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2021-22 public school classes will begin Aug. 6

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:19am

GEOFF STOUTE

CENTERVILLE —Students will return to school Aug. 6 for the 2021-22 school year, and finish their studies May 27, 2022.
That was what the St. Mary Parish School Board agreed upon through majority vote during its monthly meeting, but it didn’t come without some opposition.
Board member Pearl Rack said she didn’t have a problem with the calendar, but she said she had an issue with the board meeting in May 2022 coinciding with high school graduations set for the evening of May 12, but she wanted to move the meeting date up one day.
School Board meetings are normally on the second Thursday of each month, which for next year would fall on May 12, the same evening graduations are set for Berwick, West St. Mary and Centerville high schools.
Board Vice President Marilyn LaSalle noted that in the past, board members left the meetings early to attend graduation.
But Rack didn’t like that idea.
“I don’t want to have to rush from a board meeting, and there’s something that comes up that I’m not able to respond to,” she said.
Board President Kenneth Alfred and board member Ginger Griffin suggested the board wait to make any changes in meeting dates until they set the board meetings for 2022, which will be done next January.
The board undertook two votes related to the issue Thursday. The first, to approve the calendar, was approved on a 9-1 count with Rack opposing it. Board member Roland Verret was absent.
Then, Rack offered a motion to expand Thursday’s agenda to add a change in meeting date for that month to May 11, 2022, at 5 p.m., and fellow board member Sylvia Lockett offered a second. Because the motion didn’t receive full board approval, with Wayne Deslatte and Griffin opposing, it could not be added to the agenda, according to legal counsel Bob Hammonds.
As for the calendar, the main change is students will attend school a full day on Dec. 17, their last day prior to Christmas break.
“After toying around with a few days, this seems to be the cleanest way to end school on Dec. 17 for Christmas break,” Assistant Superintendent Joe Stadalis told the board.
Dates of note on the calendar for students are fall break on Oct. 8-11, with a teacher in-service day on Oct. 12. Students will resume classes Oct. 13.
Thanksgiving break is set for Nov. 22-26, while Christmas break will be held from Dec. 20-Jan. 4. Teachers will have a professional development day on Jan. 5, and students will resume classes on Jan. 6.
Mardi Gras break is Feb. 28-March 4, and Easter holiday will be April 11-18.
Also during Thursday’s meeting, the board met in executive session for approximately 40 minutes for a routine evaluation of Superintendent Teresa Bagwell’s job performance.
After the executive session, Alfred said that Bagwell was rated “excellent” in each of the seven areas she was graded on.
“So she had an overall ‘excellent’ evaluation,” Alfred said.
In other action, the board:
—Learned from Chief Financial Officer Alton Perry that a resolution will be brought to the board at its April 8 monthly meeting calling for a special election for Consolidated School District No. 5 for the renewal of its current ad valorem tax for that area.
Perry said that if the resolution is approved the proposition will be sent to the State Bond Commission and subsequently placed on the October election ballot.
—Heard a routine announcement from Perry that the 2021 millage rates will be adopted at the board’s May 13 monthly meeting.
—Approved a resolution granting permission for the school system for the issue and sale of up to $11.5 million of taxable general obligation school refunding bonds for the 5th Ward Special School District No. 1.b
Jason Akers of Foley & Judell told the board the move will allow the School Board to see if it can refinance at a better rate for its general obligation bonds in the Fifth Ward Special School District No. 1, which were issued in 2014.
“Just as a reminder, refinancing of existing bonds is taking old debt out at a high interest rate and putting new bonds at a lower interest rate in its place and saving money as a result.” Akers told the board.
—Learned from Director of Federal Programs Debra McClarity in her report from Tuesday’s special services meeting that the parish Special Olympics track and field meet is scheduled for May 14, but it hasn’t been determined where the meet will be held.
—Approved a recommendation from the District III Maintenance Committee meeting prior to Thursday’s full board meeting to award the Morgan City High School first floor heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement in the school’s right classroom wing, cafeteria and band/chorus areas to Volute Inc., the low bidder. Volute’s bid is for $810,700. Including $64,856 in fees from the project’s engineer, ADG Engineering of Lafayette, the project is estimated to cost $875,556.
—Granted permission to re-advertise a bid for the school system’s hunting and trapping lease at Possum Bayou after no bids were received during the last advertisement.
—Approved proclamations for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which will be celebrated in March; Week of the Young Child (April 10-16), Secretary and/or Administrative Professional’s Week (April 18-24), Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-8) and National Autism Awareness Month, which will be celebrated in April.

