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation has raised approximately $833,000 in cash.
“Many
thanks to the people that have given so benevolently to the Claiborne
Healthcare Foundation,” a press release states. “Your generosity is
unparalleled.”
For
those who wish to give, there are several options. Donors may give through the
annual gifts committee, named the Banner Club, which encourages entry level
giving, ranging from $100 to $1,000 per year.
Through
the Hospital Family/Employee Giving Club (DANCE), this promotes, encourages and
coordinates employee giving through payroll deductions and/or cash gifts.
Business
Partners give their donations over a three-year period, which ranges from
$3,000 and above.
The
Planned Gifts Committee formed the Legacy Society, which recognizes those
individuals who choose to designate the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation through
an endowment or a planned gift, which could be a bequest of monies, stocks,
securities, a gift created in trust or charitable life insurance.
The
Special Gifts Committee is comprised of individual commitments of $10,000 or
more, payable at one time, over a period of three years. Signature gifts are
the highest level of giving, and for gifts of $50,000 or more, naming opportunities
are available to honor a loved one or recognize one’s generosity.
Gifts
of Tribute provide a way for a donor to give in any amount in memory of or in
honor of someone.
For
more information, please go to the hospital’s website, www.homerhospital.com,
or call them at 318-927-2024. Or, contact the Claiborne Healthcare Foundation
at 318-927-1400.
3 arrested for logging equipment damage
The Guardian-Journal
Playing
with logging equipment didn’t turn out so well for several individuals who were
arrested after reportedly causing thousands of dollars in damage.
According
to a news release from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, on Monday,
September 12, Deputies John Eric Stephenson, along with Shane Huffstetler,
responded to a logging job on Kemp Road in reference to someone causing damage
to logging equipment. Upon their arrival, deputies made contact with an
employee of T&D Logging, who stated there were people on the logging site
who had caused damage to a deer stand and some of the logging equipment.
The
suspects fled the scene upon being approached, but during their investigation,
deputies were able to locate the vehicle they were driving at a residence on
Kemp Road.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Detective Randy Smith arrived on scene to assist.
Officers
discovered that someone made entry into a Caterpillar dozer and a Caterpillar
skidder and drove the equipment for several hours causing damage to both
machines and to a deer stand on adjoining property.
It
appeared as if the suspects played “Bumper Cars” with the machinery causing
major damages, totaling more than $50,000.
Further
investigation identified the suspects and warrants were obtained for the arrest
of Justin W. Hartman, 25, of Haughton, for one count each of unauthorized use
of a movable with bond set at $50,000 and simple criminal damage to property
with bond set at $50,000.
Bridgett
A. Craig, 30, of Minden, was arrested for one count each of
principal/unauthorized use of a movable with bond set at $20,000 and
principal/simple criminal damage to property with bond set at $20,000.
Joshua
J. Moro, 24, of Minden, was arrested and charged with one count each of
unauthorized use of a movable with bond set at $20,000 and simple criminal
damage to property with bond set at $50,000. An additional warrant for criminal
trespass and simple criminal damage to property were also issued for Moro with
bond set at $5,000 on the trespass charge and $50,000 on the additional
criminal damage to property charge.
Hartman
and Craig were arrested Friday, September 16, by the Haughton Police
Department.
Hartman
is currently being held in Bossier Parish on unrelated charges and will be
transferred to Claiborne Parish when he has completed serving his time in
Bossier.
Craig
was transported to the Claiborne Parish Women’s Facility and booked. Moro was
arrested on Monday, September 19, at the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Criminal
Investigation Division building.
Homer Police seek 2 in shooting
The Guardian-Journal
Homer
Police are looking for two men involved in a shooting that happened Wednesday,
September 21.
According
to Captain Donald Malray, Jasmine Curry, aka “J.J.”, is wanted for attempted
second degree murder and Nathaniel W. White, of Homer, is wanted for accessory
after the fact and aggravated escape.
