RSS Feed

Childhood memories inspired Shrimp and Petroleum Festival poster

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:44am

BILL DECKER

Childhood memories of visits to Morgan City have become the visual symbol of the 2021 Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.
The festival leadership unveiled the event’s 2021 poster Thursday at the Bayou Bash Kickoff event at Hampton Inn & Suites and introduced the artist who created the artwork, LSU senior Genevieve Breckoff.
The Spirit of Morgan City shrimp boat in the median of Brashear Avenue is the focal point of Breckoff’s poster, with oil rigs positioned behind. Breckoff, 23, lives in Baton Rouge, but she’s known about the Spirit of Morgan City for a long time.
Her mother is the former Jennifer Lodrigue of Morgan City. Her father is Nils Breckoff from Baton Rouge. As a child, she traveled with her parents to festivals around the state, including the Cypress Sawmill and Shrimp and Petroleum events.
“Even as a child I loved the Spirit of Morgan City,” Breckoff said Thursday. “And I deeply, deeply love the way they decorated it for Christmas.”
She wasn’t as familiar with oil rigs, which required some research and inspiration.
“It was definitely not personal experience,” Breckoff said. “It definitely took a lot of creative exploration.”
Breckoff will graduate from LSU in December with a degree in psychology. But she has also been involved in art “from the time I could pick up a paintbrush,” she said.
She took half a dozen art classes in high school, including an Advanced Placement class. She works most in acrylic portraits but has also made prints and created illustrations, mostly for her own enjoyment.
The poster has the look of an illustration, with bold colors and hand-lettered display type.
Breckoff heard about the poster competition and decided it would be a good project for the weeks between the spring and summer semesters.
Then, two weeks ago, as she was about to embark on a day of boating on the Blood River, she got a call from festival Director Hailee Thomas. Breckoff learned that her poster had been chosen to represent the 2021 event.
“I’ve never won an artist contest before,” Breckoff said. “I’ve always been the first runner-up.”
Now she has not only won a competition, but her work will represent the festival and be on display on walls all over town.
And it will be part of the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival archive.
“That’s bizarre,” Breckoff said. “That’s very strange. It’s surreal to see people keeping it. It’s absolutely bonkers. …
“It feels good to be chosen for something I grew up with,” Breckoff said.
The festival, which was canceled last year out of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic, will return this Labor Day weekend for the 86th edition.

Boat races, BBQ Bash and block party on tap in Tri-City area

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:36am

Staff Report

Tri-City area people have a full slate of things to do this weekend, from barbecue to boat races to a block party.

Bayou
BBQ Bash
The annual bash is expected to attract 40-50 chefs to Morgan City for the Barbeque Comp-etitors Alliance-sanctioned competition.
The event was limited to chefs last year because of COVID-19. This year the public can come to the event beneath the bridge and enjoy barbecue from The Smokehouse and East Gate BBQ and hamburgers from Xtreme Sports.
Cher t’Dough’s artisanal bakery items and Sno on the Go snowballs will be available. Arts and crafts will also be on display.
The event will once more feature live music. Cliff Hillbran will perform 6-9 p.m. Friday, and Krossover will be on stage noon-4 p.m. Saturday.
The cooking will begin Friday evening and continue until the judging at noon Saturday for chicken, 1:30 p.m. for ribs and 3 p.m. for brisket.
The awards ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m.
Cannata’s will again sponsor a Kids Q barbecue contest for young people early Saturday.

Patterson
Block Party
People are invited to celebrate the summer with Patterson’s Block Party noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Park Street park.
There will be food, drinks, games, a children’s corner, a cornhole tournament and prizes.
The musical guest will be Connie G.

Battle on
the Basin
Boat racing returns to Morgan City with the Battle on the Basin on Saturday and Sunday at Russo’s Boat Landing.
The event features outboard drag boat racing with seven classes and speeds ranging from 90-125 mph.
Snacks, cold drinks and water will be available. T-shirts will be for sale. Admission is $10 per person daily and $10 per ice chest.
The event begins at 10 a.m.

