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Area sees another day of street flooding

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:07am

Staff Report

The Tri-City area received a deluge that totaled more than 2 inches of rain, according to local rain gauge totals.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Berwick Locks recorded a total of 3.35 inches between 8 a.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday, while the Bayou Boeuf Locks recorded a total of 2.18 inches between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur said that the town experienced a lot of street flooding due to the amount of water received in a short amount of time, but no water was reported in homes.
He said the town used its new pumping station.
“It worked perfect,” Arthur said.
While the town’s police station had some water come in via the roof, Arthur said that was due to ongoing roof work being done at Town Hall.
According to PowerOutage.us, St. Mary Parish has 154 power outages. St. Mary Parish Director of Emergency Preparedness David Naquin said that those were on the parish’s west end.
He said the main issue the parish received was trees down, which were being cut down. He said they were predominantly on the west end, noting particularly the town of Baldwin.
“We had a few in Bayou Vista,” Naquin said.
He said there haven’t been any reports of water in homes.
While Bayou Teche has risen, Naquin said it was due to rainwater. He said it is not a threat to anyone, and will drop.
According to the National Weather Service, the area can expect more showers and thunderstorms Wednesday, but those are expected mostly between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The chance of rain is 60%.
Wednesday evening, the chance of showers and thunderstorms is pegged at 40%. Those are forecast to occur before 11 p.m.

Parish Council eases rules for public comments; bond issue will pay for jail improvements

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:05am

BILL DECKER, bdecker@daily-review.com

FRANKLIN — The St. Mary Parish Council moved Tuesday to make it easier for citizens to speak at council meetings and to pay for improvements at the parish jail.
The council met a day earlier than its normal second-Wednesday date to accommodate state training for elected officials Wednesday.
Public comment
The council unanimously approved a new ordinance by Councilman J Ina of Franklin to change the rules governing who may speak to the council and when.
The issue arose earlier this year in a council discussion about minority representation on the Registrar of Voters Office staff. Two people at the meeting were denied permission to speak at a meeting because they weren’t on the agenda and the issue wasn’t up for a vote.
Citizens could ask to be placed on the meeting agenda to discuss other issues. But the deadline for getting on the agenda is at noon Friday before the Wednesday night meeting, and the agenda isn’t publicly available until later Friday.
The new ordinance allows people to sign in on meeting night and speak on any topic on that night’s agenda.
Council Chairman Dean Adams of Morgan City praised the new ordinance.
“I think it’s good for the council if people have something to say,” Adams said. “It’s their meeting.”
Legal counsel Eric Duplantis noted that the new ordinance expands access to the agenda beyond what is required under state open meetings law.
The ordinance passed on a 10-0 vote. Councilman James Bennett of Morgan City was absent.
Jail
improvements
The council agreed 10-0 to borrow $1 million against an existing parish sales tax to pay for upgrades at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.
The upgrade plans include improvements for the security system and the security cameras. Both those systems are 20 years old, said Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange.
Minor improvements will be made in the facility’s dorms and showers, LaGrange said.
The work will be financed by a $1 million bond issue. Patterson State Bank will handle the bond issue after submitting the low bid among three on the interest rate for the bonds. PSB submitted a rate of 2.28%.

Bills on levees, marijuana pass in House

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:03am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

