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State: Flooded wells should be disinfected; lab set up in Berwick

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 5:31pm

The Louisiana Department of Health recommends that private water well owners whose wells flood should assume their well water is contaminated until screened.

Affected water wells must be first disinfected then thoroughly flushed before a sample of water is collected for analysis by the Office of Public Health, which has set up a temporary laboratory in Berwick.

Until the water is confirmed to be negative for coliform bacteria, it should not be used for potable purposes. Before receiving results from the laboratory, use bottled water or some other safe supply of water.

The Department is offering free bacteriological testing (total coliforms and E. coli) to private drinking water well owners. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sampling supplies and instructions on disinfecting, flushing and how to collect the sample can be picked up at 3016 Bellview Front St., Berwick, LA 70342.

Samples can be picked up and dropped off at the temporary laboratory in Berwick between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sampling supplies are also available via direct mail by calling 1-888-293-7020. Instructions for local drop off locations will be provided to residents during the call.

For more information on private well water testing, click here.

For more information or guidance on testing, call 1-888-293-7020.

State chief justice meets with Morgan City High students

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:42pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

Friday is Constitution Day, and 50 Morgan City High students had a day-early chance to ask an expert about the state and nation’s most fundamental documents.
Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer spoke to the dual enrollment U.S. History students Thursday as part of an outreach program to support civics education, part of the Judges in the Classroom/Students in the Courtroom effort.
The students submitted questions in advance, and some were selected to ask their questions at Thursday’s event.
They wanted to know some basic facts, like how many cases the court handles. The answer was 9.58 per day, seven days a week, said Weimer, although the court has dealt with up to 3,500 in a year.
The students also threw some curveballs at the chief justice, like: Can a constitution be unconstitutional?
The answer, Weimer said, is yes. He said state constitutions may have provisions that run counter to the U.S. Constitution.
The state Supreme Court’s chambers may be a livelier than usual place in the months ahead.
Unlike other governmental entities, the Supreme Court isn’t bound by the one-man, one-vote principle that requires redistricting after each census. The seven-member court’s districts have grown out population balance.
Other political subdivisions are generally required to redraw districts every 10 years with only a small variation in population. Before Thursday’s event, Weimer said one Supreme Court district has a population of 400,000, while another has 800,000 people.
It would be up to the Legislature to redraw the districts.
“Interestingly enough,” Weimer said, “if the Legislature can’t draw the districts, it falls to the court.”
The chief justice said he has worked in the executive branch in the Department of Contract Review, and in the legislative branch as an aide.
“I respect their roles,” Weimer said. “And if you respect their roles, they’ll respect your role.
“The bottom line is that it’s going to be an interesting dynamic to try to establish some element of consistency but still reflect the diversity of our state.”
Weimer became the 26th chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court on Jan. 1, 20 years after he was first elected as an associate justice from District 6. That district includes St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption parishes.
He takes on the new duties at a time when fundamental assumptions about personal rights and freedoms are being debated. Among the debates are those over the new Texas abortion restrictions, new and restrictive voter rules and whether COVID vaccination mandates are proper.
“The courts have been more and more the place where people turn,” Weimer said. “We would hope that people of good will can work out problems among themselves.”
And when they don’t?
“[U.S. Supreme Court] Chief Justice John Roberts said, ‘I am but an umpire. I call balls and strikes,’” Weimer said.
“I would add that it’s not my role to manipulate the strike zone, either.”
Baseball also provides one of Weimer’s connections with Morgan City High.
Principal Tim Hymel was once a pitcher for Weimer’s alma mater, Nicholls State, alongside the chief justice’s brother-in-law, Louis Hymel.
Weimer’s cousin, also named John Weimer, hired Tim Hymel for his first teaching job.
And Weimer was elected to the Supreme Court from the district once represented by Harry Lemmon, a one-time star athlete at Morgan City High.

