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Road closures announced in Lower St. Martin Parish

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 4:03pm

Due to rising water, several road closures have been announced in Lower St. Martin Parish.
Adell and Edna streets, as well as Landry Road, are closed until further notice, the St. Martin Parish government announced in a news release.
Motorist should not “sightsee” or attempt to bypass the barricades or signage in place. They also should not try to drive through standing water on the roadway, which “can lead to deadly consequences,” the release said.
There is a self-serve sandbag location at Stephensville Park at 3257 La. 70.

Two men wanted in Patterson homicide turn themselves in

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 1:19pm

Two Thibodaux men wanted in the March 25 homicide in Patterson have been booked into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, the Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Jordan Christopher Franklin, 21, Thibodaux, turned himself in at 1:03 p.m. Monday. He was named in a warrant for manslaughter and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. Franklin was transferred to another agency.

Tireke Kunta Kinta Johnson, 22, Thibodaux, turned himself in Tuesday. He was named in a warrant for manslaughter and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. No bail has been set.

The Sheriff's Office announced Friday that it was seeking Franklin and Johnson in the death of Keiondre Onell Allridge, 21, of Thibodaux.

Cameron Jaron Schrod Hogan, 18, of Patterson was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, illegal possession of stolen firearms, cultivation of marijuana, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17, possession with intent to distribute a legend drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A 16-year-old male, also of Patterson, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen firearms.
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About 8:35 p.m. March 25, deputies responded to a call of shots fired in the Zenor Road area of Patterson and an additional call of a possible wounded man at a business in Patterson. At the business, deputies made contact with three occupants in a vehicle, the Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

One of the occupants, identified as Allridge, was later pronounced dead by the St. Mary Parish Coroner’s Office.

It was learned through the investigation that Allridge and the occupants of the vehicle had traveled to a residence in Patterson to meet someone. While sitting in the vehicle, they were approached by two males who subsequently fired at them, the Sheriff’s Office said. The driver of the vehicle drove the occupants to a truck stop at 1902 U.S. 90.

Later, two persons were developed as suspects in the murder. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at the home of one of the suspects, identified as Hogan, which led to drugs and weapons being seized.

One body recovered after lift boat capsizes

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 11:52am

The Associated Press is reporting that the body of one of the missing crew members of the Seacor Power lift boat was recovered late Wednesday morning.

The search by the Coast Guard and good Samaritan vessels continues. Six crew members were rescued Tuesday. WDSU in New Orleans quoted a Coast Guard captain as saying 19 crew members were aboard the boat.

The lift boat capsized late Tuesday afternoon eight miles south of Port Fourchon.

Coast Guard watch-standers received an emergency position indicating radio beacon notification at 4:30 p.m. of a distressed 129-foot commercial lift vessel. The watch-standers issued an urgent marine information broadcast, and multiple good Samaritan boat crews responded, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The crew of the pre-commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris, a 154-foot fast response cutter, arrived on scene within 30 minutes and rescued one person from the capsized vessel. A 45-foot response boat-medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Grand Isle rescued another person, and good Samaritan vessels on scene rescued four other people from the water.

Rescue crews searching:
Coast Guard Cutter Glenn Harris
Coast Guard Cutter Amberjack en route
A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter
Two Coast Guard Station Grand Isle 45-foot RB-M
Four good Samaritan vessels
An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi

Superintendent gets raise, two-year contract extension

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 11:01am
GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com