Louisiana jobless claims up slightly

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:16am

By DAVID JACOBS
The Center Square

The number of Louisiana residents making new claims for unemployment rose slightly last week, the Louisiana Workforce Commission reported Friday.
Initial unemployment insurance claims for the week ending March 6 rose to 7,100, compared with 6,981 the previous week. For a comparison from before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the week ending March 7, 2020, 1,698 initial claims were filed.

Continued claims for the week ending March 6 decreased to 48,016 from the previous week’s total of 53,212. There were 14,199 continued claims for the week ending March 7, 2020, the LWC reported.

The number of Louisiana residents filing new claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance went up during the week ending March 6, from 769 the previous week to 1,175, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. PUA is for workers such as independent contractors who don’t qualify for state benefits.

The number of Louisiana residents making continued claims for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation went up during the week ending Feb. 20, the most-recent week the federal government has reported, from 78,092 to 80,650. PEUC is for workers who have exhausted their state benefits.

President Joe Biden this week granted Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request to declare a major disaster for 23 parishes affected last month by severe winter weather. The parishes are Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Franklin, Grant, LaSalle, Madison, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.

Residents and businesses in those parishes may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance. The LWC is accepting applications until April 12.

Board changes uniform policy for local schools

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:15am

Staff Report

CENTERVILLE — St. Mary Parish public school students will have to remove hoods of their jackets once they enter school and will no longer be able to wear sweatshirts with hoods next year, according to changes adopted by the School Board on Thursday at the recommendation of the district’s School Uniform Committee.
The committee, which met Feb. 25, recommended that sweatshirts have no hoods. They only can be pullover. The sweatshirts must be solid navy blue, white, khaki/tan or the color of the school and they may have the school’s mascot or logo.
Additionally, the hoods of the jackets or parkas must be removed upon entering the school door. These items must be solid navy blue, white, khaki/tan, black, brown or the color of the school, and they may have the school’s mascot or logo. No name brands are allowed.
Other items of note are that students at B.E. Boudreaux Middle School in Baldwin now can wear white uniform shirts next year in addition to navy blue tops. White uniform tops had not been permitted with the students sharing the same campus as West St. Mary High School, according to School Uniform Committee Chairwoman Marilyn LaSalle. Students at West St. Mary High School will wear only light blue shirts.
Also, the board approved recommendations for face coverings. These shall only consist of solid colors or print that is appropriate for the school. Masks only can have writing, emblems, insignias or logos if they come on the school issued masks or the principal approves them.
A section regarding tattoos was added to the dress code, too, which allows principals to instruct students to cover tattoos that are not determined to be appropriate.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the board approved a variety of insurance items at the recommendation of Carmel Breaux of Norris Insurance Consults. These include property insurance renewals for its building and contents coverage and its boiler and machinery coverage, both effective April 1, and its workers compensation insurance, effective May 1.
For its excess workers compensation coverage, the board renewed with agent Frank’s Agency with Midwest Employers as its carrier. The premium increased from $75,410 in the current year to $89,173 in the coming year.
No changes in price or businesses were made in their claims administrator and safety, loss prevention firms.
While total worker’s compensation insurance fees rose to $118,440 from $104,677, Breaux said the savings this year from self-funding workers compensation the board will realize is anticipated at $400,914.
“So it’s working for you,” Breaux said. “It’s been working, and it’s still working for you.”
As for building and contents renewal insurance, the board remained with its current agent, Paul’s Agency, but switch carriers from AmRisc Facility to Velocity Risk Underwriters.
“There’s nine different carriers that belong to that particular program that will be contributing to your policies,” Breaux said of Velocity Risk Underwriters.
While the plan will cost the board about $77,000 more, it does come with some benefits.
In the new policy, the deductible will be assessed per building for damages in “named storm” wind or hail events as opposed to the current plan that uses a per-campus factor, Breaux said.
Additionally, the margin cost, or the construction fees the insurance agrees to pay above the property value, will increase from 105% to 110%.
Two additional adjustments Breaux recommended that the board agreed to will save it a combined $144,693.
However, in all, the board still is anticipated to pay about $1.05 million this year in coverage fees, or $77,000 more than last year.
The board also renewed its boiler and machinery coverage with Travelers Indemnity through Frank’s Agency, with the only increase coming in the premium, which will rise from $12,393 to $13,029.