The Louisiana House voted Tuesday to use state sales taxes collected in five parishes to help pay for the state’s billion-dollar debt for a hurricane and flood protection system in southeast Louisiana.
As amended Tuesday, House Bill 639 would put state sales taxes collected in St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Orleans parishes toward a fund meant to help the state pay its share of the federally constructed Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System in the New Orleans region. House Appropriations Chair Jerome Zeringue, who authored the bill, said the state’s first $400 million payment is due in September and an additional $400 million would be due next year.
Money would be deposited only this fiscal year and next year, and each deposit would be capped at $400 million. The bill doesn’t have a fiscal note to explain how much money might be raised.
Another option would be to sell bonds to pay the debt, but that would cut into the amount of money the state can borrow to fund construction projects, which most lawmakers would prefer not to do. But diverting sales taxes away from the state general fund could create a hole in the state budget.
The House also voted to reduce penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Under current law, convictions for marijuana possession can lead to escalating fines and a felony conviction with jail time.
Under House Bill 652 by Rep. Cedric Glover, D-Shreveport, someone caught with 14 grams or less would be subject to a $100 fine but no more. Shreveport Republican Rep. Alan Seabaugh, one of the chamber’s most conservative members, joined Democrats in asking lawmakers to support the bill, which passed 70-19.
A Senate judiciary committee advanced without objection Senate Bill 202 by Senate President Page Cortez. It is part of a package of instruments to establish taxes and regulations for sports betting, which 55 of 64 parishes legalized last year.
Among other measures, the bill calls for the Louisiana Lottery Corporation to issue no more than 20 licenses to operate a sports book. The state’s 16 casinos and four horse racing tracks would be the first eligible applicants, with fantasy sports and video poker operators next in line if any licenses are available.
The House approved House Bill 697 on Monday. It calls for a 10% tax on the net proceeds of an operator for on-premise sports wagering and an 18% tax on net proceeds from mobile betting. The bill also calls for the Louisiana Lottery to oversee sports betting through kiosks placed in bars and restaurants, which is meant to allow retail establishments to benefit.
The Senate is scheduled Wednesday to take up Senate Bill 142, which in its current form would direct fines and fees related to sports betting to the state general fund, though some lawmakers would prefer to dedicate revenue to early childhood education.

WALTER McNEMAR

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:01am

Walter McNemar, a native and longtime resident of Morgan City, was called to his heavenly home on Monday, May 10, 2021 at the age of 51.
Walter was a joy to his parents, siblings and family. He greatly enjoyed fishing and had other interests such as welding, camping (where he focused on his rod and reels for fishing), firetrucks, and shopping for the perfect soled tennis shoes. He will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish his wonderful memory are his parents, Willie and Betty Young of Lafayette; his brothers, Glenn McNemar Jr. and his wife, Jerrie, of Morgan City, Kevin McNemar and his wife, Dawn, of Lafayette, and Craig Young and his wife, Jessica, of Pierre Part; eight nieces and nephews, Glenn McNemar III, Blake McNemar, Brittany Bourgeois and her husband, Colton, Blaine McNemar, Kennedy McNemar, Ty McNemar, Ryleigh Young, and Caleb Young; and numerous cousins, especially Michelle Stewart.
Services for Walter will be held privately by his loving family.

New fund would focus on needs of rural people

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 11:00am

EMILY WOOD, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — The House Appropriations Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would create the Rural Development Fund to support the socioeconomic well-being of the state’s rural population through better health, education and infrastructure.
Funding for the program would come from the sale of general obligation bonds, and authority to spend the money would be given to the state Office of Rural Development.
“Rural areas in Louisiana are losing population. We don’t have the job market, and we are also losing employment to Mississippi,” said bill author Rep. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi. “We have to develop or revitalize our rural areas if we want to be productive.”
Thompson said residents of metropolitan areas can look at this as a help for them, too, because people with better jobs in rural areas look to move to the more urban areas so their children can go to better schools, universities and community colleges.
The bill, HB 622, would give the director of the Office of Rural Development authority to hire a regional director in each of the eight regional planning commission Rep. Thompson said that everyone in the state would be represented by an economic development expert. He said each director would receive about $60,000 a year, and each would come from the jurisdiction they would be representing.
The Office of Rural Development operates in the governor’s office, and this bill aims to expand its reach by adding broadband connectivity, water quality and sewer treatment to the program.
“We have spent money on all areas of state government,” said Thompson. “This is a small amount to invest in Louisiana’s rural areas. It is very little to invest for the state of Louisiana that can bring back untold dollars even with federal projects that we don’t apply for today.”
The bill has 13 co-authors. Rep. Thompson stated he hopes to have over 53 by the time it goes to the House floor.

