Over the past week, our local high school seniors bid farewell to their high school careers to embark on their futures. This amazing group of young men and women have already dived into the real world head first. Some already have a few college courses under their belts and are heading off to local colleges and universities in a variety of fields. Several young men and women have committed the next few years of their lives to the United States of America, choosing to serve in the Armed Forces. Still even more have already joined the work force; others are engaged and planning weddings; some are relocating for personal and professional reasons; while a few plan to join their family’s business.

After approximately 14 years of early mornings, late nights, hard tests and endless assignments, this group is sure to do great things in life. The scholarships, awards and honors they attained during their school years prove how dedicated they are to being successful.

We look forward to watching their journeys continue, as well as how they help this parish grow. They will soon be the  educators in the classroom; the medical professionals performing tests and surgeries; the contractors who oversee the building of local homes and businesses; the farmers who provide soy beans, rice and crawfish; and more.

The Jennings Daily News congratulates each and every graduate on this exciting time in their life. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and look forward to what you will continue to bring to our communities.

DHH encourages the public, state employees and partners to unite and raise awareness about women’s health issues and educate Louisiana women about how they can live healthier lives.

Women make up 51 percent of Louisiana’s population. The 2012 Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission Report to the Governor stated that chronic disease remains one of the largest risks to women’s health.

Chronic disease includes diabetes, heart disease, smoking and obesity. Currently, one in four deaths in Louisiana results from heart disease and the state’s obesity rate continues to rise.

“I challenge women in Louisiana to take a look at unhealthy habits like smoking, overeating and lack of exercise and become knowledgeable of the deadly risk these activities have on their lives,” said DHH Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public Health J.T. Lane. “With lifestyle changes, Louisiana women can be healthier and less susceptible to preventative diseases like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. I also want to challenge their loved ones, friends and families to support them – especially working mothers. Sometimes the biggest barrier to being healthy is time. If a loved one can free up as little as 15 minutes or a half hour on a regular basis for a working mom to go for a run, meditate or lift weights, it may transform an unhealthy future into a healthy one.”

DHH recommends the following tips for staying healthy:

• Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings.

• Get active.

• Eat healthy foods.

• Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.

• Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet, as well as texting while driving.

DHH programs available for women include the Birth Outcomes Initiative, which aims to educate all Louisiana residents that healthy pregnancies are imperative to a healthy mother and baby. Further, DHH administers the Maternal and Child Health Program, with allows pregnant women, infants and children to gain access to specialized healthcare services; the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, which ensures pregnant women, infants and children have access to nutritious food; and the state Medicaid program, which provides health care coverage and coordination to eligible pregnant women and children.

“As a woman, staying healthy helps ensure I’m present for the important milestones in my family’s life,” said DHH Interim Secretary Kathy Kliebert. “A commitment to making healthy choices impacts my physical and mental health in the long run. A healthy diet coupled with an active lifestyle allows me to take charge of my well-being and I encourage all Louisiana residents to do the same.”

To learn more, visit http://womenshealth.gov/nwhw/.

This week across America is known as National Police Week, a time meant to not only honor those police officers working the daily beat, but also those who gave their lives in the line of duty.

We often take our law enforcement officers (LEOs) for granted and complain about the work they do rather than appreciate it. We complain when they do too much in one area or not enough in the other but we seldom ask what we could do to help make our communities better.

Our officers work to ensure traffic laws are followed to protect us and our loved ones as we make daily journeys to work, school, grocery stores and more; if we call to report hearing even a twig snap outside our homes, an officer arrives to make sure all is safe; even for petty calls like a stray dog sleeping on someone’s lawn, law enforcement will come because it’s not only their job, but a commitment they made.

Sometimes we don’t see the very serious side of LEOs jobs, though. When a crash is reported, you will see area officers jumping from their units at the scene, rushing to see how they can save a life or calm down a shaken victim. You will see officers running into burning homes and buildings just as you would a firefighter. When there is a report of gunfire, whether in a residential neighborhood or the open rural areas, LEOs respond to those scenes, too, knowing they could be met with bullets. Despite the complaints we make against law enforcement, how many of us would have the guts to do that job for a small check and no thanks?

