By Beatrice Robin
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
NEW ORLEANS — Heather Bellanger, who graduated from Fisher High School this year, recently was named the recipient of the $500 Linton Duet Sr. Memorial Scholarship, created three years ago in honor of the father of Lafitte Barataria Crown Point Fire Chief Linton Duet Jr.
Linton Duet Sr. was a lifetime member of the department, with more than 60 years of service. His son said, "I know my father would be very proud to see this young woman receive this scholarship in his name because of her hard work and determination to succeed in life.
"Heather has over five years of fire service with the Lafitte Barataria Crown Point Volunteer Fire Department as a junior firefighter and an Explorer member."
Duet describes her as a hero, saying she saved the life of a choking child. For that feat, she received a Life Saving Award from the Red Cross in 2004.
She also helped her brother, Ted Bellanger Jr., save a child from drowning in a Mississippi hotel pool. If it were not for the siblings' actions, the child would have died, authorities said.
Heather recently received a life-saving medal from the Lafitte fire department for giving CPR to a young man in the Lafitte area who had no pulse and was not breathing. The man made a full recovery.
Duet said, "When the alarm sounds, she is up and ready to help the community in a second's notice, no matter if it is day or night or early mornings.
"She has numerous hours in training, community service functions and fundraisers, not only with our department but with other fundraisers throughout the community."
When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita came, she and her family lost everything and had no place to live. Her family worked hard after the storms, helping whomever they could by issuing food, clothing and shelter. The Bellangers have been living at the fire station.
Heather plans to become a nurse.
Copyright 2008 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company
