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Demographer says Parish Council will have to redraw districts

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:15pm

BILL DECKER

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council will have to draw new districts based on 2020 Census results that show the biggest population losses occurred in the districts with the largest minority population, according to data presented by the man who hopes to be hired for the remapping.
Mike Hefner of Geographic Planning & Demographic Services of Lafayette told the council Wednesday that five of the eight council districts now vary from the target number by more than the 5% standard set by the Voting Rights Act.
Hefner’s company redrew the Parish Council districts after the Census in 2000 and 2010. Geographic Planning & Demographic Service has been hired by the St. Mary School Board to perform redistricting this year. The Parish Council has yet to decide which company to hire this year.
The Parish Council has 11 members. Three are elected at-large in parish-wide voting. The other eight members are elected from smaller districts.
The 2020 Census showed that in the previous decade, St. Mary’s population fell 9% to 49,406, making the target population for each district 6,176.
The population of District 1, in west St. Mary, is now 661 less than the target number, and District 2, also in west St. Mary, falls 385 people short. District 1’s black population is 51%, and District’s 2’s is 56% black.
District’s 4, 5 and 6, from Morgan City to Patterson, exceed the target number by 6-8%.
The Voting Rights Act requires districts to be compact and contiguous, to be drawn in accord with the one person, one vote principle, and to protect minority voting strength.
“It needs to be a very fair and open and public process,” Hefner said.

TYRONE BARNES

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:13pm

Tyrone Barnes, 64, a native of New Orleans and resident of Morgan City, died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, at Ochsner St. Mary.
Visitation was Friday from noon until services at 1 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City. Masks and social distancing required.
He is survived by children, Ronnie Hatcher, Marquise Hatcher and Shelita Lewis; siblings, Darnest Barnes Jr., Antionette Walker, Bernadette Barnes, Rosie Barnes and Geraldine Bankston; eight grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

LUIS CHAIRES

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:11pm

Luis Chaires, 28, a native of Houston and resident of Labadieville, died Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa Salgado of Labadieville; two children, Remmy Chaires and Isabella Chaires, both of Labadieville; parents, Lorenza and Miguel Znuiga Sr. of Amelia; five sisters, Liliana Fernandez of Morgan City, Daisy Znuiga of Baytown, Texas, Jacqueline Znuiga, Ximena Znuiga and Magaly Znuiga, all of Amelia; two brothers, Miguel Znuiga Jr. and Julian Znuiga, both of Amelia; and a host of other relatives.
Visitation was Thursday, 5-9 p.m., and resumed Friday at 9 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home. Burial followed in Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

VIVA MACHE HOWARD GARTH

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:10pm

Viva Mache Howard Garth, 48, a native of New Orleans and resident of Decatur, Alabama, died Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.
Visitation will be Saturday from 7 a.m. until services at 8 a.m. at Railroad Avenue Church of Christ in Morgan City. Masks and social distancing required. Burial will follow in Restlawn Park Cemetery in Avondale.
She is survived by her husband, Lewis Garth Jr.; children, Tyreaun Smith, Tariq Baugh, Trey Hall, Erron Garth and Erric Garth, all of Decatur, Alabama; father, Leonard Firmin Sr. of Morgan City; brothers, John Howard Jr. and Leonard Firmin Jr.; three grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her mother, and maternal and paternal grandparents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Dardenne 'optimistic' after billion-dollar surplus emerges

