RSS Feed

Group looks at COVID's impact on minorities

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 11:07am

GEOFF STOUTE

Hypertension was a serious issue among African Americans prior to COVID-19, and COVID-19 only magnified the issue with fatalities related to the condition.
That was one of the many messages of Dr. Gary Wiltz, CEO of Teche Action Clinic, who was one of three guest speakers in a Health and Wellness Healthcare 2.0 virtual meeting that the 100 Black Men of St. Mary hosted Wednesday.
Hypertension, Wiltz said, is a “silent killer” that can trigger strokes, heart attacks, congestive heart failure and kidney failure.
“That was a preexisting condition that our people had before COVID, and COVID uncovered it,” he said in the event, which was carried by KBZE 105.9 FM online.
Hypertension topped the list of risk factors for COVID-19 fatalities, followed by obesity and diabetes, Wiltz said.
He noted the average life expectancy of an African American male is 69.1 years in the United States and is 66 in Louisiana.
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” Wiltz said. “It doesn’t have to be preordained.”
Walter Kirkland, of the 100 Black Men National Health and Wellness Committee, told members that a blood pressure reading device, a digital thermometer and a pulse oximeter are the minimal things that are needed in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. He said a proper diet, portion control and exercise are key, too.
Kirkland noted the importance of baseline information, too. He said a lot of African Americans are not in shape and don’t want to know what their vitals are.
“And guess what happens? Some of them are dying. … I’d rather know if I’m sick or not sick,” Kirkland said.
As for COVID, Wiltz said African Americans are being infected with the virus almost three times as much as Caucasians, and the death rate is almost three times as much as their white counterparts.
“The vaccination rate is pitiful” among African Americans, he said.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health website, a dead or weakened version of the virus is not included in the vaccine that will initiate “an immune response” in patients.
“Instead, the COVID-19 vaccine contains a genetic instruction manual that tells your immune system how to respond and protect you from exposure to the actual virus,” the website said.
Wiltz said he has tried to alleviate the fears of African American patients who are leery to receive the vaccine in explaining that Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, an African American, has been recognized by Dr. Anthony Faucci as the top scientist in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
Wiltz noted that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are 95% effective, and no deaths have been attributed to them, either.
The Louisiana Depar-tment of Health said the technology used in vaccine development is called mRNA, which is also known as messenger RNA. It’s something that has been available for many years.
“This is the first time mRNA has been used in a vaccine, but the effect is the same as other vaccines,” the department’s website said. “Your body gets protection without the serious consequences of a severe illness due to COVID-19 exposure.”
For those diagnosed with COVID 19 and are ill but not sick enough for hospitalization, there is the option of monoclonal antibodies for those that meet certain qualifications, such as age and comorbidities.
However, Wiltz said patients must ask for the free outpatient treatments, which can be administered within the first three days of a diagnosis. He said these antibodies were given to former President Donald Trump when he was hospitalized.
“It’s a cocktail of these antibodies, and it can prevent you from going into respiratory failure and hospitalization,” Wiltz said. “I’ve had several patients that I’ve sent 24, 48 hours after they got diagnosed that still were feeling bad, got the infusions. Within 24 hours, they were asymptomatic.”
Wiltz said the antibodies, along with consuming Vitamins C and D, zinc and getting your blood pressure and diabetes under wraps, can keep patients alive or out of the hospital.
Kirkland said vitamins are key in the battle against COVID because those who take them have stronger immune systems.
For those who are hospitalized, Wiltz encouraged them to seek convalescent plasma, which comes from those who have recovered from the virus and developed antibodies.
“That, too, can be lifesaving,” Wiltz said. “The New England Journal (of Medicine) put out the report: People that got that plasma serum, it’s almost miraculous. Within 24 hours, they went from being on death’s doors to turning the course.”
He said drugs are being developed to treat COVID, too.
“We’re hoping that we’ll have those a little later this year,” Wiltz said. “Just like antibodies can cure bacterial infections, once we get these antivirals, that’s going to be another tool that we can use to get this thing under control.”
Wiltz said that while the vaccines available are good in fighting COVID-19’s variants, he said likely a “booster shot,” too, will be needed before the COVID-19 battle ends.

