LaFAYETTE — Chambers County Sheriff’s Department Major T.J. Wood recognized Jonathan Williams as the Deputy of the Quarter for January through March.

He said Williams recently seized about four pounds of marijuana off the interstate in Chambers County.

“I am very proud to recognize this particular person tonight,” Wood said. “He is a very hard worker and has done extremely well.”

Wood said the Deputy of the Quarter award isn’t something that anybody just gets — it is earned by the appreciation of those working in close quarters with that person.

“It is someone that is nominated by their own peers, or their supervisors or the ones that work right next to them on a daily basis,” Wood said.

Also on Monday, the Chambers County Commission showed its support for foster parents by passing a proclamation, declaring May as Foster Care month in Chambers County.

The proclamation read by Commissioner Douglas Jones said children are key to the Chambers County’s future success, prosperity and quality of life.

“Children have a right to thrive, learn and grow in a safe and loving environment,” Jones said, reading the proclamation. “Foster parents, including kinship caregivers, provide the love, safety and stability that children need in order to overcome past traumatic experiences in order to reach their full potential.”

The proclamation by the county said there were 10 successful adoptions by foster parents in March, and there are currently 67 children in foster care within the county limits.

“We must come together as a community to recognize the important role foster parents play in caring for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, supporting family reunification and building strong communities,” Jones said, again reading the document. “There is always a need for more foster parents in order to ensure children — especially older youth children with complex health and emotional needs and sibling groups — have a safe, stable home in their communities.”

The proclamation joins the rest of the country by recognizing May 31, 2019, as National Foster Family Appreciation Day, as well as identifying the entire month of May as Foster Care month.