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The office of St. Martin Parish Sheriff Becket Breaux last week recognized the citizens who took part in the rescue of a 10-year-old girl who was abducted from New Iberia.
From the Sheriff's Office:
On Feb. 7, a 10-year-ld old girl was abducted from the 1000 block of Fulton Street in New Iberia.
Late Sunday evening, an Amber Alert was subsequently issued which included descriptions of the victim, suspect Michael Sereal of New Iberia, and the suspect’s vehicle.
Early Feb. 8, beginning at approximately 6:40 a.m., calls were made to 911 to report that a car matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle was in a field off Burton Plantation Highway in St. Martin Parish.
"We have the honor of recognizing the following individuals for their heroic actions," Breaux said.
The sheriff's account:
The honorees are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thibodeaux, Dion Merrick, and Brandon Antoine.
Ashley Thibodeaux is a bus driver with the St. Martin Parish School Board. During her morning route, she noticed a vehicle matching the description of the Amber Alert and diligently followed safety protocols and ensured the safety of the children in her care; she called her husband, Robert Thibodeaux, and asked that he report the location and description of the vehicle to 911.
Shortly after, a second call was received by our 911 dispatchers from Dion Merrick and Brandon Antoine, both employees of Pelican Waste and Debris.
As they were speaking to the dispatcher, they blocked the suspect’s vehicle with their truck to prevent the suspect from leaving before law enforcement arrived.
The Sheriff's Office presented each of them with the following awards:
--Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thibodeaux, Citizens Award for Distinguished Action.
--Dion Merrick and Brandon Antoine-Citizens Award for Bravery and Diligence
"Your selflessness and quick action resulted in the arrest of the suspect, and the safe return of the victim to her family," Breaux said.
"Here at St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, our motto is 'Working Together To Make A Difference' and the individuals being honored here today are prime examples of this. Together we WILL make a difference."

This story has been edited correct St. Martin Sheriff Becket Breaux's affiliation.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these call outs and incidents on local waterways during December and January.

 Call out/Assistance:  Dec. 10, 2020, 3:18 p.m., Atchafalaya River out of Myette Point
On the afternoon of 12/10/20, a deputy with the St. MaryParish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was contacted by a supervisor who advised that there was a subject that had run out of gas near Myette Point. 
The deputy contacted SMPSO dispatch and was given a number to contact the complainant. The deputy contacted the boater who advised that he and his friend had run out of gas somewhere out of Myette Point. 
He also stated that he had GPS coordinates of the area.  He stated he was in no immediate danger but was out of gas and his motor was not working properly.  He also said that he was just out of Myette Point north of Six Mile Lake. 
The deputy and a reserve deputy responded in a marked patrol vessel.  The deputies located the subjects in the river just above Six Mile Lake and towed them back to the landing without incident.

 Call Out/Assistance:  Dec. 24, 2020, 9 a.m., Wax Lake Delta, (Greg Pass)
  On Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, at approximately 0900 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded duck hunter. Dispatch advised that the hunter called stating he was aground at the Wax Lake Delta and needed assistance. Dispatch also provided the coordinates to the hunter’s location.
The deputy made contact with the hunter and advised him that the Sheriff’s Office would respond and if his situation changed to call back.
The deputy responded with two reserve deputies to the coordinates given in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, the deputies observed a duck hunting type vessel at the coordinates given. The deputies attempted to make contact with the occupants via loud hailer and cell phone.
After approximately 1/2 hour, the hunter called stating they already returned to the boat launch. The hunter also failed to forward me the information on his passengers and vessel registration.
 Call out/Assistance:  Dec. 24, 2020, 10:25 a.m., Wax Lake Delta (Pintail Pass)
On Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, at approximately 1025 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch in reference to a stranded duck hunter. Dispatch advised that a hunter called stating his vessel had drifted away from him.
Dispatch also stated that the hunter said he was in Ratcliff Pass and provided the coordinates. At that time the deputy was currently assisting another stranded duck hunter at the Wax Lake Delta. After checking the coordinates, it was learned that the hunter was in Pintail Pass at the Wax Lake Delta.
The deputy made contact with the hunter and advised him that the Sheriff’s Office would respond shortly, due to the fact that they were already in the area, and call back if his situation changed. The deputy and two reserve deputies responded to the coordinates given in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, the deputies observed three individuals standing on the shore at the coordinates given.
The deputies made contact with the hunters and had them board the patrol vessel and they searched for their missing vessel.
Minutes later, the missing vessel was located approximately 3/4 mile further down Pintail Pass. The three individuals and their gear were transported to the recovered vessel. They then returned to the boat launch under their own power.

