DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / February 23, 2000

VACHERIE -The St. James Parish Council meeting Wednesday night ended witha little heat as Councilman Elwyn Bocz adamantly refuted rumors of his dislike of St. James Hospital in Lutcher.”I resent the fact that you people are telling the community that I’m trying to shut the hospital down,” said Bocz.

Members of the hospital staff attended the meeting after hearing the presentation of their recommendation for the new hospital board member had been removed from the council’s agenda. St. James President Dale J.Hymel Jr. Had mentioned during the last meeting that the board was readywith its recommendation.

According to standard practice and council rules, to add an issue to the agenda it must be presented to the district’s councilman or the president. “Ihad never heard a thing about it,” said Bocz, referring to the recommendation.

With Dr. Ward Turner retiring, the recommendation of his son, Dr. JosephTurner, was accidently placed on the agenda without being formally requested by Bocz or Hymel. When reviewing the initial agenda, he noticedthe error, and after consulting Hymel and Council Secretary Gerard Schexnayder it was removed, said Bocz.

“I have nothing, against Dr. Turner. I like Joe,” said Bocz. However there areother parties who have been qualified to sit on the board for quite some time, and they must also be looked at, Bocz explained.

Bocz repeated that he fully supports the hospital, saying he has brought all his family to the St. James facility. He stated that though his wife does workfor the River Parishes Hospital he does not prefer or support it in anyway over the Lutcher hospital. He’s been operated on at River Parishes when thatwas his only option, but “I’ve always requested transfer to St. JamesHospital for recovery.”The administration of St. James Hospital was not available for commentconcerning the St. James Council meeting or its recommendation for theboard of directors.

In other matters of the council, St. James Teachers of the Year werehonored. Hymel presented the honors himself to Janie Ryland, Lutcher High;Pam Bourgeois, Lutcher Junior High, also named state’s Junior/Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Denise Riley, Lutcher Elementary.

St. James Support Employees of the Year were also honored. They areDeborah Simon, Lutcher High; Faith Weber, Lutcher Junior High and Belinda Rouillier, Lutcher Elementary.

Also, Lawrence Jackson was appointed as commissioner to the Port of South Louisiana. After the recommendation by Hymel, the council votedunanimously in support.

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