Good news on the homefront

Two photos appear above the fold in today’s newspaper. One is an iconic depiction of youngsters who may feel they have nowhere to turn. The other is of a proud 11-year-old from Bourg who is one of Louisiana’s students of the year.

One appears to tell of good news, the other bad news.

But the stories connected to each are positive and cause for celebration.

Rhett Williams, the boy with the trophy in his hand, exemplifies what young people can accomplish right here in our local parishes. His story is one of inspiration and shows how parents, educators, neighbors and siblings can all contribute to success.

Terrebonne Parish and Louisiana as a whole are bursting with pride on behalf of Rhett, and so are we. His is a success story that is a pleasure to tell.

The other story on the top of the fold has less of a warm and fuzzy beginning. It is about how a major step has been taken to reform our local juvenile justice system, by diverting children from Terrebonne’s Juvenile Detention Center when possible. The new program, called SPARC, will direct children to a variety of services that can help keep little problems from becoming big ones.

In today’s world, activities that at one time might have earned youngsters a spanking or grounding are resulting in their jailing.

SPARC will help ensure that only the most serious juvenile offenders end up in detention, or those to whom alternatives have been offered but ended up rejecting the break.

Not every child can be a Louisiana Student of the Year. Most of our children will never achieve such an honor.

But every child deserves the chance to not let a simple mistake send their lives on a downward spiral, diminishing their ability in the long run to be the very best they can be.

So this week, our front page offers the story of a young man who has worked incredibly hard at being a good citizen, good son and good student. And it offers also a story of how adults, gathered as a loving village, are doing what they can to make sure that more children will have an unbridled chance to do the same.

To us that’s pretty good news all the way around.

Speaking of good news ….

Another local award winner is Lee Lyons, formerly a Houma City Police sergeant and now a deputy city marshal.

The Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police named Lyons its 2015 Officer of the Year.

The work Lyons has done throughout the community is not a secret. He has worked hard to make the city’s neighborhood watch program a great success, has spread good will throughout the city on behalf of his fellow officers, and is a shining example of what a dedicated officer can truly accomplish.

That he is one of our own – a police officer from right here – and is worthy of statewide recognition is plenty of reason to be proud.

Our experience has been that Lyons is not the exception at the Houma Police Department; he is more the rule.

And speaking of the police …

Chief Todd Duplantis was given a bitter pill to swallow, a new instatement of money damages because of a lawsuit brought by an officer, Kyle Faulk. At issue was what jurors agreed was punishment meted out for Faulk speaking out about a law that affirmed Duplantis as chief.

There are far too many restrictions on police officers to begin with, so much so that they fear speaking to reporters in order to confirm the most basic information about an event.

While it is understandable that details of investigations or other sensitive matters should be left to higher-ups, officers should be allowed to speak about matters that affect them, directly, without fear of reprisal.

Duplantis has accomplished much good during his tenure, particularly in the area of community relations. But muzzling officers is not acceptable behavior. And so news that Faulk has prevailed in court is not unwelcome.