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Morgan City police radio logs for April 30-May 3

Tue, 05/04/2021 - 11:03am

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.
Friday, April 30
7:01 a.m. 1600 block of Chestnut Drive; Complaint.
8:10 a.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Lost/found property.
8:12 a.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Removal of subject.
8:27 a.m. 1600 block of Second Street; Theft.
9:14 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
10:14 a.m. 1500 block of North First Street; Removal of subject.
11:01 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Fire.
11:21 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.
11:29 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Complaint.
11:58 a.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Complaint.
11:59 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Lost/found property.
12:17 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
12:22 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
12:24 p.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Animal.
1:19 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Stand by.
1:56 p.m. 900 block of Florence Street; Animal.
3:12 p.m. 300 block of Pecos Street; Juvenile problem.
3:14 p.m. 1000 block of Shaw Drive; Juvenile problem.
3:37 p.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Juvenile problem.
3:55 p.m. 200 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
5:31 p.m. Myrtle Street and La. 182; Animal complaint.
6:03 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
6:22 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Removal of subject.
7:23 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Civil.
7:42 p.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Complaint.
7:56 p.m. Fifth and Freret streets; Crash.
8:16 p.m. 1700 block of Dale Street; Animal complaint.
8:45 p.m. Brashear Avenue; Assistance.
9:12 p.m. Egle Street; Disturbance.
10:23 p.m. 3100 block of Jennie Drive; Complaint.
10:25 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Patrol.
10:48 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Assistance.
10:50 p.m. 1400 block of Ellzey Street; Loud music.
11:41 p.m. 400 block of Kidd Street; Telephone harassment.
Saturday, May 1
12:47 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
1:44 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
2:08 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
2:27 a.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
2:31 a.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
2:44 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Animal complaint.
2:55 a.m. Victor II Boulevard and Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:13 a.m. 200 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
4:14 a.m. 400 block of Idaho Street; Medical.
6:42 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
7:30 a.m. Federal Avenue; Suspicious person.
11:54 a.m. La. 70; Medical.
Noon; 500 block of Garber Street; Harassment.
12:08 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Battery.
12:54 p.m. La. 182 and Aycock Street; Assistance.
1 p.m. Lakeside; Animal.
1:21 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Box in road.
1:44 p.m. 700 block of Railroad Avenue; Juvenile problem.
2:16 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
3:58 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:19 p.m. 900 block of Fourth Street; Suspicious person.
6:28 p.m. 600 block of Second Street; Suspicious subject.
8:23 p.m. 600 block of Grove Street; Medical.
9:43 p.m. 1100 block of Federal Avenue; Loud music.
9:49 p.m. La. 70/U.S. 90; Assistance.
10:37 p.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Loud music.
10:56 p.m. 1800 block of Maple Street; Disturbance.
11:10 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Criminal damage to property.
11:46 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Complaint.
11:56 p.m. 700 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
Sunday, May 2
12:09 a.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Complaint.
12:43 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
1:02 a.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Removal of subject.
1:14 a.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Complaint.
1:51 a.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Disturbance.
3:22 a.m. 600 block of Fifth Street; Theft.
3:44 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
3:51 a.m. 3200 block of Vine Drive; Juvenile problem.
4:51 a.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Alarm.
5:43 a.m. 200 block of South Railroad Avenue; Alarm.
5:56 a.m. Railroad Bridge; Utilities.
6:03 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
8:02 a.m. 700 block of Onstead Street; Animal.
9:24 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
10:39 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless driver.
11:02 a.m. 2900 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
11:36 a.m. Fifth and Maine streets; Complaint.
1:25 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Theft.
2:26 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Harassment.
3:09 p.m. 3200 block of Karen Drive; Medical.
3:57 p.m. Ochsner St. Mary; Complaint.
5:10 p.m. 1400 block of Bernice Street; Complaint.
5:34 p.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Patrol.
5:45 p.m. Sixth and Hickory streets; Reckless operation.
6:17 p.m. 400 block of Seventh Street; Animal complaint.
6:36 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Medical.
7:33 p.m. 100 block of Railroad Avenue; Lost and found.
7:54 p.m. La. 70/U.S. 90; Traffic incident.
8:20 p.m. Sixth and Terrebonne streets; Crash.
9:53 p.m. 100 block of Arkansas Street; Complaint.
Monday, May 3
2:04 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Medical.
2:25 a.m. 800 block of Ninth Street; Alarm.
3:45 a.m. 500 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.