Football players say big hits started long before the big time

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 11:02am

JESSICA SPEZIALE and HENRY WALDON, LSU Manship School News Service

Second part of a two-part series

LSU Manship School News Service
Back when Eric Hill played linebacker for LSU and in the NFL, every tackler had the same mindset: “You kill the head, you kill the body.”
Hill, who retired from football in 2000, remembers coaches at every level telling him to use his helmet as a weapon. That created a greater risk of concussions for both players. But the NFL was like “the wild, wild West” then, he said, with few safety rules, and concussions seemed like “a phantom injury” since few people were aware of the serious effects.
If a player got his bell rung, he had ammonia packs in his sock to sniff and keep playing.
“You could just grab one, and ‘all right, I’m good,’” Hill said. “That’s how we did it.”
Hill played 11 seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Cardinals in St. Louis and Phoenix. He also was a captain of LSU’s SEC Championship team in 1998. He had seven documented concussions in the NFL, but he suspects he might have had up to 100 throughout his career.
One sticks out in his mind. His team was facing the New York Giants when he scooped up a fumble. Another player came in and hit him on the side of the head. He dropped the ball and then instinctively headed back to the huddle.
“To this day, they were saying it was, like, three plays where I had no idea what I was doing,” Hill said.
The concerns about concussions surfaced after the first case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was found in 2005 in the brain of Mike Webster, a former center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they have since prompted efforts to make tackling–and football itself--safer at every level, from youth and high-school leagues on up through college and the pros.
As more brains of deceased NFL players were examined, nearly all came back with the same result: CTE. Many of the players suffered from severe mood swings, and some committed suicide. Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted of murder and, at 27, hung himself in his jail cell in 2017. Researchers determined that he had one of the most severe cases of CTE for someone his age.
At first, the NFL shunned doctors who discovered the disease and refused to admit there was a connection between playing football and long-term effects like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or brain trauma.
Hill sees these brain issues among colleagues with whom he played. He knows some who need handlers to help manage their days.
“To see friends that are hurting, that’s tough sometimes because you easily know that could be you,” he said.
Trainers monitor hit levels during practice and games. If the levels reach a certain peak, a trainer will pull a player aside and assess him. Tulane defensive lineman Noah Seiden, who just completed his sophomore season, recalls how a trainer pulled him out of practice to be evaluated after a hard hit. He said he would not have realized how hard the hit was had the mouthpiece not picked up a high force.
Seiden said he has had three documented concussions: in sixth grade, his senior year in high school and his freshman year in college.
“The first helmet that I had when I got that first concussion was just like a brick,” he said. “It was hard padding and didn’t really help me that much.”
LSU, Hill’s alma mater, also continues to experiment with new safety measures. It uses sensors in its helmets to determine the gravitational and rotational forces from a hit.
Hill said he probably had more concussions in practice than in games. LSU also has cut back on violent practices to reduce the hits players absorb.
“We were the lead school to eliminate two-a-day practices because of our research,” said Jack Marucci, LSU’s director of athletic training for football.
Starting with youth and high school leagues, athletes need to recognize symptoms of concussions, which may include confusion, balance issues and blurred vision.
“Take it slow and get evaluated as soon as possible,” Marucci said. “Follow the protocol to return to play.”
“Every athlete is different, so there is not a set amount of days,” he added. “It can vary from four days to 21 days.”
Often, football players aren’t even aware they have a concussion, said David Daniels, who played at Millikin University and Valparaiso University. Like Hill, Daniels said he had probably played with multiple concussions in his career.
“Even though I got hit a lot, I never checked to see if I got a concussion or not,” Daniels said.
Mark Dalecki, an assistant professor at the LSU School of Kinesiology, said most athletes are eager to get back on the field, but they need to wait to be cleared by a medical professional.
Dalecki said short and long-term impairments might not stem from one big concussion but from a combination of tiny hits over time. Concussions as a youth also place a player at a higher risk for dementia or other ailments.
Hill, now enjoying the game from his couch instead of the field, sees how “the kids” are hitting differently and appreciates how the coaches are teaching them to avoid injuries.
“You still get big, fast, strong men that are running into each other, so that’s a lot of energy, so that’s gonna be violent,” he said. But the violence is not quite the same as when he played “because the intent is different,” he added.
He retired last year due to concussions sustained during his playing career.
Hill said Kuechly could make that decision because he was financially stable, whereas players in earlier times were not as well off.
Noah Seiden’s mom Kathy remembers the first time her son got a concussion, in sixth grade.
“It was the first time I ever thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this could potentially be dangerous,’” she said. “Because they were so little at the time.”
She has been impressed with the way her son’s coaches and trainers at Tulane work toward keeping safety a top priority. She still prays for her son before every game. But, she said,
“When your kid is so smart about it and handling it well...you got to let him go.”
Hill is glad that more people are talking about the dangers of concussions. He said that breaks down the “gladiator shield” that he and his teammates had to maintain during their time.
Many parents, including some former NFL players, are concerned about having their sons play football. But for anyone who has a passion for football like he did, Hill thinks, the benefits still outweigh the risks.
“Every time you go out on the field, you take a risk,” Hill said. “You have to make sure that risk is worth it.”
Hunter M. McCann, Keith A. Fell Jr. and Anthony J. Mocklin contributed to this story.

