Two of Lafayette’s newest football players won’t let disabilities keep them off the field

Lafayette’s football team hosted Woodford County in a scrimmage on Aug. 10. The Generals won 41-7, but the team’s biggest winners that night were Ronald Dyer and Will Watkins.

Dyer, a junior defensive back, and Watkins, a sophomore defensive lineman, played multiple snaps for the Generals inside the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter. It was the first time either player has gotten on the field after joining the team in the offseason.

Watkins had wanted to play football for a while. He had to prove to his parents that it was something he would take seriously before they allowed him to go out for the team. They finally relented this spring.

Dyer, on the other hand, played in peewee leagues growing up and participated in middle school. He stepped away from athletics for a couple of years before joining Lafayette’s track and field team last season. Football assistant coach Jon Lawson observed Dyer’s performance and encouraged him to come back to football.

Their paths to playing time were different, but similar in one regard: both players require special educational needs. Dyer battles ADHD and has been diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities; Watkins has a mild form of autism and suffers from severe migraines.

Of course, if you were watching from the stands that night, you would never have known they were different from any other kid on the sideline.

‘Clearly serious’

Watkins had never played football, but he had played basketball before. He was a center when he played in the Glendover League as a child.

“He was the big kid on the team, and he was way too nice to play center,” said Jennifer Watkins, Will’s mom. “He’d bump into somebody and be like, ‘Oh, sorry about that,’ and we’d be like, ‘No, buddy, you’ve got to use your size.’”

Will was asked by his parents to do several months of conditioning work at home before they would entertain the notion of him participating in high school football. He committed.

“So we finally said, ‘OK, he’s clearly serious about wanting to do this,’” Jennifer said.

Matt Watkins, Will’s dad, was a teacher at Bryan Station High School last school year and spoke with that school’s coaches about Will’s interest in playing this season. They connected Jennifer and Matt with Lafayette’s coaching staff. Generals head coach Eric Shaw spoke with the three of them directly about the pros and cons of bringing Will into the fold.

Head injuries are a major concern for any football parent, but especially so for the Watkins family because of Will’s history with migraines. His neurologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and his local pediatrician both felt comfortable with Lafayette’s vigilance in protecting its players.

So far, so good.

“He comes every day. He practices hard, he does the drills,” Lafayette assistant coach Matt Brown said. “He really takes in what’s going on and tries to perfect what we do in practice.”

‘Being a friend’

Dyer’s fascination with football goes back to his childhood, when the son of a family friend who played for Anderson County High School became a role model.

Renee Dyer, Ronald’s mom, said she and her husband have always parented by the mantra “If he wants to try it, then we’re gonna let him try it.’ That led not only to youth football and track, but lots of time spent on baseball fields as a left fielder.

Youth football is one thing; varsity athletes are a whole lot bigger.

“Of course, as a mom, the first thing you think is, ‘That’s my kid out there on the field!’” Renee said. “And then your heart skips a beat and you’re like, ‘Dear Lord, don’t let him get hurt.’”

The Dyers adopted Ronald when he was 7 years old. He was an “angry, aggressive child” but has become a “polite, well-mannered young man” and rarely exhibits the outrage he did when he was younger, Renee said.

Lafayette High School defensive back Ronald Dyer came off the field during the Generals’ scrimmage versus Woodford County High School on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.

Dana Bradford Lafayette Football

His behavior is so good, in fact, that he’s become something of a role model himself. While he was in the hospital nursing a broken hand over the summer, a nurse was so impressed with his demeanor that she asked him to come work at a special-needs camp.

Ronald doesn’t perceive himself as a role model, though.

“He just sees it as he knows what it was like to be a kid who had needs and was looking to be accepted and looking to have friends, and looking for people to help him and just treat him like a regular kid,” Renee said. “He is very empathetic and he has a big heart for kids that need a little more help, and he just does it.

“He doesn’t look at it as being a role model; he looks at it as being a friend.”

Acceptance

Jennifer has been amazed at the growth of her son Will’s social circle since he joined the football team.

“It seems like when he’s leaving practice or walking into school for something, there’s somebody that knows him and speaks to him and he speaks to,” Jennifer said. “I think, for us as his parents, and I think for any parent, that’s what you want for your kid.”