Malray
said police were dispatched to North 4th Street in reference to a shooting at
10:40 p.m. When officers arrived, the victim, witnesses told police that the
victim, Dominique Willis, was traveling west on North 4th Street, when he saw
someone aim a gun, later described as a possible AK-47, at his car and fired
several shots at his Chevy Caprice, hitting the car in the hood and radiator
area. Witnesses identified Curry as the shooter.
During
the course of their investigation, Malray said, the bullets found in the car
are consistent with ones normally used in an AK-47 rifle.
No
injuries or gunshot wounds were reported.
On
Friday, September 23, White was placed under arrest for accessory after the
fact, because several witnesses identified White at the scene at the time of
the incident, Malray said. While interviewing White at the police station, he
reportedly escaped after officers left the room for a moment. Malray said he
was locked in a room, but was not cuffed or shackled inside.
Anyone
with any information on the whereabouts of these two men, please contact the
Homer Police Department at 318-927-4000 or the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office at 318-927-2011 or 318-927-9800.
Fair set for October 9-15
Sunday, October 9
1-4 p.m.
School and Club Poster Displays set up in North End
General Exhibit Entries Accepted
(No bakery or vegetable items accepted, only canned
foods)
Art Exhibit Entries Accepted
1 p.m.
Livestock to begin arriving
4 p.m.
Start weighing goats, lambs and swine
6 p.m.
Deadline for goat, lamb, swine and commercial heifer
weigh-in
Monday, October 10
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
General Exhibit Entries
(No bakery or vegetable items accepted, only canned
foods)
9a.m. - 12 p.m.
Art Exhibit Entries Accepted
School and Club Poster Displays set up
6 p.m.
4-H Poultry and Egg
Cookery Contest
All Dairy and Beef Cattle
must be in Barn (Exception - Dairy Cows in milk must
arrive morning of Dairy Show)
All entries must be in the Barn
Tuesday, October 11
9-10 a.m.
Bakery items accepted and Fresh Vegetable Accepted
10 a.m.
Judging of all entries and poultry
(except livestock)
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
General Exhibit Judging
4 p.m.
Claiborne Parish Fair Parade
5 p.m.
Judge Goats and Lambs
Judge Market and Breeding Swine
6 p.m. until
Carnival Opens
Arm Bands Accepted
Wednesday, October 12
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
School Group Day
Day Care, Pre-K through 4th grades
1 - 4 p.m.
Senior Citizens Day
2 - 4 p.m.
Bingo at South End of Fair Building
2 p.m. Claiborne Parish Rabbit Show
(livestock barn)
6 p.m. until
Carnival Opens
Dairy and Beef Cattle Judging
Judge Fred Smith Memorial - Premier Livestock Exhibitor
Thursday, October 13
6 p.m. until
Carnival Opens
6 p.m.
Buyer’s Supper for all Sale Supporters
7 p.m.
Junior Livestock Sale
Friday, October 14
9 - 11 a.m.
Remove all Exhibits and Displays
6 p.m. until
Carnival Opens
Saturday, October 15
7 a.m.
Chili cook-off Registration
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Antique and vintage Tractor and Equipment Show
(Registration 8-9 a.m.)
10 a.m.
4-H Pet Show
Cloverbuds Pet Show
(After 4-H pet show)
11 a.m.
Chili Cook-off Judging
12 p.m.
Chili Cook-Off winners awarded
6 p.m. until
Carnival Opens
(Arm Bands accepted 1-5 p.m.)
6 p.m.
Claiborne Parish Fair Pageant
Downed tree causes accident
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
A downed tree was the cause of an
accident on U.S. Hwy. 79, just south of Haynesville Thursday evening. A
Heritage Manor transport van was headed northbound towards Haynesville when it
collided with a tree across the road following a brief storm packing 60 miles
per hour winds. The Haynesville Fire Department and Claiborne Parish Fire
District #3 quickly arrived on scene to remove the tree. Pafford Ambulance was
called to the scene and helped transfer passengers from one Heritage Manor
transport van to another. No injuries were reported. While fire and rescue
worked to clear the scene, deputies with the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
worked traffic detail as it backed up on either side of the road. The damaged
vehicle was picked up by Gordon’s Wrecker service.
