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Morgan City police radio logs for Oct. 15-16

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:18am

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, Oct. 15
6:10 a.m. Brashear Avenue/Sixth Street; Suspicious subject.
8:58 a.m. 3000 block of Francis Street; Animal complaint.
9:04 a.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Stand by.
10:29 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
11:46 a.m. 300 block of Levee Road; Complaint.
12:19 p.m. U.S. 90 West/Cannata’s Upramp; Crash.
12:37 p.m. 700 block of David Drive; Disturbance.
12:53 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless operation.
1:50 p.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Medical.
2:25 p.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Civil.
2:41 p.m. 500 block of Freret Street; Telephone harassment.
3:15 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Loud music.
4:31 p.m. U.S. 90 West/Cannata’s Upramp; Lost and found.
4:46 p.m. Fifth/Freret streets; Patrol.
5:10 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
5:23 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Crash.
5:42 p.m. 200 block of Robin Street; Stand by.
6:06 p.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Removal of subject.
6:10 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
6:26 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
6:31 p.m. 300 block of Arizona Street; Arrest.
6:34 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Theft.
8:15 p.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; Suspicious subject.
8:23 p.m. Greenwood Street; Arrest.
9:50 p.m. Federal Avenue/Everett Street; Suspicious subject.
10:57 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
Thursday, Oct. 16
1:50 a.m. 1000 block of Willard Street; Open door.
2:15 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.

Berwick council votes to pass on rate increase

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:26am

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

BERWICK — The Town Council unanimously voted Tuesday to pass along a controversial sewer service rate increase to Berwick residents in what seemed to be an acknowledgment of the inevitable.
The increase approved Tuesday, an additional $1.50 for every 1,000 gallons treated, passes on a rate hike set by the St. Mary Parish Joint Sewage Commission-Wards 5 & 8, which treats sewage for Berwick, Patterson, Bayou Vista and other areas of eastern St. Mary.
The commission bills the two municipal governments and the parish government, which in turn collect fees from their residents based on their water usage.
When news of the commission’s action reached the local governments last month, they reacted critically to the abrupt nature of the rate increase and the lack of supporting data, including a rate study.
The public fallout led commission Chairman Chris Cooper to resign.
Commission members Tim Kyle and Brandon Monceaux faced some sharp questions about the rate increase at Tuesday’s meeting.
Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan attended the Berwick meeting and pointed to a 70-cent rate increase three years ago and a another $1.50 hike in October 2023. No rate study has been down for 15 to 20 years, he said.
Patterson put off action on the rate increase Oct. 7 after hearing from legal counsel that the commission minutes that included the rate hike vote may not have been presented in the way outlined in the 40-year-old agreement among the three governments.
But the sentiment on the Berwick council was that cooperation is needed to help the commission deal with an aging sewage treatment system.
“If we don’t raise it now,” Councilman Lud Henry said, “what are we going to do?”
In an interview Wednesday, Kyle said the commission has submitted a list of needed projects to Miller Engineers and Associates, which will estimate the cost. The price seems likely in the millions.
The list includes minor and major projects, some of which need attention soon, and some that will be needed in the future, Kyle said.
Among the major work needed is an increase in capacity for a neighborhood near Patterson High School. That work could cost $5.3 million, he said.
A force main leading out of Berwick is deteriorating, Kyle said. It may not need work in the next few years, he said, but it will in the future.
On a normal day, Kyle said, Berwick sends 500,000 gallons of sewage into the system for treatment. But on a day with significant rain, the total can be 2.5 million gallons, a sign that runoff is entering what is supposed to be a closed system.
Miles of sewer pipe may also need replacement.
The commission is asking U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, and state Sen. Robert Allain, R-Franklin, for help with funding from the state and federal governments.
Parish Councilman Patrick Hebert of Berwick, who attended Tuesday’s meeting with Councilman David Hill and Parish President Sam Jones, gets credit for telling the commission about the Louisiana Infrastructure Technical Assistance Corp. That nonprofit is devoted to helping local governments “in rural and economically distressed areas with the tools and resources they need to identify, apply for, and administer federal grants funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” according to the LITA website.
Currently, Kyle said, the board’s income is about $20,000 more each month than expenses, provided nothing goes wrong.
Kyle has been on the commission for a year, and “we’ve never experienced a month when nothing goes wrong,” he said.
The increase the commission seeks raised the surplus over expenses to about $60,000 a month.
Also Tuesday:
•The council passed resolutions authorizing Mayor Duval Arthur to enter cooperative endeavor agreements related to three line items in the state budget passed in this year’s legislative session.
The appropriations for Berwick are $50,000 for beautification, $20,000 toward the town’s replacement of water meters and $100,000 for “no stated purpose.”
•The council passed a resolution of respect for Herbert Mashburn, who died Sept. 3. Mashburn, a Vietnam veteran, was a former justice of the peace and chairman of the Berwick-Bayou Vista Waterworks District. He was also a baseball umpire for 30 years.
Mashburn’s wife, Sheryl, and daughter Judi Lambert were present at Tuesday’s meeting.
•The council passed a resolution recognizing Chez Hope in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Chez Hope is the region’s domestic abuse prevention and shelter program.
A two-mile “Walking With A Purpose” event by Chez Hope is scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Parish Courthouse in Franklin.