Ronald and Will aren’t unique from most of their teammates in at least one respect: they’re among the 92 percent of high school football players who won’t play in college.

“The reality is, most kids aren’t going to play football beyond high school,” Jennifer said. “It’s all about being active and doing something that he enjoys and having a group of people that supports him and that he can enjoy.”

Renee said other kids quickly realize that Ronald has special needs, and that it takes some time for him to catch on, but acceptance has never been much of an issue.

“He enjoys being on the team and he enjoys being accepted by those kids, and not treated like a special-needs kid,” Renee said.

Postgame report

Ronald was interviewed a few days after the game. He glowed when asked about his first time hitting the field.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I was just excited ’cause I got a tackle and I got to be out there.”

Renee chimed in. “This smile he’s got is the smile he had from the moment he got out of bed until he walked off the field,” she said. “I’ve got some pictures of him walking off the field and he’s just beaming.”

Will was every bit as elated right after the win, and was frank about playing multiple possessions.

“The first time I went out, it was really fun. The second time, it was a little more challenging,” Will said with a laugh.

Renee said when Ronald sat down with Shaw before he joined the team, one of the things he told him was, “‘Your disability isn’t who you are; it’s what you have.’”

She called it a “profound statement.” A slight retooling of that statement might be as equally profound: Your ability isn’t who you are; it’s what you have.

Each year, there are athletes at every level renowned for their on-field talent while exhibiting terrible off-field behavior. At Lafayette, there are at least two athletes whose on-field talent isn’t other-worldly, but whose off-field character and work ethic are worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. It puts things in perspective.

Renee continued sharing what Shaw told her son.

“‘What makes you you is the fact that you stand up for the little guy. The fact that you help out at school with kids who are special needs, that you volunteer your time at camps.’

“‘That’s you. That’s your personality, that’s who you’re becoming. That’s what makes you you, not your disability.’”

Lafayette High School defensive lineman Will Watkins, left, battled Woodford County High School on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.

Dana Bradford Lafayette Football

Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps

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Things to Do in Lafayettte, Louisiana

Each new destination is exciting, and it’s only natural to want to make the most out of the cities you visit by exploring the things to do there. In this article, we will discuss a few fun things to do in Lafayette, Louisiana.

1. Acadian Village

The first thing to do? Visit the historic Acadian Village! This old 19th-century community features real Cajun homes, period buildings that have been recreated, and a Native American museum. It’s definitely a wonderful place to visit for those who want to get a feel for Louisiana history and culture.

2. Lafayette Science Museum

Another excellent place to visit that those who enjoy learning can enjoy is the Lafayette Science Museum. This is both a museum and a planetarium that regularly employs changing exhibits and other programs. It’s a wonderful place for the whole family, especially those who are traveling with children.

3. Evangeline State Park

Lafayette is home to a fantastic state park, which presents itself as another thing to do while in this Louisiana city. The Evangeline State Park grounds are not only beautiful to behold but feature a 18th-century Acadian shack, a Creole plantation, and a museum for visitors to enjoy.

4. Alexandre Mouton House

The last fun thing to do that we will mention here is to tour the Alexandre Mouton House. Built in 1800 by the city’s founder, this house later was passed onto son Alexandre, who became the first Democratic governor of the city of Lafayette. Today the home houses priceless antiques and paintings, as well as Mardi Gras costumes.

In conclusion, Lafayette is a thrilling city that has much to offer to those who choose to visit. For a wonderful and educational time, be sure to check out these things to do. You won’t regret it!

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High turnover, caseloads in Louisiana foster care program

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera.

Louisiana’s social services agency was so understaffed amid repeated budget cuts that it short-changed its foster children, skipping some background checks on foster parents and placing children with people accused of abuse, according to an audit released Monday (Aug. 14).

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office reviewed the Department of Children and Family Services’ handling of the foster care program during former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration, saying that high caseloads, hefty employee turnover and ineffective computer systems damaged the agency’s oversight of children placed in its care.

"These challenges may impact (the agency’s) ability to ensure the safety and well-being of children in foster care in Louisiana," the report says.