Berwick gets grant to pay for flood control project

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:38pm

Staff Report
Even after Hurricane Ida, and with the rain from Nicholas still falling, the Tri-City area can still hear echoes from a pair of one-day flash floods in 2019.
On Tuesday, the echoes sounded like money.
That’s when consulting engineer Reid Miller told the Berwick Town Council that its application for a $1.2 million grant had been approved by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The money will pay for the most expensive part of the solution to flooding in Country Club Estates subdivision.
“We feel good about getting the money,” Mayor Duval Arthur said Wednesday. “We got a piece of the pie.”
The pie, in this case, is a DOTD flood control program. It sets aside $20 million for flood control, 55% of which is earmarked for work in rural areas.
The work anticipated in Berwick results largely from a one-day deluge on June 7, 2019.
In Country Club Estates, 42 homes had water in them in that day. Many of the residents there and elsewhere repeated often during that time: We’ve lived here for years, and we’ve never been flooded before.
Miller Engineering and Associates came up with a three-part plan for which the town government applied for the grant.
The first part was clearing the Hogan Street ditch between the golf course and the subdivision.
“We did that right away,” Arthur said.
The second part involved digging up culverts. The town government is thinking about clearing the culverts instead, Arthur said.
The third part was increasing the capacity of subsurface pipes beneath Hogan, Palmer, Hebert and Jones streets.
Fifteen-inch pipes currently run beneath the streets. The plan is to install additional 15-inch pipes beneath the streets, doubling the capacity.
The cost of the work will be determined when the bids come in.
“I think we can do without having to go in our pocket,” Arthur said.
The town government has also worked with the Wax Lake East Drainage District to clear other ditches around the town.
“It’s clearly made a difference in the flow of water,” Arthur said.
He said more than 6 inches of rain fell Tuesday in Berwick with no repeat of the 2019 flooding.
Patterson has also taken a look at additional flood control measures after the 2019 storms.
People who live south of the railroad tracks reported flooding that year. The city government has commissioned a study of water flow patterns to identify what work should be done.
The solution to that problem is expected to cost into the millions.
Another major flood control project, one that predates the 2019 flash floods, has been underway in Morgan City.
Gravity Drainage District 2, which has since become part of the consolidated District 2A, and the St. Mary Parish Levee District have been working on a multimillion-dollar improvement project for the levees that encircle Morgan City.
The biggest remaining portion of that work is the stretch from Siracusaville to Lake End Park, which could cost up to $30 million.

Good hunting from the jump as teal season opens

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:33pm

JOHN FLORES

When Louisiana’s legions of duck hunters were preparing for last weekend’s opening day of the 2021 September teal season, they were greeted with some good news from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The department had conducted its aerial waterfowl population estimate and estimated there were some 281,000 blue-winged teal in the state.
This survey was 19% higher than the 2020 estimate and 66% higher than the five-year average of 169,000. What’s more, it’s 24% more than the long-term average of 227,000.
One only has to look back to 2018 to determine how significant this increase is when only 59,000 blue-winged teal were counted during the annual September survey. Pickings were mighty thin three years ago, but steadily increasing the past few seasons.
If you were lucky enough to lease or own one of the better properties around the Thornwell/Lake Arthur area of Southwest Louisiana in 2018, you might have had a couple of good shoots that season. Overall, it came down to the haves and have nots, with the haves killing a few birds.
This year the aerial report estimated 209,000 teal in southwest Louisiana and 66,000 in southeast Louisiana. Notably, according to the survey report, the 66,000 estimate from the southeast transects is five times the most recent 10-year average of 13,000.
The problem with this bit of good news is, most of the hunters in the southeastern part of the state are still in full recovery mode following the rampages of Hurricane Ida. That’s not to say some folks suffering didn’t hunt.
Chauvin resident and owner of E&E Machine Shop and Services, Britt Cavalier, was someone who pretty much lost everything during the storm, but it didn’t keep him out of the Terrebonne marsh opening weekend.
Cavalier, who moved his family into his father’s house in Houma, laughingly said Tuesday morning, “John, I lost basically everything except my boat, tractor, guns, and vehicles, but I’ve actually hunted three of the last four days and I’m seeing more teal this year than ever.
“We have around 200 teal on our Orange Grove lease, which we never have teal this time of year there. I’ve also seen great numbers behind my house in the marsh in Chauvin.
“The best morning we’ve had was 7, because they just aren’t decoying well,” Cavalier continued. “But there are a lot of teal around all over.”
From the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area, Bayou Vista resident Corey Toups said there was plenty of hunting activity out on the refuge.
Toups said, “We had good numbers of teal, but lots of hunters. I think the combination of a perfectly timed cool front and above average teal numbers was the reason for the crowd. Also, I’m sure we gained hunters from the east that were unable to hunt on that side. It seemed like everyone was shooting and had some success.”
LDWF Hunter Participation and Harvest Survey data from opening day bag checks confirmed Toup’s observation. Atchafalaya Delta WMA hunters averaged nearly five birds per man.
Jeff Benhard of Palmetto hunted Acadia Parish west of Lafayette near Morse in some crawfish ponds.
Benhard said, “We had quick limits both days this past weekend. Hopefully the birds will hang around after the storm passes. One of the members hunted in the rain Tuesday morning and shot a quick limit. We had eight guys on Sunday and limited out before 8 a.m. We saw lots of birds and it seemed like everyone around us had plenty of action.”
Lafayette resident Danny Womack hunted the Forked Island area as he has done for over 20 years. Womack said he saw quite a few birds flying high and his group had bagged 14 teal.
Womack, who was among five guys hunting Saturday, said, “We did a whole lot of missing, but all had fun.”
In Gueydan, Jack Cousin, who guides for Sportsman’s Charters LLC, said, “We had a great opening weekend. I believe we had a count of 800 or so after Sunday afternoon.”
Sportsman’s Charter’s teal season tally in 2020 after the season closed was 2,655 birds. With an opening weekend of over 800, this particular outfitter is well on its way of matching last year’s totals.
Dale Bordelon, owner of Bayou Beast Duck Calls, hunts in Avoyelles Parish. Bordelon is a traditionalist when it comes to anything he does outdoors. That includes duck hunting.
Bordelon said, “I hunted with my hand carved decoys and the action was very good. We killed our limits by a little after 8 a.m. both days, but saw plenty of teal. Overall, opening weekend was much better than the last two years.”
What’s interesting is for the past two years, there has been no North American Breeding Population and Habitat Survey due to COVID. This has left flyway wildlife managers without critical information when setting season dates and bag limits.
Additionally, the upper Midwest has been experiencing severe drought conditions on the prairie. Managers were expecting very limited production from this particular breeding area, which is the heart of blue-winged teal breeding habitat.
The teal numbers that hunters saw opening weekend may or may not be indicative of what the actual fall flight will be come November, when the regular waterfowl season opens. No matter, with good reports coming from around the state, duck hunters currently have a great opportunity to harvest a few teal. There’s nothing quite like duck gumbo to go with football season.
For more information on how to book a hunt with Sportsman’s Charters, call John Saucier at 337-912-5966. For information on how to purchase a duck call from Bayou Beast Calls call Bordelon at 318-308-0397.