Suspected heroin dealer arrested after standoff

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:24am

Staff Report

A Carencro man wanted in Lafayette on a heroin charge was arrested Wednesday after a standoff at a Patterson home, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
Lester Janard Broussard, 34, Carencro, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Wednesday on two Lafayette Police Department warrants alleging distribution or possession with intent to distribute heroin; distribution or possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone; clandestine lab; transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses; illegal carrying of weapons; illegal possession of stolen things; and obstruction of justice.
Also arrested at 2:10 p.m. Wednesday was Sydni Lafay Henry, 23, New Iberia, on a charge of resisting arrest or officer.
The Sheriff’s Office said deputies assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Office in an operation to apprehend a wanted subject believed to be located at a residence in Patterson.
Deputies made contact with a female at the residence, identified as Henry. She was detained while the investigation progressed.
Deputies confirmed that the wanted subject, Broussard, was still inside the residence. The Integrated Special Response Team, consisting of personnel from the SMPSO and the Morgan City Police Department, was deployed to assist in the apprehension.
While detained, Henry became physically non-compliant, the Sheriff’s Office said. She was arrested and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking on the charge of resisting arrest or officer.
Attempts by negotiators and operators to establish communication with Broussard were initially unsuccessful, but he subsequently responded to verbal commands and was compliant. He was taken into custody by Integrated Special Response Team operators without incident, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Sheriff Gary Driskell and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office thanked the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the Patterson Police Department, the Morgan City Police Department, the Patterson Fire Department, the Bayou Vista Fire Department, and Acadian Ambulance for their assistance with this operation.

East St. Mary volleyball scores

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:22am

Morgan City
Oct. 7: L at South Lafourche, 10-25, 13-25, 14-25
Oct. 9: W vs. A.J. Ellendar, 25-15, 25-17, 25-18
Oct. 16: at Assumption
Oct. 20: vs. West St. Mary
Central Catholic
Oct. 7: L at E.D. White, 17-25, 17-25, 19-25, 14-25
Oct. 9: W vs. Catholic-Pointe Coupee, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21
Central Catholic
Tournament
Oct. 14: W vs. Centerville, 25-3, 25-9
Oct. 15: W vs. Covenant Christian, 25-15, 25-21
Oct. 21: vs. Central Private
Berwick
Oct. 7: L at Terrebonne, 20-25, 25-7, 20-25, 25-18, 12-15
Riverside Academy
Tournament
Oct. 11: W vs. Covenant Christian, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9
Oct. 11: L vs. Riverside Academy, 11-25, 21-25
Oct. 15: W at Hanson Memorial, 25-9, 25-10, 25-14
Oct. 16: at Thibodaux
Oct. 20: vs. Walker
Patterson
Oct. 15: L at Catholic-New Iberia, 8-15, 9-25, 10-25
Oct. 16: vs. Hanson Memorial

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:21am

At Tuesday's Berwick Town Council meeting, Kelli Cantu of Chez Hope, third from left, was presented with a proclamation making October Domestic Violence Awareness Month. A two-mile “Walking With A Purpose” event by Chez Hope is scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Parish Courthouse in Franklin. Shown from left are council members Raymond Price and Colleen Askew, Cantu, Mayor Duval Arthur, and council members Lud Henry, Kevin Hebert and James Richard.

