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Colleague refuses payment for help above and beyond

Thu, 01/21/2021 - 8:12am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: My colleagues and I were recently notified that our company is closing next month. My work partner and I have collaborated closely for four years, and he’s an expert at the software I need to know to get a job in my field. When I asked if he would give me a couple of lessons via Zoom, I was thinking it’d be about a three-hour commitment for him. But he was enthusiastic and designed a 20-plus-hour curriculum for me.
He keeps saying he doesn’t want me to pay him, but I want to find an appropriate way to express my gratitude. What would be an appropriate amount to compensate him without getting too steep (which is why I didn’t do the full-price software training in the first place. It was $2K)? Thanks for any advice.
THANKFUL IN ILLINOIS

DEAR THANKFUL: If you know of any interests, hobbies, a sport, etc. your partner has outside the workplace, consider going online to see if you can find something connected to that activity he would enjoy that’s within your budget.

DEAR ABBY: Every year on Facebook’s “National Daughter’s Day,” my daughter’s mother-in-law professes her love, respect and admiration for her own daughter, but never acknowledges her daughter-in-law (my daughter). Yet on “National Son’s Day,” she posts glowing tributes not only to her sons, but also to her son-in-law.
We all live within miles of each other, and this recurring slight makes it difficult to act like everything is fine when, in truth, this is hurtful to my daughter and to our family. Should I address this issue with the mother-in-law or continue to bite my tongue?
DISMISSED IN TEXAS

DEAR DISMISSED: If you are smart, rather than address the issue with your daughter’s mother-in-law, who either has the emotional intelligence of an oyster or really doesn’t care for your daughter, mention it to your son-in-law and point out to him that being slighted is hurtful.
There may be a better result if HE brings it up to his mother.

DEAR ABBY: I battle with a double chin, and I loathe it. My chin hides itself only if I am under 126 pounds. Anything over that and it’s there. I’m not overweight, but my double chin makes me feel that way.
I have read that dermal fillers in the chin can discreetly get rid of this issue. The problem? My husband. He’s against any type of plastic surgery. He doesn’t like my double chin either, but he wants me to only get rid of it “naturally.”
Normally I would agree. I have been exercising (running four times a week) without success. I don’t feel comfortable looking this way.
I think I deserve this shortcut. Should I get the filler without my husband’s blessing, or should I continue this struggle?
TAKING IT ON THE CHIN

DEAR TAKING IT: You are an adult, and it’s your body. You do not need permission to do something that will help you feel better about yourself.
If your husband is against any type of plastic surgery (and by the way, fillers do not qualify as plastic surgery), HE should forgo having it when his frown lines begin to look like tractor furrows and he develops a wattle.
***
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Morgan City police radio logs for Jan. 19-20

Thu, 01/21/2021 - 6:57am

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.
Tuesday, Jan. 19
5:50 a.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Stalled vehicle.
7:08 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Complaint.
7:08 a.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.
8:58 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
9:20 a.m. 100 block of Third Street; Animal complaint.
10:08 a.m. 400 block of Songe Street; Complaint.
10:26 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Arrest.
11:28 a.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Patrol.
11:41 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical.
12:11 p.m. 1300 block of Oil Tank Alley; Assistance.
12:11 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
12:45 p.m. 300 block of Terrebonne Street; Hit and run.
1:12 p.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Arrest.
1:23 p.m. 1400 block of First Street; Warrant.
1:46 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.
2:09 p.m. 1300 block of Federal Avenue; Civil.
2:09 p.m. 1100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
2:38 p.m. 1900 block of Federal Avenue; Patrol.
2:58 p.m. Front Street and Railroad Avenue; Traffic incident.
3 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Stand by.
3:36 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:57 p.m. 400 block of Pecos Street; Complaint.
4:18 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
4:22 p.m. 2600 block of Hemlock Street; Animal complaint.
5:36 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Civil matter.
6:11 p.m. Old Bridge; Debris in road.
7:15 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
7:59 p.m. Brownell Homes; Disturbance.
8:58 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
10:14 p.m. Wise Street; Complaint.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
1:52 a.m. Ochsner St. Mary; Arrest.
3:25 a.m. Lakeside Subdivision; Patrol request.

