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Bayou Teche structure ready for storms

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 12:07pm

The St. Mary Parish Levee District made it official with a Facebook post Tuesday: The new Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure is complete and fully functional. It was closed on Friday, in anticipation of a storm from the tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. This is one more piece in the puzzle for a complete system of protection from the Wax Lake Outlet to the Charenton Canal, the Levee District said.

Submitted Photo/St. Mary Parish Levee District

Morgan City Council clears way for 2021 Shrimp and Petroleum Festival

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 12:06pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

The area’s biggest Labor Day party is returning in 2021.
A year after it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival will resume with the 86th anniversary of the event.
While the announcement was made at the end of March that the festival planned to proceed with plans for its 2021 event, the festival received official approval by the Morgan City Council during its monthly meeting Tuesday to hold the event Sept. 2-6.
“Things are going to look fairly normal,” festival Executive Director Hailee Thomas told the mayor and council. “We are taking COVID precautions as well as kind of scaling back from a budget perspective, but overall, we’re just super excited to be back this year. I know we all missed it last year.”
The festival approval was one of three events that was discussed Tuesday and requests granted.
Also during Tuesday’s council meeting, a request was granted to hold a Juneteenth Bike Ride June 19 in Morgan City.
Juneteenth Committee members Ruby Maize, Courtney “Schola” Long and Danika Long appeared before the council to get permission to hold the event.
It will begin at 8 a.m. at the former Sumpter Williams School and continue through Morgan City before reaching Jimmie Johnson Memorial Park under the elevated U.S. 90 bridge near Fifth Street.
Maize said a bike ride was held in 2019, and it was a success. However, the event was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the event, participants will stop at about six different current or former African American businesses where they will learn about each.
Juneteenth commemorates the moment in history when slavery was banned in America.
“It’s not a recognized national holiday, but it is a day that we commemorate to show support of this effort, and that’s what we want to here in Morgan City is show African American owned businesses that started here, that’s still going on here,” Maize said.
At Jimmie Johnson Memorial Park, participants will be addressed by a speaker, and refreshments will be served.
“This is a bike ride for all, for all of the public,” Long said. “If you don’t know a lot of the history of this area, please join us. … I would love to see many faces out there with us.”
The registration deadline is June 10. To register, call Ruby at 985-498-0050 or Trina at 985-498-6003.
Also Tuesday, the council approved a request by Morgan City Main Street to close Front Street from Greenwood to Freret streets from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on July 24 for a vendor’s market during the Bayou BBQ Bash. No businesses will be blocked by the booths.
Vendor fees will be used for Main Street projects.
For the city’s 4th of July Lake Jam that is scheduled for July 4 at Lake End Parkway, the council granted approval for alcohol sales so that a special events alcohol license can be secured from Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control. Morgan City Main Street will be selling the alcohol as a fundraiser, Mayor Lee Dragna said.
The Boy Scouts will sell water and soda, and there will be approximately four food vendors onsite.