A career in law enforcement does not guarantee great pay. The hours are long and tiring; the work is overwhelming and dangerous; and many times, LEOs have to do their jobs without moral support from the very people they serve.

We do have incredible law enforcement officers in Jeff Davis Parish. There are so many men and women who make our communities safer and society more enjoyable simply by being on duty each and every day.

“See Something Send Something” is a nationwide suspicious activity reporting (SAR) tool for citizens to help in the fight against terrorism and criminal activity, according to the Louisiana State Police (LSP). Additionally, the free app has information on what to look for and when to submit suspicious activity reports along with how to receive important alerts.

The system connects concerned citizens, first responders and law enforcement to key intelligence centers including the Louisiana State Analytical & Fusion Exchange (LA-SAFE) and routes geo-tagged suspicious activity reports and location-based messages to intelligence centers providing intel analysts the ability to receive, sort, search and analyze inbound SAR’s.

The free smartphone application allows suspicious activity to be captured as a photo and as written text and sent directly to LA-SAFE, where the tips and information can be evaluated and then forwarded to law enforcement across the state as needed.

“In order for law enforcement to truly be successful, we must have the cooperation and support of the public we serve,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “This capability allows citizens to directly contribute to ensuring safer communities by reporting suspicious incidents to Fusion Center personnel who are trained to evaluate, analyze, disseminate and request action from law enforcement partners across Louisiana.”

Information from the public can be critical during a crisis. This app will help someone give emergency personnel the information they need during a time when every minute could be critical.

The application is available at no cost for iPhone and Android phone users, as well as iPad users. The service uses privacy protection software for safeguarding the integrity of tips and citizens’ personal information. The system allows LA-SAFE to engage citizens without tracking location or storing of personal information. Submitted tips are immediately removed from the mobile device and purged from the My Mobile Witness system once delivered to the LA-SAFE center for analysis.

This system is not intended for emergency situations. For situations requiring an immediate response, call 911 or your local law enforcement directly.

For further information, visit http://www.mymobilewitness.com/consumer-services.php.

We’ve all seen signs at certain businesses that read “Parents will be responsible for damages caused by children” or “No children beyond this point.” Did you know that even certain Jeff Davis Parish establishments have had to introduce rules regarding unsupervised children?

Just last year, in her monthly Librarian’s Lines column in the Jennings Daily News, Jeff Davis Library Director Dr. Linda Lebert-Corbello addressed the issue of parents dropping off children and young teens at the library for hours at a time with no supervision.

Also, in a recent interview for the Jennings Daily News’, a local business owner noted, “We are not licensed to be a daycare center. All children must be supervised by a parent or guardian (to enter the business) – not a sibling.”

It’s understandable why businesses and even public libraries have to say out loud what most of us already know: You have to take care of your own kids.

Any parent that drops a child below a certain age at a public place and drives off without ensuring the child is looked after should be ashamed of their carelessness and laziness. It is not a business owner, mall employee or librarian who is responsible for your child’s welfare; if a parent needs a babysitter, they should pay one.

Not only is it completely disrespectful to the business community to dump a child at their door, but do these parents realize what could happen to their children? How hard would it be for a sex offender to notice an 11 year-old has been sitting in the library alone for two hours? Would most parents truly trust letting a 13 year-old roam through a mall in a large city without any adult supervision at 9 p.m. at night?

Furthermore, how many youths act completely different around strangers than their parents? Is a teenager going to behave like a respectful shopper or cause problems for the store if no one is around?

Businesses should not have to act as daycare centers (unless, of course, the business is a daycare center). Furthermore, businesses should not be worried that if something happens to an unsupervised child, they could be blamed for the situation.