Next Shrimp & Petroleum Festival queen sought

Tue, 05/04/2021 - 8:15am

It is once again time for area young women to vie for the title of Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival queen.
COVID-19 restrictions resulted in the 2020 Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival being canceled, but the festival is on for Labor Day weekend this year, said the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival and Fair Association.
The association, along with the Past Queen’s Club, announced Monday that the search for a special young woman to carry on the tradition of representing the oldest, state-chartered harvest festival is under way. The young woman chosen will be the goodwill ambassador for the Tri-City area and will represent the 86th Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, according to the festival’s news release.
Some of the requirements are:
—All candidates must be at least 18 years old and not more than 23 by Jan. 1, 2022.
—Candidates and their parents shall be residents of east St. Mary Parish or lower St. Martin and Assumption parishes.
—Each candidate should have attended at least their junior and senior year in an east St. Mary Parish high school.
—Candidates shall be high school graduates by not less than one year, shall never have been married, pregnant or given birth to a child. The queen must remain single during her reign. In the event the queen should marry or something may cause her not to be able to represent the festival, the festival shall consider the crown vacated and all privileges and duties of the queen shall revert to one of the crown princesses, at the festival’s choice.
—The queen will travel the state as a goodwill ambassador and will be required to attend 11 festivals selected by the association board, and the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals convention. The new queen is encouraged to attend, when possible, all other festivals and any city functions to which she is invited. Required travel expenses are paid by the festival.
The queen must abide by all rules and regulations of her host festival while attending as a representative of the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.
—The queen is also required to attend the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians’ Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C. Before embarking on the trip she will be honored at a luncheon hosted by the Gov. John Bel Edwards and first lady Donna Edwards. She will be joined by other queens, and many Louisiana representatives and dignitaries, at the event in Baton Rouge.
—If the parents of the queen should move from the area, the queen must maintain an area residence during the term of her reign.
—The young woman chosen as queen must relinquish all other beauty titles, other than high school or college. She may not enter any beauty contest her year as queen.
—She must conform to all festival regulations as queen and must not conduct herself in any manner other than that befitting of a queen.
Information and applications may be obtained by emailing info@shrimpandpetroleum.org or online at www.shrimpandpetroleum.org/maids. The deadline for submitting applications to the festival office is 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 4.
For more information contact Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Executive Director Hailee Thomas at 985-385-0703.

Pfizer, Moderna vaccines effectiveness assessed

Tue, 05/04/2021 - 8:12am

According to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessment, fully vaccinated adults 65 years and older were 94% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people of the same age who were not vaccinated. The assessment was of both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), the CDC news release states.
People 65 and older who were partially vaccinated were 64% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people who were not vaccinated. People were considered “partially vaccinated” two weeks after their first dose of mRNA vaccine and “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose.
These are the first real-world findings in the United States confirming clinical trial data showing mRNA vaccines prevent severe COVID-19 illness. The findings provide additional support for CDC’s recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination among people 65 and older in the U.S. population under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the applicable COVID-19 vaccine as the risk for severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk.
“These findings are encouraging and welcome news for the two-thirds of people aged 65 and up who are already fully vaccinated,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH. “COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and these real-world findings confirm the benefits seen in clinical trials, preventing hospitalizations among those most vulnerable. The results are promising for our communities and hospitals. As our vaccination efforts continue to expand, COVID-19 patients will not overwhelm health care systems — leaving hospital staff, beds and services available for people who need them for other medical conditions.”
The assessment looked at hospitalizations in two U.S. hospital networks covering 24 hospitals in 14 states. Vaccine effectiveness was assessed by comparing the odds of COVID-19 vaccination among hospitalized people who tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 (these were case-patients) versus those who tested negative (these were controls). Among 417 participants in the assessment, there were 187 case-patients and 230 controls. Close to half of the patients were more than 75 years old.
Also noteworthy, while early reports from Israel also documented the real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, including among older adults, those reports only looked at vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In this CDC assessment, both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine products were equally represented.
As expected, the assessment confirmed that vaccination provided no protection to people who had received their first dose fewer than two weeks earlier. It takes two weeks for the body to form an immune response after vaccination.
Two networks previously established to conduct surveillance for serious influenza disease provided the data for this assessment: Hospitalized Adult Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network (HAIVEN) and Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness in the Critically Ill (IVY).
This assessment is one of many planned COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness assessments to evaluate the real-world benefits of COVID-19 vaccines. Results from these assessments will help inform vaccine policy decisions aimed at saving lives and decreasing serious COVID-19 disease as much as possible.
CDC recommends everyone 16 years of age and older in the U.S. population under the EUA get the applicable COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, according to the CDC news release.

