Hospital Board To
Offer Scholarships
BY SUSAN T. HERRING, Editor, The Guardian-Journal
The Board of
Directors at Homer Memorial Hospital voted at their June meeting to establish
three scholarship programs—one for physicians, one for nursing, and one for
allied health. Each scholarship awarded will provide payment for tuition for no
more than $1,500 per session (quarter or semester) paid directly to a Louisiana-based educational facilities, after receipt
of the student's current GPA. In return, students who receive scholarships will
be required to sign a contract, agreeing to work for six months for every
$1,000 of tuition received, not to exceed 36 months of full time work.
Only one
physician scholarship may be awarded each year and no more than two will be
available at any given time. A limit of two nursing scholarships may be awarded
each year, with a limit of four total scholarships. Four allied health
scholarships may be awarded each year, with no more than eight at any given
time. Scholarships will be effective immediately.
Scholarship
recipients must complete the course within a set amount of time. Those who fail
to complete the course or who fail to meet the contract requirements, will be
required to repay the full amount of the tuition received. By law, if the
hospital is unable to provide a full time position within 12 months, the
applicant is not required to repay the tuition.
A Professional
Scholarship Committee, a subcommittee of the Board of Directors of the Homer
Memorial Hospital Board, was set up to review the applications. Scholarships
will be awarded based on academics (high school and college grade point
average), community involvement and length of scholarship, and in accordance
with the Board's established and published rules.
To avoid the
appearance of nepotism, relatives of members of the Scholarship Committee will
not be eligible to receive scholarships. Hospital employees and/or their
relatives, however, will be eligible to apply. By law, applications can only be
accepted from persons who have lived in or who currently live in Claiborne
Parish. Applicants must have already been accepted into an accredited school in
the State of Louisiana. The Committee is also prohibited from discriminating on
the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
Interested
persons may obtain an application from Theola in the
Human Resources Department at the hospital. For more information, call 927-2024.
Once any scholarships are awarded, Efferson said an
announcement will be made in the newspaper. He wants everything to be open to the public
THE SOUTHBOUND L&NW derailed Tuesday evening, June 28, about 6:15 PM when a tanker car
jumped the railroad track just north of the Spring Lake crossing causing it and
the next car to derail at the Mulnix Switch crossing.
Emergency response teams along with L&NW workers were on hand to help with
the cleanup. No injuries occurred.
Cocaine, Firearm Arrest Made By CPSO
Claiborne
Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey announced Monday that Roy L. Richardson, 39, of
Haynesville had been arrested at 12:45 AM on Saturday, June 25, 2005. A search
warrant was served at 1490 Bailey Avenue in Haynesville on Friday, June 24, by
Metro Narcotics, the Louisiana State Police, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's
Office, Shreveport Police Department Special Response Team and the Caddo Parish
Sheriff's Office Special Response Team. This arrest was the result of a four
month investigation into Richardson's activities.
During the
search, law enforcement officers seized crack cocaine, five firearms, and over
$1,400 in cash. Richardson was charged with possession with intent to
distribute Schedule II CDS (controlled dangerous substance) cocaine and
possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug felony. He was
transported and booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center. Bond will be
set by the judge.
Sheriff Bailey said, "The war on drugs is everyone's war,
and because of public complaints and the public's assistance through
information, officers are able to make arrests like Richardson's."
Bailey offered
his thanks to the public for their support and assistance, and asked anyone
with information about any crime to please call the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's
Office at 927-2011, the Homer Police Department at 927-4000, or the Haynesville
Police Department at 624-1311.
JUDY BUCKNER PAINTS A MURAL for a Habitat for Humanity house near Sarepta.
The house will be featured on "CMT Home Blitz with Habitat for
Humanity" on Saturday, July 9 at 1:00 PM.
Local Artist Contributes Talent To TV Show
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Judy Peterson
Buckner is a Claiborne Parish native who has become a talented artist. Although
her work is well-known locally, more will be able to appreciate her talent. She
has painted a mural to be seen on the television program "CMT Home Blitz
with Habitat for Humanity."
The website for
Country Music Television (www.cmt.com) describes "Home Blitz" this
way: "The American dream of owning a home becomes a reality for one
special family. In each episode, Habitat for Humanity partners with lower
income families in home ownership, bringing hope and dignity to people whose
dreams have outgrown their opportunities and resources."
Judy recently
was painting the mural for a young boy's bedroom in the Habitat for Humanity
house under construction near Sarepta. Having learned
that the child likes GI Joe and camouflage, Judy created a multi-wall mural
incorporating big tropical leaves and large stones with snow-capped mountains
in the background.
According to
Judy's webpage (www.judybuckner.com), she signed her first oil painting at age
nine. She describes that painting as a still life of a rag doll and some
embroidery.
Her mother,
Anita King Peterson, an accomplished portrait artist and art teacher as well,
has been Judy's lifelong mentor. Judy has a degree in Fine Arts from Louisiana
Tech University and studied in the Tech Rome Program. She has also studied at
the Finishing School in Atlanta and the Fredericksburg Artists' School.
Judy has
contributed murals to
churches, museums, and corporate buildings as well as to
Louisiana Tech University. While outdoor scenes and projects completed all in
one session have been her recent focus, doing portraits remains her favorite
interest.
Judy's mother
Anita says that Judy's ability manifested itself at a young age. "But I
guess that's natural because I was drawing and coloring as a very young child,
too. And my own mother was a talented musician, and so is Judy," says
Anita. Judy plays both piano and organ.
According to
the website the "CMT Home Blitz with Habitat for Humanity" program
featuring the Sarepta house is scheduled to air
Saturday, July 9 at 1:00 PM CST.
