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Albertha “Lil Sister” Bennett Richard, 79, a native of Patterson, La. and resident of Katy, TX, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 21, 2021.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday October 9, 2021 at the Good Hope Baptist Church in Patterson, La., from 9 a.m. until funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. with Pastor Patrick T. Jones, officiating. Burial will follow funeral services in the New Salem Cemetery in Patterson, La.
Memories of Albertha will forever remain in the hearts of her: children, Bailey Richard, Jr. (Pamela) of Seattle, WA, Dionne Dardar of Tomball, TX, Teronna “Ronnie” Richard of Katy, TX, Dana Duhart (Tremaine) and Warren Gant of Spring, TX; brother, Bertrand Bennett; sisters, Gracie B. Jennings and Frankie Mae Ladday; sister-in-law, Ella Mae Bennett; god-children, Susan Bennett, Julia May Sterling, Gloria Butler, Barbara Jennings, and Markima White; a special child, Nina Singleton; a special baby, Braydan Clarkston; her Pastor and Classmate, Reverend Fred Powell; special cousin, Josie Carmouche; fourteen grandchildren, one great-grandson and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Albertha was preceded in death by her parents Elvena and Frankie Bennett; daughter, Sharonna Gant; brothers, Albert (Mary Louise) Bennett, Donald Bennett, Calvin sBennett, Charles (Ladora) Bennett, and Wilbert Bennett; sister, Francis Joy (Francis) Washington; aunt, Alberta Johnson; sister-in-law, Sally Bennett; and brother-in-law, Clarence “Dutchie” Jennings and George Ladday.
Arrangements entrusted to jones funeral home of Morgan City-Franklin-Houma and Jeanerette. Please visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council interviewed candidates for registrar of voters in a lengthy closed-door session Wednesday night at the Parish Courthouse.
The council will make its choice at its regularly scheduled meeting Oct. 13, also at the courthouse.
Members will choose a successor for Jolene Holcombe, who retired Aug. 6 after working in the Registrar of Voters Office for 47 years and serving as registrar for 23 years.
The applicants for the registrar’s post are:
—Byron J. Stelly, Holcombe’s assistant who is serving as interim registrar.
—Marristene L. Phillips
—Christine B. Lemoine
—Raymond Harris, Jr.
Council members decided to develop questions in advance of Wednesday’s interviews.
When she announced her retirement, Holcombe said her successor would face a variety of challenges.
Those challenges include redistricting based on the 2020 Census, changes in voting laws and new voting equipment.
Holcombe also warned about “the hostile political atmosphere that pervades our country.”

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Berwick police made arrests Tuesday in two thefts at local businesses, and also booked a man accused of possessing nearly a third of a pound of heroin, arrest reports say.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Adner Laboy-Colon, Carter Lane, Berwick was arrested at 5:26 p.m. Tuesday on a Berwick warrant alleging theft.
—Lisa Fontenot, 56, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 12:53 p.m. Tuesday on a Berwick warrant alleging theft.
On Sept. 5, officers with the Berwick Police Department were dispatched to a local business on La. 182 in reference to a theft. During the course of the investigation, Laboy-Colon and Fontenot were identified as suspects.
It was learned through the investigation that they had stolen a variety of items from the store that valued $575. Warrants were prepared for their arrest, and both were subsequently arrested and released on summons to appear in court.
—Hope Cubbedge 42, Carter Lane, Berwick, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of theft.
About 6:51 a.m. Monday, officers with the Berwick Police Department responded to a local business on La. 182 at Bowman Street about a theft.
During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the store manager observed a female acting in a suspicious manner inside the store. The woman attempted to purchase items, but her card was declined. The card was left in the store, and the woman fled the area in a rush.
The store manager reviewed surveillance and was able to determine the same woman had removed several items from the store and put them in her purse before fleeing.
Cubbedge was later identified, and a warrant was prepared for her arrest. Cubbedge walked into the Berwick Police Department Tuesday morning to speak with officers about this matter, and she was subsequently arrested on the warrant.
Cubbedge admitted to stealing the items from the store and in fact walked into the Police Department with a pair of sunglasses on that had been stolen the day before. Cubbedge was released on a summons to appear in court.
—Brian Henderson, 38, Utah Street, Berwick, was arrested at 7:59 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin (150 grams), possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of Subutex, violation of controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone), possession of drug paraphernalia, monetary instrument abuse and possession of marijuana.
On Tuesday, officers with Berwick Police traveled to Assumption Parish Jail to pick up Henderson, who was being held as a fugitive on Berwick Police Department warrants and other unrelated charges in Assumption Parish.
Henderson was taken into custody and transported back to Berwick Jail, where he was booked on the warrants. The warrants stem from an incident that occurred Aug. 22, when officers responded to Utah Street in reference to a man waving a rifle in the street.
During the course of the investigation, officers with Berwick police with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to make contact with Henderson at his residence. But they later learned that he had fled the scene through a back door and left the area in a vehicle.
Due to the nature of the incident, officers obtained a search warrant for the residence on Utah Street. During the course of the search, officers located a substantial amount of heroin, methamphetamine and items of drug para-phernalia.