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:08pm

WILLIAM PATRICK, The Center Square

Louisiana has a $1 billion budget surplus and another $1 billion in remaining American Rescue Plan funds, said Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, who also is “optimistic” about the state’s financial outlook for next year.
Dardenne is the top official at the Louisiana Division of Administration, the management arm of the state government and the agency responsible for developing the state’s annual budget.
Speaking at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Dardenne said low initial budget forecasts for the recent fiscal year ending June 30 and an influx of federal aid – both because of the COVID-19 pandemic – combined with a better-than-expected state economy in fiscal year 2021.
The result was extra money in state coffers after all bills were paid.
“The good news is the economy performed better than that forecast thought it would and the economy continued to do well throughout the year,” Dardenne said.
The main benefit of the state's resilient economy, he said, was an increase in individual income tax and corporate tax revenues.
That doesn’t mean, however, lawmakers will have free rein over how to spend the revenue bonanza.
The Louisiana Constitution has specific provisions relating to the surplus, including a requirement that will send nearly $350 million to the state’s Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund.
Dardenne said the constitution also requires 25% of the remaining $650 million to be saved for future budget shortfalls and another 10% must go toward funding that state’s pension liabilities.
Chicago-based fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting said Louisiana has billions of dollars in unfunded pension obligations that lawmakers are able to keep off-the-books because of deferring payments to future years.
Legislators will decide how to spend the remaining pot of money during next year’s regular legislative session.
“We’ll recommend that money be divided evenly between coastal projects, deferred maintenance projects within the state – primarily on university campuses – and the Department of Transportation and Development to go to the backlog that we have on our roads and bridges,” Dardenne said.
The Legislature also will decide how to spend roughly $1 billion in unspent federal ARPA funds.
The Louisiana Budget Project, a nonprofit that advocates for low- to moderate-income families, said Louisiana has received $5.18 billion in ARPA funds since March for the express purpose of filling state and local government budget gaps because of the pandemic.
Within that mandate, state lawmakers have broad discretion about how to allocate the funds, the group said, though financing tax cuts and pensions are not allowed.
The Louisiana chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business has said a portion of the financial windfall should go toward replenishing the state’s unemployment trust fund.
“We urge [the Louisiana Legislature] to use some of these funds to return the UI Trust Fund to its pre-pandemic level,” NFIB Louisiana tweeted Tuesday morning.
The state’s unemployment trust fund balance was $1.1 billion before the pandemic, but a recent analysis by Washington-based Tax Foundation, shows Louisiana’s unemployment trust fund is down to $307 million.
The reduced fund will not lead to unfilled benefits for unemployed workers; rather, businesses could see higher taxes to keep the fund solvent in more financially stressed times.
“The good news is I think we will have a significant amount of money to spend, and I hope and believe that we will spend it wisely,” Dardenne said.

Petroleum League, Guys & Dolls bowling scores

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:05pm

PETROLEUM LEAGUE
Week 1 (Sept. 29)
...........................................W L
Frames ........................... 7 0
M & P CPA’s ................... 7 0
YMFT .............................. 7 0
Allen’s TV Cable ........... 5 2
MISTRAS.........................5 2
Johnny’s Wrecker............5 2
Mrs. Marie’s Children.......5 2
Spinella...........................5 2
Three Hole Terror...........5 2
M.C. Paint & Body...........4 3
Antebellum Renov............3 4
G and T’s Pro Shop ......... 2 5
Kant Get Rite .................2 5
Lickety Split...................2 5
Conrad Industries ............2 5
1st Resp. Heat/Cool. ......0 7
Vintage Firearms ............0 7
Chabill’s ....................... 0 7
That’s How We Roll ........0 7
Bye..................................2 5
High scores: Brett Keton 246, 224, 259 games, (729) series; Jared Gilmore 212, 222, 253; Dustin Fuselier 210, 220, 214; Rick Sartwell 211, 221, 202; Yanick Williams 221, 266; Ryan Martin 217, 245; Jimmy Caillouet 225, 237; R J Ugas 221, 248; David Boudreaux 200, 245; Bubba Colwart 213, 239; Eric Morrison 225, 266; Tate Dupre 226, 225; Tamara Aucoin 216, 223; Kevin Franks 232, 228; Bobby Rotolo 212, 242; Dustin Haynes 221, 266; Mark Corbin 224, 202; Jerry Colwart 223, 256; Mike Kapp 219, 201; Andrew Levron 220, 207; Patrick Gray 216, 208; Seth Hebert 206, 209; Larry Grabert III 203, 209; Kirk Trahan 268; Hunter Boudreaux 260; Lawrence Simoneaux 242; Britt Pellegrin 239; Kyle Franks 234; Joey Boudreaux 224; Jason Crochet 223; Jonathan Spinella 223; Larry Callais 213; Guy Guffey III 211; Alberto Bochas 205; Gretchen Corbin 203; Cormet Fruge 203; Tony Bella Jr. 201; and Bruce Rentrop 200.
GUYS & DOLL’S LEAGUE
Week 3 (Sept. 30)
............................... W L
Eric’s Team ..............11 1
On Strike ..................11 1
House Bowlton .........9 3
All in the Family .........8 4
Bach’s ...................... 7 5
Dilligaf...................... 7 5
Johnny’s Wrecker ....... 6 6
Naughty But Nice....... 6 6
CSMF ...................... 6 6
Boss ..........................6 6
Hensgens Bros ......... 6 6
Coastwide Intl...........5 7
Hustler’s ................. 5 7
SWAT ....................... 4 8
Boudreaux’s Busters ..... 3 9
SNAFU ..........................3 9
Clean Money Strikes..... 3 9
Jerry’s Kids ..................2 10
High scores: (male) Rick Sartwell 267, 278, 243, (788); Eric Morrison 213, 213, 290, (716); Jeremy Dykes 201, 267, 238, (706); Dustin Hayes 213, 227, 258; Hunter Boudreaux 212, 228, 242; Tate Dupre 223, 211, 228; Adam Adams 223, 226, 221; Kelvin Smith 200, 202, 247; Bubba Colwart 222, 247; Sidney Clement Jr. 234, 227; Andrew Levron 235, 224; Jerry Pillaro 226, 224; Kenny Keton 212, 227; David Boudreaux 205, 217; Ken Keton Sr. 212, 227; Glen Robinson 209, 207; Jared Ross 203, 201; David Jones 201, 203; Adam Adams 201, 203; Chris Daigle 200, 201; Jarrad Hebert 251; Connor Cheramie 248; Scott Stephenson 227; Yanick Williams 226; Jerry Livas 218; Chris Mayon 216; James Naverre 214; Bruce Rentrop 213; Britt Pellegrin 209; Willie Rack 207; Trevor Rhodes 205; Dwight Kramer 205; Schaun Reed 204; Sean Torgrimson Sr. 203; and Larry Jones Sr. 203; and (female) Tamara Aucoin 210, 205 and Lisa Powell 201.