THE REVERAND ROY W. MELLISH

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:13am

The Reverend Roy W. Mellish +tssf, 79, passed away at Ochsner St. Mary on March 4, 2021.
Fr. Mellish was born in Santiago, Chile, on March 24, 1941. He was Chilean by birth, British by parentage, and American by adoption. He attended the Episcopal Seminary of the Caribbean in Puerto Rico and was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Panama on February 12, 1972.
Fr. Mellish began his priesthood as a missionary priest, serving in the Diocese of Panama for four years and the Diocese of Honduras for 11 years. While serving in Panama, he became a member of The Third Order, Society of St. Francis. Later, he became the priest in charge of an Hispanic Church in the Diocese of Texas for two and a half years before accepting a call to serve at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Innis, La., where he served for three and a half years.
Trinity Episcopal Church in Morgan City called Fr. Mellish in 1993, and he served the church for 15 years before retiring at the end of 2008. While serving at Trinity, he was active in the Rotary Club and received several certificates recognizing him for service to the community. He was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
In retirement, Fr. Mellish served as a supply priest in both English- and Spanish-speaking congregations in the diocese.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Viola Saxton and John W. Mellish.
Fr. Mellish is survived by his brothers, Jorge Mellish-Saxton of Talamanca DeJarama, Madrid, Spain and Dennis Mellish of Santiago, Chile; two nieces, Rose Mary Mellish Valenzuela and Jacqueline Mellish Valenzuela; as well as many wonderful cousins.
Visitation will be held March 17, from 1-2 p.m. followed by a private funeral in the church at 2 p.m. Reservations are required because of COVID restrictions.
In lieu of flowers, Fr. Mellish preferred that donations be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.
Services for Rev. Mellish will be on Facebook on Trinity Episcopal’s webpage at a later date.

Around Town for March 15

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:08am

Happy birthday March 12 to Alicia Johnson, and happy birthday March 14 to Nickie Welsh and Demetra Latigue from family, friends and Ira.

Morgan City police radio logs for March 10-12

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:05am

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.
Wednesday, March 10
7:40 a.m. 500 block of Hilda Street; Alarm.
7:52 a.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Complaint.
9:06 a.m. 7800 block of La. 182; Fire.
10:46 a.m. Ditch Avenue and Eighth Street; Animal.
11:48 a.m. Syracuse Street; Complaint.
11:49 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
11:57 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Medical.
12:09 p.m. La. 70; Illegally parked vehicle.
12:20 p.m. Cedar Street; Lost/found property.
12:36 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
12:50 p.m. Old Bridge; Traffic shutdown.
1:34 p.m. 3000 block of Frances Street; Medical.
1:45 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:04 p.m. 1500 block of Front Street; Animal.
2:12 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical.
2:22 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
2:23 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Stalled vehicle.
2:35 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
3:57 p.m. 300 block of Aucoin Street; Harassment.
4:22 p.m. Berwick; Assistance.
4:28 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Loud music.
9:14 p.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Arrest.
9:43 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless operation.
10:19 p.m. 700 block of Aucoin Street; Complaint.
10:48 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
Thursday, March 11
12:08 a.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
2:07 a.m. 700 block of Justa Street; Alarm.
2:27 a.m. 300 block of Pershing Street; Medical.
2:34 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
3:24 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious subject.
3:40 a.m. La. 70/U.S. 90; Arrest.
4:19 a.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; 911 hang up.
4:28 a.m. Federal Avenue; Assistance.
4:38 a.m. 700 block of Fourth Street; Complaint.
Thursday, March 11
5:45 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
7:52 a.m. Morgan City High School; Fight.
8:42 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Animal.
9:03 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
10:27 a.m. 2000 block of Federal Avenue; Removal of subject.
10:45 a.m. La. 70; Traffic problem.
11:14 a.m. 1600 block of Willow Bend Drive; Complaint.
11:17 a.m. 1000 block of Fig Street; Patrols.
11:22 a.m. Lawrence Park; Suspicious person.
11:36 a.m. 800 block of North Everett Street; Animal.
11:46 a.m. Victor II Boulevard and Greenwood Street; Accident.
12:07 p.m. Veterans Boulevard; Arrest.
12:23 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Removal of subject.
12:46 p.m. 100 block of Everett Street; Suspicious vehicle.
12:48 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:56 p.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Hit and run.
12:58 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
1:18 p.m. 2000 block of Federal Avenue; Harassment.
1:49 p.m. 7800 block of La. 182; Accident.
2:53 p.m. Montana Street; Animal.
4:15 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Removal of subject.
4:23 p.m. 700 block of Second Street; Medical.
4:26 p.m. 1100 block of McDermott Drive; Medical.
5:50 p.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Forgery.
6:13 p.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Assistance.
8:15 p.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Complaint.
9:05 p.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Disturbance.
Friday, March 12
2:31 a.m. Halsey Street and La. 182; Assistance.
2:47 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Disturbance.

