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Softball roundup: Central Catholic picks up 20th win

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

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

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

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

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.

Teen arrested in accidental shooting with stolen gun

(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.)

A juvenile has been arrested in an accidental shooting in Bayou L’Ourse with a weapon reported stolen in Morgan City, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Juvenile, 14, was arrested March 31 on charges of illegal possession of a stolen firearm and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.
On Feb. 13, deputies responded to a residence in Bayou L’Ourse after a call about a juvenile who sustained a non-life-threatening wound from a firearm.
Detectives initiated a follow up investigation and determined that a firearm involved in the incident had been reported stolen in Morgan City.
At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives filed a verified complaint against a 14-year-old.
The verified complaint was filed March 31.
The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent.
—Tyrone Fair Jr., 31, La. 400, Napoleonville, was arrested Monday on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of alprazolam (Xanax), possession of Vyvanse, possession of drug paraphernalia, Schedule IV drugs, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of controlled dangerous substances, illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tail lamps required, and an a parole hold for the Department of Corrections.
The arrest followed a traffic stop near Labadieville late Monday.
A uniformed patrol officer, assigned to the I.C.E. detail, observed a northbound vehicle with an equipment violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle.
The deputy made contact with the driver and proceeded to conduct an interview.
While doing so, the deputy noted a strong odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
As a result of that interview, a search was conducted of the suspect vehicle.
That process led to the seizure of several illegal controlled dangerous substances as well as a firearm.
Fair was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated pending a bond proceeding.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 50 calls for service and made these arrests:
—Bryan Racicot, 55, Shady Grove, Patterson, was arrested at 8:08 a.m. Monday on a charge of criminal trespass.
—Jessica Brown Burgess, 39, Keith Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:31 a.m. Monday on warrants for possession of heroin and violation of the uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).
—Troy A. Landry, 43, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:27 p.m. Monday on charges of domestic abuse battery and domestic abuse (child endangerment law).
—John Hinton, 48, Old Highway 49, Saucier, Mississippi., was arrested at 9:34 p.m. Monday on a charge of entry on or remaining in places or on land after forbidden. Hinton was also wanted as a fugitive from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Brittany Bullock, 19 years old, Knight Street, Berwick, was arrested at 7:19 p.m. Monday on a Morgan City Police Department warrant for possession of marijuana over 14 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
 —Moses Charlot, 19, Versen Street, Berwick, was arrested at 7:19 p.m. Monday on charges of possession marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of the uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone), illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of minors and obstruction of justice (tampering with evidence).
At 6:19 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a residence in the 600 block of Knight Street in reference to a complaint of drug use at the apartment.
Officers arrived on scene and made contact with Bullock and Charlot.
Through investigation, consent to search the apartment was given and officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
It was also determined that Charlot attempted to discard some marijuana by flushing it when officers first arrived. Charlot admitted that the marijuana and paraphernalia belonged to him.
The apartment is located within the Berwick Housing Authority, which is a posted drug free zone, and there was an 8-month-old child present during this investigation.
Bullock was found to have an active warrant through the Morgan City Police Department. Charlot and Bullock were both placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail.
Charlot remains with no bond set, and Bullock was transferred to the Morgan City Police Department. 

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Hayven Auguillard, 34, Begnaud Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Monday on charges with manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs; taking contraband to or from a penal institution; Schedule I drugs; racketeering activity; and transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses.
—Brandon Horton, 27, Bayou Portage Road, St. Martinville, was arrested Monday and held for court.
—Robert Wheaton, 47, B LeBlanc Drive, Henderson, was reported Monday by the Henderson Police Department on a charge of aggravated criminal damage to property.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 41 complaints and made these arrests:
—Shundren Keon Johnson, 25, Patterson, was arrested at 7:08 a.m. Mondya on a charge of violation of protective orders. Johnson was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Sharron D. Allen, 32, New Orleans, was arrested at 11:13 a.m. Monday on charges of driving under suspension, no child restraint, and following too close. Allen was released on a summons to appear on July 22..
—Melissa Ann Evans, 51, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 6:42 p.m. Monday on a charge of motor vehicles-rented or leased. Evans was released on a $5,000 bond.
—Chad Ross Jr., 27, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:13 p.m. Monday on two warrants for failure to appear on charges of simple criminal damage to properyt, unauthorized use of a movable, domestic abuse battery, and license plate required, and on a warrant for possession of Schedule IV drugs.
No bail has been set.
—Deven Wayne Vining, 27, Galliano, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no driver's license, no insurance, no license plates and expired or no inspection sticker.
Vining also held a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of Schedule II drigs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
No bail has been set.
—Joshua A. Singleton, 43, Franklin, was arrested at 2:23 p.m. Monday by the K9 Section pm charges of proper equipment required on vehicles and possession of marijuana.
A K9 deputy was patrolling the area of Franklin when he observed a vehicle with a dark cover over the license plate, which obstructed the view of the plate.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Singleton.
During the stop, the deputy smelled an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
K9 Jace was deployed to conduct an open-air sniff around the vehicle and showed a positive odor response.
The K9 deputy subsequently located marijuana inside the vehicle.
Singleton was released on a summons to appear July 22.

