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Downtown Christmas tree: Morgan City Main Street, businesses, donated tree create a holiday spirit

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 1:15pm

GEOFF STOUTE

A Christmas tree has helped to add Christmas spirt to the area as the 14-foot artificial structure has been placed on the wharf in Morgan City this year.
The pre-lit tree was donated by the Lee Dragna family. Dragna is Morgan City’s mayor-elect.
The idea for the tree came about when Morgan City Main Street board members and downtown businesses were talking about how they wanted to place a tree at the floodwall opening at Freret Street and were going to start collecting donations for it, Morgan City Main Street Director Beth Price said. Before day’s end, Price said she learned the Dragna family had donated the tree.
To decorate the tree, they decided to collect donations to buy commercial ornaments.
“If people donated $50, they were able to get either their business name, their family name, in memory of, whatever they basically wanted on an ornament,” Price said.
The ornaments were made locally by Sean Torgrimson Sr., while others were bought elsewhere.
Employees of Southern Roots Salon and Spa helped decorate it, too.
The tree topper, which Dragna placed on the tree Monday morning, also was made locally by local business owner Grace Eisenman. Eisenman also will be making presents to place around the bottom of the tree.
Price said the tree has been “a symbol of hope” and a “bright spot” in 2020.
“A lot of people go by, of course, and take photos with it and just to see it, take family pictures with it,” Price said. “The salon that helped us kind of start the conversation about it is right there on the corner by the opening in the sea wall, and they see people constantly going there looking at it, of course now looking for their ornaments because the donor ornaments are up. So I think it’s just been a bright, kind of happy thing in a tough year that the community really did come together for to make it possible.”
The tree is lit at 4 o’clock in the evening, and the lights go off at 6 o’clock in the morning.
While no more decorations are being placed on the tree this year, Price said donations will be taken to place ornaments on the tree next year.
“Whatever’s not used this tree specifically, of course, will be used for other decorations for the Main Street District,” Price said.
Those interested in donating an ornament can call Price at the Morgan City Main Street Office at 985-380-4639 or they can message her on the Main Street’s Facebook page.

Toys for Tots

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 1:03pm

Morgan City High School JROTC volunteer Lane Gaudet hands toys to a patron at the Marine Corps League, St. Mary Detachment, Toys for Tots distribution at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4222 in Morgan City. The league collects donated toys each year to make Christmas brighter for local children.

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute

From the Editor: Are you taking the shot?

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:53pm

By BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com
We use the phrase to mean we’re going for it, maybe that we’re taking a gamble.
We’re taking the shot.
We reported Wednesday that Ochsner St. Mary staffers most at risk for exposure to COVID-19 have begun receiving injections of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. Since then, a second vaccine developed by Moderna has received emergency use authorization.
At some point by the spring, we’ll all be asked to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. We’re told that if we comply in sufficient numbers, we can beat COVID-19.
No more masks. No more school closures. We’ll be able to go to restaurants and bars — inside restaurants and bars — without worry so much about social distancing.
The general public will probably have to wait a few months before supplies will be sufficient for widespread use. Even then, to judge by social media posts, many of us will be unwilling to get the shots, mostly for fear that the vaccine was rushed into production without adequate testing and safeguards.
Who can blame them? The research, development, testing and approval process for new drugs in the United States is notoriously long and clunky. Now we’re being encouraged to get injections of vaccines that didn’t exist when the coronavirus pandemic emerged less than a year ago.
But health care experts, public and private, insist that the vaccines are safe. They cite a couple of reasons.
One comes from both the Terrebonne General Medical Center news release about the first injections there and from a Zoom conference conducted last week by Ochsner Health System administrators and physicians.
They assure us that the speedy approval process for the new vaccines didn’t depend on cutting corners.
Instead, they said, steps in the trial process that are normally performed in sequence were performed simultaneously. That’s what happens when Uncle Sam decides that money is no object.
The other factor is the previous research into the technology that makes the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines possible: the manipulation of mes-senger RNA.
RNA is part of your genetic makeup that, among other things, tells your body how and when to produce proteins.
That’s important because the coronavirus is made up of viral cells surrounded by spikey pieces of protein. The spikes glom on to cells in your body and take over the genetic apparatus there to manufacture copies of itself.
Vaccines based on messenger RNA provide your body with little snippets of code that tell cells in your body to create the spikes but not the rest of the virus. Then the protein recipe disappears.
So your body builds immunity against the spikes without actually coming into contact with the virus itself.
The idea of using mRNA to turn human bodies into their own vaccine factories has been around for at least 30 years, according to a 2018 article in Chemical and Engineering News magazine. Moderna in particular has invested hundreds of millions into developing the technique.
So, when COVID-19 came along, there was a template to use in creating the new vaccine.
So far, we’re being told that the only side effects are a bit pain where the needle goes in, plus some mild fever and fatigue. Isolated cases of more serious reactions have been reported.
For now, at least, the new vaccines look like the best shot for putting the pandemic behind us.
Bill Decker is managing editor The Daily Review.