Local agencies make arrests on drug charges

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 10:03am

Staff Report

(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.)

Morgan City and St. Mary authorities made a series of drug-related arrests late last week, including five for possession of marijuana, police reports say.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reports that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 40 calls for service. These people were arrested beginning Thursday:
—Jarmal Sims, 39, La. 20, Schriever, was arrested at 4:06 a.m. Thursday on charge of tail lamps, operation a vehicle with a suspended license, no motor vehicle insurance and possession of marijuana.
—Lacey Singleton, 27, Harvey, was arrested at 4:06 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Joey Francois, 40, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:26 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for cruelty to animals and four counts of failure to appear.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 48-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 66 complaints and made these arrests:
—-Jace Paul Lodrigue, 22, Berwick, was arrested at 10:55 a.m. Wednesday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lane usage, and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of failure to honor a written promise to appear and general speed law.
Lodrigue also held a Lafourche Parish warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, improper lane usage, failure to pay fines and court costs. No bail has been set.
—Melissa Ann Adams, 42, New Orleans, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bail has been set.
—Louis Parker Jr., 40, Patterson, was arrested on at 10:10 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. No bail has been set.
—Lashawn Kerlegon, 24, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:17 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Kerlegon was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Walter Lewis, 25, New Iberia, was at 10:17 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lewis was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Brie Hollins, 29, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:36 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery. Hollins was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Darrius Lucas, 20, Patterson, was arrested at 2:49 a.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of failure to dim headlights, no turn signal, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of THC oil.
No bail has been set.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported the following arrests:
—Juvenile, 15, Berwick, was arrested at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
—Juvenile, 17, Berwick, was arrested at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
—Shawn C. Lovell, 43, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 5:18 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
At 4:21 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a residence on River Road in reference to a large domestic disturbance. Through investigation, officers learned that a verbal altercation turned into a physical altercation, which led Lovell and the two juveniles to engage in several fistic encounters at the residence.
At the conclusion of the investigation, all subjects were placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail. The two juveniles were released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings, and Lovell remains in the Berwick Jail with no bond set.