Warrants were issued for Henderson at that time because he fled the scene. He was later located in Assumption Parish, where he was being held. Henderson was transported to the parish jail where he remains without bond.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 33 complaints made these arrests:
—Edmee Louise Allain, 54, Jeanerette, was arrested at 6:54 a.m. Tuesday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled and no seat belt. Bail was set at $3,500.
—Yerson O. Flores, 19, Lafayette, was arrested at 7:01 p.m. Tuesday on charges of no headlights, proper equipment required on vehicles, modification of exhaust system and driver must be licensed.
Flores was released on a summons to appear Jan. 4.
—Ronald Wayne Johnson Jr., 30, Patterson, was arrested at 9:12 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of aggravated battery. Johnson continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.
—Keenan Patterson, 27, Houma, was arrested at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging unlawful use of state-issued ID to gain access to a gaming establishment. No bail has been set.
—Jonathan Ray Beadle, 31, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:12 p.m. Tuesday on charges of view outward and inward of window, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, expired or no inspection sticker, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug-free zone, and modification of exhaust systems.
Beadle also held a warrant alleging failure to appear on charge of simple assault upon arrest.
—Kenneth Williams, 51, Houma, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on charges of one-way roadways and rotary traffic islands and driving under suspension. Williams was released on a summons to appear Jan. 4.
—Jarvis Javon Preston, 35, Franklin, was arrested at 8:09 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle without proper equipment, possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail has not been set.
—Brian Henry Henderson, 38, Patterson, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana. No bail has been set.
—Kevin Lashawn James Sr., 36, Franklin, was arrested at 2:45 a.m. Wednesday on charges of traffic control signals, turning movements and signals required, and driving under suspension, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of driving under suspension.
Bail has not been set.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 49 calls for service within the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests beginning Tuesday.
—Skyler Craig Gibson, 27, Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, was arrested at 12:09 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension and improper lane usage.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Amanda Smith, 40, McGill Lane, Gibson, was arrested on a charge of simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.
The charges result from a residential burglary on Flamingo Road in the Bayou L’Ourse area in early September.
Deputies responded to the complaint Sept. 7 made contact with the complainants, who advised they were residents of the home. The victims advised that they had noticed items missing from the home.
The victims were able to identify suspects after reviewing video surveillance footage. One of the suspects was identified as Smith.
Detectives conducted follow-up investigation, which included interviewing a Smith.
At the conclusion of the investigation, warrants were obtained for the arrest of suspects in this burglary.
Smith was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on a $10,000 commercial bond
Detectives were able to recover some items reported stolen in the burglary.

Read ingredients and check safety information for Halloween makeup to ensure it is safe to use on certain areas of the face.
Children and adults may spend weeks planning their Halloween costumes. Movie or television characters, political figures, horror icons, or everyday heroes are among the most popular costumes each year.
Much thought goes into Halloween costumes, and equal consideration should be given to ensuring the costume is as safe as it is fun. The following are some common costume hazards and how to avoid them.
—Flammable materials: According to the Standard Test Method for Flammability of Apparel Textiles D1230-17, some combustible fabrics used in the design of clothing “are potentially dangerous to the wearer because of such factors as ease of ignition, flame spread time, amount of heat released, and design of the garment.”
Quite often Halloween costumes fall under these dangerous classifications because they are not considered everyday apparel. Materials may not be sturdy and federal requirements for clothing to be flame-resistant may be skirted. Some costumes can ignite in seconds. Others also may cause “flaming drip,” which describes the melting of plastic material that leads to it separating from the rest of the costume. Flaming drip can cause secondary fires or burns to the skin.
Look for costumes that list flame-resistance, even if they may be more expensive.
—Invisible suits: Invisible suits are stretchy bodysuits that cover the entire frame and head. Newer incarnations that are all black without eyeholes can be dangerous to wear because they limit wearers’ ability to see clearly and be seen by others.
—Dangerous makeup: Halloween makeup may not be created in adherence to the same standards as regular cosmetics. Check ingredients for hazards and warnings about where the makeup can be applied, as some products are not recommended for use around the mouth or eyes. Apply a small amount first to see if an allergic reaction occurs.
—Capes and flowing components: Costumes that have long, flowing parts, such as a costume for Ringwraith, a character from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, or even caped crusaders can be fire hazards. Parts of such costumes also can get caught underfoot in doors (such as rotating entrances to stores) and even the gears on bicycles. Strangulation or falls can occur in these instances.
—Faulty footwear: Costumes that require the use of high heels, platform shoes or any other design that may impede the ability to walk safely should be discouraged. Not only can they cause foot discomfort that reduces time spent on the trick-or-treating circuit, but these costumes also increase the risk of slips and falls and twisted or broken ankles.
—Contact lenses: Colored or patterned contact lenses are popular components of some costumes. However, decorative contact lenses should not be used without a proper fitting by an eye care professional who sells reputable decorative contact brands. Also, never share contact lenses and always wash hands before putting in contacts or removing them from the eyes.
Halloween is a festive holiday, and even more so when costumes don’t compromise celebrants’ safety.