Two people arrested in theft cases

Thu, 01/21/2021 - 6:55am

(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 and St. Mary authorities made arrests in theft investigations Tuesday, according to police reports.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 24 complaints and made the following arrests:
—Ametra Annette McDaniel, 37, Franklin, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday on a Louisiana State Police warrant for failure to appear on the charges of theft between $5,000 and $25,000 and seven counts of forgery. McDaniel is being held for another agency.
—Devontre Phillips, 20, Baldwin, was arrested at 5:33 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for charges of no tail lights, aggravated flight from an officer, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.
Phillips was also arrested on the charge of illegal carrying of a weapon. Phillips was later released on a $6,000 bond.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 34 calls of service. He reported this arrest:
—Roxanne Provost, 51, North Third Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:26 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for theft valued at $1,000 to $5,000.
Officers located Provost at her residence on North Third Street and placed her under arrest on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department.
The warrant stems from a theft complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Jan. 18. She was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Reshad Jabon Williams, 22, Glendale Drive, Laplace, was arrested Monday on charges of possession of marijuana (third offense, felony), possession of drug paraphernalia (third offense, felony), obstruction of justice, speeding 75 mph in a 55 mph zone and no proof of insurance.
The arrest followed a traffic stop on La. 398 on Monday afternoon.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of the violator vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, now identified as Williams. The deputy noted a strong odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
At some point, the deputy requested the presence of a K-9 unit. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of illegal controlled dangerous substances.
A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a quantity of suspected marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Williams was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Stage Allemond, 39, Aldus Johnson Road, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on charges of unauthorized use of a movable, obstruction of justice, theft valued at $1,000 to $4,999 and possession of stolen things.
—Stephen Broussard, 46, Grossie Street, Lafayette, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of Schedule I narcotics, illegal possession of stolen firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal carrying of a weapon.
—Fateemah Fondal, 42, Landry Street, Loreauville, was arrested Tuesday on warrants for failure to appear, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
-—Harry Foreman, 39, Collette Street, Henderson, was arrested Tuesday on a probation violation.
—Ronishia Gathe, 28, Main Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear.
—Michael Hebert, 40, Welch, Carencro, was arrested Tuesday on charges of monetary instrument abuse and operating a vehicle while license is suspended.
—Heile Vicknair, 19, Catahoula Highway, St. Martinville, was arrested Tuesday on charges of domestic abuse child endangerment and simple criminal damage to property.