Call out/Assistance:  Dec. 24, 2020, 12:30 p.m., Wax Lake Spillway
On Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, at approximately 1200 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a call from a hunter that was stranded in the Wax Lake Spillway.
The hunter stated that he and two co-workers were returning from Bell Isle when their outboard engine failed and they were in need of assistance.
The deputy advised the hunter that the Sheriff’s Office would respond.
Due to the fact that they were already in the area, it took just minutes to arrive at the location (1/2 mile North of Coal Boat Pass in the Spillway).
Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with the three hunters and had them to secure a towline to the vessel, and board the patrol vessel donning life vests.
They were then towed to the Calumet Boat Launch without incident.
 Call out/Search and Rescue:  Dec. 20, 2020, 8:03 p.m., Atchafalaya River/Deer Island
On the evening of Dec. 20, 2020, at approximately 2000 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was called out in reference to a boat being stuck on a sandbar around the Deer Island Bayou/Atchafalaya River area.
The deputies left out from the Berwick Boat Landing and traveled down the river and located the subjects on the reserve between Deer Island Bayou and Plumb Island Point.
The subject’s boat was far back on the sandbar, anchored in place, and the three subjects walked out to the deputies’ boat and were transported back to the Berwick Boat Landing without incident.

 Call out/Search and Rescue:  Dec. 19, 2020, 4:04 p.m., Atchafalaya River/Deer Island
On the evening of Dec. 19, 2020, at approximately 1604 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was called out in reference to a boat being stuck on a sandbar around the Deer Island Bayou/Atchafalaya River area.
The deputies left out from the Berwick Boat Landing and traveled down the river. The subjects were located between Deer Island Bayou and Plumb Island Point and were hard aground.
The deputies were able to pull the vessel to deep water and loaded two passengers into the deputies’ marked patrol vessel due to the rain and cold weather. The other two boaters remained in their boat and followed the deputies back to the Berwick Boat Landing.
 Call out/Assistance:  Jan. 16, 2021, 1:40 p.m., Wax Lake Outlet
On the afternoon of Jan. 16, 2021, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was contacted by the dispatcher advising of a boater in the Wax Lake Outlet who was broken down but safe.
The deputy contacted another Marine Section deputy and advised him of the complaint. The deputies proceeded to the subject in SMB4, a marked patrol vessel, and towed him in safely to the Calumet boat landing.
 
Call out/Assistance:  Jan. 17, 2021, 8:40 p.m., Wax Lake Outlet
At approximately 20:40 on Jan. 17, 2021, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was contacted by a Patrol Deputy who advised that there was a distress flare sighted in the Calumet Cut south of the bridges towards the ICW.
The deputy contacted another Marine Section deputy and advised him of the situation.
The deputies met at the Calumet boat landing and searched the area from the landing to the ICW but were unable to locate anyone in distress.
 Call out/Search and Rescue:  Jan. 17, 2021, 8:40 p.m., Wax Lake Delta (Gadwall Pass)
On Saturday, Jan. 09, 2021, at approximately 1830 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded duck hunter.
Dispatch further advised that the boater advised that he was aground at the Wax and was in need of assistance. The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone.
The boater stated he was south of the campgrounds and sent the deputy a pin drop to his location. After receiving information to his location it was determined he was in Gadwell Pass. The deputy advised the boater that the Sheriff’s Office would respond and if his situation changed to call back.
The marine deputies responded to the location in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel. Upon arrival, it was learned the deputies did not have enough towline to reach the boater.
The boaters walked out to the patrol vessel. The stranded vessel t was left at anchor and the deputies returned them to the Cabot boat launch without incident. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) were both contacted in reference to leaving the stranded vessel behind. The boater stated he would return the next day to retrieve his vessel.
 