CLAIBORNE PARISH SHERIFF KEN BAILEY and deputy
Jeff Pugh will lead the Fourth of July Patriotic Boat Parade
to be held Saturday, July 2 at 7:30 PM on Lake Claiborne, followed by the
annual July 4th Fireworks Display at the Lake Claiborne dam beginning at dark,
approximately 9:15 PM. Boats and barges, decked in "red, white, and
blue" will begin gathering at Pleasure Point about 7 PM. Bailey encourages
everyone to join in the July 4th celebration of our nation's freedom and
reminds boaters that the Sheriff's Office and Wildlife and Fisheries will be
enforcing all boating laws.
Celebrate Independence Day with
Fireworks,
Patriotic Boat Parade
The Claiborne
Parish Fourth of July Fireworks and Patriotic Boat Parade
will be held on
beautiful Lake Claiborne on Saturday, July 2nd. The Patriotic Boat Parade will
begin at Pleasure Point at 7:30 PM and will be led by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's
Office. The Fireworks Display will begin around dark, approximately 9:15 PM.
Boats will
gather around 7 PM on the water near Pleasure Point. The parade route will
include Pleasure Point Marina, Port-Au-Prince, Parden's
Paradise, the Coleman Creek Subdivision, Public Boat Launch off Hwy. 146 (White
Lightning Road), Lake Claiborne State Park, and Sport Point. No jet skis will
be allowed. Each boat captain will receive one Claiborne Parish Boat Parade
2005 cap, limit one per boat.
The Fireworks Display
will start at "dark", approximately 9:15 PM. Neither boats nor
individuals will be allowed within 420 feet of the firing area, because of the
rules governing the safe distance from the shooting site, however, there will
be an area on the end of the dam nearest the spillway where people be allowed
to watch the show. Other areas around the shores of the lake will also have a
good view. The best view will be from the boats and barges, where hundreds of
people watch each year.
Donations are
needed to help fund this worthwhile event. Any amount will certainly be
welcome. Please mail your tax-deductible donation to Lake Claiborne Fireworks,
Inc., 180 Post Oak Road, Homer, LA 71040. For more information on the parade or
fireworks, call Dick Dorrell at 927-0039 or Fred
Lewis at 927-9180.
New Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Available 2006
Enrollment Period Begins November 15, 2005
BY JIMMY DEAN, Feature Writer, The Guardian-Journal
Dora Miller,
Public Affairs Specialist from the Shreveport Social Security Office, spoke to
area home health and medical personnel in the Police Jury Meeting Room Friday
morning, June 17, 2005, about the new Part D Medicare Prescription Drug
Program.
Miller said
beginning January 1, 2006, new Medicare prescription drug plans will be
available to people with Medicare. Insurance companies and other private
companies will work with Medicare to offer these drug plans. They will
negotiate discounts on drug prices. These plans are different from the
Medicare-approved drug discount cards, which phase out by May 15, 2006, or when
enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan takes effect, if earlier.
Medicare Part D
provides coverage for prescription drugs only. Like other insurance those who
sign up will pay a monthly premium (generally around $37 in 2006) and pay a
share of the cost of prescriptions. Costs will vary depending on the drug plan
chosen.
The initial
enrollment period runs from November 15, 2005, through May 15, 2006. During
this time Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in the program and choose from a
number of plans for prescription drug coverage. Miller offered the following
key points about the program:
* Every
Medicare beneficiary, regardless of income, is eligible for enrollment in Part
D.
* The monthly
premium, not yet set, is expected to be about $37. There will be a yearly $250
deductible and a 25% copay for covered medications.
* Special
provisions are in place to help lower-income enrollees participate in Part D at
minimal cost. The Social Security Administration estimates that over 10 million
of the 43 million Medicare beneficiaries will have the annual deductible waived
as well as the percentage copay. To qualify a single
beneficiary's yearly income must be less than $14,355. A married couple living
together with yearly income less than $19,245 may qualify for this extra help.
* Part D enrollees who qualify for extra help through waived copays, premiums, etc., can change drug plans at any
time. Those not qualifying for extra help will be limited to changing plans
once yearly during the open season that will start each November 15.
Miller cited
the following important dates:
∙ July 1,
2005, is the date when online applications for Part D become available at www.socialsecurity.gov.
∙ From
September through November, 2005, private insurance carriers will provide
enrollees notice of whether current prescription coverage meets the criteria
for "creditable coverage" with regard to late enrollment penalties.
∙
October, 2005, is when the new "Medicare and You 2006" handbooks will
be mailed containing comprehensive information about Part D including
prescription drug plan providers.
∙
November 15, 2005, through May 15, 2006, is the initial enrollment period for
Part D. This means applications may be filed during that period without
penalties for late enrollment.
∙ January
1, 2006, is the earliest date Part D coverage begins. For those enrolling after
December 31, 2005, coverage begins the first day of the month following the
month of enrollment.
∙ May 15,
2006, is the last date the current Medicare-approved drug discount cards are
effective.
Further
information will become available over the next few weeks, according to Miller.
One can go to www.cms.gov or www.medicare.gov for additional
information.
Notice To All
Homer Water Customers
Effective
immediately, all water bills must be paid by the 16th of each month. Any water
bill paid after the 16th will be disconnected. Customers will not receive any
other notices of disconnection. A reconnection fee of $25 will be charged to
all accounts that are disconnected. All water bills must be paid. Any customer
with an account balance of more than $25 is subject to being disconnected. If
you have a question about your account, call the Town of Homer Business Office
at 927-3555. The Town of Homer Mayor's Office and Business Office will be
closed Monday, July 4, 2005 in observance of Independence Day.
