Summer activities available for kids. ä See AROUND ST. HELENA 9G
THURSDAY APRIL 23, 2015
SERVING THE PARISHES OF EAST FELICIANA, WEST FELICIANA AND ST. HELENA
H $1.00
THEADVOCATE.COM
1st Year, No. 28
East Feliciana
Board picks Sam as leader
New superintendent agrees to withdraw from Lafayette search BY JAMES MINTON Advocate photos by HOWARD ARCENEAUX
A realistic crash scene re-enactment, including a ‘dead’ victim on the ground covered with a sheet, was used April 13 in the Sudden Impact mock crash involving West Feliciana Parish first responders and West Feliciana High School students.
‘Sudden Impact’
simulates deadly car crash
BY HOWARD ARCENEAUX Special to The Advocate
After some last-minute improvising due to rain, members of West Feliciana Parish Fire Protection District 1, Hospital Emergency Medical Services and the West Feliciana Sheriff’s and Coroner’s offices and students from West Feliciana High School performed a mock car crash scenario in the football stadium parking lot April 13. The “Sudden Impact” mock crash demonstration is designed to teach the consequences and realities associated with distracted and drunken driving. The presentation included students in the roles of victims and members of the WFHS emergency medical responder class performing duties of first responders. Firefighters, deputies and paramedics participated as if an actual accident had occurred.
A mock crash victim is placed on a gurney for transport to the hospital during a simulated vehicle crash caused by distracted or drunken driving. The mock crash was held April 13 and teaches äSee IMPACT, page 3G the consequences of unsafe driving to students.
Special to The Advocate CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to offer a contract as superintendent to Carlos J. Sam, an associate superintendent in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system. Sam, also a finalist for superintendent of Lafayette Parish schools, said after the vote that he would withdraw from the scheduled Wednesday night interviews of Lafayette’s finalists. Sam will succeed Henderson Lewis Jr., who resigned last Sam month after being named superintendent of Orleans Parish schools. The vote came after the board interviewed Sam, Patrick D. Jenkins and George Noflin Jr. in sessions open to the public, contrary to what board President Michael Bradford had announced last week. Bradford said Lewis was “a franchise player,” but Sam will be “a game-changer.” Sam, a 26-year veteran of the East Baton Rouge system, is now associate superintendent for support services, but served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and director of magnet programs. “My dream job has always been to be a superintendent,” Sam said during his interview. “I think I’m a good fit for East Feliciana Parish.” Sam said he believes in stability, which is one reason for his long-time association with East Baton Rouge schools. “If you make me your superintendent, I plan to be here for a long time,” he added. Jenkins began the interview sessions. “Everything I’ve done for the last 24 years in education has prepared me for this job,” Jenkins said, providing examples of his experience in various educational fields and his career as an Army National Guard engineering officer. Jenkins is the operations chief for the Zachary Community School System, in charge of maintenance, construction, athletics, safety, food service and other areas. Noflin, an East Feliciana Parish native, is superintendent of Morehouse Parish schools. He said his board has granted him a contract extension but he has not yet signed it. Noflin said Lewis started East Feliciana on the right path, but the next superintendent must build on his work. He provided specific examples of educational techniques he has used in several school systems, including requiring central office emäSee LEADER, page 3G
INSIDE East Feliciana............2G West Feliciana...........5G St. Helena .................9G Sports .......................1H Schools.....................2H
Fire departments move to repair radios BY STEPHANIE WARREN
St. Helena
St. Helena Parish fire departments and St. Helena Office of Emergency Preparedness representatives met April 10 with Motorola representative Vaughn Bourgeois at the Police Jury building to discuss the options on replacing the radio equipment that malfunctioned after renovations began last month at the St. Helena Parish
Jail. The equipment malfunction has resulted in emergency dispatchers’ inability to page or contact each individual fire department, said Rita Allen, the director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness and North Helena volunteer fire chief. Firefighters have to monitor the radio transmissions for
swarren@theadvocate.com
information on any incidents that are reported to the 911 call center, which is in Amite, and relayed to the sheriff’s dispatch office in Greensburg, she said. Allen said Bourgeois was the representative that worked on the original radio grant 10 years ago, which aided in purchasing the radios and dispatch equipment used by the fire departments. Allen said the group decided to purchase an encoder to help
replace one component of the broken system until funding can be secured to purchase and upgrade the equipment, which notifies the fire departments of an incident. Allen estimated it will cost $500,000 to update the equipment for all fire departments. “The dispatch services that are supplied by the Sheriff’s Office is a vital link in the response of the local volunteer fire departments and, without the
timely dispatch of emergency personnel, incidents would take longer to respond to and control,” Allen said. “That could also affect the rating of each department and the residents’ insurance coverage in the long run.” Allen said the equipment issue will be shortterm, with departments working to make the necessary repairs and upgrades. äSee RADIOS, page 3G