BABY CARLY MARIE VERRET

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:47pm

Baby Carly Marie Verret of Tylertown, Mississippi, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020.
She is survived by her parents, Steven and Tracy Verret of Tylertown, Mississippi; maternal grandparents, Angelia Haase and Dale Pearce, both of Bayou Vista; and a host of other relatives.
She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents and great-grandparents.
Graveside service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Morgan City Cemetery.

THERESA PENNISON THERIOT

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:43pm

June 25, 1944 — December 17, 2020
Theresa Pennison Theriot, 76, a resident of Bayou L’Ourse, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.
Theresa was born on June 25, 1944 in Morgan City, the daughter of Daniel Pennison and Elma Landry Pennison.
Theresa was a faithful wife and mother for 59 years. She was a homemaker who took great pride in raising her family. Cooking and sewing was her specialty, and she made many meals and sewed lots of things over the years for her children and grandchildren. Theresa truly cherished every moment she was able to spend with her children and grandchildren. When time allowed and she was able to go, Theresa enjoyed going fishing.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Eugene Theriot of Bayou L’Ourse; eight children, Kim Fuselier and husband Charlie of Morgan City, Bart Theriot of Berwick, Amy Kidder and husband Tommy of Bayou L’Ourse, Lea Paulin of Bayou L’Ourse, Adam Theriot and wife Erin of Napoleonville, Joy Hebert and husband Jarret of Morgan City, Mark Theriot and wife Sue of Franklin, Massachusetts and Fay Theriot of Bayou L’Ourse; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six siblings, Louis Pennison and wife Charlotte of Bayou L’Ourse, Elizabeth Colgin of Morgan City, Lawrence Pennison of Bayou L’Ourse, Norma Landry of Bayou L’Ourse, Perry Pennison and wife Theresa of Bayou L’Ourse and Janiece Laurent and husband Kenny of Plaquemine. Theresa is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and lifelong friends.
Theresa was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Elma Landry Pennison; and one son, Barry Theriot.
A Rosary will be prayed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at St. Andrew Catholic Church with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 10:30 a.m., with Father Joe Chacko officiating. Following the Mass, Theresa will be laid to rest in the St. Andrew Cemetery Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to St. Andrew Catholic Church, P.O. Box 210, Amelia, LA 70340.

Assumption authorities make arrests on heroin, synthetic marijuana charges

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:33pm

(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

More heroin was confiscated during another traffic stop in the area Thursday, this time in Assumption Parish, ac-cording to a report from Sheriff Leland Falcon.

—Chance M. Landry, 31, Pond Drive, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Thursday on charges of flight from an officer; two counts of obstruction of justice; possession with intent to distribute heroin, synthetic marijuana and cocaine; possession of drug paraphernalia (third offense, felony); head lamps required; license plate light required; and disregarding a stop sign, and on a probation or parole violation.

—Bethany Nichole Mecom, 28, Hiawatha Drive, Shreveport, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana and obstruction of jus-tice.

—Travis Joseph Skeen, 31, Aristile Road, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Thursday on charge of possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana, obstruction of justice and two counts of simple assault.

An I.C.E. assigned deputy in Bayou L’Ourse observed a vehicle with equipment violations on Aristile Road and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee, but was intercepted by a second sheriff’s patrol unit near Aristile Road and La. 662.

At that time, the suspect vehicle disregarded a stop sign and fled south on La. 662.

Deputies observed the suspects throw a brown paper bag from the vehicle. The bag was later recovered and found to contain significant quantities of heroin and synthetic marijuana.

The suspect vehicle was eventually stopped approximately 1.25 miles south of Aristle Road.

Deputies made contact with the driver, now identified as Landry, as well as two passengers, now identified as Skeen and Mecom.

A K-9 was summoned to the location and alerted positive for the presence of illegal narcotics.

After completion of the investigation, all three suspects were arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention pending bond hearings.