St. Mary Chamber honors

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 12:00pm

The Review/Bill Decker
Top Photo: At Wednesday's St. Mary Chamber Business Luncheon in Franklin, Cheryl Doiron of Arc of St. Mary/Center of Hope was named Administrative Assistant of the Month. She's shown with the Chamber's Ed "Tiger" Verdin. Bottom Photo: The Lamplighter Coffee House and Bistro in Franklin, owned by Dr. Gary Wiltz and Diane Wiltz, center, was named Business of the Month. They're shown with Ed "Tiger" Verdin and Jason Watson of the Chamber.

La. schools won't receive letter grades this year

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:58am

WILLIAM PATRICK, The Center Square

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has voted to cancel public-school letter grades for the 2020-21 school year, which State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley called a “sensitive issue.”
Speaking to BESE members in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, Brumley said school grades have been debated for many years, including the past few months.
“I want to acknowledge the board for helping to thread the needle on accountability for 2020-21,” Brumley said. “I know there are a lot of different views on how we needed to handle that, and I think we came to a place of compromise that seemingly works.”
BESE is the administrative body governing all Louisiana K-12 public schools. Tasked with enacting policies affecting more than 700,000 students across 1,300 schools, board members decided to nix a key element of the state’s public education accountability system this year.
Members cited COVID-19-related challenges as the basis for the move, which follows across-the-board learning declines measured in statewide student assessment tests known as LEAP 2025.
The state must receive a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education to officially cancel school grades, a requirement under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Dozens of states already have received such waivers, however. Earlier this year, DOE encouraged states to apply given the special circumstances wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated disruptions believed to affect student learning throughout the nation.
A similar waiver was offered last year.
Brumley told BESE officials Tuesday he was confident Louisiana’s pending waiver would be granted soon.
“We fully expect what we have seen from other states, that the waiver will be approved,” Brumley said.
According to the Louisiana Department of Education, school letter grades are issued in the fall of each year and reflect the configuration of schools as they existed in the prior spring semester.
The letter grades are intended to help parents and other stakeholders obtain an understanding of how well a school is preparing its students for the next grade level.
Without them, the state Department of Education asserts, “researching each school individually can be difficult, time consuming and sometimes misleading.”
Schools normally receive an annual performance score that correlates to an A-F grading scale. The scores range from 0-150.
Elementary school grades are 75% based on student proficiency of key skills – such as reading, math and science – which are measured by LEAP 2025 tests. The remaining 25% is determined by the “student progress index,” or how well students improved in core subject areas throughout the year.
Middle school grades are 70% LEAP 2025 scores, 25% student progress and 5% credit accumulation, or the number of credit hours a high school freshman earns after leaving middle school.
High school grades are more complicated, with 25% attributed to LEAP 2025 results, 25% for ACT scores, 25% for the number of students who graduate in four years and 25% for the “strength of diploma index,” or the rate of students attaining college credit or industry certification credits one year after leaving high school.
Some critics have argued the state’s grading system is unfair given the exclusion of individual circumstances affecting each school, while others have criticized the system for not being rigorous enough.
“When you’re dealing with something that sensitive,” Brumley said, “it’s not always going to be a clean and smooth process. It’s a democratic process and we continue to move forward.”

