By Pat Culverhouse
A new class of more than 170 Youth Challenge Program (YCP) cadets at Camp Minden received a welcome, and a warning, from Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker Thursday.
“We welcome you to Webster Parish and we’re happy to have you, and we want you to know that if you stay on these grounds there won’t be a problem,” Parker told the cadets. “But once you step outside these grounds, there will be a problem and we will handle it.”
Parker said the YCP is an excellent program designed to help, and the Sheriff’s Office wants to be supportive.
“My deputies and I will be seeing you occasionally just to visit…to sit down, have lunch and talk with you,” he said. “We want to see you succeed and we’ll do anything to help you do that.”
But if some cadets decide to stretch their legs beyond the fence that borders Camp Minden, there could be unfortunate consequences, Parker said. He gave the class four reasons to stay on the grounds.
• “There are always vehicles traveling on the highways and there’s a truck stop just up the road. You might get into a vehicle with the wrong someone and we’d never see you again,” he said.
• “Walking on the side of the highway or the interstate, especially at night, can be dangerous. Someone who’s driving along and not paying attention could hit you and that would be tragic,” Parker said. “Or, one of my deputies could be injured trying to find you I will not tolerate that.”
• “There are wild animals like huge boars and black bears, and rattlesnakes in our woods around here,” he said. “If you were attacked or bitten, we may never find you until it’s too late. Our woods can be dangerous.”
• “Residents of this area are very protective of their property. You, a stranger, might wander onto their property or into their yard and find yourself looking down the barrel of a shotgun,” Parker said.
Parker reminded cadets that staying on the grounds for the completion of their training is in their best interest. But once a person jumps the fence and runs, the situation changes. And, he added, that change isn’t good.
“We love you and respect what this program can do for you. We’re glad to have you, but here, you’re part of Camp Minden. Outside, you’re mine,” Parker said.
Parker urged cadets to use this opportunity to become better.
“There are success stories of individuals who have come through this program and achieved good things,” he said. “We want you to be those success stories, and we’re here to help you make that happen.”