St. Martin
Sheriff Beckett Breaux reported these arrests:
—Joshua Batiste, 24, Martin Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Wednesday on an extradition warrant.
—Heidi Louviere, 31, Coteau Holmes Lane, St. Martinville, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear on charges of theft ($1-$999) and simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.
—Roddy Magnon, 46, Moss Street, Lafayette, was arrested Wednesday by the Henderson Police Department on a charge of violation of a protective order.
—Jamie Skipper, 37, La. 14, New Iberia, was arrested Wednesday by the St. Martinville Police Department on charges of home invasion, child endangerment-domestic abuse, misrepresentation during booking, battery of a police officer and resisting an officer.
—Hubert Wiltz, 60, Steven Wiltz Road, was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute Schedule II narcotics; manufacture, distribution or possession with intent to distribute Schedule II narcotics; possession of Schedule II narcotics; possession of Schedule IV narcotics; manufacture or distribution of Schedule V narcotics; sale, distribution, or possession of a legend drug; transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses; improper lane usage; and creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory.
—Dwayne Calais, 43, Armond Joseph Road, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Thursday on charges of manufacture or distribution of Schedule V narcotics; transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses; sale, distribution, or possession of a legend drug; prohibited acts; distribution of paraphernalia; and criminal mischief.
—Hebert Calais, 41, Armond Joseph, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Thursday on charges of criminal conspiracy; manufacture or distribution of Schedule V narcotics; transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses; and distribution of drug paraphernalia.
—Kasha Leon, 33, St. Ann Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear.
—Mary Sam, 40, Cemetery Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Thursday by the St. Martinville Police Department on charges of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, resisting an officer, and entry or remaining in places after begin forbidden.
—Darius Turner, 30, Forest Oak Street, Prairieville, was arrest on a warrant for failure to appear.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly said his department responded to 13 complaints over a 24-hour period and made this arrest:
—Roxanna Davis, 72, o Percy Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic abuse aggravated assault. Davis was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—George Thomas Boutwell, 39, Elaine Street, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Tuesday on charge of domestic abuse battery involving strangulation, interfering with emergency communications, false imprisonment, domestic abuse aggravated assault and aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.
The arrest followed an incident on Vivian Street in Bayou L’Ourse.
Deputies met with the reported victim at the Sheriff’s Main Office. The victim advised that her husband was complicit in causing a disturbance at the Vivian Street address that resulted in the victim receiving physical injuries.
The victim further alleged that Boutwell was threatening her with a knife and cut her. Boutwell also is accused of attempting to strangle his wife.
Based on all available evidence, Boutwell was determined to be the predominant aggressor. He was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on charges of:
Boutwell remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
—Shelby McCarty Barrilleaux, 29, La. 662, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession of MDMA (ecstasy), possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputies were dispatched at which time the complainant advised that his wife had just left, and she had drugs in her possession as well as in her home.
An I.C.E. unit on assignment made contact with the subject, now identified as Barrilleaux. After interviewing Barrilleaux, deputies obtained consent to search the vehicle and seized quantities of suspected marijuana and MDMA .
Deputies then returned to Barrilleaux’s home, at which time consent to search was obtained. A search of the home yielded a significant amount of marijuana along with drug paraphernalia.
Barrilleaux was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
—Christopher H Walker, 22, La. 1, Napoleonville, was arrested Thursday on 25 counts of simple burglary and one count of contributing to the delinquency.
—Kevin D. Walker, 18, West Fourth Street, Donaldsonville, was arrested on 25 counts of simple burglary and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
—Juvenile male, 16, was arrested Thursday on 25 counts of simple burglary.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, deputies responded to a vehicle burglary in the 5600 block of La. 308 in Plattenville in connection with a burglary in progress.
Deputies observed three individuals in the area who fled on foot. Two of those suspects were immediately taken into custody.
Property stolen from the burglaries was located in the possession of these two suspects as well as property stolen in other burglaries the same morning.
Detectives responded and began to process each individual crime scene. Detectives identified 25 separate burglaries of unlocked vehicles in the Bertrandville and Plattenville areas.
The third suspect, Christopher Walker, was identified and subsequently taken into custody.
The investigation is continuing.
As a public service courtesy, the sheriff advises all residents to lock your vehicles when not in use.
—Haikeem Thomas, 20, of La. 401, Napoleonville, was arrested Thursday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, speeding, failure to dim headlights and no driver’s license.
A southbound deputy observed a northbound vehicle commit traffic violations and initiated a stop of the vehicle. The suspect fled at a high rate of speed.
The suspect eventually crashed the vehicle. The suspect then attempted to flee again but crashed. Two subjects exited the vehicle and began to run to the rear of a residence.
Deputies were able to arrest two subjects, one of which was the driver, Thomas.
Thomas was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
—Tyrone Q. Wilson, 35, Raymond Street, Houma, was arrested Thursday on charges of felony theft and monetary instrument abuse and on a hold for Calcasieu Parish.
The arrest resulted from unlawful transactions negotiated at a video poker outlet near Napoleonville.
Those alleged transactions involved fraudulent video poker cash-out vouchers, which were cashed at the business on or about Jan. 6 with a net loss to the business totaling $1,082.10.
With the assistance of video surveillance, detectives were able to identify Wilson as a suspect in the theft of the funds through means of creating fraudulent winning tickets and cashing them in.
Wilson was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated.
Detectives indicate that additional arrest are possible.

Tuesday is deadline to ask for absentee ballot

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 9:56am

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters of the upcoming absentee ballot deadlines.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, March 16 at 4:30 pm. Requests can be made online by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov and selecting “Request Absentee Ballot,” or in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office. Voters who have requested but not yet received an absentee ballot may check their absentee ballot status by visiting voterportal.sos.la.gov, entering the appropriate voter information and selecting “Check Absentee Ballot Status.”

The deadline to return a completed ballot is Friday, March 19 at 4:30 pm. This instructional video shows step-by-step how to properly fill out and return an absentee ballot. Completed ballots can be returned to the parish registrar of voters by mail, in-person by the voter or by a voter’s immediate family member. Should a voter be unable to meet an absentee ballot deadline, they can still vote in-person on Election Day. Polling locations can also be found on voterportal.sos.la.gov or on the free GeauxVote mobile app.