Study gives La. low grade for COVID safety

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:28am

WILLIAM PATRICK, The Center Square

Louisiana is the least “safest state” with respect to COVID-19, according to a new WalletHub study.
The personal finance website compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics and ranked the overall average scores. Louisiana was last.
With a safety ranking of 1 being the best per category, Louisiana was 50th in vaccination rate, 49th in death rate, 42nd in positive testing rate, 46th in hospitalization rate and 29th in transmission rate.
“As the U.S. continues its efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, staying safe is one of Americans’ top concerns,” study authors said. “Some states are already safer than others, though, based on how well they have kept the pandemic under control and how much they are vaccinating.”
Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island were tops on the list, and Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana rounded out the bottom three.
Data used in the study came from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and COVID-19 Electronic Laboratory Reporting.
WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez warned the economy will suffer as a result of lagging vaccinations.
“Our economic recovery will not reach its full potential until the vast majority of people who are medically able to get vaccinated do so,” she said. “While we have made a lot of progress with vaccination, recent polls have found that most people who are still unvaccinated do not plan to ever get the vaccine.”
Gonzalez added, “Investing in campaigns to convince more people to get vaccinated may lead to bigger economic returns down the line.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards has dedicated much of the past year and a half to COVID-19 safety, including the recent delta variant surge.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found taxpayer-funded vaccination incentives similar to Louisiana’s $2.3 million “Shot At a Million” campaign don’t work.
“Our results suggest that state-based lotteries are of limited value in increasing vaccine uptake,” said Allan J. Walkey, a physician at Boston Medical Center and a professor of medicine. “Therefore, the resources devoted to vaccine lotteries may be more successfully invested in programs that target underlying reasons for vaccine hesitancy and low vaccine uptake.”

Governor: Lawmakers got it right in veto session

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:27am

WILLIAM PATRICK, The Center Square

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards offered conciliatory remarks after legislative leaders adjourned a historic veto override session without a single veto reversed.
Edwards thanked Rep. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, and Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, for their allied support, and said he was asked moments earlier in an interview whether he was glad none of his vetoes were overturned.
“That’s the silliest question I’ve ever heard,” Edwards said Wednesday after the session ended. “No governor ever wants to have a veto overridden. No governor wants to have a veto override session.
“The vetoes that I issued, I believe, and believe today, were in the state’s best interest,” he said.
Edwards vetoed 28 bills from the 2021 regular legislative session, but lawmakers opted to return to Baton Rouge this week, pursuant to a routine process that had not been utilized in nearly half a century.
Override sessions are automatic in Louisiana but have been canceled every year since the state constitution was modernized in 1974. That changed when the Republican-dominated Legislature chose to challenge Edwards’ vetoes by a simple majority vote.
“Many of you in the media put the term ‘historic’ on it, and I guess it was. It was the first time since the current constitution has been in place that this has happened,” Edwards said. “But at the end of the day, the Legislature got it right.
“When I was elected, I vowed to put people over politics. Today, the Legislature chose to do the same, and Louisiana is better for it,” Edwards said, before pivoting to “the folks who wanted the session.”
“Quite frankly, you don’t put people first if you pursue bills to prohibit that which isn’t happening,” Edwards said.
The reference was to Senate Bill 156, known as the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The legislation was a controversial transgender sports ban that would have prohibited students from competing on teams that differ from their assigned gender at birth.
It also was the GOP’s best opportunity for a veto override, as the measure passed overwhelmingly during the regular session with bipartisan support and 50 co-sponsors.
Edwards rejected the would-be law, saying it “unfairly discriminated against transgender youth.”
He echoed the bill was unnecessary during his Wednesday evening remarks.
“Not a single proponent of the bill could point to a single instance in the history of the state of Louisiana where the alleged unfair competitive advantage was conferred upon someone who they are trying to prevent,” Edwards said. “If there is not a problem to prevent, why would you take the slightest risk?”
Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Jefferson, attempted to counter that oft repeated view during this week’s House deliberations, calling it a “forward-thinking” proposal similar to many other legislative priorities.
It wasn’t persuasive. Two-thirds majorities were needed in both chambers – 26 votes in the Senate and 70 votes in the House. After passing the Senate with the minimum support needed, the SB156 veto override fell two members short in the House, 68-30.
With the GOP’s highest probability effort dashed, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, and Senate President Patrick Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, determined they lacked the votes to proceed and moved to adjourn.
Schexnayder issued a statement after the defeat.
“While I am frustrated by the result, I am encouraged by the fact that we did something that has never been done in this state in asserting our legislative independence. Veto sessions should be the norm from now on as Louisiana’s constitution instructs. We have separate and equal branches of government for a reason,” he said. “We will bring this bill back next year and will not stop fighting.”
Each of Edwards’ 28 vetoes pertained to legislation that passed the state lawmaking body this year, which included bills dealing with concealed carry firearms, education funding transparency, COVID-19 vaccine passports and voter identification.
Edwards said the attempt to override his transgender sports ban veto was “fueled by passion and not by reason.” He said the supporters of the bill were good people who mean well.
Edwards also vowed to work with legislative leaders for the next two and a half years of his current term.

