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Levee District lends a hand with Yokely Bayou work

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:52am

Staff Report

The St. Mary Levee District is lending a special power to a long-delayed effort to clear the Yokely Bayou in the Franklin area for food control.
The district’s Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to authorize an intergovernmental agreement with three other entities that would allow them to make use of the district’s special power to acquire land rights to make the work possible.
The entities are the state government, St. Mary Gravity Drainage District No. 1 and the Franklin city government.
Flooding, especially storm surge flooding, in western St. Mary has been a source of concern for governments with responsibility for flood control.
The Levee District is currently extending the Yokely Levee in the area near the Metal Shark and Gulf Craft shipyards. Farther north, the district is overseeing construction of the largely state-funded $11.4 million Bayou Teche Flood Control Structure, designed to block storm surge from coming up the Charenton Canal into the Teche.
Clearing the Yokely Bayou is a smaller project, but it’s been a bigger headache.
The attempt to dredge the bayou so it will be able to carry away more water started in 2008, said Gerard Bourgeois, legal counsel for the Levee District.
Governments are generally entitled to acquire private land or easements on private land for public purposes in exchange for a fair market price.
But landowners can challenge the move in court before the acquisition takes effect, and they often do, and often over a disagreement about what constitutes a fair price.
That process has gone on for years in the Yokely Bayou case. Appraisals expire after six months, Bourgeois said, and attorney J.P. Morella, who was involved in the case, died in 2017.
More recently, the COVID-19 mitigation rules have slowed action in the courts.
But levee districts are allowed to acquire the rights in advance of a challenge, Bourgeois said.
“Levee districts and ports take possession and then argue about it later,” he said.
The acquisition would take the form of a permanent easement.
“People could still go out [on the easement] and have picnics on the bayou or whatever,” Bourgeois said, “but they can’t build on it.”

Working on the railroad in Amelia

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:48am

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute
St. Mary Parish government, through negations with Burlington Santa Fe Railroad Co., undertook a surface repair to the railroad crossing on Lake Palourde By-Pass Road in Amelia Thursday that has long been a disruption to motorists, according to area Parish Councilman Mark Duhon. Duhon said the railroad company supplied the labor, which was completed through CW&N Contractors of Sibley, while the parish pitched in the blacktop. Above CW&N Contractors foreman Canaan Daigle works at the crossing. Also pictured are, from left, CW&N Contractors Logistics Supervisor Alvin Moore, Duhon and parish Road Department Supervisor John “Booker” Davis.

Gen. Honoré eyes Capitol security effort

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:45am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday announced that retired Lt. General Russel Honoré, a Louisiana native best known for his role in the response to Hurricane Katrina, will lead a Capitol Hill security review.
The news follows last week’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and precedes next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“To protect our Democracy, we must now subject the security of the U.S. Capitol Complex to rigorous scrutiny,” Pelosi said in a prepared statement. “To that end, I have asked Lt. General Russel Honoré (Ret.), a respected leader with experience dealing with crises, to lead an immediate review of the Capitol’s security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control.”
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Department of Defense tapped the Lakeland native to take over what was widely seen as a botched federal response to the storm’s aftermath. In a recent interview, he suggested some members of the Capitol Police may have deliberately allowed the rioters inside.
“It’s like the Capitol Police was doing security by ZOOM like we’re doing this interview by ZOOM,” Honoré said. “I don’t know, I’ve just never seen so much incompetence, so they’re either that stupid, or ignorant or complicit. I think they were complicit.”
Honoré retired from the Army in 2008. He now works as a speaker and consultant and often speaks out on environmental issues as a leader of the “Green Army” activist group.

DA takes oath of office

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:42am

Submitted Photo
Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhé was sworn Jan. 11 for a second term during a small event due to COVID-19. The oath was administered by Duhé’s daughter-in-law, attorney Raven Benoit, right. Duhé's wife Lisa was preent. “Thank you to the voters of Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes for my re-election,” Duhé said in a news release. “I’m proud of the work that my office has accomplished these past six years and look forward to continuing to prosecute those who commit violent crimes and to continue fighting for victims.”

MARTIN DeHART JR.

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:24am

September 12, 1929 — January 14, 2021
Martin DeHart Jr., 91, a resident of Morgan City, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Martin was born on September 12, 1929 in Bayou Schaffer, the son of Martin DeHart Sr. and Laura Rink DeHart.
Martin was a boat captain for many years; because of this, he loved being in the outdoors and navigating the waterways of Louisiana. He was also a commercial fisherman and trapper. He loved spending time with his family and loved to tell a good joke to anyone who would listen. The family would like to thank the Tupelo Street Gang for always looking out for him and checking on him.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by three sons, Robert DeHart and wife Donna of Alaska, Harris DeHart and wife Stephanie of Berwick, and Marty DeHart and wife Nat of Berwick; three daughters, Renee M. DeHart and Barry of Patterson, Marlene Driskill and husband Tommy of Berwick, and Janice Primeaux and husband Ray of Patterson; 21 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Allen DeHart of Morgan City; and one sister, Betty Sons of Missouri.
Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Martin Sr. and Laura Rink DeHart; his wife, Marjorie Dontay DeHart; one son, Ronald J. DeHart; one granddaughter, Lindsay DeHart; two brothers, Stanley DeHart and Justin DeHart; and three sisters, Dorothy Hebert, Anna Faye Miller and Margaret Chatham.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 18, 2021 at Twin City Funeral Home with Rev. Ann Sutton officiating. A visitation was held from 9 a.m. until service time. Following the services Martin was laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery.

ALVIN BUTLER SR.

