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Fourteen confirmed COVID-19 cases, 10 of them in St. Mary, were reported for three local parishes in the 24 hours ending at midday Thursday. St. Martin had one confirmed COVID-related fatality, according to the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

The 10 new confirmed cases raise St. Mary's pandemic total to 3,391 confirmed with 843 probable.

St. Martin's case count was adjusted downward by six, reducing its count to 4,461 with 422 probable. The confirmed COVID fatality was the parish's 103rd with 11 probable.

Assumption has four new confirmed cases for a total of 1,544 confirmed with 567 probable.

The death tolls remain at 109 confirmed with 14 probable in St. Mary and 29 with five probable in Assumption.

Statewide:

--441 new cases raise the pandemic total to 373,972 confirmed with 61,963 probable.

--16 newly reported fatalities raise the toll to 9,094 confirmed with 734 probable.

--16 fewer COVID-positive people are in Louisiana hospitals, lowering the total to 514.

--5 fewer people are on ventilators for a total of 64.

Yvette Lejeune Ardoin, 56, a native of Morgan City and resident of Bayou L’Ourse, died Sunday, March 7, 2021, at her residence.
She is survived by a daughter, Paige Ardoin of Ville Platte; two brothers, Alvin Lejeune of Amelia and Michael Lejeune of Houston, a sister, Bernadette Hebert of Berwick; and a grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Memorial visitation will be Friday, 4-7 p.m., with services at 5:30 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home, who is in charge of arrangements.

(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.)
Staff Report
Morgan City police made five arrests Tuesday on drug charges involving opioids, cocaine and synthetic marijuana, police reports say.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 46 calls for service and made these arrests:
—Kacie Elizabeth Smith, 26 Patton Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone).
—Fred Purnell Kenner, 34, Grace Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:49 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, two counts of failure to pay fines and four counts of contempt of court for 6th Ward Court, and failure to appear for arraignment.
—Kaleb Shane Calloway, 24, Hawkins Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of cocaine.
—Skyler Craig Gibson, 27, Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of cocaine, possession of synthetic marijuana and possession of Suboxone. Gibson was also arrested on a warrant for possession of stolen things valued at less than $1,000.
—Tanner Aaron Aucoin, 25, Second Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of synthetic marijuana.
A patrol officer observed a traffic violation and conducted a traffic stop in the area of Fourth Street and Barrow Street. The driver was identified as Calloway and the passengers as Aucoin and Gibson.
During the traffic stop, a K-9 Officer and his partner, K-9 Lady, were summoned to the traffic stop.
K-9 Lady was deployed around the exterior of the vehicle. K-9 Lady gave a positive odor response for illegal narcotics. During the officer’s investigation, illegal narcotics were located in the possession of Calloway, Gibson and Aucoin.
A warrant check revealed the 16th Judicial District Court held an active warrant for Aucoin. Calloway Gibson and Aucoin were all placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 32 complaints and made these arrests:
—Ryan James Bowman, 26, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 1:28 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of leash law violation. Bowman was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Joseph Yves Authement II, 33, Gibson, was arrested at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia, and abuse of toxic vapors. Authement was released on a $10,000 bond.
—Evandereus Farrier, 19, Jeanerette, was arrested at 9:17 p.m. on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and open container.  Farrier was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Keyonia Thompson, 21, Franklin, was arrested at 9:17 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana Thompson was released on a summons to appear June 28.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Rudy Joseph Albarado Jr., 52, Rue De Kajun Road, Pierre Part, was arrested on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.
Deputies were dispatched to the Pierre Part address in reference to the accused stating that there were individuals walking around his house and creating noises.
The deputy interviewed two neighbors and the accused and conducted a perimeter search but found no evidence of any criminal activity. The deputy departed the area.
About 45 minutes later, the deputy was contacted by a neighbor indicating they had heard a gunshot.
The deputy returned to the residence and found that Albarado had discharged a shotgun from inside his residence into a doorway. The suspect again reiterated his prior complaint. Again, the complaint was not supported by any factual basis or physical evidence.
Communications contacted the deputy and informed him that Albarado was a convicted felon.
Albarado was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly said his department responded to 12 complaints over the past 24 hours and made these arrests:
 —Tamika Jackson, 46, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Franklin, was arrested at 9:48 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for probation violation. Jackson was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.
—Joseph Williams Jr., 60, Eighth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:17 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant dated Jan. 21 for battery of a dating partner. Williams was additionally arrested on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Williams was booked, processed and held on a $4,000 bond.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Davon Brown, 32, Gilman Road, Lafayette, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear and a charge of obscenity.
—National Courville, 27, Evangeline Thruway, Lafayette, was arrested pm a charge of child endangerment-domestic abuse.
—Kory Dartez, 33, Coteau Rodaire Highway, Arnaudville, was arrested Tuesday on warrants for failure to appear.
—Keith Reno, 53, Whitney Drive, St. Martinville, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of obscenity.