Daughter's boyfriend ruins family gatherings

Tue, 05/04/2021 - 8:08am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: We get our children and grandchildren together twice a year. Our oldest daughter is divorced and, unfortunately, has a significant other the rest of our family cannot stand. He’s an arrogant, competitive know-it-all.
We have been around him only twice — the last two times the family got together. The second time was a disaster for the rest of us. Should we tell her we don’t want to invite him this year, and how do we say it? Or should we not tell her?
TENTATIVE IN FLORIDA

DEAR TENTATIVE: Talk to your daughter about this. When you do, have handy a list of the ways he offended your family members at the gathering. Her significant other may be so self-centered he doesn’t realize he’s being obnoxious.
Ask her to ask him to dial back his need to compete, impress, cover for his own insecurity — whatever drives him. Then give him one more chance.
If that fails, do not invite him again, and tell her why. You can always see your daughter separately, I assume, and so can her siblings.

DEAR ABBY: I had a relationship with a wonderful woman for almost six years. During the course of our relationship, I purchased a rather expensive precious stone — exactly what she wanted — with the intent of giving it to her as a promise ring. (Neither of us are fans of the institution of marriage.) We have since gone our separate ways, but we still communicate.
Because it was purchased for her, I am tempted to give her the stone. At the same time, I have entertained the notion of keeping it and giving it to my future life partner, should I meet someone I care for that deeply. Your guidance would be greatly appreciated.
ROMANCING THE STONE

DEAR ROMANCING: Promise rings symbolize the promise of a proposal of marriage.
In the case of your former girlfriend, it didn’t pan out. Because the two of you still communicate, why not mention to her that you have the stone and ask if she would like to have it. If she says no, you can always offer it to someone else, although I can’t promise the lady will be eager to receive a souvenir of a failed relationship.

DEAR ABBY: A friend of mine has a 70-pound dog that behaves badly. When I visit her, it sprints out of the front door, barking, and jumps on my car. It has left 3½-inch-long deep scratches on two of my vehicles. She yells at it, and eventually the dog stops, but not before jumping on me and leaving me muddied and snagged.
This friend is due to have a baby, and I am sure she will be inviting me over to meet the baby soon. How can I avoid further damage to my car and clothing without damaging my friendship?
ASSAULTED IN AUSTIN

DEAR ASSAULTED: The obvious answer is to find the courage to tell your friend you are willing to visit only if she confines her dog so it won’t cause further damage to you and your property. And while you are at it, mention that you are concerned about her baby’s safety. Her dog’s lack of discipline poses a distinct danger to her defenseless and vulnerable little one.
***
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Basin Restoration & Enhancement Task Force to meet in Morgan City Tuesday

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 3:08pm

The Atchafalaya River Basin Restoration & Enhancement Task Force will meet Tuesday morning at the Governmental Operation and Emergency Center in Morgan City.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. at the facility at 7327 La. 182.
It also will be streamed on Facebook Live on the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s page.
Agenda items include solutions to priority issues, while a public comment period will be held, too.
Gov. John Bel Edwards created the task force to tackle issues in the basin.