There are many factors to consider but no matter the reasoning, parents need to handle their own children, not force businesses to baby sit. Businesses who encounter this situation are justified in putting a foot down.

Cajun Country spotlights activities, events and traditions in all JDP communities, including festivals, parades, fishing hot spots, swimming holes, recipes and so much more. The magazines are distributed throughout JDP and other areas to show tourists why they  should visit this area.

For the 2013 edition, the JDN would like its readers to join us in telling visitors how to pass a good time. We would like to know where you take visiting friends and family when they come to the parish, or what you think is the number one experience they should have in JDP.

Maybe you are a former parish resident who can’t stay away during Mardi Gras season. Know any truckers who just have to buy a certain dish when passing through? Are you a fisherman who makes special trips to the parish for that secret spot you found on the Mermentau River? (Don’t worry, we don’t expect you tell us where the exact spot is).

We want to know what you want tourists to know about JDP! Your name and suggestions just might make it into this year’s Cajun Country publication.

Whatever your suggestions, email them to jenn...@bellsouth.net by 5 p.m. Monday, May 13. Help us spread the word about what we enjoy in JDP!

According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), on May 11, 1989, President George Bush signed Presidential Proclamation 5975 designating May as National Stroke Awareness Month at the urging of NSA. Since then, National Stroke Association has been honoring this special time of the year to increase public awareness of stroke in an effort to conquer it.

Stroke is an emergency and must be responded to urgently so a doctor can evaluate whether or not treatment will help. It is important to notice the warning signs. Be sure to note the time when any symptoms first appear. If given within three hours of the first symptom, there is an FDA-approved clot-buster medication that may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. There are also two other types of stroke treatment available that might help reduce the effects of stroke. Read more about stroke treatment.

Learn as many stroke symptoms as possible so you can recognize stroke as quickly as possible.

Warning signs that you or someone you know might be having a stroke include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should call 9-1-1 immediately. The faster you get treatment, the better your chances are for recovery.

Up to 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented by working with a healthcare professional to manage risk. Although stroke can happen to anyone, certain risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes can increase chances of a stroke.

For more information about stroke prevention or symptoms, visit NSA’s website at http://www.stroke.org.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) recently announced the theme for the 2013 Arson Awareness Week (AAW): “Reducing Residential Arson.” USFA and its partners will use the week of May 5-11 to focus public attention on residential arson and provide communities with tools to reduce the incidence of this crime. The goal for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is to provide all residents with strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods.

Arson can devastate a community resulting in the decline of the neighborhood through increased insurance premiums, loss of business revenue and a decrease in property values. Every year more than 25,000 intentionally set fires in homes result in an estimated 300 deaths, 700 injuries and $500 million in direct property damage. The average dollar loss for an intentionally set fire in a residential building is $21,320. The fatality rate for intentionally set residential fires is more than twice that of other residential building fires.

Residents can thwart the occurrence of arson and reduce its devastating effect on their communities by becoming aware of the following measures to safeguard their homes:

• Illuminate exterior and entrances. Install lights covering all sides of the house. Motion-activated lighting, which is inexpensive, should be placed near the entrances. Interior lights on timers give the illusion a residence is occupied.

• Install burglar and fire alarm systems. Alarm devices can be inexpensively wired to transmit an alarm to the police or fire department. Check the cost of contracting with a security firm for response to alarms.

• Trim or remove shrubbery that obstructs the view of the house from the street. Make sure that nothing blocks the view of the house. During the growing season, bushes and trees may need to be trimmed frequently.

• Keep doors and windows locked and bolted. All external doors should be equipped with dead bolts. A simple locked door could be the deterrent that saves a house from arson. The hardware used to lock windows can sometimes be easily forced open with a credit card or other tool. The best type of window hardware has spring-loaded bolts that insert through the window frame into the wall frame.

