The Cameron Parish 50¢ Random searches of Cameron schools are Pilot authorized by Board October 11, 2007 Vol. 51--No. 1 Cameron, La. 70631 By CYNDI SELLERS Times have just gotten rougher for students who carry contraband into Cameron Parish schools. On Monday the Cameron Parish School Board voted to hire Interquest Detection Canines KAMI SAVOIE, a senior, to conduct random searches was crowned as the South in all parish schools. School Board member Cameron High School Scott Nunez proposed the use Homecoming Queen at of the service, saying princi- last week’s homecoming. pals wanted more searches than were being provided by the Sheriff's Office. Early Voting He also said that Interquest Detection's dogs are trained to locate more to end on kinds of contraband than the Sheriff's dog. Items like alco- hol and guns are not illegal on Saturday the road, so the K-9 unit does not train for them. Early voting for the Oct. THESE TWO rare flamingoes have taken up residence in Cameron Parish. This photo Interquest's canines, 20 election can be done in the by Pilot reporter Cyndi Sellers was taken of the two birds in flight. In the background according to handler Kristi KRISTI MUNK and her Cameron Parish Registrar of are some of the old industries located along the old river loop north of the town of Munk, use a passive signal to dog Tonka, of Interquest Voters office behind the court- Cameron. alert on alcohol, prescription Detection Canines, de- house until Saturday, Oct. 13, medications, any gunpowder monstrated Tonka's ability from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. related items, and illegal at Monday's School Board Offices to be voted on in drugs. The company has been meeting. They have been Cameron Parish include Kansas zoo not to ‘extradite’ contracted in Calcasieu hired to conduct random Sheriff, Assessor, Police Parish schools for the past searches of parish Jurors, School Board four years, and monthly schools for the remainder Members. reports show a decline in con- Races for the Louisiana of the year. Interquest fugitive flamingo from Cam. traband, Munk said. Canine's dogs can detect Senate and House are also on Searches will be complete- the ballot. many forms of contra- (EDITOR’S NOTE-- private land in Cameron Baumer. The zoo does not ly random, with all schools band, including alcohol, State races include being checked once a month. Governor, Lt. Governor, Cameron Pilot writer Parish accessible only by plan to try to get the flamingo prescription drugs, and Cyndi Sellers got a “scoop” boat. Officials with the zoo in back. Interquest dogs, all golden Secretary of State, Attorney retrievers or Labrador gunpowder related items, General, Commission of last week when she Wichita learned of the way- “There really isn’t an easy as well as narcotics. reported the sighting of ward flamingo’s whereabouts way to recapture the bird. It retrievers, will search build- Agriculture, Commission of ings, lockers, grounds, and (Photo by Cyndi Sellers.) Insurance and BESE board. two flamingoes in late Friday because the birds would only disturb wildlife Cameron Parish. She also were identified by numbers where it’s been found and pos- random classrooms. Any con- There are also four consti- CROCS BAN had a photo of the two on their leg bands. sibly could do more damage to traband located will be tutional amendments to be VOTED DOWN birds that she had taken. The zoo’s flamingo was the bird than just leaving him turned over to the school voted on. A proposal to prohibit Her photo, when enlarged, still traveling with the same alone,” Baumer said. administration to be dealt Voters are asked to bring "Crocs," imitation "crocs," or showed one of the bird’s companion that was with it Flamingos are social birds, with as policy dictates. identification such as driver’s other similar rubber composite leg band which indicated during an earlier sighting. so it is not unusual they are Munk said she is available license. shoes was voted down. that it was an escapee The two birds were seen at staying together, she said. for additional searches if Cameron Parish voters Dwayne Sanner moved to from a Wichita, Kan. zoo. the Arkansas National Members of Louisiana’s requested, and also for displaced by Hurricane Rita defeat the proposal, made last The following story from Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf ornithological society tried to extracurricular events like may still vote in the parish if month by Marvin Trahan. the Lake Charles Coast of Texas in December locate the birds a few days school dances. The $400 per they have not registered to Nunez seconded, saying that American Press tells “the 2006. after they were identified, but day fee will be partially fund- vote in some other