Local prep baseball teams ousted from playoffs

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:58am

Staff Report

Staff Report
The Tri-City area’s prep baseball season came to an end Saturday as the three local teams in contention were eliminated in their best-of-three series.
In Class 3A, No. 8 Berwick fell to No. 9 Jena in a mild upset two games to one, while also in Class 3A action, No. 17 Patterson dropped two games to No. 1 Sterlington.
In Division IV, No. 11 Central Private upset No. 6 Central Catholic two games to one.
With no local teams in the postseason, it will mark the first time since the 2011 season that the Tri-City area has not had a baseball team advance to at least the state semifinal round.
From 2012-17 and again in 2019, Central Catholic advanced to at least the semifinal round in Class 1A and later Division IV. During that time, the Eagles finished as runners-up three times and state champions once in 2016.
From 2017-19, Berwick advanced to at least the state semifinal round in Class 3A, winning the title in 2018.
Below are recaps of the weekend action.
Berwick
The Berwick Panthers ended their season falling at home to the Jena Giants in three games.
Friday, Jena run-ruled Berwick 18-1 in five innings.
Saturday, Berwick responded with a 7-1 victory in game two before Jena won the finale 9-4.
No individual stats were submitted.
Berwick finishes its season with a 16-10 record, while Jena improves to 18-14.
Jena will advance to play top-ranked Sterlington in Sterlington this weekend. Sterlington advanced after defeating No. 17 Patterson in two games.
Patterson
The Patterson Lumb-erjacks fell to top-ranked Sterlington on the road this weekend in two games.
Patterson dropped game 1 Friday 9-0 before being run-ruled 13-1 Saturday in five innings.
“We played well,” Patterson coach Brett Doré said. “Sterlington threw their guy for 7 innings the first game, and we barreled him up. Just couldn’t get the ball to drop in our favor. Played sound defense all weekend, but they just outhit us in the end.”
For the weekend, Patterson’s top hitters were Don Diaz, Haydn Bailey and Drew Dinger. Diaz finished 2-for-5 with a double, Bailey was 2-for-5 with an RBI and Drew Dinger was 2-for-4.
On the mound, Patt-erson’s top pitcher from the weekend was Drake Dinger. He threw four innings and allowed one hit, no earned runs or walks and fanned two.
Patterson finishes its season with a 16-14 mark.
“We had a phenomenal season in my opinion,” Doré said. “Coming off of 1 half of a season and not much of a summer, my kids bounced back and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. That is only the 6th time in Patterson’s history for the baseball program, and that is something that I want them to be very proud of.”
Sterlington improves to 28-4 and will advance to this weekend’s Class 3A quarterfinals where it will meet No. 9 Jena. Jena advanced after defeating No. 8 Berwick in another regional-round series.
Central
Catholic
Central Catholic fell this weekend to Central Private in the Division IV postseason.
While Central Catholic won game 1 of the series 4-1 Friday, the Eagles dropped game 2 1-0 Saturday. Central Private won game 3 later Saturday 9-4.
No individual Central Catholic stats were available.
Central Catholic finishes its season with a 16-10 mark, while Central Private improves to 13-13.
Central Private will advance to the quarterfinal round this weekend where it will travel to face No. 3 Calvary Baptist. Calvary Baptist defeated No. 14 Highland Baptist in two games this weekend in other regional-round action.

Around Town for May 3

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:55am

Happy birthday Wayne Minor from family, friends and Ira.