Gov. lifts most remaining COVID rules

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 12:04pm

Staff Report
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed an order Tuesday removing all remaining COVID-19 business capacity restrictions and nearly all mask requirements.
The move followed news that 269 COVID-positive people were in Louisiana hospitals as of Tuesday. At their peak, hospitalizations reached 2,069 in January 2021 at the height of the third wave of coronavirus infections.
Masks will be required in educational settings until the end of the current academic semester, at which time state and local oversight boards will set their own masking policies.
The Louisiana Department of Health will continue to revise guidance and masking recommendations for summer camps, following CDC guidance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that it was safe for vaccinated people to not wear masks in most settings.
“For nearly 15 months, Louisiana has operated under necessary public health restrictions designed to save lives by slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Edwards said in a press release Tuesday.
“Thanks to the wide availability of vaccines and the 1.4 million Louisianans who already have gone sleeves up and after hitting a new low in hospitalizations, the order I have signed today contains the fewest state-mandated restrictions ever, though local governments and businesses may still and should feel empowered to take precautions that they see as necessary and prudent, including mandating masks.
“To be clear: COVID-19 is not over for our state or for our country. Anyone who has gotten the vaccine is now fully protected and can enter summer with confidence. Unfortunately, people who have not yet taken their COVID-19 vaccine remain at risk as more contagious COVID variants continue to spread and as we enter into hurricane season.”
Local governments and businesses may choose to have stronger restrictions than the state does and the governor encouraged Louisianans to respect all local or business mandates, especially when it comes to masking.
Right now, there are three safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines widely available in nearly 1,500 locations across Louisiana. All Louisi-anans 18 and older are eligible for any of the approved vaccines. Loui-sianans between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only.
According to the CDC, more than 1.4 million Louisianans are fully vaccinated, around 30.5% of the population. The most vaccinated population, by age, is people 65 and older. Nearly 72% of people 65 and older in Louisiana are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Locally, 24.1% of St. Mary residents have been vaccinated, the Louisiana Office of Public Health reported. The vaccination rates are 23.4% in Assumption and 21.4% in St. Martin.
To get your questions answered, find a provider or event near you, get your appointment scheduled or speak directly with a medical professional, call COVID Vaccine Hotline at 855-453-0774. The hotline is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Satu-rday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

School Board will look at stipend for employees

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 12:02pm

Staff Report

The St. Mary Parish School Board will hold a special meeting Thursday in Cent-erville with just two items for consideration, one of those a one-time stipend for employees who performed extra duties related to the reopening of school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The employees are described in the agenda as those who did extra work “in preventing, preparing for and responding to COVID-19” when school opened for in-person learning.
The board also will consider approving job descriptions for a K-5 Literacy Coach and a 6-8 Literacy Coach.

Senate OKs bill on school aid, teacher raises

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 12:00pm

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

The Louisiana Senate approved a $3.9 billion K-12 education formula that is virtually unchanged from the current spending plan except for an increase in teacher and staff pay.
The Minimum Foundation Program for next school year, which represents the main state contribution to education funding, increases spending by about $19 million to give teachers an $800 raise and support staff a $400 pay bump, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office. Lawmakers have discussed raises of $1,000 and $500, respectively; Louisiana teachers make about $4,000 less per year on average than peers in nearby states.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 passed unanimously with little discussion and no debate.
Only the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education can alter the MFP. The Legislature can approve or reject the funding formula but generally cannot change it.
If the session ends without a new MFP, the current one will stay in place.
In other legislative action Monday:
—The House approved House Bill 487, by Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monroe. It would let legislators reduce spending that is dedicated by law or the constitution to avoid a budget deficit by up to 20%. The current limit is 5%.
Echols said he wanted to give lawmakers more options when the budget must be cut.
—Senators voted not to accept House amendments to Senate Bill 159, which calls for setting a maximum state income tax rate of 4.75% in the state constitution – the current top rate is 6% – and removing from the constitution the provision calling for a state income tax reduction for federal income taxes paid.
The bill will go to a conference between the House and Senate, along with other bills changing the state’s tax structure to work out a final overhaul package.