Morgan City police radio logs for Oct. 6-11

Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:57am

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Monday, Oct. 11
8:16 a.m. Area Federal Avenue and Egle Street; Animal complaint.
8:25 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Animal complaint.
9:17 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
9:27 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Loud music.
10:11 a.m. Area of David Drive; Domestic.
10:14 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Civil.
10:21 a.m. 1000 block of Lakewood Drive; Alarm.
11:53 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
11:59 a.m. 3000 block of Diane Drive; Complaint.
12:13 p.m. Marquis Manor; Complaint.
12:17 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
12:26 p.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Hit and run.
12:27 p.m. 2700 block of Shaw Drive; Subject removal.
1:19 p.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Accident w/injuries.
1:22 p.m. 1000 block of Cottonwood Street; Complaint.
1:53 p.m. 800 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
1:54 p.m. 2400 block of Tupelo Street; Complaint.
2:10 p.m. 500 block of Bush Street; Complaint.
2:14 p.m. 3200 block of Roselawn Drive; Complaint.
2:23 p.m. 300 block of Cardinal Street; Illicit Substances.
2:43 p.m. 500 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
3:03 p.m. 2700 block of Shaw Street; Stand by.
3:07 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Criminal damage to property.
3:13 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Reckless driver.
3:40 p.m. Area Freret, Everett, Second and Third streets; Complaint.
3:56 p.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Phone harassment.
4:18 p.m. 500 block of Bush Street; Complaint.
4:59 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Assistance.
5:13 p.m. Area Eighth and Willard streets; Complaint.
5:51 p.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Accident.
6:07 p.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
6:28 p.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Remove subject.
6:34 p.m. Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
7:01 p.m. 3000 block of Catherine Street; Complaint.
7:10 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
9:05 p.m. Susan Drive area; Reckless operation.
9:19 p.m. 900 block of Garden Street; Disturbance.
9:56 p.m. Chennault Street area; Theft.
9:59 p.m. Lakeside area; Disturbance.
11:05 p.m. 1600 block of Chestnut Drive; Assist.
11:34 p.m. Unprotected side of seawall; Warrant-St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office/arrest.
11:42 p.m. 700 block of La. 182; Complaint.
Tuesday, Oct. 12
12:23 a.m. 1800 block of Elk Street; Suspicious subject.
12:45 a.m. 600 block of Kentucky Street; Patrol.
1:26 a.m. Duke Street and Federal Avenue area; Warrant/two arrests.
1:40 a.m. Brashear and Federal avenues; Suspicious subject.
2:43 a.m. Redwood Street and Victor II Boulevard; Traffic stop/arrest.
3:37 a.m. La. 182; Traffic stop/arrest.
7:16 a.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Disturbance.
7:37 a.m. Area La. 182 West; Stalled vehicle.
7:51 a.m. 700 block of Willow Street; Complaint.
8:06 a.m. 1700 block of Elk Street; Complaint.
8:07 a.m. 800 block of Duke Street; Complaint.
8:57 a.m. 400 block of Duke Street; Complaint.
9:03 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Fight/arrest.
9:19 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Inmate transport.
9:32 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Harassment.
10:19 a.m. Area Youngs Road; Complaint.
10:45 a.m. Freret, Everett, Second and Third streets; Suspicious person.
11:23 a.m. Second and Greenwood streets; Complaint.
11:37 a.m. Area Victor II Boulevard; Theft.
12:08 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Suspicious subject.
12:12 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:44 p.m. 100 block of Canary Street; Complaint.
1:10 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Welfare check.
1:28 p.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Complaint.
3:26 p.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Phone harassment.
3:41 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
3:58 p.m. Freret, Everett, Second and Third streets; Suspicious persons.
4:55 p.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Accident.
5:56 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:04 p.m. 700 block of Bush Street; Complaint.
6:16 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Loud music.
6:17 p.m. Railroad and Grizzaffi Street; Arrest.
7:35 p.m. Seventh and Arenz streets; Arrest.
8:17 p.m. Walnut Drive; Patrol.
8:57 p.m. Maine Street; Suspicious subject.
9:11 p.m. Sixth and Onstead streets; Suspicious subject.
9:28 p.m. Greenwood and Florida streets; Arrest.
9:32 p.m. 100 block of First Street; Fire.
9:45 p.m. Greenwood Street; Complaint.
9:55 p.m. La. 182 and Roderick Street; Traffic incident.
10:29 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; 911 hang up.
11:02 p.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
11:36 p.m. 1600 block of La. 70; Open door.
Wednesday, Oct. 13
3:33 a.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.