Morgan City awaits water test results

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:57am

Staff Report
The city of Morgan City is awaiting water sample test results from the state Department of Health to lift its boil order advisory that has been in effect since Wednesday morning.
Utilities Director Bill Cefalu said that on Thursday, the city reached the pressure threshold to lift the boil order.
But that will have to wait until water samples are approved by the Department of Health.
Cefalu said Thursday he thought the city’s water towers would be full by sometime Friday.
Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna, in a Facebook post, encouraged residents to check for leaks in their pipes Friday.
The city also provides water for the Stephensville area covered in St. Martin Parish Water and Sewer District No. 1, which also is under a water boil advisory.
When Morgan City’s boil water advisory is lifted, so will that portion of Stephensville that it provides water to.
Meanwhile, St. Mary Parish public schools were closed early Thursday due to water service disruption, and they remained closed Friday, Superintendent Teresa Bagwell said.
In Assumption Parish, Waterworks District No. 1, a boil advisory remains in the Pierre Part, Belle River and Bayou L’Ourse areas, but the district issued a statement on Facebook Thursday that samples have been submitted to the state lab. Once the approval is given, then the order can be lifted.
In the meantime, customers are encouraged to conserve water, check pipes for leaks and repair as soon as possible and report water leaks to the district at 985-369-6156.
While the district said the water system slowly was recovering, it expected freezes Thursday and Friday evenings to “slow or hamper this recovery even more,” the release said.
In Patterson, the city issued a statement Thursday morning on its Facebook page that the city’s water system “is in excellent shape.”
The city noted it has kept its water pressure and flow has continued through the weather event.
“Currently, our water service is maintaining system pressure, and there is no threat of the city having to turn water off,” the release said.

SIDNEY JOSEPH RHODES SR.

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:55am

Sidney Joseph Rhodes Sr., 95, a former resident of Morgan City and Gibson, most recently residing in Carencro, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.
Sidney was an honest, hardworking man and was loved by many. He was a retired tugboat captain and believed firmly in his Catholic faith.
Sidney is survived by one sister, Doris Rhodes Guidry and husband Lynn; two sons, Kenneth Rhodes Sr. and Sidney “SJ” Rhodes Jr.; one daughter, Deena Rhodes; and grandchildren, Kenneth “Richard” Rhodes Jr. and wife Michelle, Paul Rhodes and wife Kimberly, Allan Rhodes, Michael DeMain, Bryan Rhodes, Bradly Rhodes, Kevin Scott, Dawn Hodge Berthelot and husband Robbie, Jamie Lynn Hodge, and Joseph Rhodes and wife Tracey. Sidney had a total of 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Sidney was preceded in death by his loving spouses, Mary “Mickey” Picou Rhodes, and Gladys Morrison Rhodes; his parents, Vince Evans Rhodes and Doliska Tevay Rhodes; four brothers, Albert Rhodes, Stanley Rhodes, Robert Rhodes and William “Willie” Rhodes; one sister, Mary Rhodes Picou; one grandchild, Jeanine Rhodes; and one great-grandchild, Adam Jacob Rhodes.
The Rhodes family would like to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to Harold and Pam Boudreaux, family members of Gladys Morrison Rhodes. Their daily care and respect for Mr. Sidney has not gone unnoticed. Their family has truly been an inspiration in showing love and compassion beyond measure. The words “Thank You” will never be enough.
The visitation will be held on Monday, February 22, 2021 at Twin City Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The funeral service will commence at 2:00 p.m. with Father Thainese Alphonse officiating. Sidney will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery following the services.