Chitimacha
Police Chief Hal Hutchinson reported these arrests:
—Tayla Bernauer, tribal residence, was arrested Monday on charges of violation of the uniform controlled dangerous substances law (drug-free zone) (two counts) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Courtland Phillips was arrested Monday on charges of unlawful production or sale of drugs , possession of drugs in a drug-free zone and posssession of drug paraphernalia.
Tribal Police Department officers concluded a month-long narcotics Monday by executing a search warrant at a tribal residence owned by Bernauer.
Marijuana and legend drugs were found throughout the residence
The Chitimacha Tribal Police Department officers were assisted by the St Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Morgan City police radio logs for April 12-13

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.
Monday, April 12
7:53 a.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Arrest.
8:30 a.m. 100 block of First Street; 911 hang up.
8:52 a.m. 1000 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
9:05 a.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical.
9:56 a.m. 100 block of First Street; 911 hang up.
10:10 a.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Arrest.
10:12 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Theft.
10:50 a.m. 600 block of Belanger Street; Complaint.
11:41 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Assistance.
11:45 a.m. Freret Street; Complaint.
12:07 p.m. 300 block of Oriole Street; Complaint.
12:15 p.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Theft.
12:34 p.m. 1100 block of Fourth Street; Stalled vehicle.
12:47 p.m. La. 70 and Marguerite Street; Crash.
1:15 p.m. 500 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
2:48 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
3:43 p.m. Sacred Heart Drive; Animal complaint.
4:04 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Complaint.
4:06 p.m. Sixth and Terrebonne streets; Stalled vehicle.
4:57 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
5:03 p.m. 300 block of Garber Street; Complaint.
5:03 p.m. 1700 block of Victor II Boulevard; Patrol.
5:35 p.m. 500 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.
6:10 p.m. Arenz and Fourth streets; Reckless driver.
6:50 p.m. Railroad and Federal avenues; Complaint.
8:40 p.m. Berwick; Arrest.
8:48 p.m. Lake End Park; Medical.
8:56 p.m. 100 block of Railroad Avenue; Removal of subject.
9:24 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
9:41 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Harassment.
11:20 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
Tuesday, April 13
3:27 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Arrest.

Jeremy Alford: Fiscal-only session has something for everyone

The first day of the Legislature’s regular session this past Monday kicked off a with a few reminders that politics never sleep. There were three early morning breakfast fundraisers benefitting seven different lawmakers beginning around 8 a.m., just four hours before the Legislature was to convene its regular session — and before a fundraising ban for legislators took hold for the next 60 days.
When the session finally started, and after the fundraising stopped, citizens who made the trek to the Capitol were greeted with many of the same COVID-19 safeguards they encountered last year. Masks and temperature checks were required for entrance, seating was distanced and groups were limited to 30 people. (If you’re planning to attend the session this year and want a view that’s better than the House and Senate floors, you’re out of luck. The Capitol’s observation deck is still closed.)
The opening of the regular session this week was much quieter than usual. Aside from the smaller crowds, Gov. John Bel Edwards opted to forgo his traditional speech to a joint meeting of the Legislature that typically takes place after lunch. Instead, Edwards gave a dinner-time speech on the football field at Southern University in Baton Rouge, to accommodate social distancing.
The speech sought to offer hope to those still troubled by coronavirus trends. “Like you, I want Mardi Gras parades to roll again. I want festivals to resume,” Edwards said, adding, “But I don’t want post-pandemic Louisiana to look completely like pre-pandemic Louisiana.”
While many Republican lawmakers watched the speech from an evening reception at the headquarters of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Page Cortez attended Edwards’ gridiron oration.
Still, the decision to move the governor’s speech outside of the Capitol building underscores the growing divide between the Executive and Legislative branches.
Not to be outdone by Edwards, activists took to the Capitol steps before the session was convened to advocate for a new state Office on Women’s Health. When you want to get the shared attention of lawmakers, nothing does it better than bodies at the Capitol. Such events will probably be rare in the coming weeks. In fact, this session will be a true test for the sway (or lack thereof) of digital engagement.
Together Louisiana, for example, hosted a Zoom event Monday evening that several hundred people were expected to attend online. The group said its goal was to fight “corporate lobbyists and special interests.” You don’t hear that line a lot around the Capitol from engaged citizens and activist groups. Usually politicians and policies are the targets.
As for the session’s policy profile, just follow the money. The $36.6 billion state budget is in good shape in the short term and the Revenue Estimating Conference may even find more money for the state to spend over the next few weeks or so. The governor’s own legislative agenda leads off with budget priorities for education-related pay increases, boosting Go Grants, stabilizing education spending and fully funding senior centers. Should the REC recognize more money for the budget, the governor will also push for increased early childhood education funding and additional education-related pay.
The Legislature must also carve up $3.2 billion in federal stimulus funding, but lawmakers do not have to allocate the total amount in the regular session. They have until 2024 to assign the bucks.
If all of that wasn’t enough, lawmakers will debate income tax rates, sales tax issues, the franchise tax, inventory tax program, the fuel tax, severance taxes and a host of other revenue-enhancing proposals.       
That said, there’s much more to this session than money. Last year’s regular session was a wash due to COVID-19, so the 2021 regular session finds many lawmakers playing catchup while trying to keep up. With nearly 900 bills filed, there’s plenty on the agenda. 
Lawmakers will debate marijuana usage, changing the official state motto, police practices, sexual harassment reporting and non-compete agreements for physicians. They will also be charged with developing the state’s annual construction budget, devising a collection system for a massive oil-related settlement and voting on a bill that would basically allow everyone (minus the usual characters, like felons) to carry a gun.
There are proposals that would lay the groundwork for moving a casino to Slidell and establishing sports betting in Louisiana. Our classrooms, election structure, fishing license fees, water access, criminal justice system, and much, much more will be under the legislative microscope.
Right now this session has a little something for everyone. Let’s hope we can say the same thing when the session ends on June 10..
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

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