Council names Stelly to be new registrar of voters

Wed, 10/13/2021 - 10:43pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

FRANKLIN -- St. Mary Parish has a new registrar of voters.

Byron Stelly, who was the chief assistant to retired Registrar Jolene Holcombe, was appointed to the top job Wednesday by the St. Mary Parish Council.

Holcombe retired in August after 23 years as registrar and more than four decades working in the registrar's office. Holcombe had recommended Stelly to the council as her successor.

Stelly, of Franklin, was one of four applicants interviewed by council members in a closed-door session Oct. 6.

He has worked in the Registrar of Voters Office for 2-1/2 years. He has a degree in political science from LSU and is working on a graduate certificate in election administration from Auburn.

The other applicants were Marristene L. Phillips, Christine B. Lemoine and Raymond Harris Jr.

Six council votes were required to win the appointment. The council was prepared to narrow the field with a preliminary vote and then make a pick from the final two.

But Stelly received eight votes in the first round from council members Leslie Rulf of Patterson; Scott Ramsey of Bayou Vista; Rodney Olander and J Ina of Franklin; Craig Mathews of Jeanerette; Mark Duhon of Amelia; and Kristi Prejeant Rink and James Bennett of Morgan City.

Gwendolyn Hidalgo of Bayou Vista and Patrick Hebert of Morgan City voted for Lemoine. Dan Adams of Morgan City voted for Harris.

The next step was to pass the resolution that serves as official notification to the Louisiana Secretary State's Office that Stelly has been named registrar. The resolution passed unanimously.

As registrar, Stelly will oversee the maintaining of the parish's registered voter rolls and oversee early voting.

"I'm excited to be afforded the opportunity," Stelly said after the meeting, "and I'm looking forward to working with the community and parish government to move the office forward."

Stelly took one step to resolve a recent controversy in the office by naming Terry Foulcard, a Franklin resident with roots in Morgan City, as his chief assistant.

Alfreida Edwards of Franklin came before the council in December to point out that no full-time African American employees worked in the Registrar of Voters Office even though 30% of the parish's population is black.

That led to an impassioned letter to the council in which Holcombe defended her record and noted that minorities were represented among election day poll workers.

By naming Foulcard, an African American woman, as his top aide, Stelly, who is white, put that controversy to rest for now.

Stelly has also had to deal with one wrench in election planning. He was acting registrar when Hurricane Ida led the secretary of state and the governor to postpone the election scheduled for Oct. 9.

The primary election for that date will now be Nov. 13.

Louisiana residents can register to vote in time for that election until Oct. 23 by using the GeauxVote app.

Early voting will be Oct. 30-Nov. 6, excluding Sunday, Oct. 31. St. Mary people may vote early 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m at either the Parish Courthouse in Franklin or the Registrar of Voters Office at 301 Third St., Morgan City.

Four state constitutional amendments and the renewal of an 11.82-mill property tax for the St. Mary Parish School Board are among the items on St. Mary's Nov. 13 ballot.