GERALDINE 'DEANIE' C. WALTERS

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:56am

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2021 in Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Geraldine “Deanie” C. Walters, 97, who passed away on May 24, 2021.
Pastor Jason Miller, of Amana Christian Fellowship, will conduct the funeral services.
“Deanie”, a resident of Maurice, was the daughter of the late William Canty and the former Orelia Dinger.
Deanie was born and raised in Morgan City, LA and raised her family in Baton Rouge, spending the last 30-plus years in the Lafayette/Maurice area. Her loving and adventurous spirit transferred into her children and grandchildren. She loved a Sunday drive to any unknown destination, be it to visit family in South LA or beloved friends in Anahuac, Texas. Her home was always open, coffee in the pot and cards ready to shuffle. She was known for always wearing a beautiful Broche, even with a sweatshirt as she worked in her yard. It was impossible to greet or leave her presence without a hug. There were a few things that she took extreme pride in: her Irish heritage, her family’s property at Shell Island and both her extended Canty family and her immediate Walters family. She will be greatly missed, until we are in Heaven with her, hearing her sweet greeting of “Oh Darlin, it is so good to see you”.
She is survived by her daughter, Stephany W. LeBlanc (Emile) of Prairieville, LA; son, Art J. Walters Jr. (Bonnie) of Carencro, LA; son, Terry A. Walters (Sherry) of Gonzales, LA; daughter, Kimberly W. Robertson of Denham Springs, LA; daughter, Jade W. Landry (Chris) of Maurice, LA; sister, Myrtle “Dutsy” Fromenthal of Brownsville, TX; brother, Clayton “Buster” Canty of Berwick, LA; and 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Art J. Walters Sr.; granddaughters, Allison A. Walters and Lauri Walters Bodin; grandson, Terrance Zachariah (Zac) Walters; great-grandsons, Joseph Aaron Tramel and Broddy Jacob Maxwell; and parents, William and Orelia Canty.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand on Thursday, May 27, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Walters family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Or P.O. Box 280, Maurice, La 70555.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

RICHARD BAUDOIN

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:48am

Richard Baudoin, 75, passed away Monday, May 17, 2021 peacefully at home.
Memorial Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Dr., Lafayette, LA.
A rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family requests visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the services at 4:00 p.m.
Born in Jennings and a lifelong resident of Lafayette, Richard graduated from Lafayette High School in 1963 and attended USL for 3 years. He worked in bulk Oil & Gas sales for the last 32 years for Gayle Oil Company and Miguez Fuel.
He was a truly good Christian man who fiercely loved his family and took great pride in them. He grew up in a very loving family and tried his best for everyone when they needed it. His light was reflected in the eyes of his family. He was the port in the storm and lightened the burden for his children, grandchildren and many more. Richard knew intuitively how to put a smile on your face and never met a stranger.
He was loved deeply and shall be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Marcella Alpha Baudoin; daughters, Laura Ashurst and Lisa Valentin, their husbands Phil Ashurst and Elias Valentin, and their children Rebecca and Meagan Ashurst and Nathan, Abigail and Daniel Valentin. He is survived also by his sisters Renola Petitifils and Genevieve Lambert, and many nieces and nephews. His Godchildren are Pia Richard, Scott Petitfils, Caroline Stegeman, Micah Lambert, Erin and Bishop Ostteen, Beau Baudoin, and Teresa deBeche-Adams.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kossuth (K.J.) and Rena Baudoin; his brother, Carroll Baudoin; and sister, Ruth Baudoin Wolf.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to your favorite charity.
Honorary Pallbearers are Phil Ashurst, Elias, Nathan and Daniel Valentin, Micah Lambert and Morgan Guillory.
Father Ken Domingue and Father Patrick Broussard will conduct the funeral services and rosary. Entombment will take place later at Fountain Memorial in Lafayette.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Baudoin family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA will oversee funeral arrangements. Richard Baudoin, 75, passed away Monday, May 17, 2021 peacefully at home.
Memorial Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28th, 2021 at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Dr., Lafayette, LA.
A rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
The family requests visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the services at 4:00 p.m.
Born in Jennings and a lifelong resident of Lafayette, Richard graduated from Lafayette High School in 1963 and attended USL for 3 years. He worked in bulk Oil & Gas sales for the last 32 years for Gayle Oil Company and Miguez Fuel.
He was a truly good Christian man who fiercely loved his family and took great pride in them. He grew up in a very loving family and tried his best for everyone when they needed it. His light was reflected in the eyes of his family. He was the port in the storm and lightened the burden for his children, grandchildren and many more. Richard knew intuitively how to put a smile on your face and never met a stranger.
He was loved deeply and shall be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Marcella Alpha Baudoin; daughters, Laura Ashurst and Lisa Valentin, their husbands Phil Ashurst and Elias Valentin, and their children Rebecca and Meagan Ashurst and Nathan, Abigail and Daniel Valentin. He is survived also by his sisters Renola Petitifils and Genevieve Lambert, and many nieces and nephews. His Godchildren are Pia Richard, Scott Petitfils, Caroline Stegeman, Micah Lambert, Erin and Bishop Ostteen, Beau Baudoin, and Teresa deBeche-Adams.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Kossuth (K.J.) and Rena Baudoin; his brother, Carroll Baudoin; and sister, Ruth Baudoin Wolf.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to your favorite charity.
Honorary Pallbearers are Phil Ashurst, Elias, Nathan and Daniel Valentin, Micah Lambert and Morgan Guillory.
Father Ken Domingue and Father Patrick Broussard will conduct the funeral services and rosary. Entombment will take place later at Fountain Memorial in Lafayette.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Baudoin family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA will oversee funeral arrangements.