Proposed law would extend time child abuse cases could be prosecuted

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 10:58am

KATHLEEN PEPPO LSU, Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — A bill to change the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse from 10 years to 35 years passed with unanimous support in the House Tuesday.
Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, says he brought the bill on behalf of every victim and survivor of child sexual abuse.
The bill will go to the Senate for further debate after passing 102-0 in the House.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the country, a child is sexually assaulted every nine minutes. Only 5 in every 1,000 perpetrators, however, will be imprisoned.
National Child Protective Services found strong evidence between 2009 and 2013 that about 63,000 children per year were victims of sexual abuse.
Hughes said the average age at which victims of child abuse come forward about their trauma is 52.
This bill would change the oldest age at which a victim can come forward and get justice from 28 to 53, extending the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse to one year past the average age at which victims report abuse.
Rep. John Stefanksi, R-Crowley, asked why the bill does not eliminate the statute of limitations entirely, ensuring victims a chance for justice regardless of age.
Another point of contention is that the bill is not retroactive, meaning some victims will not have a chance for justice if they come forward after the statute of limitations has expired prior to the bill becoming law.
Hughes said that he would not accept such amendments because he was determined to make sure that the basic bill made it into law.
Stefanski said he hopes the bill will be amended to extend the scope of the victims it protects when it goes to the Senate.
Rep. John Illg, R-River Ridge, voiced his support for the bill, mentioning a friend of his who recently came forward to Illg for the first time about his own childhood sexual trauma.
Hughes said that “surprisingly enough” many victims of child sexual abuse who would not get a chance for justice should the bill pass are still “championing the bill because they know how many victims it will help.”
Hughes also said that this bill is “not the end.”
He said he has gotten letters and emails calling him a hero, but Hughes said the victims, many of whom “were robbed of their childhood and many of them robbed of their adulthood” are the “real heroes.”

Petroleum League, Guys & Dolls bowling scores

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 10:56am

PETROLEUM LEAGUE
Week 30 (May 5)
....................................W L
Satchel of Richards ....83½ 36½
Johnny’s Wrecker......74 46
MISTRAS..................66½ 53½
Roy’s Trucking .........64 56
That’s How we Roll ..59 61
Coastwide Electric.....59 61
Chabill’s ...................56½ 63½
A & M Dockside.......55 65
M.C. Paint & Body....52½ 67½
Conrad Industries.....50½ 69½
Antebellum Renov....50½ 69½
Allen’s TV Cable.......49 71
Individual high scores: Anthony Falgout Jr. 225, 300 games), (724) series; Gerald Colwart 268, 279, (746); Bobby Rotolo 259, 245, 236, (740); Kenny Keton 278, 243, 214, (735); Hunter Boudreaux 212, 266, 236, (714); Eric Morrison 224, 235, 255, (714); Patrick Thibodeaux 225, 247; David Boudreaux 207, 258; Mark Corbin 202, 242; Jeremy Dykes 212, 230; Ryan Veillion 215, 209; Tamara Aucoin 202, 204; Dustin Fuselier 243; MacKenzie Amador 222; Jerry Pillaro 215; Johnny Lirette 214; Sammy Grizzaffi 205; Sterling Roy 203; Collin Deslatte 203; Clay Canty 202; and Mike Kapp 201.
GUYS & DOLLS LEAGUE
Week 27 (May 6)
......................................W L
Intl. Alignment ............67½ 40½
Satchel of Richards ....66½ 41½
Fishing for Strikes .......63½ 44½
Deep............................60 48
Naughty But Nice......58 50
Jerry’s Kids................51½ 56½
Johnny’s Wrecker....49 59
Moe’s Poboys..........48 60
Boss..........................47 61
SNAFU ..............47 61
Bach’s .................47 61
Hensgens Bros. ...........43 65
Weekly high scores: (male) Kenny Keton 289, 212, 226 games, (727) series; Jerry Pillaro 210, 268, 204; Chris Mayon 219, 212, 241; Bobby Rotolo 246, 234; Adam Amador 217, 235; Jeremy Dykes 214, 215; Kelvin Smith 209, 210; Patrick Thibodeaux 202, 208; Anthony Falgout Jr. 277; David Laubach Sr. 224; Schaun Reed 220; Mark Hebert 210; and Eric Cortez 203; and (women) Lisa Powell 204, 201 and MacKenzie Amador 225.