CENTERVILLE — The St. Mary Parish school system’s superintendent received a $6,000 raise as well as a two-year contract extension during Tuesday’s special school board meeting.
The measure passed on a 7-1 vote with board member Pearl Rack opposing. Board members Alaina Black, Dwight Barbier, Mike Taylor, Kenneth Alfred, Joseph Foulcard, Marilyn LaSalle and Ginger Griffin voted for the extension and raise. Board members Roland Verret, Sylvia Lockett and Wayne Deslatte were absent.
“Congratulations, Dr. Bagwell,” Alfred told the superintendent after the vote. “Looking forward to working with you for two years, at least.”
Before the increase, Bagwell’s salary was $141,231, according to Chief Financial Officer Alton Perry. That figure includes a $135,000 base salary as well as a $5,000 stipend for being national board certified. She also receives a stipend of $1,231 earned for continuing education.
On top of her pay raise, she also will receive the $3,000 raise that taxpayers approved with the 0.45% sales tax recently. Factoring in the school system’s index for a superintendent of 2.0, that raise will be doubled to $6,000, effective in July.
After all the new adjustments, Bagwell’s salary will be $153,231.
Her new contract began Wednesday and runs through June 30, 2023.
During discussion prior to the vote, Rack had questions about Bagwell’s total additional compensation between the pay raise the board was giving her and the pay increase she will receive via the sales tax proposition that passed recently giving raises to teachers and support staff. She subsequently voted against the raise.
After the meeting, she declined comment on her vote against the superintendent’s contract renewal.
Also during Thursday’s meeting the board adopted a resolution for the canvassing of returns and declaring the result of the .45% sales tax approved by voters on March 20.
The measure received 3,052 votes in favor and 1,900 against.
Rack asked if the board could consider making the payment in two installments as a payment in June and in December instead of issuing it monthly.
“The problem with that is then we can’t put that in our salary schedule,” Perry said. “It becomes more of a one-time payment or a supplemental payment, and that wouldn’t necessarily be what we wanted to accomplish with the Gold Book and the improvement.”
Rack said that she wanted to make a motion to do so at a previous meeting but was told to hold off to see if the measure passes. She noted that it is done in another parish.
She was advised because it wasn’t on the agenda, that it needed to be placed on the agenda in order to be considered.
Taylor said he was going to offer a motion at the next meeting to adjust salaries in the gold book to reflect the $3,000 increase for certificated employees and $1,500 for support personnel.
The board also adopted an ordinance for the levy.
In another matter, Perry announced the school system intends to seek board approval to consider adopting a resolution at its next meeting calling for a special election in Consolidated School District No. 5, which includes the entire parish. Perry hopes the measure can be placed on the October ballot. It is for the renewal of an existing ad valorem tax. The 10-year tax brought in about $6.36 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020.

Berwick gets grant for flood project

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:59am
BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com

BERWICK — The rain from another flash flood event had barely ended Tuesday when Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur announced a state grant to improve drainage in one of the town’s flood-prone areas.
Another grant, this one from the state, took a decade to make its way to Berwick, but it will soon put some new sidewalks in town.
Also at its meeting Tuesday, the Town Council recognized a group of ministers who are working with the Police Department to offer counseling in time of need.
Drainage grant
The state grant for $1.6 million will go to improve drainage along Hebert, Jones, Palmer and Hogan streets in Country Club Estates Subdivision. The work represents the most expensive piece of flood control measures identified after the April and June 2019 flash flooding pushed water into subdivision homes.
Thirty-nine subdivision residents reported water in their homes after the June flooding that year.
The remedies identified after the 2019 flooding included improving drainage ditches and installing storm sewers.
“We’ll be moving forward with (drainage improvements) as soon as we get the paperwork in,” Arthur said.
Sidewalk grant
Berwick successfully applied for a $175,000 grant for sidewalk improvements in 2011. But the town government never received the money from the state’s sometimes balky appropriation process.
Town officials stayed on the trail and, this week, a state legislative committee cleared the way to send the money to Berwick.
The money will pay for sidewalk work along portions of Oregon, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets.
Critical
Response
Team
Assistant Police Chief JP Henry introduced six clergymen who are volunteer members of a Critical Response Team. Their purpose is to offer counseling and spiritual support to people affected by incidents such as vehicle accidents or fires. They’re also available to talk with police officers.
The team members, all members of the local ministerial alliance, are Steve Manville and Marty Harden of Bethel Pentecostal Fellowship, Tommy Fromenthal and Herb Stanley of Cornerstone Ministries, Mo Seneca of Lighthouse Community Church, and Steve Porter, a pastor at Methodist churches in Berwick and Patterson.
The council passed a resolution recognizing the work of team members.
New roof
Work on the new roof at Town Hall left the building vulnerable to flooding last week, leading to the closure of Town Hall on Friday.
But the work goes on, replacing a leak-prone flat roof that is nearly 70 years old with a $298,000 peaked roof. B&J Enterprises of Metairie is the contractor. The council awarded the contract in February.
The council voted Tuesday to make the first payment of $47,680 to B&J.
Tax rates
The council passed ordinances setting the property tax rates and the drainage fee for 2021.
The property taxes will remain at 12.88 mills for the general fund and 6.38 mills for a variety of purposes including recreation, public works and police facilities.
A mill is 1/10th cent of tax applied to each dollar of assessed valuation. Residential property is assessed at 10% of its market value.
The drainage fee will remain at $25 per acre. That fee raises about $75,000 a year for spending on drainage work.