Around Town for July 23

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:25am

Happy birthday Willie Mae Bell and happy birthday Saturday to Cherrell McDaniel from family, friends and Ira.

UL Lafayette student will compete in Olympic trampoline events

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:22am

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette student is reaching for Olympic gold – again.
Nicole Ahsinger will represent Team USA in the women’s trampoline competition during the Tokyo Olympic Games that begin Friday. The senior UL Lafayette journalism major previously competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and placed 15th.
She was 18 at the time, making her the youngest American trampolinist in Olympic history.
Five years later, Ahsinger will represent the United States again and be the first back-to-back female trampolinist for Team USA since Jennifer Parilla in 2000 and 2004.
Ahsinger secured her second trip to the Olympics when she won the women’s trampoline title during the USA Gymnastics Champi-onships held in St. Louis in June.
In Tokyo, she will compete in the women’s trampoline qualification round on July 30.
Ahsinger plans to graduate from UL Lafayette next year. The San Diego native said she wants to pursue a career in sports media.
“I can see myself doing anything with sports,” Ahsinger told Alumni Accents, a publication of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association. You can read more about her return journey to the Olympics in the latest edition.
Ahsinger isn’t the only Summer Olympian with a UL Lafayette connection. Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns track and field standout Morgann Leleux will also be in Tokyo and will compete in women’s pole vault.

Willie Green is new Pelicans coach

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:21am

The New Orleans Pelicans have named Willie Green the team’s new head coach, it was announced Thursday by Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. Green becomes the eighth head coach in franchise history.
“After an extensive and collaborative search, Willie stood out among an impressive group of candidates as the best person to lead our team moving forward,” said Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson. “We are very happy to welcome Willie as our new head coach and we look forward to working with him to guide our team on the court as we work towards bringing a championship to New Orleans.”
“Willie has established himself as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NBA. In large part, this is due to a tireless work ethic and authenticity of character,” said Griffin. “He brings a vast amount of basketball knowledge and experience to our team as both a coach and former player, along with exceptional leadership qualities and an innate ability to connect with players, staff and fans alike. We could not be more excited to welcome Willie and his family to New Orleans.”
“I want to thank Mrs. Benson, David Griffin, and the entire Pelicans organization for having faith in me to lead this talented group of players moving forward,” said Green. “It’s a blessing and an honor to get this opportunity in a special place like New Orleans. I look forward to getting to work and immersing myself and my family into the local community.”
Green joins the Pelicans after spending the previous two seasons (2019-21) as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. As a part of head coach Monty Williams’ staff, Green helped guide the 2021 Western Conference Champions to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. As the Suns’ defensive coordinator, Phoenix finished the regular season with the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating. He also served as the Phoenix’s head coach for NBA Summer League in 2019, leading the Suns to a 3-1 record in Las Vegas.
Before joining Phoenix, Green spent three seasons (2016-19) as assistant coach/player development for the Golden State Warriors. While on head coach Steve Kerr’s staff, Green helped the Warriors win back-to-back NBA Champ-ionships in 2017 and 2018 before returning to the NBA Finals in 2019. He also served as the Warriors’ head coach for NBA Summer League in 2018, leading Golden State to the California Classic’s only 3-0 record.
Green, a 12-year NBA veteran as a player, was selected with the 41st overall pick by Seattle in the 2003 NBA Draft. He appeared in 731 regular season games (297 starts) with Philadelphia, New Or-leans, Atlanta, the LA Clippers and Orlando from 2003-15, and qualified for the playoffs seven times in his 12 seasons.
A native of Detroit, Green was a four-year standout at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he won Horizon League Player of the Year as a senior in 2003 and helped the Titans to two NIT appearances in 2001 and 2002, including a trip to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in 2001. Green remains fifth in program history in career points scored.

Sheriff: Three drugs seized in traffic stop

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:18am

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.)

