Submitted Photo/B&G
Local Taco Bell restaurants recently made a contribution to Morgan City High's football jamboree, scheduled for Friday. Shown from left are John Hover and Gregory Hamer Sr., representing the restaurants, Morgan City Coach Chris Stroud, and Garret LeBlanc and Greg Hamer Jr., also representing the Taco Bells.
Louisiana restaurant owners are asking Washington for help as they struggle through the COVID pandemic.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association and 50 other state restaurant association partners on Tuesday sent a letter to congressional leadership sharing new national consumer confidence survey findings and urging swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
Louisiana has more than 2,900 pending applications that total more than $600 million in stabilization funding that would be addressed by the $60 billion proposed replenishment bills, the Louisiana association says.
The letter urges Congress to complete the mission of the fund and provide adequate funds to replenish the program and offer relief for the applications still pending.
“There are thousands of Louisiana small business owners stuck in limbo waiting to find out if Congress will act to provide the stability they need to make it through this new pandemic threat and into the future,” said Stan Harris, the president and CEO of the Louisiana association.
“The rise of coronavirus variants like Delta threatens to push these restaurants closer to permanently closing their doors. It’s time for Congress to step in and fulfill the promise of the RRF.”
The National Restaurant Association survey found that nationally a majority of consumers have already changed their dining behavior, which is beginning to put acute pressure back on the restaurant industry.
This faltering consumer confidence comes on top of restaurant labor costs at a 10-year high, increased food and supply prices, continued indoor capacity limits in 11 states, and crushing long-term debt loads for countless restaurant owners.
The survey found:
—Six in 10 adults changed their restaurant use due to the rise in the Delta variant.
—19% of adults have stopped going out to restaurants.
—9% have canceled existing plans to go out to a restaurant in recent weeks.
—37% have ordered takeout or delivery instead of going out to a restaurant.
—19% have chosen to sit outside instead of inside when going out to a restaurant.
“For an industry that requires a ‘full house’ every evening to make a profit, this is a dangerous trend,” said Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the National Restaurant Association. “These changes indicate declining consumer confidence that will make it more difficult for most restaurant owners to maintain their delicate financial stability.”
There were over 120,000 reported auto fraud and scam cases in the U.S. in 2020. Drivers who are unfortunate to do business with a dishonest mechanic or dealership can be tricked out of hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Auto fraud comes in many different forms. Mechanics may overcharge or double charge for services, make unnecessary repairs, fake malfunctions, price gouge, or charge for unused parts. Car dealerships may lie about a buyer’s credit score, sell useless warranties or unnecessary products, and charge high interest rates. These practices are much more common in some states than others.
To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases.
The rate of auto fraud varies widely from state to state. Most states reported between 140 and 250 cases per million residents in 2020. In three states, there were fewer than 100 cases per million, but in eight states, there were more than 300 cases of auto fraud per million residents.
In Louisiana, auto fraud complaints are less likely than in the typical state. Drivers in the state reported 146.3 incidents of auto fraud per million residents in 2020 — the 13th lowest rate among all states. The median among all states is 187.9 cases per million residents. In total, Louisiana residents reported 680 cases of auto fraud in 2020, the 22nd lowest figure among states.
To determine the worst states for auto fraud, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a list compiled by insurance marketplace Clearsurance, which based its list on data from the Federal Trade Commission. States were ranked based on the per capita number of auto-related fraud cases
PSB President Jason Watson presents a donation to St. Mary Soccer League President Shantell Toups for a team sponsorship for the Berwick-Bayou Vista 2021 fall season.
(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.)
Area police agencies reported seven arrests Monday on drug or paraphernalia charges.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 47 calls for service in the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:
—Nolan Ledet, 32, Breaux Road, Lafayette, was arrested at 8:58 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 43 complaints and reported these arrests:
—Ashley Nicole Morris, 33, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:12 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery. Morris was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Kendrick Michael Jones, 29, New Iberia, was arrested at 11:14 a.m. Monday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of theft, possession of marijuana and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled. Jones was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Olivia Rene Prado, 27, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:21 a.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set.
—Cassandra Woullard, 59, Patterson, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Monday on charges of or following too closely and possession of marijuana. Woullard was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Charles Robinson, 62, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:03 p.m. Monday on charges of failure to obey traffic controls and driving while intoxicated. Bail was set at $3,000.
—Melvin McBride, 53, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:19 p.m. Monday on charges of speeding, driving under suspension, and switched license plate or stolen license plate. McBride was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Vontraven Dashawn Thibeaux, 23, Lafayette, was arrested at 1 a.m. Tuesday on charges of illegal possession of a firearm, possession of Schedule II drugs and obstructing justice by intimidation. Bail has not been set.
—Kyran Gerard Williams, 24, Broussard, was arrested at 1 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in presence of controlled dangerous substance. Bail has not been set.
Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly said the Franklin Police Department responded to seven complaints in the 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:
—Latasha Callery, 39, Cayce Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Tuesday on charges of simple battery and cruelty to a juvenile. Callery was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Akeem Demolle, 34, New Horizon, New Iberia, was arrested Tuesday on warrants alleging failure to appear on a charge of entry or remaining in places after forbidden.
—Daniel Perrodin, 42, George Touchet Road, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday by the Henderson Police Department o charges of aggravated assault on a dating partner, battery of a dating partner, unauthorized use of a movable, violation of a protective order, possession of Schedule II drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear.
—Bo Seaux, 30, Barras Road, St. Martinville, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of pornography involving juveniles.
—Macquinn Stewart, 35, Hyacinth Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of probation violation.
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, Aug. 23
5:07 a.m. 600 block Fourth; Juvenile complaint.
8:01 a.m. 800 block Brarshear; Accident.
8:05 a.m. 2300 block La. 70; Suspicious subject.
8:55 a.m. 2300 block Clements; Animal complaint.
9:24 a.m. 1700 block Dale; Complaint.
10:51 a.m. 2400 block Fifth; Complaint.
11:30 a.m. 2100 block Cedar; Escort.
11:53 a.m. 400 block Fourth; Escort.
12:24 p.m. MLK and La. 182 area; Accident.
12:27 p.m. 1000 block Greenwood; Medical emergency.
2:15 p.m. 1100 block La. 70; Complaint.
2:15 p.m. 1000 block First; Hit and run.
2:20 p.m. 700 block Myrtle; Warrant.
2:25 p.m. Fifth Street area; Suspicious subject.
2:48 p.m. 1000 block Myrtle; Theft.
3:12 p.m. 2300 Clements; Complaint.
3:18 p.m. 1300 block Front; Animal complaint.
3:24 p.m. 400 block Halsey; Telephone harassment.
3:56 p.m. Fig and Fir area; Reckless drivers.
2:17 p.m. 1000 block First; Criminal damage to property.
6:04 p.m. 800 block Brarshear; Loud music.
6:15 p.m. 7900 block La. 182; Alarm.
7:10 p.m. 7700 block La. 182; Animal.
7:10 p.m. 200 block Halsey; Forgery
7:27 p.m. 300 block Grizzaffi; Criminal damage to property.
8:10 p.m. 200 block Utah; Phone harassment
8:41 p.m. 2000 block Allison Disturbance.
8:43 p.m. 600 block Kentucky; Suspicious person.
9:30 p.m. 500 block Duke; Assistance.
11:26 p.m. 7200 block La. 182; “Welfare check.
Tuesday, Aug. 24
4:06 a.m. 1200 block Victor II; Alarm.
The Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Assoic-ation in Iberia Parish has "made the difficult decision" to cancel this year's festival, which had been scheduled for Sept. 23-26.
The festival follows other major events that have canceled this fall because of the COVID-19 surge, including the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Lafayette and the Baton Rouge Blues Festival.
Information on Sugar Cane Festival ticket refunds will be posted on the festival Facebook page and HiSugar.org website. Sponsors will be contacted individually.
"We would like to thank our generous sponsors, membership holders and the community who continue to support our organization,” the festival's leadership said.
For 79 years, the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival has brought together sugar producing parishes to honor the sugar industry with royalty, delicious foods, Cajun entertainment and a great time in downtown New Iberia.
Several parades party down New Iberia’s Main Street and the “all ages” street fair includes kiddie rides, entertainment and fireworks. The Cyr Gates Community Center houses numerous events including a photography and art show, sugar cookery contest, and garden/flower show.
With offerings such as Farm Fest at Shadows-on-the-Teche, to classics like the blessing of the crop, the festival is still one of the area’s favorite times of year.
House Ways and Means Chairman Stuart Bishop has become the first announced candidate for the 2023 race for lieutenant governor.
“I’m running,” Bishop said in an interview last week.
“I’ve put a team together and we have several events lined up in the coming weeks.”
The No. 2 job is expected to be an open seat during the upcoming statewide election cycle, since Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is mounting his own campaign for governor.
Bishop, a Lafayette Republican, has an enviable position from which to raise money in the coming months.
Already he has more than $200,000 in the bank between his campaign finance account and his leadership PAC.
You may feel it’s a touch early to discuss the 2023 election.
I disagree.
We are roughly four months away from the midpoint of the current term of state government, which is a traditional starting point for statewide offices.
Moreover, voters could benefit from taking a closer look at the position of lieutenant governor.
The field, to be sure, is developing quickly and Bishop will not be alone.
State Rep. Scott McKnight, a Baton Rouge Republican, said he may be on the ballot as well.
“I’m seriously considering it and looking at it very hard,” said McKnight.
Jefferson Parish Councilman Rickey Templet is also said to be discussing the idea with friends and family.
