BAYOU VISTA — A sharp rise in drug overdose deaths is the biggest change St. Mary Parish Coroner Dr. F.H. “Chip” Metz Jr. has seen in nearly three decades as coroner. Metz, 79, plans to retire effective May 1 due to persistent medical problems. He first became coroner in 1990 after parish voters elected him to the position. He ran unopposed each subsequent election. “It’s a part-time job where you’re on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day,” he said Thursday at his home in Bayou Vista. But he’s going to miss the job that he views as one of ...