Auditors reviewed the program from Jan. 1, 2012, through Jan. 1, 2016, finding that although the number of children in foster care increased by nearly 4 percent over the period, field staff for the program dropped by more than 3 percent.

By 2016, caseworkers carried an average of 16 cases, higher than the 10-case maximum established in agency policy, the audit says. More than 4,400 children were in the foster care program on Jan. 1 of that year.

Auditors found that 29 percent of those who took in children because they were family members or someone known by the foster child didn’t receive background checks. A handful of providers were allowed to care for children though they had prior "valid cases of abuse and neglect," the audit says. Also, the department didn’t make sure foster children were getting the medical and behavioral health treatments they needed.

The Department of Children and Family Services — which oversees child welfare, food stamps, the welfare program and child support enforcement — had a more than $1.2 billion budget with 5,200 jobs when Jindal took office. By the end of his tenure, spending was down to nearly half, and the department had fewer than 3,500 employees.

Marketa Garner Walters took over as agency secretary in January 2016, appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. She wasn’t surprised by the audit, which came after an Edwards transition committee determined the department couldn’t properly manage its child welfare mission.

"We knew that coming in we had inherited a mess," she said.

Since then, the department’s budget has edged up. Walters said she’s reorganized, shuffled foster care caseworkers to address shortage areas and bolstered employee coaching. She enacted a policy that no child will be placed with someone with a prior case of abuse or neglect.

"We have cleaned up so much. We are not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination, but in 18 months we’re in a world of difference," Walters said.

Walters said the department also has changed its approach to foster parenting, beefing up education and seeking to build more community support from church organizations, nonprofits and businesses.

"The kids we get are hard, and they come with lots of trauma. So, we’re giving the parents trauma training," Walters said. "We’re being more candid and upfront."

Still, the agency has trouble, according to the audit, retaining enough foster care providers — paying foster parents less than the estimated cost to care for children. The average payment rate of $15.20 per day hasn’t been increased since 2007, and no rate hike is on the horizon amid continued state budget gaps.

FILE – In May 17, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of La., speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. Scalise, wounded when a gunman opened fire at a Republican baseball practice, delivered a Father’s Day message Sunday, June 18, through his Twitter account. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
City of New Orleans workers use a giant vaccum machine to suck out drains in the flooded-out areas of Treme August 7, 2017. Three of the city’s five vacuum trucks are out of service as of Thursday. (Photo by G. Andrew Boyd, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

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Lafayette election could shape city’s direction for years to come

Four City Council seats up for grabs as issues of growth and regulation abound
Construction is pictured on E. Elm Street in Lafayette in July. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)
Brad Wiesley (File Photo)

Four seats on Lafayette’s seven-member City Council will be up for grabs this November in an election that could overhaul the city’s approach to an array of issues gripping local consciousness.

Lafayette Mayor Pro-Tem Gustavo Reyna, Councilman Brad Wiesley and Councilwomen Merrily Mazza and Chelsea Behanna — the latter was appointed by council to replace former Councilman Tom Dowling last summer — will see their current terms end in November.

A future City Council is likely to see issues already present in Lafayette — questions over oil and gas regulations and retooled growth management, among others — increase in scope and with perhaps greater urgency, rather than new issues wholly foreign to the Front Range.

Merrily Mazza (File Photo)

Over the last several years, city leaders have typically approached decisions innate to Lafayette life with the left-leaning, progressive sensibilities often associated with the county at large: an eye on historic preservation against a building boom, stricter industry regulation and an emphasis on citywide social programs.

The election may serve as a referendum on such issues; a growing opposition along eastern Boulder County’s fringes — one spotlighted amid recent oil and gas debate — could spur a change in the old guard.

However, a complete identity shift among Lafayette’s leadership is unlikely.

At least one seat is guaranteed to see a fresh face — Wiesley is nearing the end of a second, four-year term and is ineligible for another under city code. The other three are campaigning for re-election.

Debate over such topics has consumed discussion within council chambers over the last year, with little sign of slowing anytime soon.