Call out/SAR:  Jan. 10, 2021, 6:45 a.m., Amarada Pass (Lower Atchafalaya River)
On Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at approximately 0645 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded duck hunter.
Dispatch further advised that the boater called stating he was aground near the Game Warden Camp on the Atchafalaya River Delta and was in need of assistance. The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone. The boater stated that he was on the edge of the bay right behind the Game Warden Camp.
The deputy advised that the Sheriff’s Office would respond and if his situation changed to call back. The deputies responded to the location in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel.
Upon arrival, it was determined that the deputies could not reach the boater and his partner due to the extreme low tide.
The deputy contacted the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Camp located in Amarada Pass and asked if they had a shallow draft vessel to assist.
The Biologist retrieved the two boaters and returned them to the campgrounds.
The boater stated the LDWF Biologist was going to bring him back to his vessel upon high tide.
The deputies confirmed the information and returned to the Morgan City boat launch without incident.

 Call out/Search and Rescue:  Jan. 11, 2021, 5:30 a.m., Big Wax Bayou
On Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, at approximately 0530 hours, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section received a SAR text from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in reference to a disabled vessel that was taking on water.
Dispatch called with the same information.
The deputy contacted a petty officer with the USCG who stated that the boater called stating he and a friend ran aground and now the vessel was taking on water.
The deputy made contact with the boater via cell phone.
The boater stated that he and his friend were both uninjured, dry, and had already contacted another friend who was in route to their location to assist them.
The deputy asked Brandon if he needed the Sheriff’s Office assistance and the boater stated he did not at this time. The deputy advised the boater that he would check back with him in a couple of hours and if his situation changed and he needed assistance to call back.
Shortly after talking with the boater, an agent with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries contacted the deputy about this SAR and the deputy advised him of the situation.
At 0830 the deputy tried contacting the boater but was unable to make contact. The marine deputies responded to the location in SMB-5, a marked patrol vessel.
Upon arrival, they were unable to locate the boater or his vessel. The deputy tried to make contact again. This time the boater answered his phone and stated that he had already made it back to the boat launch. The deputy contacted the LDWF and USCG and updated them on this SAR call.
 
Call out/Assistance:  Jan. 16, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Wax Lake Outlet
On the afternoon of Jan. 16, 2021, a deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was contacted by the dispatcher advising of a boater in the Wax Lake Outlet who was broken down but safe.
The deputy contacted another marine deputy and advised him of the complaint, then both of them proceeded to the subjects in SMB4, a marked patrol vessel.
The boaters were located at the campground on the reserve.
The vessel was towed in safely to the Calumet boat landing without incident.

Giving has been the hallmark of the H&B Young Foundation since its inception in 1955.
Through millions of dollars in donations and property through the years, the foundation has helped Morgan City and its citizens in various ways.
“H&B Young has been the best friend the port could ever have and to Morgan City. They have been tremendous,” Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade said.
But what exactly is the fund and associated-giving, which combined have contributed more than $35 million in land and money through the years? Where does the money and land come from? What does H&B stand for?
Along with use of extensive information from “The Young Brothers of Morgan City,” by Jamie Christy, The Daily Review talked to those affiliated with the foundation or who have benefited to get insight.

Who are
the Youngs?
The H&B Young Foundation is named for Hugh Young and Byrnes Young.
The brothers’ father, Olympas Young, departed from Arkansas and came to St. Mary Parish at age 17, because he was bringing horses to the area.
In St. Mary Parish, he was the supervisor of slaves for multiple planters before taking a job as an overseer on a plantation in Brashear, which is now Morgan City.
Olympas later bought his own property and began life as a planter, growing his property to 1,600 acres that reached from the Greenwood area to Bayou Boeuf and also to Lake Palourde.
While Olympas and his wife, Mehitable, left for Texas during the Civil War, their first son, Hugh McLellan Young, was born Sept. 9, 1865, in Rusk County, Texas. Byrnes Matthias Young was born on Dec. 19, 1868 back in St. Mary Parish at the family’s home, which is located on the present-day site of South Louisiana Community College’s Young Memorial Campus.