THIEN HAI JOSEPH NGUYEN

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:53am

August 11, 1988 — February 16, 2021
Thien Hai Joseph Nguyen, 32, a resident of Bayou Vista, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans with his wife by his side.
Thien, the son of Hoang Nguyen and Mao Nguyen, was born in Lafayette on August 11, 1988.
Thien was truly one of a kind. He has touched the lives of so many people and his memory will live on through them. His best and biggest role was a loving husband and father. He enjoyed spending time with his kids, whether that was at the camp killing Hayden and Tinley’s first deer, taking a nap with Rylee, or supporting them in every aspect of their lives. He said to his wife, Tiffiny, on their wedding day, “Remember these words: I will cherish each and every second I will spend with you from now and until I take my final breath.” Although we never imagined your final breath would be this soon, we promise to never forget you.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Tiffiny Marcantel Nguyen; three children, Rylee, Hayden and Tinley Nguyen; his parents, Hoang Nguyen and Mao Nguyen; two sisters, My Linh Pham and husband Phi, and Theresa Kober and husband Derek; two brothers, Duy Nguyen and Giang Nguyen; grandmother, Hoan Thi Nguyen; father and mother-in-law, Sherman Marcantel and wife Kelly and Dawn Marcantel and husband Shane; two sisters-in-law, Shaina Liner and husband Kiefer, and Hannah Marcantel and boyfriend Garrett; three brothers-in-law, Dallas Marcantel and wife Ashlyn, Cameron Marcantel, and Carson Marcantel and girlfriend Kelsey; and nieces and nephews, Carter, Ryder, Scarlette, Caroline, Kamryn, Levi, Asher and Dawson.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Duy Nguyen, Giang Nguyen, Hayden Nguyen, Mike Huynh, Dallas Marcantel, Cameron Marcantel, Dale Broussard and Rolando Burbante.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Following mass Thien will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Thien’s memory to his family to help with medical expenses.

WILSON EUGENE HALL III

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:48am

Wilson Eugene Hall III, 61, a native of Fort Benning, Georgia and resident of Bayou Vista, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, at his residence.
He is survived by his mother, Caroline Hall of Columbus, Georgia; two sisters, Genny Petty of New Braunfels, Texas and Susan Hall of Norcross, Georgia; one brother, Charles Hall of Sugar Hill, Georgia; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Wheel House for Feb. 19

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:44am

ST. STEPHEN
Early Learning Center, 3217 Second St., Berwick, taking 2021-22 registration for three- and four-year-old classes (half-day). Open House 1:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 23-25. For info call 985-385-1280.

Deputies make arrests in domestic abuse cases

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:35am

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.)

Local authorities made four arrests related to domestic violence this week, including an Assumption Parish woman accused of threatening her partner with a weapon while kids were in the house, according to police reports.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Stephanie Michelle Boudreaux, 43, La. 1, Belle Rose, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of domestic abuse/aggravated assault with child endangerment.
Deputies were called to a disturbance Tuesday at a Belle Rose address and made contact with the complainant, who is a domestic partner of the accused. He said the two engaged in an argument and at some point, Boudreaux retrieved a weapon and moved towards him in an aggressive manner.
The situation was diffused. At the time of the incident, there were minor children present.
Based on the complainant and suspect’s version of events as well as witness statements, Boudreaux was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention with a bond set at $15,000.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advises that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 40 complaints and made the following arrests:
—Huntar Allen St. Germain, 21, Patterson, was arrested at 1:44 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. St. Germain was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Raymond Terry Chapman, 40, Centerville, was arrested at 1:19 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of driving under suspension. Chapman was released on a summons to appear May 24.
—Kyle Joseph Darden, 24, Charenton, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated). Darden was released on a summons to appear May 24.
—Melvin Curtis Sylvester, 60, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:46 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of criminal trespass and on two warrants for failure to appear on charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, resisting an officer, disturbing the peace (offensive words), domestic abuse battery, simple robbery, domestic abuse battery (aggravated), aggravated burglary and home invasion.
No bail has been set.
—Donnie Daigle, 30, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on an Assumption Parish warrant on the charges of simple damage to property and simple burglary.
Daigle also held a Gonzales Police Department warrant on the charges of simple burglary, simple damage to property and theft. Daigle is being held for another agency.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Ian Dupuis, 40, Mitchel Boyer Road, was arrested Sunday on charges of domestic abuse battery and animal control ordinance.
—Brodie Brasseaux, 46, Odelle Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on charges of failure to appear, aggravated battery, taking contraband to or from a penal institution and illegal possession of stolen things.
—Emmanuel Sylvester, 35, Red Barn Road, Cecilia, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of entry or remaining in places after forbidden.
—Jeremy Clay, 31, Madeline Heights, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Wednesday on charges of violation of a protective order and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Morgan City police radio logs for Feb. 17-18