Police Capt. Liner retires from department

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:31pm

Capt. Teddy Liner is retiring from the Morgan City Police Department, Chief James F. Blair announced Wednesday.
Liner is the lone candidate who qualified for this fall's election for Morgan City marshal.
Liner has served in the Morgan City Police Department since 1993. He has served the department in many capacities, including posts in the Corrections, Patrol and Detectives Divisions.
He completed his career with the MCPD as captain of the Enforcement Section.
Liner also served as the departmental firearms instructor for many years.
"Captain Liner will surely be missed here at the Morgan City Police Department and will always be part of our family," according to the announcement on the MCPD Facebook page.

Food for evacuees

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:07pm

Facebook Photos
Evacuees temporarily housed at the Patterson Area Civic Center were fed by volunteers from Zion Chapel AME, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Bayou Vista Baptist and Redeemed Life Fellowship, along with Cherry Brown, owner of Paint Fetish Studio. Food was provided by the Rev. Richelle Lewis Castine and Zion Chapel AME. They offered special thanks to Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan and Patterson Outreach for coordinating the effort.

Bowling scores

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:06pm

PETROLEUM LEAGUE
Week 11 (Sept. 8)
.......................................W L
Steelwood Lanes..........29 15
That’s How we Roll ..... 28 16
Satchel of Richards...... 27 17
1st Resp. Heat/Cool......27 17
Allen’s TV Cable ......... 24 20
MC Paint & Body......... 24 20
Conrad Ind. .................22 22
Antebellum Renov...... 18 26
Chabill’s......................17 27
Bye..............................4 40
Weekly high scores: Rick Sartwell 279, 244, 279 games, (799) series; Anthony Falgout Jr. 256, 257, 221, (734); Eric Morrison 257, 236, 207, (700); Brett Keton 211, 254, 223; Jeremy Dykes 227, 225, 208; Jerry Pillaro 239, 203, 214; Kenny Keton 246, 222; Robert Rotolo 238, 239; Lawrence Simoneaux 235, 234; Jared Marcel 212, 221; Mark Corbin 213, 203; Larry Deslatte III 203, 230; Jon Reynaud 246; Tamara Aucoin 222; John Broussard 213; Larry Ackman 213; Joey Boudreaux 205; Alberto Bochas 204; and Troy Theriot 203.
GUYS & DOLLS LEAGUE
Week 10 (Sept. 9)
.............................W L
Hustler’s................28 12
Hensgens Bros..... 26 14
Thibodaux’s Finest....23 17
3rd Baptist Church ....23 17
Boss .......................23 17
SNAFU....................19 21
Naughty But Nice.... 19 21
Bach’s......................19 21
Johnny’s Wrecker.....18 22
Bye............................2 38
Weekly high scores: (male) Hunter Boudreaux 237, 214, 202; Marcus Jones 203, 226, 210; Anthony Falgout Jr. 278, 209; Schaun Reed 230, 235; Kelvin Smith 227, 236; David Boudreaux 222, 235; Eric Morrison 209, 227; Jerry Colwart 207, 201; Patrick Thibodeaux 268; Kenny Keton 255; Adam Adams 246; Bubba Colwart 224; Murray Hebert 223; Mark Hebert 214; Gerald Wiese Sr. 211; and Ken Keton Sr. 209; and (female) Gretchen Corbin 201, 214.
Congratulations league champions Hustler’s members James Naverre, Larry Jones Sr., Willie Rack and Glen Robinson.
HE’S & SHE’S LEAGUE
Week 1 (Sept. 10)
....................................W L
All in The Family.......... 4 0
Steelwood Lanes......... 3 1
Split Happens............... 3 1
Swole Patrol................. 3 1
L&G Lumber..................3 1
Late Comers................ 1 3
The Outlaws.................1 3
Adams Family ........... 0 4
Bye..............................0 0
Individual high scores: Jonathan Spinella 212, 229, 219, (660); Robert Rotolo 204, 265; Shayne LaCoste 201, 238; Jayson Hidalgo 215, 243; Rick Sartwell 204, 217; Bruce Rentrop 211; and Chris Mayon 203.