Health care experts say convalescent plasma is needed

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:47pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Convalescent plasma, a key component to help those fighting COVID-19, is being sought locally and nationwide.
The plasma, which comes from those who have recovered from the virus, is used to help those battling the virus attempt to overcome it, Teche Action Clinic Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Wiltz said.
In an undated letter from this month appealing to faculty and administrators at the country’s colleges and universities to encourage and support blood drives, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams noted that 8.6 million-plus have recovered from COVID-19, and over 350,000 Americans have received treatment from COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma, or CCP.
“The nationwide increase in COVID-19 infections has caused a massive spike in demand for CCP,” Adams wrote. “That demand is quickly approaching more than 30,000 units per week.
“Currently, we are on par for collecting 30,000 units/week, but with increasing demand, it becomes more challenging to support the need,” he added. “Current collections may not meet the demand as cases continue to rise exponentially over the next several weeks.”
Vitalant Com-munications Manager Stephanie Kizziar said, the number of people who have donated convalescent plasma through Vitalant, when compared to the amount of people who have recovered from COVID-19 in Louisiana, is less than 1%.
“So that number, we really would love to see that number get higher, because there are so many people now who have gone through it,” she said.
Wiltz said in a study Teche Action Clinic conducted in St. Mary Parish with partners, including Centine Corp. and Quest Diagnostic, not only were people tested for COVID-19 but their blood was tested for convalescent plasma.
He said of the approximately 1,000 people tested in St. Mary Parish, over 100 or 10% had the convalescent plasma.
“I thought that was pretty impressive that 10% of the people we tested had convalescent serum,” Wiltz said.
Response was 100% among those study participants eligible to donate the plasma, too, he said.
Donating plasma to help others defeat infection is something that is not new, and it is vital in the current pandemic, the local doctor said.
“That convalescent serum can be used in a hospital setting on critically ill patients, and it can be life-saving,” Wiltz said.
While the donation of convalescent plasma is encouraged, for those who have recovered from the virus and received the COVID-19 vaccine, the donation is no longer useful, Wiltz said.
For those who have not contracted the virus, he said the vaccine is key rather risking gaining immunity through contracting the virus because individuals don’t know how their body will respond to the virus, including death.
“You don’t want to play Russian roulette,” Wiltz said. “It’s better to get the vaccine that’s 95% effective.”
And despite having the convalescent plasma, those who have had the virus should get the vaccine, too, he said.
Those who wish to donate through Vitalant, the local blood service, can schedule an appointment at www.vitalant.org/.
Patients can donate in seven-day intervals, but they must be recovered from COVID-19 and be symptom free for a minimum of 28 days before an initial donation, the company’s website said.
An additional resource for convalescent plasma is TheFightIsInUs.org.

St. Mary Excel will host meeting Friday with facts on estuarine reserve

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:43pm

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

It’s been called the “road show.”
It’s the effort to give the public information about the effort to designate a National Estuarine Research Reserve somewhere on Louisiana’s coast.
And it’s coming to Morgan City Municipal Auditorium at 9 a.m. Friday in a virtual event as part of a St. Mary Excel meeting.
St. Mary Excel is the citizens group that commissioned an Urban Land Institute study of development opportunities in Morgan City and Berwick two years ago. Now Excel is behind the effort to designate a National Estuarine Research Reserve, or NERR, in St. Mary’s portion of the Atchafalaya region.
NERRs are devoted to the study of natural history where rivers meet salt water. The reserves can be on public land, private land or some combination. The program is run by the National Oceanic and Atmo-spheric Administration, but state land use rules continue to apply in the NERRs.
The federal government pays 70% of the operating expenses, and the state picks up the rest.
NERRs dot the Gulf Coast, and Louisiana is the only state without one.
The reserve serves as a place to monitor and study the ecosystems that provide wildlife habitat, play a role as hatcheries for commercially important fish species and protect the coast from hurricanes.
College students would come there as they study biology and other subjects. K-12 students could take field trips there. And the reserve could attract tourists, who would spend money at hotels and other businesses.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed off on the idea of a Louisiana NERR, and seven broad areas of the Louisiana coast where a NERR could be designated. The lower Atchafalaya is one of those areas.
The idea seems to be catching on locally.
St. Mary Excel board members Margaret Metz Theriot and Kelly Lin Boudreaux have been making the rounds at local government meetings to pitch the idea of a St. Mary Parish NERR. So far, the St. Mary Parish Council, the Morgan City Council, the St. Mary Parish School Board and the Berwick Town Council have adopted resolutions supporting a St. Mary Parish NERR.
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur thinks the area would benefit from any hiring associated with the NERR and from the study of natural resources here.
“What do we have here?” Arthur said. “We have the crabs, the shrimp, the fish. They’ll study all that.
“What can we do to improve that? What can we do to farm that? It’s a win-win to me.”
Not all the benefits are economic. Arthur takes his grandchildren to an annual event at Nicholls State that focuses on the biology and chemistry of the natural world on the coast.
“This [NERR] would be like that all the time,” Arthur said.
Morgan Crutcher of the Governor’s Office and Kristin Ransom of NOAA are scheduled to speak at Friday’s event.
Dr. John Doucet of Nicholls State is also set to speak about Nicholls coastal studies.
Friday’s agenda also includes a presentation by parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange about local efforts to create a resilience lab. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and Excel member Catherine Holcomb will talk about grants and updates related to bike trails.
Arthur and Kevin Belanger of the South Central Planning and Development Commission will talk about community development and planning. And Holcomb and Laura Dozar will speak about subdivision signs.