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:33am

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, Feb. 17
7:21 a.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Alarm.
8:22 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Hang up call.
8:29 a.m. Onstead Street and Federal Avenue area; Complaint.
9:23 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Hang up call.
10:36 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Inmate transfer.
10:59 a.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Complaint.
11:30 a.m. 1100 block of Birch Street; Search warrant/arrest.
12:34 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Theft.
1:42 p.m. 3000 block of Catherine Street ; Hang up call.
4:34 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Accident.
5:10 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Alarm.
5:47 p.m. 200 block of Onstead Street; Utilities.
6:10 p.m. 4000 block of Railroad Avenue; Alarm.
7:21 p.m. Louisiana and Fifth streets; Frequent patrols.
8:12 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
9:07 p.m. Sixth and Bowman streets; Traffic incident.
9:11 p.m. Clothilde Street; Utilities.
10:31 p.m. 1600 block of Elm Street; Loud music.
10:40 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Alarm.
Thursday, Feb. 18
1:55 a.m. 200 block of Utah Street; Alarm.
2:08 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.

Conrad has steel-cutting for Great Lakes dredge

Fri, 02/19/2021 - 10:29am

Conrad Shipyard hosted a steel-cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. Feb. 5 at its Deepwater South shipyard in Amelia.
The ceremony signals the start of construction of a 6,500-cubic-yard trailing suction hopper dredge. Delivery of the vessel is scheduled before the end the second quarter of 2023.
Addressing an audience of Conrad and Great Lakes managers, shipyard workers and guests, David Simonelli, Great Lakes CEO, said that the long-standing relationship between the two companies is stronger than ever:
“The steel-cutting for this new hopper dredge is an important milestone for Great Lakes as we strategically invest in our fleet capacity to meet the nation’s maritime infrastructure needs,” he said. “We are proud to partner with Conrad in the construction of this state-of-the-art Jones Act-compliant vessel which when operational will rebuild and protect our shorelines, deepen and maintain shipping channels and help restore Louisiana’s eroded barrier islands and marshes.”
The dredge will feature two 800mm suction pipes and will be able to dredge at depths of up to 100 feet. The vessel has principal dimensions of approximately 346 feet in length, 69 feet in breadth and 23 feet in depth, and total installed horsepower of 16,500. The new dredge will be well-suited to multiuse applications on various project types. It will be deployed for channel deepening, maintenance dredging, beach nourishment, and coastal restoration projects with short to medium distance transport requirements.
The dredge will be equipped with a direct high-power pump-ashore installation, dredging system automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, US EPA Tier IV compliant engines, and additional features designed to minimize the impact of its dredging process on the environment. The Tier 4- compliant engines significantly reduce the vessel’s climate footprint, while other incorporated features minimize turbidity and marine species entrainment. Best-in-class accommodations feature single-occupancy staterooms, a workout room, and a movie theater with raised seating that doubles as a training facility.
Vidar Lindmoen, Great Lakes new build program director, said that he was looking forward to working with the Conrad shipbuilding team on the new contract:
“You are a very competent and hard-working team,” he said. “We are grateful for the very detailed engineering work that you provided, the open communication and your quick response to our every inquiry. We know from personal experience of Conrad’s outstanding reputation for delivering quality vessels on-time and within contracted cost. Our companies are a good match.”
Dan Conrad, senior vice president and director, discussed the significance of the contract:
“Great Lakes has been a valued customer of Conrad, and we appreciate their continued confidence in Conrad to construct this highly automated vessel to complement Great Lakes’ existing fleet. We look forward to working with the Great Lakes team to provide another quality vessel to serve the U.S. dredging market.”
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States. In addition, the company has a long history of performing significant international projects. The Company employs experienced civil, ocean and mechanical engineering staff in its estimating, production and project management functions. Great Lakes owns and operates the largest and most diverse fleet in the U.S. dredging industry, comprised of over 200 specialized vessels.
Conrad Shipyard was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Morgan City. The company designs, constructs and overhauls tugboats, ferries, liftboats, barges, offshore supply vessels and other steel and aluminum products for both commercial and government markets. Conrad provides both repair and new construction services at its five Gulf Coast shipyards located in southern Louisiana and Texas.