parish. school administrators have rest of the story”) The other bird, a rosy-red they had left the area. The ed through Title IV Safe and better things to do than police After two years on the lam, wild greater flamingo, came zoo expects more sightings as Drug Free Schools. shoes, and making parents buy a pink flamingo that escaped up from Mexico during the birds continue to look for POLICY CHANGE new shoes midyear would be a from the Sedgwick County Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. safe places, food and water. Monday is hardship. Zoo in Wichita, Kan., has The discovery excited bird (EDITOR’S NOTE-- The Board is considering a been spotted in Louisiana watchers in Louisiana Cyndi’s story and photo policy change in disciplinary PROPERTY ISSUES with a wild Caribbean flamin- because it was the first docu- aired on Kansas City’s action, allowing for in-school deadline for The Board voted to reject go in a ship channel area of mented sighting of a wild KCTV television’s news suspensions at Grand Lake an offer from the US Army southwest Louisiana. greater flamingo in the state. along with a link to the High School and Friday sus- Corps of Engineers of $5,600 The latest sighting three “We’re very happy to see Cameron Pilot’s story last pensions at Hackberry, South Pilot ads for a easement on 15.43 acres weeks ago was in the he’s been spotted again,” said week.) Cameron, and Johnson Bayou of school section 16-13-10 adja- The “big” election will be Calcasieu Ship Channel on zoo spokeswoman Christan High Schools for certain held Saturday, Oct. 20 and offenses. Students serving in- cent to the Sabine National candidates who wish to place school suspensions will not Wildlife Refuge on which the political ads in the Oct. 18 lose study time or test grades, Corps inadvertently built a issue of the Cameron Pilot but will spend their time in containment dike. Board Company to help rebuild arena President pointed out that if must turn them in by Monday, supervised activities. In-school suspensions are the situation were reversed, Oct. 15. shows, exhibits and competi- The Pilot also has the fol- (Cameron LNG employees will assist in the not available for certain seri- the Corps would be demanding Newsletter) rebuilding of the Hackberry tions.” ous offenses by law, such as that School Board remove the lowing policy concerning While Cameron Parish advertising in the last week Rodeo Arena and concession weapons, arson, assault and encroachment. Before Hurricane Rita, stand which provided a valu- received Federal Emergency battery. Others offenses have The Board's previous sug- before an election: management Agency (FEMA) If a candidate makes a competitive high school rodeo able source of income for the been chosen by principals to gestions, that property be in Cameron Parish was alive local chapter of the Future funds to repair part of the be included in the list. Board exchanged or that the Corps statement in an ad about his facility, developing a plan to opponent that we feel that the and well with the Hackberry Farmers of America (FFA). members discussed whether build another, lower dike School arena holding a popu- “This arena is not only a oversee the construction it would be best to make the inside the refuge boundary opponent should have the effort proved to be a challeng- opportunity to answer he will lar, exciting and well-attend- centerpiece of this communi- list final or to allow more dis- and leave the misplaced one ed Louisiana High School ty, but an important part of ing task for the school’s offi- cretion to principals on some alone, were both rejected. By be able to do so. cials. By providing project Anyone wishing to place a qualifying rodeo each year. our students’ core curriculum offenses. law, the boundaries of the Today, nearly two years in agricultural science and management experience for For example, Rachel refuge cannot be changed political ad should contact the rebuilding project, Jeffra DeViney, Advertising post-Hurricane Rita, the math,” says Kevin Moreau, a Abadie asked whether a high except by Congress, and pro- damaged arena and associat- vocational agriculture teacher Cameron LNG will work with school fistfight would be ject managers said that a Manager, by calling 786-8004 the Cameron Parish School or 1-800-256-7323. ed structures are getting a at Hackberry School. “We treated the same as two first lower dike would still require a helping hand from Cameron plan to use this facility for District and local FFA sup- graders pushing each other easement in case the higher A sample ballot will be porters to utilize funding in published in next week’s Pilot. LNG. The company and its student events like livestock over the water fountain, or one ever eroded.