The Review/Bill Decker

Resolution of respect for Mashburn

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:17am

The Review/Bill Decker
The Berwick Town Council on Tuesday passed a resolution of respect paid tribute to Herb Mashburn, who died Sept. 3. Mashburn was a former justice of the peace and peace and chairman of the Berwick-Bayou Vista Waterworks District. Shown from left are council members Raymond Price and Colleen Askew; Mashburn's daughter, Judi Lambert; his wife, Sheryl Masburn; Mayor Duval Arthur; and council members Lud Hendry, Kevin Hebert and James Richard.

AG seeks to have Fourchon terminal freed of regulation

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:14am

NOLAN McKENDRY, The Center Square

=Stopping regulation of oil terminal operator Rosefield Fourchon Operating as a common carrier has been requested by Louisiana’s attorney general.
Last week in a brief filing, Attorney General Liz Murrill urged the state’s 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge to stop the action by the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Murrill seeks an expedited stay of a June 2025 commission order that affirmed an administrative law judge’s finding that Rosefield’s Fourchon Terminal falls under the commission’s jurisdiction.
Murrill says the ruling misreads state law, particularly changes lawmakers passed this spring, and sweeps a self-contained storage facility into a regulatory framework designed for pipeline transportation.
“In the 2025 legislative session, the Louisiana Legislature amended La. R.S. 45:251 … to make clear that certain de minimis movement of oil wholly within a tank facility or storage terminal does not rise to the level of ‘the transportation of petroleum,’” the attorney general’s brief states, calling the commission’s order “error warranting this Court’s correction.”
The case started when Cantium, another producer using Port Fourchon infrastructure, accused Rosefield of overcharging at the Fourchon Terminal without a legally required commission-approved tariff.
In December, an administrative law judge sided with Cantium, concluding that Rosefield’s operations constituted pipeline activity subject to the commission’s common-carrier statutes. The commission affirmed that decision in May.
Rosefield rejects that premise, saying it provides storage and metering and not pipeline transportation. Therefore, it says, it falls outside of the commission jurisdiction.
Federal regulators have said the same about their authority. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission concluded Rosefield’s Fourchon services “do not provide pipeline services,” that crude moves intrastate after leaving the facility, and that the chain of interstate transportation is broken.
Before the commission voted in May, Murrill wrote the commission on April 16 urging it to reverse the administrative law judge’s “erroneous jurisdictional ruling.”
“The ruling reasons that, because oil flows to and from Rosefield’s storage tanks through Rosefield’s terminal transfer lines, that renders Rosefield a ‘common carrier’ like airlines, phone companies, trucking companies, and railroads,” Murrill wrote. “Never mind that this activity occurs wholly within Port Fourchon and results in actual common carriers transporting the oil … to America and the world.”
Murrill says the 2025 amendments “cement” the commission “reached the wrong result.” Rosefield and the attorney general say the 2025 amendments clarified that minimal, on-site movement of oil inside a storage terminal is not “transportation of petroleum,” and therefore does not trigger commission jurisdiction.
They also note the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conclusion that Rosefield’s services are not part of interstate pipeline transportation.
Rates approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission were 67 cents per barrell in September 2023. In testimony before the commission, Cantium says Rosefield increased the Fourchon charge to $2.50 that month without commission approval and in July this year to $4.87 per barrell.
Commission staff rejected the increase and notified Rosefield. Commissioners were told the $4.87 charge was still in place in August.
At $2.50 since September 2023, Cantium said the overage is more than $10 million – roughly $472,000 per month for the company’s volumes. Rosefield says the commission has no jurisdiction on the rates, and is making unlawful intrusion to contracts “at market rates.”
The Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the International Liquid Terminals Association told commissioners that treating terminal operators as common carriers would impose new registration and tariff requirements, commission approval of fees, and additional supervision fees paid to the Department of Revenue. They say this could discourage investment and slow modernization projects.
“Increased regulatory oversight would place Louisiana at a distinct disadvantage, making it more challenging for businesses to justify investing in the state,” one letter cautioned.
Murrill says, in the brief, state Supreme Court precedent puts questions of statutory interpretation within District Court’s original jurisdiction.
The commission on Oct. 23 has the matter on its docket. Rosefield’s appeal and request for a stay is awaiting action Murrill is requesting to quickly happen.

