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DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have been married for 25 years. He has recently started running around with his buddies and partying. He hardly has time for me anymore. I found out he had cheated on me, not once but several times, with different women. I was devastated, so I left for a while, but I decided to try to work things out.
During the time I was gone, I ended up cheating as well. I’m sorry for it, but I developed some very real feelings for someone. I haven’t seen him in two years, but I still feel myself wanting him and wanting to be with him. I love my husband, and we are working things out, but I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m in love with both of them. I still talk to the other person via text, but we don’t go any further.
DISTRESSED IN OHIO

DEAR DISTRESSED: You may BE in love with both of them, but you made a commitment to work things out with your husband. If you are sincere about it, you will have to disengage fully from the man you cheated with and concentrate on your marriage. If you are not sure you can do that, marital counseling may help you decide what your next step should be. But a word of warning: The grass is not always greener once you have jumped the fence.

DEAR ABBY: I was at a bar a few weekends ago and met a handsome stranger who seemed slightly familiar. His name sounded like I had heard it before. We talked for hours, and it felt like we had known each other forever. He walked me back to my apartment, and we shared a kiss on my doorstep. The next morning, I made a horrifying discovery: He’s my second cousin! We hadn’t seen each other in more than 20 years. When I gave him the news, he told me he still wanted to try for a relationship. I’m confused about what to do and how to feel. Please help.
KISSING COUSIN IN MAINE

DEAR COUSIN: Marriage between second cousins is legal in every state. If you like this man, and it appears you do, let the relationship play out and see where it leads. If you are worried about possible genetic complications, they should be discussed with your physician (and his). Genetic testing should put your concerns to rest.

DEAR ABBY: I’ve been with my boyfriend for four years. He talks about marrying me and has even given me an “engagement” ring. The problem is, whenever I ask him about setting a wedding date, he seems annoyed, like I’m trying to pressure him into marrying me. He gave me the ring almost three years ago. Should I end this relationship if we can’t get on the same page?
ENGAGED IN NORTH CAROLINA

DEAR ENGAGED: You need to get to the bottom of why he is reluctant. If he’s worried about the expense or uncomfortable about the hoopla of a big wedding, you could agree to have a small courthouse ceremony. However, unless your boyfriend (notice I didn’t use the word “fiancé”) can come up with a solid reason for not being ready to follow through on his marriage proposal, ending the engagement is exactly what you should do, because the ring you’re wearing is nothing more than a “promise” ring.
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What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

A Morgan City elementary school will receive funding through a program targeting schools where test scores indicate struggles over the last few years.
Wyandotte Elementary will receive an additional $50,000 in emergency relief funding, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.
In other school news, the St. Mary Parish School Board will have a special meeting Thursday to choose a temporary successor for the late Sylvia Lockett, a board member who died this month.
The Accelerating Schools initiative distributes an additional $50,000 to $100,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to the schools with the greatest decreases in student mastery performance or the greatest increases in student unsatisfactory performance from 2019 to 2021 on Louisiana’s statewide assessment.
“It is critical that we provide additional resources to students in schools with the most significant two year declines,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “We must do everything within our control to recover student learning loss and accelerate these schools’ performances as quickly as we possibly can.”
The receiving schools will invest these extra funds in the following three areas: attendance and well-being, academic recovery and acceleration, and professional learning, the department said.
Wyandotte Elementary School was the only school in St. Mary to receive this funding as they exhibited a significant decrease in student mastery performance, St. Mary Superintendent Teresa Bagwell said in an email.
“District instructional staff and school leaders will be meeting this week to re-examine LEAP 2025 and other academic data in an effort to align the results to the three areas of investment prescribed by the LDOE," Bagwell wrote.
“Given the nature of the designation, funds will most likely be used to assist students in academic recovery and providing teachers with specific professional learning opportunities.”
Lockett, a retired teacher and principal in St. Mary Schools, died Oct. 5 at age 65. She joined in the board in January 2019 after qualifying without opposition for an open seat from a west St. Mary District.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Central Office Complex in Centerville to select an interim board member.
Lockett’s term would have expired in January 2023. Her interim successor will serve until a special election can be called next year.

Top Photo: Emersyn Begnaud, 1, keeps a watchful eye on the scary nun, Cheryl Jones, as she gets her treat during the Morgan City Main Street Trunk or Treat held Saturday. Emersyn was accompanied by her mom, Ashlie Begnaud of Morgan City. Jones, along with her partner in scare, Keith Savoie, presented a “scary” Stone Hill Manor. Bottom Photo: Numerous other volunteers gave out treats under the U.S. 90 bridge.

The Review/Diane Miller Fears

Kazumi Yoshinaga, DO, a family medicine physician, has joined the active medical staff at Ochsner St. Mary, President and CEO Fernis LeBlanc announced.
Yoshinaga earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine and a master of science in medical health sciences from Touro University Nevada in Henderson, Nevada. She also earned a master of science in public health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. She completed her family medicine residency at Campbell University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harnett Health, Buies Creek, North Carolina.
“We are pleased to give Dr. Yoshinaga an opportunity to practice medicine in Morgan City,” said LeBlanc. "Dr. Yoshinaga’s practice will fill a much-needed area in the field of healthcare, helping fulfill our ongoing commitment of bringing necessary, and accessible healthcare services right here close to home."
As a family medicine physician, Yoshinaga cares for conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, annual check-ups, and immunizations just to name a few.
Yoshinaga's office is located at 1302 Lakewood Drive, Suite 101, Morgan City.
To learn more about Yoshinaga, please visit www.ochsner.org/doctors. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, visit Ochsner.org/schedule or call 985-380-4320.