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana state gpvermemt has signed an agreement with NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility that could lead to creation of the Louisiana Space Campus, a dedicated 50-acre business park within NASA’s 829-acre site in New Orlean, Gov John Bel Edwards announced.
The space campus would target commercial office development, with contemporary amenities, for existing Michoud tenants and new prospects from the public and private sector to support Michoud Assembly Facility and other industry in New Orleans East. NASA and Louisiana Economic Development signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, to mutually explore development of the space campus to its highest and best use.
“This year, as we celebrate 60 years of NASA’s operation of the Michoud Assembly Facility, we proudly announce a new chapter in this site’s storied history,” Edwards said.
The main building at Michoud Assembly Facility, or MAF, encompasses 43 acres of climate-controlled manufacturing space, and hosts both government and commercial tenants, including Boeing, which is assembling the Space Launch System, or SLS, Artemis rocket; and Lockheed Martin, which is developing the Orion crew capsule. The site has an extensive history of hosting defense and civil agencies, along with contractors that support the development of technological products and services. The Louisiana Space Campus would build on that foundation with a new initiative to attract leading-edge tenants.

“NASA is excited to enter into this MOU with the State of Louisiana to explore the concept of the Louisiana Space Campus,” said Director Robert Champion of NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility.
“For 60 years, NASA has enjoyed a great partnership with Louisiana that has propelled the success of our nation to launch humans into space. This MOU represents an opportunity to further strengthen that partnership as the work at MAF moves us a step closer to landing the first woman and next man on the moon.”

MAF has been dedicated to NASA activities since 1961, including the development and construction of space vehicles. Major achievements include building Saturn V rockets for 13 Apollo and Skylab missions; development of 135 external tanks that fueled Space Shuttle flights; and current SLS rocket and Orion crew capsule assembly. Prior to NASA’s takeover of the site, Michoud served as the home of continuous government interagency activity since the 1940s, including assembly of Sherman and Patton tank engines by the Chrysler Corp.

“Right here in New Orleans at the Michoud Assembly Facility, the rockets to take Americans into outer space are now being built, and will continue to be built, to transport them to Mars,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This agreement will further drive transformative development in New Orleans East, which is already becoming a major hub for STEM in our city. With continued partnership from the state, a Louisiana Space Campus will not only provide jobs and economic opportunity, but will also inspire us all, particularly our young people, to dream big and boldly.”

In many respects, development of the Louisiana Space Campus would mirror the Water Campus located between downtown Baton Rouge and LSU’s main campus. The 35-acre Water Campus has attracted more than $100 million in public and private investment during its first phase, with long-range plans projecting a potential 4,000 scientists, engineers, researchers and support personnel connected to the campus. In New Orleans, some 3,500 jobs already are associated with Michoud Assembly Facility operations, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Base New Orleans that supports more than 900 regional personnel.

“The Michoud Assembly Facility is a critical asset to America’s space program as well as Southeast Louisiana,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise. “I’m pleased with today’s announcement of an MOU between the state and NASA, continuing strong federal and state support for NASA’s space program and the men and women who go to work at Michoud every day.”

Situated in Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, the Michoud Assembly Facility is a strategic asset that has long enjoyed the support of former U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond and the entire Louisiana congressional delegation, support that has helped position the state for the transformative next step of a space campus.

Business investment at the space campus would not be limited to aerospace functions, but businesses in that sector would be encouraged to explore the possibilities of the new campus. NASA would have the ability to evaluate potential tenants, ensuring that there are no security or environmental concerns for the broader MAF site.

“The execution of an MOU between LED and NASA is an exciting development for greater New Orleans and Louisiana,” said President and CEO Michael Hecht of GNO Inc. “The creation of an ‘office park for rocket scientists’ would not only support NASA, and America’s space mission, but would also create a physical hub for hundreds of STEM-related jobs in the region and state.”