The News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana • Page 1

SAFE TRAINING Keys to staying injury free while preparing for your big day, ID SPRING F0O1T5AIL OCS prepares for move to Class WWW.THENEWSSTAR.COM MONDAY June 25, 2007 Northeastern Louisiana 50 cents CeostnMeo 17 School il Jke Hamilton EspoCenrer fimdin oil gets H. The News-Star final OK State teachers will receive their largest raise on record Downing Pines exit may boost economy By Mike Hasten mhastengannett.com BATON ROUGE Louisiana schools will receive almost $3 billion next school year. That's about $158 million more than they received last year. On Sunday, the Senate unanimously approved the funding formula known as the Minimum Foundation Formula, as stated in House Concurrent Resolution 208. Since the MFP received unanimous endorsement in the House of Representatives, the formula is final.

Sen. Chris Ullo, D-New Orleans, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said the Legislature is showing its commitment to improve education, as the $2.92 billion MFP is "almost 10 percent of the general budget." By Robbie Evans revansthenewsstar.com When the Downing Pines interchange on Interstate 20 in West Monroe opens later this year, commercial growth in the area is expected to accelerate. Work began last fall to construct on- and off-ramps for westbound exiters. When the interchange is opened in about two months, it will be the last piece of development puzzle the city hopes will improve access and spur development of the industrial Arely D. CastilloThe News-Star Amber Gossett takes a look at the picture of her eyes during an accurate vision test sponsored by the North Monroe Lakeshore Lions Club at the Faith United Methodist Church on Saturday.

The test ensures reliable early detection of reflective error, the primary vision disorder in children. Early detection improves outcomes and reduces treatment duration. I screen, you screen, we all screen for EYE SCREENS Pastorek park. Eastbound ramps were completed last year. "One primary reason for the interchange is to provide better Norris The major increases in the amount schools get per student -will make sg nificant strides for education, Ullo said.

"It helps every school district," he said. Continuing the policy that 50 percent of the new money must go to teacher raises, coupled with raises in the state budget, means teachers will receive their largest raise ever. The budget includes enough money to supply every certificated teacher and school employee an average $2,375 raise if school systems split it evenly. The MFP raises range from $4,010 in Union Parish to $33 in Grant Parish, depending on how much new money school systems receive. Teachers in nine school systems, including Jackson Parish, will receive no raises because they received no growth money.

Teachers in another eight systems none in northeast Louisiana will not receive MFP raises because the school systems already offer salaries equal to or greater than the Southern Regional Education Board average. Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said the Legislature's dedication to funding education has led to numerous improvements, including the state having the top school accountability, early childhood education and teacher quality programs in the nation. "Academic achievement has grown 50 percent in the past eight years," he said. nieces, Amber Gossett, 4, and Michelle Gossett, 2. "I love this place," Maurer said, as Michelle clutched her favorite blanket.

Amber enjoyed jellybeans and a sticker after her pictures were taken. The newest machine the club bought costs about $5,000 and was bought with sponsor donations. The machine can be used on children and adults. "Depending on how accurate the reading is, an eye doctor can use the printout to make an eyeglass prescription," McConkey said. "It's a lot more effective than the other machine that only takes the picture." The Lions Club is looking for daycare centers, Head Start programs, pre-schools or churches to participate in its Cubsight program.

For more information, contact the club at 342-1187. By Sharryn Harvey sharveythenewsstar.com Eighteen-month-old Hunter Cole looked curiously at the machine pointing at his eyes, not knowing its power to deter blindness later in life. Hunter was one of 18 children who received free eye tests Saturday morning from the North Monroe Lakeshore Lions Club at Faith United Methodist Church in West Monroe as part of the Cubsight program. Cubsight takes photos of children's eyes and sends them to a Lafayette eye specialist who can study the pictures and determine whether vision problems could be in each child's future. Then he refers the children to doctors who will fix their problems before they lead to blindness.