For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

Local Girl Scouts council recognized by Edwards

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 8:53am

Girl Scouts recognized for 109 years

NEW ORLEANS — To honor the 109th birthday of Girl Scouts, Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation recognizing and commending Girl Scouts for 109 years of service to the community.
The proclamation is as follows:
“March 12, 2021 marks the 109th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA, the largest and most successful leadership program for girls in the world; and as the world’s premier leadership development organization for girls, Girl Scouts has emphasized public service, civic engagement, and fostering a sense of community in girls for over a century; and Girl Scouts works to champion the ambitious, cultivate the talents, and develop the skills of girls to be leaders in their own world, and in ours; and in these incredibly challenging times, Girl Scouts provides community, consistency, and connection for girls, and is a safe haven in all the uncertainty; and in the time of COVID-19, Girl Scouts offers skill-building digital programming and virtual leadership experiences girls can participate in safely from home as they continue their Girl Scout journeys; and at a time when civics education is missing from many schools, Girl Scouts has introduced new K-12 Civics badges to bring girls more experiences that deepen their understanding of democracy and government, prepare them for a lifetime of civic engagement, and motivate them to be catalysts for change; and Girl Scouts offers 21st century programming in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the outdoors; entrepreneurship and beyond, helping girls to develop invaluable life skills and take the lead early and often; and Gold Award Girl Scouts already take on projects that have a measurable and sustainable impact on a community by first assessing a need, designing a solution, creating a project, and inspiring others to sustain it; and today, more than 50 million women are Girl Scout alums, making our world a safer, more connected, more vibrant place to live.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN BEL EDWA-RDS, do hereby give special commendation and recognition to Girl Scouts of the USA in acknowledgment of celebrating 109 years exemplary service to the community, State of Louisiana and the United States of America.”
“We are so proud to receive this official recognition from Governor Edwards for all of the hard work our girls and volunteers tirelessly dedicate to making the world a better place each and every day,” said Girl Scouts Louisiana East CEO Rebecca Penn-ington.
For information on how to join or volunteer with Girl Scouts Louisiana East, visit www.gsle.org/join.
—Girl Scouts Louisiana East provides leadership development of girls, grades K to 12, in 23 parishes of southeast Louisiana, including St. Mary. Chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA, GSLE serves over 10,200 girls, with 3,400 adult members. Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.gsle.org.

The significance of Croagh Patrick to Christians

Mon, 03/15/2021 - 8:48am

Croagh Patrick is a steep mountain in County Mayo in Ireland. It is situated five miles from the town of Westport. The mountain’s summit soars above the surrounding countryside and enables those who manage to reach the top a magnificent view of Clew Bay.
The mountain is significant in Irish history because it was both a place of worship predating the arrival of Christianity in the country, but also the place St. Patrick was purported to have completed a 40-day Lenten ritual in the 5th century. Croagh Patrick is considered the holiest mountain in Ireland.
Each year on the last Sunday of July, which coincides with the pagan festival of Lughnasadh, thousands of people climb Croagh Patrick, also called The Reek or Patrick’s Sacred Mountain, to reach the summit.
The Irish heritage resource YourIrish.com estimates that between 30,000 and 40,000 people make the pilgrimage each year, most of them barefoot. Most consider it an important spiritual milestone.
Weather may prevent individuals from scaling the mountain during the month of March, but visiting the site is something that many tourists and native Irish alike aspire to do at some point in their lives.
According to the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, the first stop is the Saint Patrick’s statue, which was erected in 1928 by Reverend Father Patterson. In addition to viewing the statue and taking in some amazing views, visitors can stop in the Visitor Centre, known as “Teach na Miasa,” which means “house of the dishes.”
It is believed the monks of nearby Murrisk Abbey washed their utensils in the stream that runs alongside the road to the center, called “Bóthar na Miasa (road of the dishes),” hence the name. A restaurant and craft shop are housed in Teach na Miasa.
There are many sights to see and rich history to learn along the trek. An archaeological excavation performed during the 1990s at the mountain discovered the remains of a small chapel dating to the time of St. Patrick, helping to solidify the authenticity of his Lenten pilgrimage so long ago.
Croagh Patrick is a symbolic place that heralds Ireland’s Christian roots.