Gustavo Reyna (Courtesy Photo)

"The biggest issue right now is managing our growth in an intelligent way," Reyna said Friday. "A little bit of balance between growth that is sustainable and ensuring that there is enough affordable housing so that we’re not changing the social fabric of the town, and making sure the working class doesn’t get squeezed out."

Between 2010 and 2015, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in March, Lafayette’s population increased by 2,995, to a total of 27,548 — a 12 percent surge.

It’s a microcosm of the growth occurring at the county level, and with the increase in people has come the need for homes to live in.

Chelsea Behanna (Courtesy Photo)

Between 2009 and 2016, the city gained 1,362 dwellings within its borders — most by developers with an eye for maximizing profit through dense "urban sprawl," locals have argued. Almost 1,700 permits are expected to be issued through 2018.

With such growth comes the fear of affordability being tossed to the wayside, Reyna and other like-minded officials say, and the void threatens to water down the city’s diversity.

"We are losing affordable housing, and what we do have is not always very good quality," he said. "The whole idea in the effort to create affordable housing is precisely about (preserving diversity). Boulder County is such a wealthy county that people don’t realize that 12 to 15 percent are living below the poverty line."

Lafayette officials approved a string of development plans in recent months aimed at ushering in large-scale, affordable housing, including the SoLa Subdivision, slated to bring 260 units to the city’s southern edge, and a $3.5 million, 24-acre land deal with Flatirons Community Church with plans for up to 500 units.

The latter development will be shaped over the next few years under a potentially fresh-faced council.

A candidate who embraces abounding development in the name of tax revenue is unlikely to be welcomed by Lafayette voters anytime soon; though signs of dissension exist.

Opposition to efforts aimed at reshaping zoning codes in Old Town — and a 90-day development moratorium in the process — have signaled residents’ reluctance to such measures amid a countywide housing crisis.

"We want to make sure that the kids we have graduating from Centaurus (High School) can afford to come back and live here later in life," Behanna said, adding that outreach to the city’s Latino population is a necessary component.

Behanna said she hopes to examine preserving the city’s mobile home parks in pursuit of affordable housing, an approach similar to Louisville’s recent efforts.

Outside of development, perhaps no issue has drawn as much scrutiny as the call for stricter oil and gas regulations within Lafayette. The city spearheaded the issue earlier this year with its "Climate Bill of Rights and Protections," an ordinance that would have sanctioned direct-action protests in response to oil and gas operations.

The bill was essentially stripped of its teeth in the final hour, to the disappointment of Mazza, who championed the measure’s original iteration. Despite the bill’s failure, she said initiatives aimed at stymieing fracking will abound over the next four years.

How to run for Lafayette City Council

Qualifications

Must be a current Lafayette resident for at least one year

Must be a registered elector

Must be at least 18 years old

Must not be in default to the city or any other government unit of the state

Nomination process

Candidates must circulate and submit a nomination petition containing signatures of at least 25 registered electors who reside within the city limits of Lafayette. Candidate petition packets and must be picked up from the City Clerk’s Office.

Nomination petitions must be returned by Aug. 28

"Debate surrounding oil and gas is certainly not going to dissipate," she said. "If anything, it’s only going to get more heated because it’s going to start to involve unincorporated Boulder County and open space.

"I don’t subscribe to this golden dome theory, where people think that nothing will happen to us in Lafayette."

Lafayette may soon draft an ordinance requiring oil and gas operators to map their pipelines throughout Lafayette, according to Mazza, legislation that failed at the state level.

Attitudes toward oil and gas development among Lafayette constituents have remained relatively steadfast. However, the current council, a board almost entirely in favor of stricter regulation, was unable to pass a landmark measure earlier this year.

Any dissention among future council members — especially at a time when the county’s moratorium no longer exists, and companies are planning 200 oil wells near the outskirts of the city — could prove troublesome for any lasting regulation efforts.

A mixture of new, conflicting ideas could prove beneficial for a council facing modern issues, Reyna said of resident interest in running for a council seat — especially from younger demographics.

"Sometimes you need to bring new thinking into the council," he said. "Experience and knowledge of the whole history of how things become what they are now is important, but so is having new people who are asking, ‘Why not trying something different?’ I like that balance."

Anthony Hahn: 303-473-1422, hahna@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/_anthonyhahn

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