PATRICK JOSEPH BERGERON

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:53am

March 18, 1934 — April 27, 2021
Patrick Joseph Bergeron, a lifelong resident of Morgan City, passed away of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at Ochsner St. Mary Hospital, at the age of 87.
Patrick was born on March 18, 1934 in Morgan City, the son of Oliver Joseph Bergeron, Sr. and Elizabeth Rentrop Bergeron.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by four children, Dr. Bryan Bergeron of Brookline, Massachusetts, Nathan Bergeron of Baton Rouge, Rosalind Bergeron Cudrigh and husband Lukas of Los Angeles, California and Helen Bergeron of Berwick; three grandchildren, Jennifer Bergeron, Garret Bergeron and Oliver Cudrigh; one daughter-in-law, Maria Pinhue Bergeron; one brother, Edwin Bergeron of Morgan City; three sisters-in-law, Patricia Boudreaux Bergeron of Gretna, Carol Schultz Bergeron of Lafayette and Sharon Ratz Bergeron of Morgan City; and numerous nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.
Patrick was preceded in death by parents; his wife, Janet Vidos Bergeron; one son, Steven Bergeron; eight siblings, Oliver Bergeron Jr. and his wife Marion Hogan Bergeron, Elizabeth Bergquist and husband Jack, Catherine Kidd and husband Roland, Joyce Buford and husband Gerald, Joan Michel and husband Calvin, Anthony Bergeron, Robert Bergeron and Jason Bergeron.
A funeral Mass was held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Toto Buenaflor celebrating the Mass. Inurnment services were held immediately following in the Morgan City Cemetery. A Memorial Service celebrating Patrick’s life will be held at a later date.

DOUGLAS JOSEPH DAIGLE SR.

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:34am

DDouglas Joseph Daigle Sr., 88, a native of Houma and resident of Gibson, died Friday, April 30, 2021, at his residence.
He is survived by his wife, Deanna Levron Daigle of Gibson; seven children, Angela Percle, Randy Daigle, Mark Daigle, Michael Daigle, Dale Daigle, Cindy Plaisance and Ronnie Daigle; brother, Gerald Daigle; 29 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son and two granddaughters.
Visitation was Monday, 9-11 a.m., at Twin City Funeral Home, with services at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Houma at noon. Interment followed in Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum.
Twin City Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Legislature takes on medical marijuana, recreational legalization

Mon, 05/03/2021 - 11:28am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

Louisiana lawmakers are considering expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program and may even be poised to take the once-nearly-unthinkable step of legalizing it for all adults.
Medical cannabis technically has been legal in Louisiana since 1978, though the Louisiana Legislature didn’t take concrete steps to make it available until 2016. While the program took about three years to get products into patients’ hands, lawmakers have moved quickly since to broaden its scope.
Though legal access to therapeutic cannabis products initially was limited to patients with specific ailments, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly last year to give doctors the ability to recommend access for any patient they think will benefit
The state House was to consider House Bill 391 on Monday. It would add smokeable raw marijuana to Louisiana’s legal optionsfor medical use.
Rep. Richard Nelson, R-Mandeville, is sponsoring House Bill 699, which would legalize marijuana for recreational use by adults who are at least 21 years old. His House Bill 440 proposes a $2,500 annual fee for a cannabis business license and a $100 cost for a personal cultivation permit.
Nelson’s House Bill 434 calls for a 10% retail tax and a 5% wholesale tax, with 20% of the proceeds dedicated to local law enforcement where the sale was made, 30% to local government and the rest to state government’s general fund. During the committee debate, Nelson said the taxes could raise between $100 million and $200 million.
Nelson stressed he wasn’t saying that smoking marijuana is a good idea, only that the benefits of ending prohibition outweigh the harms. People are going to smoke marijuana whether it’s legal or not, so it makes sense to bring it out of the shadows, tax it and regulate it, he argued. \Representatives of law enforcement and district attorneys were among those who argued against HB 699. Michael Ranatza, executive director of the Louisiana Sheriffs Association, said research in Colorado showed an increase in teen suicides after legalization. He also said organized crime gets involved in production, rather than being shut out of the industry.
“Tap your breaks and study this,” he urged.
Loren Lampert, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, said colleagues in states where marijuana is fully legal recommend moving slowly and studying the implications over at least a couple of years. Factors that may not be obvious include the impact on electricity grids and possible groundwater contamination, he said.
The criminal justice committee sent HB 699 to the House floor with a 7-5 bipartisan vote.
“Similar to alcohol, the recreational availability of this drug to adults would essentially ensure access to children,” Gene Mills, president of the conservative Louisiana Family Forum, said in the LFF’s email newsletter sent Friday. “Let’s just say no to yet another method that ruins the lives of Louisiana residents.”
Edwards generally has said he does not support legalization for recreational use, but he has not said he would veto a legalization bill if it reached his desk.