The Lions Club follows up with parents to assure the child went to THE STEPS 1. Cubsights takes photos of children's eyes 2. The photos are sent to an eye specials who can study the pictures and determine any future vision problems. a doctor and if they had to buy glasses. "Sometimes the problem parents have is that they can't afford to get glasses for the child," said Lion Club member Bill McConkey.

"We. will buy the glasses for them if they can't afford them." In Ouachita Parish, about 10,000 2-5 year-olds qualify for the tests. The earlier the problems are caught, the more likely doctors can correct them. Shirley Maurer of West Monroe was happy to bring her great- access to the Ike Hamilton Expo Center and to the property the city owns there," said Mayor Dave Norris. The city purchased more than 220 acres off Downing Pines Road seven years ago intending to build a major retail area.

It was the last large piece of West Monroe land with major development potential. Since then, the Ike and Restoration Park were built, and the Monroe-West Monroe Convention and Visitor's Bureau relocated from Monroe to Constitution Drive. The improved access to the area will be a major boost for the Ike, which has an event booked literally every day of the year, said manager Ramona Martin. Although the eastbound ramp has been opened for a while, eastbound traffic had to take the highly congested Thomas Road to get to the facility. "My belief is that this area will explode because of the interchange," said Interstate Dodge owner John Klagholtz, who said the interchange was critical in his decision to move the dealership from Monroe to West Monroe.

MFD history: Woman becomes engineer ALSO MAKING MOVES The promotions were announced last week. Others promoted: Tim Dickerson, district fire chief; Bryan Nugent, district fire chief; James Harris, fire captain; Bobby Sanford, fire driverengineer; Jason Savage, fire driverengineer; and Mike Middleton, fire driverengineer. i1j I By Stacy Temple stemplethenewsstar.com Monroe Fire Chief Jimmie Bryant recently promoted seven employees, and one was a Monroe milestone. Sabrina Williams, who was promoted to fire driverengineer, is the city's first woman to hold the position. Williams has been employed with the department since 2001 and has spent the past six years battling blazes around the city.

Bryant said Williams would be responsible for operating one of the $400,000 firetrucks. "If she stays with us, every time she will be promoted from here on out, she will be the first," Bryant said. "Historically, this has been a male-dominated profession in all ranks. Sabrina has demonstrated and proven her ability to perform at all levels pre- onac- Stacy TempleThe News-Star Monroe firefighter Sabrina Williams was recently promoted to fire driverengineer. She is the first woman to hold the title at the Monroe Fire Department.

OS! I was going to quit and go to dispatch, but I love my job too much to do that," Williams said. "I am the first woman driver, and hopefully I will be the first woman captain. When it comes down to it, I can do my job really well, and that is all that matters." Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said he is pleased to see more women working at the department. "Mrs. Williams is the first sented to her." Bryant said only one other woman is employed as a firefighter.

In the past, women have usually held administrative positions. Williams said she worked as a lifeguard for the city for numerous years and knew she wanted a job where she could help people. She said she laughs when people stare at her when she takes off her helmet. "I said once I had children, in uu female driver, and I personally look forward to other females becoming captains and maybe someday becom Williams said she is "one of the boys." "I enjoy the men I work with," she said. "When you work 24-hour shifts together, Morning ing the first chief, he said.

As for her co-workers, you become part of a family." tunnK HmHt Stnn If ir 1 i 1i THENEWSSTAR.COM: Looking for something to do? Visit our events calendar Weather forecast, 4A 8,268 Daily unique visitors at thcnewsstiir.com 3B IB 2B 3D 3D Editorial Local Lottery Movies Television 5D 4D 4D 2D 2B Classified Comics Dear Abby Deaths News-Star Hour 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at AM 540 High: 89 Don't Forgot FREE "Nows-Star" with any breaklajt purcnaaa, At Participating stores. Low: 71 0901ll055011 not a coupon Monroe West Monroe only.