Treats for MCPD

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:02pm

Morgan City Police Depatment Photo
On Thursday, Jason Watson treated officers to sandwiches and cookies provided by Patterson State Bank. Chief James F. Blair and the Morgan City Police Department thanked Watson and Patterson State Bank for their continued support.

Attempted murder suspect booked, failed to appear

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:01pm

Staff Report

(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.)

St. Mary Parish deputies arrested a Patterson man Tuesday on warrants for failure to appear on attempted murder and other charges, according to arrest reports.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 31 complaints and made these arrests:
—Sylvester Louis Lee Francois Jr., 24, Patterson, was arrested at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday on three warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of attempted second-degree murder, possession of MDMA, resisting an officer with violence, resisting an officer and domestic abuse battery (strangulation)
Bail was set at $90,000
—Dexter Gibson, 31, Charenton, was arrested at 1:49 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no license plate light. Gibson was released on a summons to appear Dec. 1.
—Tiger Lee Nash, 22, Dallas, was arrested at 10:32 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of probation violation. No bail has been set.
—Luis Cerritos, 29, Amelia, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of no inspection sticker, window tint violation, no driver’s license, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail has not been set.
Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to eight complaints over the past 24 hours and made this arrest:
—Allen Jones, 45, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Franklin, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of battery of emergency room personnel. Jones was additionally arrested on a warrant dated July 19 alleging simple battery. Jones was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Darien Henry, 21, North Vega, Baton Rouge, was transferred Tuesday to Assumption Parish on charges of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of juveniles.
On Jan. 13, detectives responded to a complaint related to a 21-year-old adult having engaged in sexual activity with an underage female at a location in Belle Rose.
Detectives immediately commenced an investigation and were able to identify the suspect as Henry. Through investigation, detectives recovered video surveillance footage that supported the allegations.
Additionally, detectives recovered evidence indicating that the suspect and the victim corresponded through social media, at which time the sexual encounter was arranged.
Detectives applied for and were granted arrest warrants for Henry.
Darien Henry turned himself into Ascension Parish deputies and was then transferred to Assumption Parish.
Henry was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and released on a $300,000 bond.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Jason Daigle, 51, Patin Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday by the Henderson Police Department on charges of human trafficking; manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs; criminal conspiracy; extortion; and obstruction of justice.
—Logan Hyatt, 34, Grand Anse Highway, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on charges of aggravated criminal damage to property and simple criminal damage to property.

Morgan City police radio logs for Sept. 14-15

Thu, 09/16/2021 - 3:00pm

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.
Tuesday, Sept. 14
5 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Suspicious vehicle.
6:58 a.m. 3100 block of Vine Drive; Complaint.
9:55 a.m. 6700 block of La. 182; Accident.
10:06 a.m. 6000 block of Railroad Avenue; 911 hang up call.
11:25 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Disturbance.
12:06 p.m. 900 block of Levee Road; Fight/three arrests.
12:08 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Juvenile problem.
2:08 p.m. 1200 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
2:13 p.m. 1500 block of Cedar Street; Medical.
4:45 p.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
5:31 p.m. 300 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
5:33 p.m. 200 block of Chennault Street; Animal complaint.
7:25 p.m. 1400 block of North First Street; Removal of subject.
8:27 p.m. 1700 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
8:32 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Assistance.
9:58 p.m. La. 182; Complaint.
11:35 p.m. Alabama Street; Suspicious subject.
11:47 p.m. Brashear and Federal avenues; Crash.
Wednesday, Sept. 15
12:52 a.m. Front Street; Suspicious vehicle.