—-Jacoby Marquest Butler Sr., 49, Jones Street, Bertrandville, was arrested Thursday on charges of battery of a dating partner with child endangerment and simple criminal damage to property valued at $1,000.

Deputies answered a complaint from a dating acquaintance of Butler who indicated that on Nov. 18, the suspect physically attacked her, causing noticeable injury while her minor child was present. Butler Sr. is also accused of destroying the victim’s phone, which was valued at $1,000.

Deputies filed arrest warrants for Butler, but he had already fled the area.

Butler was arrested Thursday and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility pending a bond hear-ing.

—Tony Louis Dunn, 49, Oleana Drive, Gonzales, was arrested Tuesday charge of domestic abuse battery and unauthorized use of a movable related to a Sept. 15. incident.

Deputies responded to the above address in September relative to a disturbance in progress.

Deputies interviewed the complainant, who advised that Dunn had physically attacked her and took her auto-mobile without permission. Dunn and the complainant had been in a long-term relationship.

Deputies observed noticeable physical injuries to the complainant.

Dunn, who had already left the scene, was arrested on Tuesday, on charges filed by deputies. Dunn was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility with a bond set at $10,000.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:

—Jeffery Paul Narcisse, 33, Franklin, was arrested at 2:32 p.m. Thursday on charges of turning movements and signals required, possession of Schedule I drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Narcisse was released on a summons to appear March 30.

—Barbara Jones Galindo, 38, Patterson, was arrested at 10:31 p.m. Thursday on charges of disturbing the peace by fighting and simple battery. No bail has been set.

—Floribel Ramirez, 28, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:31 p.m. on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting and on an MCPD warrant for failure to appear. Ramirez was transferred from the St. Mary Law Enforcement Center to the Morgan City jail for booking.

—John Stakes, 41, Houma, was arrested at 11:39 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension. Stakes was released on a summons to appear on March 30.

—Chaz Michael Ribardi, 26, Patterson, was arrested at 12:19 a.m. Friday for no license plate light and driving under suspension. Ribardi was released on a summons to appear March 30.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported these arrests:

—Barbara J. Galindo, 28, Becky Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. Friday on a warrant for simple battery.

Galindo was transferred from St. Mary Law Enforcement Center and booked at the Morgan City Police Department on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported the following arrests:

—Dwayne T. Roy, 43, Hebert Street. Berwick, at 6:47 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for violation of protective orders.

At 6:47 p.m. Thursday, officers went to a residence on Hebert Street to locate Roy on an active warrant through the Berwick Police Department. Officers made contact with Roy and placed him under arrest on the warrant.

He was booked into the Berwick Jail, where he was released after posting a $2,500 bond.

—Nathanial Paul, 28, Fifth Street, Morgan City, was arrested 9:49 p.m. Thursday on charges of resisting and officer with force or violence and battery of a police officer, and on Berwick Police Department warrants for disturbing the peace and resisting an officer by giving false information.

Officers observed Paul walking on the walking trail near Sandra Street and knew that he held active warrants through the Berwick Police Department.

Officers attempted to place him under arrest but he began fighting the officers, at one point kicking an officer, then he tried fleeing on foot. Officers had to use a Taser to subdue Paul, and he was taken into custody. He was booked into the Berwick Jail with no bond set.

St. Martin Sheriff Beckett Breaux reported these arrests:

—Holly Granger, 30, Church House Road, Orange, Texas, was arrested Thursday by the Henderson Police Department on charges of possession of Schedule II, III and IV narcotics, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—David O’Neil, 40, Jeane Chapel Road, Leesville, was arrested Thursday by the Sheriff’s Office and held for the U.S. Marshals Service.

—Seth Taylor, 33, Pellerin Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Thursday by the Henderson Police Department on charges of simple possession of marijuana, possession of Schedule II, III and IV narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of a movable.

—Wilbert Alex, 39, Eunice Road, St. Martinville, was arrested Friday by the Sheriff’s Office on charges of domestic abuse battery and aggravated battery.

—Tyler Escoyne, 25, Eva Lane, Breaux Bridge, was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office on charges of accessory after the fact, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of stolen firearms.

—Patrick Miller, 27, Sam Champagne Road, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Friday by the Sheriff’s Office on charges of domestic abuse-aggravated assault-child endangerment and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Franklin Police Chief Morris Beverly reported this arrest:

—Skyla Butler, 20, Anderson Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:35 Wednesday on charges of second-degree battery and disturbing the peace by fighting.
Butler was booked, processed and released on a $1,500 bond.