Assumption Parish authorities arrested an Amelia man after a traffic stop and seized three different kinds of illegal drugs, arrest reports say.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Christopher J. Adams, 47, Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, was arrested Wednesday on charges of pos-session of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of alprazolam (Xanax), possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.
—Atanacio Guerrero III, 38, Vivian Street, Bayou L’Ourse, was cited Wednesday on a charge of simple possession of marijuana.
The arrest resulted from a Wednesday afternoon stop near Bayou L’Ourse.
An I.C.E.-assigned deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of the vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Adams, and proceeded to interview him.
The investigating officer noted behavior consistent with illegal drug activity and concluded that additional investigation was warranted.
The deputy requested consent to search the vehicle, which was granted. During that search, quantities of methamphetamine, Xanax, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was seized.
The deputy also conducted a protective pat-down sweep of the passenger, Guerrero, which yielded a quantity of suspected marijuana. Guerrero was issued a misdemeanor summons.
Adams remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 37 complaints and reported these arrests:
—Ashley Melancon, 37, Cutoff, was arrested at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday on charges of improper lane usage, driving under suspension and no insurance. Melancon was released on a summons to appear Oct. 7.
—Frances Lee Boudreaux, 36, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging fail-ure to appear on the charges of failing to honor a written promise to appear and license plate required. Boudreaux was released on her own recognizance.
—Brennan Richard Tabor, 33, Patterson, was arrested at 8:10 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Bail has not been set.
—Demarcus James McBride, 33, Baldwin, was arrested at 12:49 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery. Bail has not been set.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Brandon Clausen, 26, Smith Street, Clark, South Dakota, was arrested Wednesday on charges of negligent homicide and first-degree vehicular negligent injuring.
—Picasso Portalis, 35, Berard Drive, Arnaudville, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, simple assault, possession of Schedule II drugs, distribution of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws, flight from an officer, illegal use of controlled dangerous substances in the presence of a minor, possession of marijuana, false imprisonment, offender armed with weapon, domestic abuse (child endangerment) and second-degree battery.
—Crystal Williams, 33, Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, was arrested Wednesday by the Breaux Bridge Police Department on charges of illegal possession of stolen things, theft ($1-$999), and entry or remaining in places after forbidden.
—Eric Williams, 36, Sixth Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of principal to theft ($1,000-$4,999) and on a warrant alleging failure to appear.

Morgan City police radio logs for July 21

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:15am

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.
Wednesday, July 21
7:12 a.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Medical.
8:43 a.m. 2600 block of Hemlock Street; Medical.
9:11 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
10:34 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Accident.
10:41 a.m. La. 182 and Grizzaffi Street; Accident.
12:03 p.m. Greenwood Street and La. 70; Accident.
12:21 p.m. 700 block of Freret Street; Alarm.
12:27 p.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
12:31 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Forgery.
1:14 p.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Suspicious person.
2:26 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Accident.
2:32 p.m. Youngs Road; Assistance.
2:39 p.m. 200 block of Roderick Street; Suspicious vehicle.
2:44 p.m. 1000 block of Chennault Street; Disturbance.
3:11 p.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Officer stand by.
3:36 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Medical.
3:39 p.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
4:05 p.m. 1500 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
4:57 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Officer stand by.
5:34 p.m. 800 block of Fig Street; Complaint.
5:58 p.m. 300 block of Aucoin Street; Theft.
6:05 p.m. 100 block of Brownell Homes; Crash.
6:08 p.m. 2600 block of Hemlock Street; Medical.
6:34 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
7:08 p.m. 800 block of Clothilde Street; Theft.
7:53 p.m. 500 block of Fourth Street; Medical.
9:52 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Distur-bance.
9:55 p.m. Oriole Street; Disturbance.
9:56 p.m. Ditch Avenue and Seventh Street; Stalled vehicle.
10:29 p.m. Shaw Drive; Arrest.
11:58 p.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
Thursday, July 22
12:12 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.

Conrad cuts steel for first U.S. multi-cats

Fri, 07/23/2021 - 10:12am

Conrad Shipyard hosted a steel-cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. at its shipyard in Morgan City.
The ceremony signifies the start of construction of two Damen-designed multi-cat vessels, the first multi-cats to bebuilt in the United States.
Deliveries are scheduled the third and fourth quarters of 2022.
The two identical vessels measure 98.92 feet in length and are powered by three Caterpillar C32 TTA engines capable of meeting speeds of 10.2 knots. Equipped with large winches and deck cranes, the vessels will have maximum bollard pull of 31.75 short tons.
David Johanson, Great Lakes’ senior vice president of project and area operations for the Gulf of Mexico, said the new vessels eliminate the need for assorted floating support equipment such as derrick barges, towboats and anchor barges. “The Multi-cats also significantly increase operational safety – enabling hose and pipe maintenance works to take place securely on deck, reducing the risk of man-overboards compared to standard industry methods utilizing floating pontoons. This will improve our operational efficiency,” he said.
Brett Wolbrink, Conrad executive vice president and chief operating officer, discussed the relationship between Conrad and Great Lakes:
“We are pleased to be constructing multiple vessels for GLDD and we value the continued confidence that GLDD has shown in Conrad and in our talented workforce —not only in newconstruction but also in repair. It is our pleasure to work with your team, and it is our honor tobuild these unique and versatile vessels for you,” he said.