Coronavirus vaccine sites added

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:36pm

Staff Report
The state has added 89 new pharmacies to its vaccine providers statewide, including one in western St. Mary Parish and another in Assumption Parish.
They are among the 298 across the state included in the Louisiana Department of Health’s vaccine locations listed at covidvaccine.la.gov.
Locally, Walmart Pharmacy at 200 Northwest Blvd. in Franklin, and Reddy Family Medical Clinic in Pierre Part at 3407 La. 70 have been added to the list.
It marks the second consecutive week the state has expanded its vaccine sites.
The local additions join Assumption locations at Assumption Community Hospital Pharmacy (135 La. 402 in Napoleonville) and Reddy Family Medical Center in Napoleonville (154 La. 1008) and St. Mary locations at Walgreens Pharmacy at 815 Brashear Avenue in Morgan City and Teche Action Clinic at 1115 Weber St. in Franklin as part of the Louisiana Department of Health’s vaccine sites listed online.
Residents can call 211 to find a nearby vaccine provider, too.
These vaccines will be available only for those in Phase 1B, Tier 1:
—Persons ages 70 years or older.
—Outpatient clinic providers and clinic staff.
—Urgent care clinic providers and staff.
—Community care clinic providers and staff.
—Behavioral health clinic providers and staff.
—Dialysis providers and clients.
—Home health service providers, direct support workers and recipients, including people with disabilities over 16.
—Dental providers and staff.
—Ambulatory care providers and staff, including members of coroner, autopsy or mortuary teams.
—Students, residents, faculty and staff of allied health schools.
Eligible residents must contact a participating provider and make an appointment with them. Patients who arrive without an appointment will not be vaccinated.
While the state resupplied the majority of providers that received COVID vaccine doses last week, future distribution is dependent on vaccine made available to the state, among other factors. There is no guarantee that providers receiving vaccine this week will receive vaccine in the future.
Participating providers must make vaccine available to anyone who is eligible.
Vaccine providers are located in each of the state’s 64 parishes. These providers include 150 chain pharmacies, 112 independent pharmacies, 19 federally qualified health centers, three rural health clinics and an additional 14 health care sites.

Coming through for veterans

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:34pm

Submitted Photos
On Jan. 9, members of VFW Post 4222, its Auxiliary and members of the JROTC delivered boxes of supplies collected earlier to the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve and the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson. The VFW and Auxiliary thanked everyone who donated to the cause.

GARLAND JOSEPH 'TE-BOY' ROMERO

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:32pm

February 09, 1952 — January 16, 2021
In loving memory of Garland Joseph Romero, affectionately known as TeBoy, who was called upon by our Father on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at the age of 68 surrounded by his loving family at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans following a hard-fought battle with pneumonia due to Covid-19.
TeBoy was born February 09, 1952 in Rayne, LA, the son of Whitney J. Romero and Mercedes LaVergne Romero.
TeBoy was a hardworking man, an oilfield trucking business owner and a local cattleman for over 45 years in St. Mary Parish. He was a veteran of the Army National Guard, serving from 1970 to 1976. TeBoy was known for his thunderous laugh and his charming, handsome smile to all who knew him.
He will be sadly and lovingly remembered by his wife of 49 years, Linda Romero; six children, Brandy Arnouville and her husband Manual, Chastity Buford and her husband Chip, Dawn Percle and her husband Gabe, Tiffany Romero, Garland (JoeJoe) Romero II, and Leslie Vicknair and her husband Dave; 17 grandchildren, Christopher, Cassianna, Calab, Halie, Christian, Kennidy, Mylee, Olivia, Elijah, Zachary, Jazmyn, Karsyn, Brooks, Rivers, Emelina, Isabella and Madelyn; five great-grandchildren, Alexis, Layla, Mason, Lily and Camilla; five siblings, Edolia Miller, Rita Wells, Horace Romero, Jackie Auenson and Karen Norris; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
TeBoy was preceded in death by his parents, Whitney Joseph Romero and Mercedies LaVergne Romero; his sister, Judy Gasek; brother, Robert Romero; his in-laws, Clarence (Hoss) Lassiter and Iola Sons (Tut) Lassiter; and great-grandson, Coy Joseph Percle.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 21, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson during a 1:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Monsignor J. Douglas Courville, JCL will conduct the services.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday at Ibert’s Mortuary in Patterson from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. dismissal to the church. The recitation of the Holy Rosary will be prayed at 11 a.m.
Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, cherished memories, love, and support for the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1111 Lia Street, Patterson, LA 70392, (985) 395-7873.