Morgan City police radio logs for Dec. 17-18

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:28pm

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.
Thursday, Dec. 17
6:11 a.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
7:13 a.m. La. 182; Reckless driver.
7:29 a.m. Halsey and Glenwood streets; Loud music.
8:04 a.m. 400 block of First; Damage to property.
9:31 a.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Medical.
9:44 a.m. Ochsner St. Mary; 911 hang up.
11:10 a.m. Ochsner St. Mary; 911 hang up.
12:16 p.m. Brownell Homes; Accident.
12:45 p.m. 400 block of Brashear Avenue; Juvenile problem.
1:55 p.m. 400 block of Bowman Street; Disturbance.
2:24 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Accident.
2:33 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Assistance.
3:42 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Assistance.
4:25 p.m. Park Road, Complaint.
5:06 p.m. Spruce and Sixth streets; Suspicious person.
6:57 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
7:17 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Loud music.
8:05 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
9:29 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Assistance.
10:12 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
Friday, Dec. 18
12:39 a.m. 1000 block of Ditch Avenue; Complaint.
2:33 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.

Knights of Columbus give to Patterson High

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:22pm

Submitted Photo
The Patterson Knights of Columbus donated money to be used in the Special Services department at Patterson High School. Shown are Charles Culotta of the Knights of Columbus, Assistant Principal Tara Fabre, Special Services teacher Misty Ross and students in her class who will directly benefit: Riley Blocker, T.J Beasley and Jorman James.

Johnson and Boutte set records in LSU victory

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:21pm

LSU Sports information

LSU freshman quarterback Max Johnson threw for 435 yards and accounted for five touchdowns, while freshman wide receiver Kayshon Boutte set an SEC record with 308 yards as LSU defeated Ole Miss in a second-half storm, 53-48.
Trailing 48-46 in the final two minutes of the contest, Boutte caught a pass from Johnson at the Ole Miss 33-yard line and sprinted along the left sideline to complete a 45-yard touchdown reception that gave LSU its final margin with 94 seconds to play. With less than a minute left and Ole Miss nearing the LSU red zone, LSU's Ali Gaye jarred the ball from Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. LSU's JaCoby Stevens jumped on the loose ball at the 27 to give LSU the victory.
The Tigers defense forced six turnovers, including four first-half interceptions, the first of which was returned 31 yards for a touchdown by LSU cornerback Jay Ward.
Johnson, starting for the second time in 2020, was 27-of-51 passing for an LSU-freshman record 435 yards including three touchdowns with an interception. He also ran for two 1-yard touchdowns and finished with 45 net yards on 14 carries.
Boutte had 14 receptions for 308 yards, breaking Josh Reed's LSU receiving yards record (292 at Alabama in 2001) and the SEC record held by Arkansas's Cobi Hamilton (303 vs. Rutgers in 2012). Boutte caught touchdown passes of 32, 18 and 45 yards. Wide receiver Koy Moore added six catches for 63 yards, while running back Josh Williams (55) and Tre Bradford (53) led the Tigers in rushing yards.
LSU wrapped up its season at 5-5, while Ole Miss fell to 4-5.
The Tigers are scheduled to open the 2021 season on Sept. 4 at the Rose Bowl against UCLA.

26 new COVID-19 cases, one death in local parishes

Mon, 12/21/2020 - 12:19pm

Twenty-six new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 14 of them in Assumption, were reported for the 24 hours ending at midday Monday for three local parishes. One new fatality was reported in St. Martin, according to the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

St. Mary had three new confirmed COVID cases for a total of 2,572 since the pandemic began. Those positives resulted from molecular tests. Another 195 positives resulted from the less sensitive antigen tests and are listed as probable.

St. Martin has nine new confirmed cases for a total of 3,217 plus 199 probable.

Assumption's 14 new cases raise its case count to 1,076 confirmed with 140 probable.

The St. Martin fatality reported Monday raises the toll there to 74 confirmed with five probable. The tolls remain at 93 with six probable in St. Mary and 25 with one probable in Assumption.

Statewide:

--1,111 new cases raise the pandemic case count to 264,187 confirmed with 23,074 probable.

--65 newly reported fatalities raise the toll to 6,775 confirmed and 332 probable.

--The number of COVID-positive people in hospitals jumped by 51 to 1,590.

--5 more people are on ventilators for a total of 174.