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:21am

Alvin Butler Sr., 78, a native and resident of Patterson, died Wednesday, Jan. 13 at his residence.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 9 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at St. Luke Baptist Church in Patterson. Masks and social distancing required. Burial will follow in New Salem Cemetery in Patterson.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Ann Butler of Patterson; two sons, Alvin Butler Jr. of Patterson and Melvin Butler Sr. of Lake Arthur; a brother, Erwin Butler Sr.; three sisters, Cora Span, Deborah Gray and Lorraine Butler, all of Patterson; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, grandson, parents, a brother and two sisters.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Knights of Columbus give to Patterson schools

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:09am

Submitted Photos
The Patterson Knights of Columbus made donations to the Special Education Departments at Hattie Watts Elementary in Patterson and Patterson Junior High.

La. distributes $54.8M in federal money to jobless workers

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:07am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

The Louisiana Workforce Commission distributed almost $54.8 million in federal pandemic benefits to almost 180,000 state residents during the first two weeks of the program, the LWC says.
Federal pandemic unemployment compensation provides an additional $300 per week on top of regular state unemployment benefits. Congress and President Donald Trump approved the program during the closing days of last year, and the Workforce Commission began distributing FPUC funds Jan. 4.
Across all programs, the Workforce Commission has distributed more than $166 million in unemployment benefits since the beginning of this year.
Louisiana has doled out a total of around $7 billion in unemployment benefits since the COVID-19 pandemic began, mostly federal dollars.
While federal relief has helped to prop up the nation’s economy, the programs have proven to be tempting targets for fraud.
Louisiana experienced a “massive fraud attempt” in November and has denied more than 100,000 questionable claims, officials say.
“We continue to work through identity verification requirements as part of the new CARES Act programs,” LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie said. “These funds distributed to hard-working Louisianans during this unprecedented pandemic are helping our families and local economies through these difficult times.”
Louisiana processed 20,302 new claims for state benefits last week, about 5,000 less than the week before, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
For the week ending Jan. 2, Louisiana had 17,119 new unemployment claims, the most of any state in the nation, the federal government says.

Bayou L'Ourse man arrested in attack on girl

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:03am

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.)

A Bayou L’Ourse man is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile girl, the Assumption Parish Sheriffs Office said.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Seth Gage Savoie, 24, Honey Lane, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Thursday on a charge of first-degree rape.
The arrest was in connection with an Aug. 8, 2019, incident in Bayou L’Ourse.
Deputies responded to a complaint of a juvenile female having been raped at a Bayou L’Ourse address. Detectives had attempted on numerous occasions to speak to Savoie, but that dialogue never occurred.
As a result of evidence collected, detectives were able to establish probable cause to present evidence of first-degree rape to a grand jury on Nov. 6, 2020, in Assumption Parish. The grand jury indicted Savoie.
On Thursday, Savoie was located at his home. He was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing
—Tavion Williams, 19, Belmere Luxury, Houma, was arrested Thursday night on a charge of assault (drive-by shooting).
The arrest is related to a Nov. 8 incident south of Napoleonville.
Deputies were dispatched to the park in the Back Marais area in connection with shots being fired.
Deputies noted a large gathering of people in the area.
Upon investigation, deputies learned that shots had been fired from the roadway. A suspect vehicle description was provided but the vehicle was not located.
Deputies recovered a number of large-caliber castings in the roadway.
Detectives responded and were able to identify Williams as a suspect. He was no longer in the area.
Detectives issued warrants for Williams’ arrest.
Williams was arrested on Thursday evening at a Violet Street address. He was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center bond hearing.
St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Marcus Bourda, 41, St. Martinville, was arrested on charges of possession of hydrocodone, MDMA, methamphetamine (more than 28 grams), and cocaine; transactions involving proceeds from drug proceeds; and following vehicles.
The arrest followed a report of suspected illegal drug activity at a residence in the 1400 block of Boon Lasseigne Road in St. Martinville. Deputies with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation.
At the culmination of the investigation, a narcotics search warrant was obtained, and while traveling to the residence this afternoon to execute the warrant, deputies observed a vehicle driving recklessly and a traffic stop was initiated. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Bourda.
Detectives learned that he was traveling to the same residence as listed on the narcotics search warrant.
He was subsequently escorted to the home by deputies, and following the execution of the warrant, he was arrested and booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center. No bond had been set.
—Jeremeah Batiste, 39, Brock Road, Baton Rouge, was arrested Thursday on a request to hold.
—Vaughn Gordon, 54, Catherine Street, Lafayette, was held for U.S. Marshal’s Service
—Heather Guidry, 37, Delahousay Street, Lafayette, was arrested Thursday on charges of illegal possession of stolen things; sale, distribution or possession of Schedule II narcotics; distribution of drug paraphernalia; manufacture, distribution, or possession of unlawful hallucinogenic plants; possession of Schedule I narcotics; and possession of Schedule III narcotics (stimulants).

Feds OK funding for Morganza to Gulf work

Mon, 01/18/2021 - 11:00am

The Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project will receive New Start Construction funding with approval by the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.
Morganza to the Gulf had been initially authorized in 2007, but had never received any Corps construction funding. After the president signed the funding bill into law last month, Kennedy worked with the Trump administration to ensure that the Morganza to the Gulf Project would receive New Start Funding.
The Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project is set to be one of seven new construction projects that the Army Corps of Engineers is directed to initiate.
Once constructed, the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project will protect a region in southeast Louisiana that has some of the most important oil and gas, marine transportation and seafood support infrastructure on the Gulf Coast.
Southeastern Louisiana began taxing itself in 1992 for the dedicated purpose of hurricane protection and has already invested about $500 million to construct elements of the Morganza to the Gulf Project.