Softball roundup: Central Catholic picks up 20th win

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:57am
Staff Report

The Central Catholic Lady Eagles lead the Tri-City area’s softball teams with a 20-7 mark.
Central Catholic has won two straight, most recently an 11-0 victory against Vermilion Catholic on the road Monday in District 8-1A play. Central Catholic has a 4-0 mark in district play, and the squad is ranked No. 7 in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division IV power rankings.
In recent action, Central Catholic defeated Patterson 10-8 on the road April 6, topped Covenant Christian 7-1 at home April 7 in District 8-1A action, won two of three games in St. Thomas More’s tournament this past weekend and defeated Vermilion Catholic. At St. Thomas More’s tournament, Central Catholic defeated St. Edmund 4-0 Friday, fell to Academy of Our Lady 4-3 Saturday and routed St. Louis Catholic 16-1 Saturday.
This season, the Lady Eagles have beaten False River, Patterson (three times), South Terrebonne, Ascension Catholic, South Lafourche, Morgan City, Berwick, Vandebilt Catholic, Covenant Christian (twice), Terrebonne, Centerville, De La Salle, Hanson Memorial, Kaplan, St. Edmund, St. Louis Catholic and Vermilion Catholic.
The Lady Eagles’ longest win streak has been five games.
In addition to its own tournament, Central Catholic participated in tournaments hosted by Catholic-Pointe Coupee, Terrebonne, Berwick and St. Thomas More.
Berwick
The Berwick Lady Panthers have won 15 games during the 2021 season.
The squad currently is 15-10 overall and 5-2 in District 9-3A action. Berwick is ranked No. 13 in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 3A power rankings.
In the last week, Berwick defeated St. James 1-0 in District 9-3A action at home on April 6 and fell to Assumption 4-0 Monday on the road.
This season, Berwick has defeated Morgan City (three times), Central Lafourche, South Terrebonne, E.D. White (twice), Patterson (twice), Terrebonne, Covenant Christian, St. James (twice), Southside and West St. Mary
The Lady Panthers’ longest win streak is three games, which the squad achieved on two occasions.
In addition to its own tournament, Berwick attended events hosted by Assumption, Central Catholic and Thibodaux-E.D. White.
Patterson
The Patterson Lumberjills have had ups and downs, but most recently, the squad is riding a two-game winning streak.
The Lumberjills are 6-14 overall and 1-6 in District 9-3A. Patterson is ranked No. 25 in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 3A power rankings.
Most recently, Patterson defeated St. James 2-1 in district play on the road Monday after topping Breaux Bridge 16-0 on the road Friday.
The win against Breaux Bridge came following a 9-0 loss to E.D. White on the road Thursday in district play, a 10-8 defeat to Central Catholic on April 6 at home and a 9-8 setback to Erath at home on April 5.
This season, Patterson has defeated Morgan City, Houma Christian, Berwick, Centerville, Breaux Bridge and St. James.
Patterson twice has achieved its longest win streak of two games.
This season, Patterson participated in tournaments hosted by Berwick and Central Catholic.
Morgan City
It’s been a tough season for the Morgan City Lady Tigers, but with the regular season concluding this week, the squad is well within the top 32 teams that will make the Class 4A playoffs.
Morgan City is ranked No. 26 in the latest Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 4A power rankings released Tuesday.
The squad concluded its regular season with a 5-16 mark, including a 2-3 record in District 8-4A play.
In the last week, Morgan City fell to Assumption 10-0 on the road on April 6, was clipped by South Lafourche 8-7 at home Thursday and lost to St. James 10-7 on the road Friday. The Assumption and South Lafourche contests were District 8-4A games.
Morgan City’s wins have come against E.D. White, Covenant Christian, Jeanerette, South Terrebonne and Ellender.
The squad’s longest winning streak is two games.
Morgan City competed in tournaments hosted by Assumption, Terrebonne and Berwick.

Sand bags available in Lower St. Martin Parish, no-wake zone in effect

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:56am

Sand bags are available in Lower St. Martin Parish, while a no-wake zone for the Stephensville and Belle River areas has been issued.
The self-serve sand bag location is at Stephensville Park. Public works personnel were expected to be at the site Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Wednesday morning, St. Mary Parish President Chester Cedars issued a no-wake zone for the Stephensville and Belle River areas. It will remain in effect until further notice.
Because water levels are elevated, boaters could place more water into bayou side homes and property if they are navigating their craft at high speeds.