Teche Health 5K raises breast cancer awareness

Thu, 10/16/2025 - 9:10am

HOWARD J. CASTAY, Review correspondent

FRANKLIN -- Teche Health will hold its 25th Adeline Guienze 5K run or walk for breast cancer awareness at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, starting at the St Mary Parish Courthouse Square on Main Street.
Proceeds from this event support the Women’s Health Program at Teche Health, formerly known as Teche Action Clinic. Funds generated will pay for mammogram screenings for women who fall within specific income guidelines and to be used for the program’s breast cancer awareness outreach and education initiatives.
Late registration begins at 7 a.m., the day of the event. An entry form can be obtained from the Teche Health
Facebook page at this address: facebook.com/techeactionclinic, or by calling Florence Beverly, Teche marketing supervisor, at 337-828-2550 ext 2188 or 337-940-3936.
Beverly said the event always kicks off the city of Franklin’s Main Street Merchant Harvest Moon Festival, which hosts a bevy of activities later in the day.
“We encourage anyone, including mothers pushing their babies in their strollers, to join us for this event,” she said. “The race course will bring you through the historic and downtown districts of Franklin,” she said.
All entry fees are non-refundable.
Dr. Gary Wiltz, CEO of Teche, said Guienze was an incredible employee of the organization who lost her life way too soon.
“We celebrate her memory to hopefully avoid that grief for other families,” he said.
“I strongly encourage women to get their mammograms at age 40 and if there is a family history of breast cancer, to get it sooner, like at age 35 or perhaps younger.”
In addition, Wiltz suggests that women to continue to practice self breast examinations and to practice a healthy breast diet by avoiding caffeine in coffee, tea and by avoiding chocolate.
He also suggests taking vitamin E as it is a good supplement for ladies with fibrocystic breast disease.
“The best prevention is early detection. That’s not a cliche. It works,” he said.
Beverly said a $150 cash award will be presented to the first man and the first woman to cross the finish line.
Other awards include first-, second- and third-place medals that will be awarded to the top male and female runners and walkers, by the official race clock.
The race/walk fee is $30 by Oct. 16, or $35 on race day. There is also a $20 senior citizen fee for those who are 70 or older.
Also, Beverly said there is a $5 per student entry fee for high school teams. Students must wear their school shirt in order to participate. There is no race t-shirt for this price.
Teche Health, Teche Action Clinic, opened its doors in Franklin in the summer of 1974, as Louisiana’s first community health center.
Matthew Guienze, the son of Adeline Guienze, said its beautiful to see the event celebrating his mother’s memory.
“Words can’t explain it. That’s all I have to say,” he said.

Oct. 16 St. Mary Parish Charter Review Commission agenda

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 4:44pm

Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.

Leonard announces retirement from Berwick chief's post

Wed, 10/15/2025 - 4:06pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

BERWICK – Police Chief David S. Leonard Sr. told the Town Council on Tuesday that he will retire from the post Nov. 22.

“It’s been an honor to serve this community,” Leonard told the council.

Leonard has served as police chief since his appointment Jan. 8, 2019.

Leonard, a Berwick native, began his career in public service as a 16-year-old working with the Volunteer Fire Department.

Originally hired as a police officer by then-Chief Ovay Rogers, Leonard has worked in the Police Department for 38 years.

From 2004 until his appointment as chief, Leonard was assistant chief to James Richard, who is now a Town Council member.

On the night Leonard was named chief in 2019, he was joined at a Town Council meeting by four other chiefs: Rogers; Duval Arthur, who is now the mayor; Richard; and Nolan Brashear.

“This will always be my home,” Leonard said. “I’ll always be a phone call away.”

Councilman Kevin Hebert said he hopes Leonard will be available to make chili on Christmas movie night, which Leonard said may involve a secret recipe.

“We’ll discuss that,” he replied.