26 new COVID cases, one fatality in local parishes

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 12:21pm

St. Martin had 18 of the 26 COVID-19 cases reported at midday Wednesday for three local parishes. A fatality was also reported Wednesday in St. Martin.

Statewide, hospitalizations continued to decrease.

St. Martin's 18 new confirmed cases raise the total since the pandemic began to 4,066 confirmed with another 343 probable cases. The fatality reported Wednesday is the parish's 90th confirmed with nine probable.

St. Mary has six new confirmed cases for a total of 3,040 with 546 probable. The death toll remains at 97 confirmed with 10 probable.

Assumption has two new confirmed cases for a total of 1,309 confirmed and nine probable. The death toll remains at 27 confirmed and two probable.

Statewide:

--2,536 new cases Wednesday raise the confirmed total to 330,294 with 44,288 probable.

--59 deaths raise the pandemic toll to 7,881 confirmed with 522 probable.

--47 fewer people are in hospitals for a total of 1,858.

--6 fewer people are on ventilators, lowering the total to 243.

'Free Little Library' founded at the corner of Adams and First

Wed, 01/20/2021 - 9:28am

By CASEY COLLIER

Chad Boutte, co-owner and operator of Tours by Steven, had an idea: Why not erect in Franklin, on the corner of First and Adams Streets, the first Free Little Library in Franklin, and fill it with free books for the public?
The book exchange stands on the corner of the lawn of the Trowbridge House, and is currently full to capacity, contains books and magazines available to all-comers.
The Free Little Library was installed Jan. 11, and is already a success.
The first Little Free Library was built in 2009 by Todd H. Bol of Wisconsin.
According to Boutte, Bol’s mother was a librarian, and after she passed away, this was Bol’s way of memorializing her legacy.
Boutte said that to date, there are estimated to be around 100,000 of such little library boxes worldwide.
The idea is simple: take a book/leave a book, free of charge. No need for permission and no need for monetary commerce.
“It’s going super-well,” Boutte said. “We see about four or five visitors every day.
“There is a certain amount of joy in seeing it, experiencing it, and knowing that the book is mine. I can share it with others, and I can also bring other books of mine, and circulate them.”
Boutte’s stated goals in erecting the FLL are promoting literacy, advancing the love of reading, advancing reading comprehension through possibly pushing limitations (i.e., picking up a book a bit more advanced than one may be used to), “and it challenges you to pick up a book that you might not normally pick up from a library.”
He also said he wanted to produce another focal point to promote community and sharing in Franklin.
“It’s interesting, everything it promotes,” he said, “literacy, community and community engagement, and it also allows you to understand your neighbors a little better, by the books you find in the FLL.
“So, you get to know your neighbors a little better, too.”
Boutte said he hopes that others around the city put up their own FLL’s, and that it becomes a common sight in Franklin, and parish-wide.
To find out more about the Free Little Library in Franklin, contact Chad Boutte at chadboutte@gmail.com, or ease on down to the corner of Adams and First Streets. There are books there, as a reward. And you can bring a reward for someone else as well.