A look at the propositions
The Guardian-Journal
Editor’s
Note: From now until election day on October 22, The Guardian-Journal will
break down the five proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Along
with several parish-wide and state-wide seats up for grabs will be a tax
renewal for the Claiborne Parish Library system. Look for future editions to
get all five proposed amendments. This week we’ll take a closer look at
Proposition 1 and 2. (Information and explanations gathered from the Public
Affairs Research Council.)
There
will be five proposed state constitutional amendments on the ballot for October
22. These amendments are important in that some will renew taxes vital to
education, healthcare and the state. The first two are as follows:
Proposed Amendment No. 1
Act
No. 423 -- Senate Bill No. 53, Regular Session, 2011
To
dedicate funds for the TOPS program relative to the portion of the monies
deposited in and credited to the Millennium Trust each year from the Tobacco
Master Settlement, to provide that once the balance in the Millennium Trust
reaches a total of one billion three hundred eighty million dollars, one
hundred percent of the annual Settlement Proceeds shall be allocated to the
TOPS Fund to support state programs of financial assistance for students attending
Louisiana postsecondary education institutions; to provide relative to the rate
of tax on certain tobacco products and beginning July 1, 2012, to dedicate such
tobacco revenues to the Health Excellence Fund to be used for the purposes of
the fund, including providing for the optimal development of Louisiana’s
children through the provision of appropriate health care and providing health
care initiatives through innovation in advanced health care sciences; to
provide for the deposit, transfer, or credit of certain monies in the Millennium
Trust to the Health Excellence Fund, the Education Excellence Fund, and the
TOPS Fund. (Amends Article VII, Section 10.8(A)(1)(c), (A)(2), (3), and (4),
and (C)(1) and adds Article VII, Section 4.1)
This
amendment, if passed, would dedicate a new funding source for the Taylor
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) by redirecting annual tobacco
settlement proceeds from the Millennium Trust to the college scholarship fund
and place a portion of the cigarette tax permanently in the Louisiana
Constitution.
The
TOPS program provides educational scholarships for Louisiana residents who
attend certain public and private Louisiana colleges and universities.
Approximately one-third of all full-time students receive TOPS scholarships. It
is funded primarily through the state general fund, but it also receives
significant funding from the annual investment earnings of the Millennium
Trust, which was established in 1999 to hold settlement proceeds collected from
litigation between Louisiana and several tobacco companies.
The
Millennium Trust helps fund TOPS; the Health Excellence Fund, which provides
funding for children’s health care through LACHIP, school-based health clinics
and early childhood prevention programs; and the Education Excellence Fund,
which provides funding to prepare at-risk children for school and assist
children who fail to achieve acceptable scores on tests required to advance to
succeeding grades.
Tacked
onto this amendment is a 4-cent tobacco sales tax, which was set to expire June
30, 2012, because of a veto issued by Gov. Bobby Jindal. In the 2011 regular
legislative session, legislators passed a statute to renew the tax, however,
Jindal saw it as a tax increase instead of a renewal and vetoed the legislation.
So, in last minute dealings, legislators tacked it onto the TOPS proposed
amendment, which was not vetoed by Gov. Jindal.
According
to PAR, it was not vetoed because lawmakers gave the tax a connection to the
legislation by dedicating the revenue to the Health Excellence Fund. Because
the bill was for a constitutional amendment rather than a regular statute, the
governor could not veto the legislation. It ensured the issue would go to the
people for a state-wide vote.
The
biggest proponent of this amendment is that it takes some of the funding burden
off the state’s general fund for the TOPS program, but arguments also suggest
that the amendment would stall the earnings power of the Millennium Trust by
capping the fund. Proponents also say that with tacking on the cigarette tax,
it would be protected by the constitution and would become permanent.