Templet serves in a parishwide at-large seat and as a former state representative he knows the fundraising layout of Baton Rouge.
Donors and supporters are likewise urging Speaker Pro Tem Tanner Magee to keep an open mind about the race, but there’s nothing definitive yet emerging from the camp of the Houma lawmaker.
Like Templet, Magee is a Republican.
So far the only thing missing from this developing race is a Democrat.
There is a small corner of the party apparatus that would like to see Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome throw her hat into the ring, but at the moment that seems to be little more than cocktail chatter.
Most of us know that Louisiana’s lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession, meaning they step up into the role of governor should that top spot become vacant.
The lieutenant governor also oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and everything that comes with that — maintaining state parks, marketing the state to visitors, managing museums and directing resources for our artists.
One of the more interesting conversations we can have about the office is if it’s needed at all. Five states have no lieutenant governor, and two others allow the Senate president to (somewhat ceremonially) serve in the role. Louisiana is among only 17 states that elect a lieutenant governor separately. Another 26 states actually elect their lieutenant governors on a ticket alongside governors.
During an interview I conducted with Nungesser in 2018, the lieutenant governor discussed the benefits of the ticket approach. “To get the most bang for your buck, you’ve got to have that good work relationship with the governor,” he said. “So maybe it’s time to talk about running as a ticket again.”
It was a nod to the so-called olden days of Louisiana politics, when candidates for top offices would pool their resources, promote their shared tickets to voters and either win or lose as a team.
The Brothers Long — Huey and Earl — practiced this method, which played a visible role in Louisiana politics throughout most of the last century.
While Nungesser admitted during that discussion a ticket concept was unlikely to take hold here again, he did brush against an excellent point to remember as we near 2023.
Along with their policy ideas, candidates for lieutenant governor should be prepared to discuss what kind of relationship they want with the governor they would serve beside.
“For many years, since Jimmy Fitzmorris, the lieutenant governor and the governor didn’t always have the best relationship even though they were with the same party,” Nungesser said.
“And that’s not good for Louisiana. You can’t do your job and not work with the rest of the statewide elected officials.”
Luckily, the candidates have plenty of time to come up with their answers.
Voters, for their part, can spend the same time coming up with their own questions.
I hope that will actually take place in the coming months, because this election is right around the corner — and it will be an important one.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.
A broad area of low pressure off the coast of Colombia is expected to move over the Yucatan and into the western Gulf of Mexico late in the weekend, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form late this week or over the weekend while the system moves west-northwestward to northwestward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
The disturbance is expected to move near or across the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Saturday, and move into the western Gulf of
Mexico by Sunday where conditions could be favorable for additional
development to occur.
The National Hurricane Center gives the system a 40% chance of formation in the 48 hours, and 80% through five days.
National Dog Day on Thursday is the time to pause and appreciate the joy dogs bring, and the comfort and companionship they provide.
Millions of people craved canine camaraderie and welcomed new dogs and puppies into their homes over the past year or so. According to the American Pet Products Association, dog ownership increased by nearly 11% in 2020, with roughly 108 million dogs in U.S. households, up from 97 million in 2018.
National Dog Day, established in 2004, celebrates all breeds, pure and mixed, and serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, either from public shelters, rescues and pure breed rescues.
National Dog Day honors family dogs and dogs that work selflessly to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort, according to a news release from BestFriends.org.
Whether you’re remote, back to work, or both, dogs would rather be in homes than in shelters, the release states. Dogs do lots of napping, no matter if they’re alone or they have human company. Leave them with enrichment toys and food puzzles while you’re gone, and give them love, exercise and playtime when you’re home, and they’ll be happy hounds.
Numerous studies have determined that the presence of pets is beneficial for our physical and mental health. The companionship of animals has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and lessen anxiety, helping people to feel calmer and more secure no matter what’s going on in the outside world.
According to recent data from 24PetWatch from nearly 1,200 shelters, adoptions are down 3.7% overall this year, and for the month of June intake was up 5.9% as compared to 2020. More animals coming in and fewer going out is causing stress for shelters. Adopting or fostering from a shelter or rescue group literally saves lives.
Looking for a certain type of dog to adopt? Many of the dogs that enter shelters are purebreds and even trendy mixed breeds, like doodles. Check petfinder.com to start a search. Adopting from shelters or rescue groups rather than buying from breeders, pet stores or online retailers saves lives.
To acclimate the new family member, work regularly with the dog on training and socialization so that it can be a well-behaved member of the family, and react appropriately when meeting people in the outside world.
Not ready to foster or adopt? The celebrate National Dog Day by volunteering or donating to a local shelter or rescue group, to support its lifesaving efforts.
For more information or to find a local shelter or rescue, visit www.bestfriends.org.
Best Friends Animal Society is an animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025.
Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255