ROSE MARY VERRETT GUILLORY

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:56am

Rose Mary Verrett Guillory, 77, a resident of Patterson, died April 11, 2021, at her residence.
She is survived by her husband, Sheldon Guillory of Patterson; daughter, Michelle McNemar of Patterson; and a grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday, 9-10:30 a.m., at Twin City Funeral Home, with a mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson at 11 a.m.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Former Assumption sheriff recommended for auditor's post

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:55am
DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

A legislative committee recommended Monday hiring former Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespack to be the next Louisiana legislative auditor.
The full Louisiana Legislature will consider the recommendation during the regular session, which began Monday. If confirmed, he will replace Daryl Purpera, who announced in February he was stepping down March 2.
“I’m looking at this as a 10-year commitment,” Waguespack said during his public interview.
Waguespack is a certified public accountant who serves on the Louisiana Tax Commission. He served 16 years as Assumption Parish sheriff, stepping down in 2016 reportedly to take a private-sector job after losing his reelection bid but before his term had ended.
Waguespack is a co-founder of Assumption Mortgage Corporation and a CPA with Waguespack, Gallagher & Barbera, which provides accounting and consulting services for small- to medium-sized businesses in various industries, according to the Tax Commission’s website.
After graduating from LSU with an accounting degree, Waguespack said, he went to work for Pricewaterhouse Coopers. While with the large accounting firm, he performed his first governmental audit of the Louisiana state employees’ retirement system, better known as LASERS, he said.
Waguespack said his experience as a sheriff whose agency was subject to annual audits by the LLA helped him to understand the auditee’s point of view, which he said would help to “alleviate some of the tensions” with government agencies. He said helping to educate local officials about how to stay out of financial trouble is an important part of the job.
“There’s a lot of money coming down the pipe in the next three years,” Waguespack said, referring to the almost $2 billion in federal stimulus dollars local governments are expected to receive. “It may be incumbent upon all of us to really reach down to them and hold their hand through the process. It’s scary. It’s billions of dollars. We’ve got to make sure these guys don’t reset their budgets (based on temporary federal funding), including us.”

Committee votes in favor of income tax rate cut

Wed, 04/14/2021 - 10:53am
DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

A Louisiana Senate committee voted Tuesday to amend the state constitution to lower the maximum allowable personal income tax rate and give lawmakers the ability to eliminate a major tax break for federal income taxes paid.
The state constitution caps the top state income tax rate for individuals at 6%. Senate Bill 159 by Sen. Bret Allain, the Republican who chairs his chamber’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, would lower the maximum top rate to 5%.
The amendment also would strike from the constitution the state’s income tax break for federal taxes paid. Allain said a companion statute would establish a 4.25% top rate and abolish the tax break.
Policy wonks across the political spectrum have called for killing the federal income tax break, which puts state tax policy at the mercy of the federal government. When Congress reduces the federal income tax rate, it effectively causes a state tax increase in Louisiana, and the opposite also is true.
Cutting the state tax rate offsets the loss for higher-income taxpayers of the lucrative tax break.
“We’re trying to do this as revenue-neutral as possible,” Allain said.
While no one opposed eliminating the federal income tax break, the tax rate change was more controversial. Jan Moller with the Louisiana Budget Project, which focuses on how state policy affects low- and middle-income residents, argued the state needs to raise revenue, pointing to teacher salaries that are well below the regional average as one example where more spending is needed.
Moller also said the state’s high sales tax rate, which force lower-income residents to spend a larger proportion of their money on state taxes than those with higher incomes, makes Louisiana more of an outlier than the income tax rates.
Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, objected to advancing the bill, saying she thought its two goals should be in two separate bills. Allain, however, said, politically, dropping the tax break won’t fly without lower tax rates. Lawmakers moved the bill with a 10-1 vote.
The committee also approved Senate Bill 161, which extends an exemption of the corporate franchise tax on the first $300,000 of taxable capital from its current sunset at the end of this fiscal year into 2025. About 80% of Louisiana corporations would not have to pay the tax at all, Allain said. The Department of Revenue said the change would reduce state revenue by about $7.5 million annually.

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