Community leaders
The Young brothers, who were raised by their mother after their father died when they were young, learned their business ways from her.
In addition to buying more property, the family purchased the combination of the city’s ice plant and electric company and reconstructed it following a fire.
While they eventually sold their plant, the brothers later donated land on Avoca Road for the city’s next power plant. The plant was dedicated to them.
Education was important to Hugh and Byrnes, and after problems arose in the local school system early in the 20th century, a committee that included Hugh found that there was overcrowding at the now former M.D. Shannon Elementary, among other things, and pushed for improvements, while Byrnes wanted playground equipment, too.
A few years ago, Shannon Elementary closed.
“We didn’t really get involved, because we’re not supposed to be involved in political things being a nonprofit, but we really hated to see that close because of the fact that they had even helped with that,” H&B Young Foundation President Brenda Ayo said of the brothers.
After their mother’s death in 1921, the brothers inherited her wealth, and a few years later, they gave money to increase the size and improve the cemetery. They gave additional tracts of land later in life.
The brothers also were key in attracting oil and gas companies to Morgan City by offering “50-year bargain leases,” Ayo said.
In those leases, the initial rent the companies paid on the property when they leased it would not increase throughout the 50 years of the lease.
Eventually, to help the fund meet its obligations, the leases were renegotiated, Ayo said.
“That’s a lot of money that was given up to keep them here in Morgan City,” she said, noting how it bolstered Morgan City’s economy, too.

Morgan City Fund established
On Jan. 1, 1955, Hugh passed away, and two months later on March 23, 1955, Byrnes established the nonprofit, Morgan City Fund. The brothers, who had no heirs, decided prior to Hugh’s death to give their estate to the city for its betterment. The fund’s purpose is to be used “exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes.”
All projects must be complete within Morgan City.
Among the projects that Byrnes oversaw were the donation of land for the Atkinson Presbyterian Church, where a preschool was built, too. He also gave land for the construction of current-day South Louisiana Community College’s Young Memorial Campus, which is named in the family’s honor. It is located on Youngs Road, also named for them.
One of the first projects for the Morgan City Fund was establishing a nursery at then-Lakewood Hospital.
In 1965, Byrnes died at age 96, leaving behind an estate valued at $3 million, while additional value was in 150 acres that was leased to companies in the oil and gas and boating industries.

Foundation
and board
The foundation’s name eventually was changed to the H&B Young Foundation, and today, the board is required to give at least 5% of its assets, which encompass land and money, Ayo said.
It gives to St. Mary Outreach and other organizations, as well as Morgan City public and private schools.
Their annual donations include at least $30,000 per year to the Morgan City Public Library, Ayo said.
“Without that funding, there’s no way we could support the library,” former Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said.
The fund donated the money for the marine center at the Young Memorial campus, which includes a pool used by area swim teams, too.
The foundation also has assisted industry, too, as it sold 25 acres of land to the Port of Morgan City for it to lease to Intermoor to keep the company from moving its operations to Texas. Because the port is a state agency, it only can pay assessed value for the property, which the H&B Young Foundation agreed to pay.
Today, Intermoor employs over 100 people.
“They’ve been tremendous to work with,” Wade said of the H&B Young Foundation.
“When we’ve needed something or we needed to sit down and talk about a lease or whatever with the Young Foundation, they have cooperated with the port fully. They’ve been a very dear friend for the port.”
While it’s currently not operating due to COVID-19, Ayo said one of the things the foundation is proudest of is their partnership with City Court Juvenile Services to open the Morgan City Youth Center for junior high and high school students at Young Memorial. The center, which opened about four years ago, offers after-school activities such as crafts and speakers.
“We feed them every day, because so many of those kids don’t even have a good supper to go home to,” Ayo said.
The fund sustains itself through capping the amount it gives per year and through investing money from rentals.
Ayo said it’s been a meaningful experience to give back to the community.
“I’ve been with this organization since 1986, and it’s just been a blessing to be able to help out in so many areas and help so many people,” she said.
“We’ve been able to help young people through medical school, through many different types of college programs, and to me, that’s one of the most rewarding things is seeing a young person that might not have an opportunity be able to go to college or go to some type of training and be able to come back and be a productive citizen in Morgan City,” Ayo added.

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute
K’s’ Victorious Vision Studio of the Arts held a St. Mary Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting Thursday. The business is located at 7554C La. 182 in Morgan City. In addition to painting, guitar lessons will be offered. Owner Keyla Perez cuts the ribbon with her father, Hugo Perez. Also pictured are her mother, Ofelia Perez; Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna; as well as parish and Chamber officials and family and friends.