State auditor finds waste in COVID relief program

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 10:49am

DAVID JACOBS, The Daily Review

Almost 6% of a slice of the grant funding awarded through a Louisiana program meant to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic went to recipients who were not eligible under program rules, though most of those issues have been resolved, a state auditor’s report said.
The Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Main Street Recovery Program last year with $275 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Small companies that had unexpected expenses or business interruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible for grants of up to $15,000 each.
The Louisiana legislative auditor reviewed a sample of 7,323 grants totaling almost $87.8 million of the $262 million that had been spent as of Jan. 31.
Of those, $4,962,530 worth, or 5.65%, went to applicants that were not eligible or did not provide proper documentation of their expenses, according to the auditor’s report, which was released Monday.
Program staff worked with recipients of the grants the auditor flagged to resolve the issues for more than $3.8 million of the grants, leaving about $1.16 million, or 1.32%, unresolved among the sample.
In a letter to the auditor’s office responding to the report, Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder, whose office oversaw the program, said his goal was to keep the exception rate below 3% and said he “could not be more pleased” with the audit’s results.
“The time your staff spent assisting us to establish the parameters of the program before accepting applications, and the audit work after the program’s conclusion, was instrumental in what I consider a model grant program,” Schroder wrote.
In addition to the exceptions noted in the audit, Schroder’s office has recovered almost $177,000 and referred 108 applications to the Office of the Inspector General for fraud or attempted fraud, Schroder said.

Ribbon-cutting for Fast Trac

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 10:46am

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute
A St. Mary Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting was held Tuesday for Fast Trac Transportation’s newest location at 8201 La. 182 in Morgan City. The local franchise, which provides 24-hour oilfield transportation, is owned by Dallas Marcantel and Sherman Marcantel. Among the others present for Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting were Fast Trac owner Bill Busbice, Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and family, friends and Chamber representatives. Dallas Marcantel’s son, Dawson Marcantel, cut the ribbon.

Rodrigue takes physician relations coordinator post

Wed, 05/12/2021 - 10:44am

Terrebonne General Health System welcomes Sara Rodrigue as the physician relations coordinator.
Rodrigue has been an integral member of the Terrebonne General staff since 2018 in the Terrebonne Quality Health Network
Her extensive clinical experience includes her previous position as a nurse supervisor with Family Doctor Clinic. She is a Houma native.
As physicians relation coordinator, Rodrigue will lead recruitment efforts to bring exceptional physicians to the medical staff.
She will handle new physician onboarding, which includes orientation, forms assistance, and EPIC training as well as physician recognition programs.
Rodrigue will also will also manage the new "Our Future" observation program, which gives medical and allied health students the opportunity to shadow next to seasoned, practicing physicians in order to advance their knowledge of medicine and technology, while also learning about the newest services on the market.
Terrebonne General Health System is the largest health care resource provider in southeast Louisiana and works to take the lead to deliver medical excellence and innovation to the people of Southeast Louisiana.
Driven by a “high tech” and “high touch” style of healing that offers an expansive range of services that provide hospital care and preventive care while also providing basic health care needs on and offsite.
The healthcare team consists of over 1,500 employees, with over 450 medical staff providers that offer 42 various specialties.
The system has been honored with many prestigious awards and accolades for quality, safety, and patient experience on the state, national and international levels.
Terrebonne General took the lead to initiate a public-private partnership with Ochsner Health, which delivers crucial safety-net services for the region through Chabert Medical Center and is part of an alliance of health care-focused entities across the greater Gulf South region.
For more information, please visit www.tghealthsystem.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.