DONALD JOE MIRE

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:46am

November 27, 1928 — May 23, 2021
Donald Joe Mire, 92, a resident of Amelia, passed away peacefully, Sunday, May 23, 2021, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Donald was born November 27, 1928, in Morgan City, the son of Albert Mire and Angelina St. Clair Mire.
Donald proudly served in the Army during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged in 1953, Donald worked in the oil field until 1960, and retired with Canal Villere Food Stores Inc. After retirement, he enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing and going bird-watching with his wife, Sweetie. His love of hummingbirds excelled even more when the Audubon Society caught and band a rare Broad-tailed hummingbird from his backyard with only three known to visit Louisiana. His love of music impressed most as he taught himself harmonica, accordion and the organ all by ear. He loved his siblings and telling jokes at any chance. He was very proud of his family and loved hearing about their lives.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 66 years, Sweetie Bailey Mire of Amelia; four children, Ronald Mire and wife Lisa of Morgan City, Kenneth Mire of Amelia, Brenda Youngblood and husband Charles of Patterson, and Janet LeBlanc and husband Johnny of Arlington, Texas; sister, Elaine Hilliard and husband William “Bill” of Ennis, Texas; seven grandchildren, Jake Youngblood, Lindsey Youngblood, Caitlin Nunez and husband Jared, Evan Mire, Michael Ryan LeBlanc, Jeremy LeBlanc and Daniel LeBlanc; and great-grandchild, Murphy Kate Nunez.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Angelina Mire; nine siblings, Carmen Guarisco, Albert “Gerald” Mire, Doris Guzzino, Neal Mire, Merle Harrison Groce, Nina Macalusa Hidalgo, Carolyn Goulas, Gladys Guarisco and infant Arthur Mire; and stepmother, Annie Lee Maxwell Mire.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 28, 2021 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Amelia. Visitation will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. After Mass, Donald will be laid to rest in the St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery, where Military honors will be rendered.

Wheel House for May 26

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:44am

GOSPEL GROUP
The Walkers will be ministering at Bayou Vista Community Fellowship, 1523 Anthony St., at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 30.

BERWICK
Housing Authority taking housing applications online 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 2. Applications at www.pha-web.com/portal/applicant/berwick/ or BHA Facebook page and click on the link, or its website www.berwickhousingauthority.com. For info call 985-385-1546. After completing an online application, applicants will be contacted for an appointment to provide all documents.

WILL PLANNING
Seminar presented by Dr. Jeffrey W. Steed, MBA, executive director of Louisiana Baptist Foundation, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8. Info on how to plan and execute a will and power of attorney. Free and lunch provided. RSVP required, call Morgan City First Baptist Church, 985-384-5920.

Around Town for May 26

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 11:41am

Happy birthday Bruce, we love you … Happy birthday Joseph Ross from family, friends and Ira … Congratulations on your well-earned and deserved retirement Ray, we love you.