Proposed Amendment No. 2
Act
No. 422 -- House Bill No. 384, Regular Session, 2011
To
require in Fiscal Years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 that five percent of money
designated in the official forecast as nonrecurring be applied toward the
balance of the unfunded accrued liability which existed as of June 30, 1988,
for the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers
Retirement System of Louisiana. To further require that in Fiscal Year
2015-2016 and every fiscal year thereafter that ten percent of such
nonrecurring revenue be applied to such purposes. (Amends Article VII, Section
10(D)(2)(b))
The
state has four retirement systems: The Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement
System (LASERS), the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL), the
Louisiana School Employees’ Retirement System (LSERS) and the Louisiana State
Police Retirement System (STPOL).
The
proposed amendment only affects the state employees and teachers retirement
systems.
The
proposed amendment would dedicate a certain amount of nonrecurring funding to
the Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL), which is an estimate of how much money a
retirement fund needs, in addition to its current assets, to pay for all future
benefits. Before 1988, the state failed to ensure that contributions kept pace
with the benefits of these retirement systems, resulting in the UAL, also a
measure of a fund’s current shortfall if hypothetically all its long-term
obligations had to be paid immediately.
Nonrecurring
revenues are those that are specifically designated as such by the Revenue
Estimating Conference according to guidelines set in law.
According
to PAR, the teachers and state employees’ retirement systems, approximately
$9.45 billion is still owed on the batch of pre-1988 unfunded accrued
liability. However, the state already has various sources of revenue it can tap
into to pay these and other expenses.
If
passed, this proposed amendment would require that a certain percentage of
state revenue designated as nonrecurring be used to pay down the pre-1988 batch
of UAL for those two state retirement systems. These appropriations would be
extra payments toward the UAL above the regularly scheduled payments. The
amendment would forbid those payments from being used to fund cost-of-living
increases for either system.
One of
the advantages of passing the amendment is that the state can benefit from
making additional payments to retire the UAL it owes to public retirement
systems. These “extra payments” will help the state retire the UAL more quickly
and lessen the long-term cost of keeping the retirement systems solvent.
Opponents
say dedicating these funds ties the hands of the Legislature in the future for
budgeting purposes. Constitutionally mandating a certain percentage of
nonrecurring funds to pay the UAL means the Legislature cannot direct those
funds toward other allowable expenses. Besides, the Constitution already allows
the use of nonrecurring revenue toward the UAL and an amendment that creates
budget restrictions is not needed.
Another
argument against it calls for mandated proportions that are too small. The
amendment could have the unintended consequence of convincing lawmakers to stop
at that level when they should be contributing more to the UAL. In other words,
the minimum could become the maximum.
See next week’s edition for
Proposed Amendments No. 3 and 4.
Pearl Street Fire doused quickly
The Guardian-Journal photo/Michelle Bates
On Thursday, September 22, the Homer Fire
Department was dispatched to the 1400 block of Pearl Street in Homer in
reference to a fire. When firefighters arrived, they found a small grass and
woods fire in the back yard. According to Fire Chief Dennis Butcher, the
homeowner said he accidently dropped a cigarette on the ground, starting the
blaze. No injuries were reported. Pictured at right is Firefighter Ronnie
McKenzie dousing the area in the backyard.
Swamp Gravy Conference coming October 14-15
On
October 14 and 15, area citizens will have the opportunity to spend two days
with three internationally known leaders in the field of building creative
communities through the Art of Social Change.
At this
conference, they will experience hands-on ways to impact your communities
through a spirited and creative process, "Swamp Gravy". Many will remember when
their representatives visited two years ago. Others will want to know, Just
what is "Swamp Gravy"?
Swamp Gravy is a project of the Colquitt-Miller County Arts Council (CMAC) which has
transformed the spirit and economy of that rural part of southwest Georgia. It
is a building creative communities process in which the leaders are willing to
share with other parts of the country, and northwest Louisiana is fortunate to
be next.
The
conference will take place at First Presbyterian Church in Homer. It will begin
Friday, with registration at 9 a.m., and will include two different
performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. For more information, contact
Cynthia Steele at 318-927-2566. Tickets are available at the Claiborne Chamber
of Commerce and the Ford Museum. Cost for the entire conference, both days, is
$25, which also includes tickets to the performances both nights.