• Keep your property clean. Oftentimes, arson is a crime of opportunity. Remove excess vegetation and piles of leaves. Clean around your house and garage, removing unused and unneeded paper, trash, cleaning supplies, partial cans of paint and other materials that could become kindling and fuel a fire for an arsonist.

• Equip Homes with smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system. The combination of working smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers reduces the likelihood of death from fire by more than 82 percent. The most effective fire loss prevention and reduction measure for both life and property is the installation and maintenance of fire sprinklers.

• Establish a community arson watch program. Form a neighborhood program, and publicize your community’s efforts. Arsonists seldom strike when you are ready for them.

For more information regarding the U.S. Fire Administration’s Arson Awareness Week, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/aaw.

The Jennings Daily News has been reporting on the Spaetgens family from Iota and their efforts to strengthen child abuse investigations since late 2012. Along with District 25 Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, the Spaetgens are hoping to change current state laws with Senate Bill 109, to provide for additional medical exams, if needed or requested by a child’s parent or caretaker, when a person is accused of abuse. Right now, the opinion of a mandatory reporter is enough to launch a state abuse investigation. As had happened with the Spaetgens, this sometimes causes children to be taken from innocent parents or families to utilize childcare supervisors during investigations. Requiring an additional exam if requested could mean the difference between concretely proving that child abuse took place and tearing apart an innocent family.

The law was not on the Spaetgens’ side when they lost their young daughter, but we have the power to change that.

The family is looking for supporters willing to sign petitions in favor of SB 109. While some in the public may have had the opportunity to sign hard copies of the petition, an online petition is also available at https://www.change.org/petitions/senate-bill-109-to-ensure-better-investigations-by-mandatory-reporters-on-all-abuse-claims. The process takes about five minutes and asks basic information like your first and last name and mailing address to confirm you are an eligible voter.

The more signatures SB 109 receives, the more support lawmakers will give the bill. This is a law that will affect all of Louisiana, not only Jeff Davis Parish; furthermore, parents in other states are seeking similar legislation. Even if you or someone you know lives out of state, show Louisiana lawmakers that you are watching what is taking place with our laws.

Please do something to help protect our good parents and their children. All you need to do to help prepare a better future for them is to sign your name.

Many have already felt the far-reaching affects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), whether as an employee or a business owner. Many insurance providers have already tweaked prices and plans but the rising cost is far from over as Obamacare steadily makes its way into the American healthcare system.

For a basic rundown, Obamacare requires all Americans to purchase a private health care plan or pay a one to 2.5 percent tax. Americans who cannot afford health insurance will either qualify for Medicare or Medicaid or get assistance in the form of tax credits, tax breaks or assistance with up-front costs on the Health Insurance Exchanges (HIX). The exchanges are state or federally run online marketplaces where customers can shop for affordable quality health insurance. Small businesses can also use the exchange to purchase insurance for their employees. The Health Insurance Exchanges will open in October while coverage starts Jan. 1, 2014. Obamacare will be paid for through budget cuts, taxes and government funding. This includes a .9 percent Medicare tax and unearned income tax (on income over $200,000/$250,000); cuts to wasteful spending; a tax on insurance companies; and a tax on employers with over 50 full-time employees who do not supply their employees with affordable quality health care.

As much as the public roared against Obamacare, and as unfair as many parts of the healthcare overhaul are, the federal government had the audacity to protect many politicians under the healthcare plan. Obamacare currently includes special protections and exemptions for the president and federal health officials.

U.S. Congressman Charles Boustany is trying to change that, cosponsoring legislation that would allow the only health plans the federal government may make available to the president, vice president, members of Congress and federal employees those created under Obamacare or offered through a health insurance exchange.

Why shouldn’t that be federal politicians only choices? If Obamacare’s rules are the only ones citizens can follow, shouldn’t our leaders only be able to follow those rules, as well? Furthermore, if so many politicians truly believed in Obamacare’s importance, wouldn’t they want to personally utilize that system?

If it’s not good enough for our elected leaders, why is Obamacare good enough for voters?