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Dragna seeks reversal of drainage district consolidation

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 5:43pm

Former district chairman says he'll seek public records on meetings, projects

Staff Report

Lee Dragna, who becomes Morgan City’s mayor next month, is challenging the Parish Council on an issue involving Dragna’s previous governmental post: the increasingly controversial consolidation of two east St. Mary drainage districts.
Dragna, appearing at Wednesday’s council meeting at the Parish Courthouse in Franklin, attacked the legality of April’s consolidation vote based on parliamentary procedure grounds. Dragna also said he’ll make an extensive public records request for cellphone records, text messages and documents, including those from parish employees and parish boards involved with projects worth at least $50,000.
On April 22, the Parish Council merged St. Mary Parish Gravity Drainage District No. 2 in the Morgan City area with Gravity Drainage District No. 6 in Amelia to form Gravity Drainage District 2A.
Advocates of consolidation, chief among them Parish President David Hanagriff, said the consolidation will save money by eliminating administrative duplication. The combined district will be stronger than either district is individually, Hanagriff said.
He insisted that tax money raised by the millage in Morgan City would be spent in Morgan City, and the same would be true for Amelia.
But the last point was met with skepticism from opponents.
“All the money will go into one pot,” Parish Council Chairman Dean Adams said at one point. “The money will be distributed according to how the board sees fit.
“One of the two districts will suffer.”
Dragna, who chaired the Gravity Drainage District No. 2 board until it was replaced by a council-appointed consolidated board, also spoke against the merger before the April 22 vote.
On Wednesday, Dragna said he believes the council acted contrary to law on that night in April.
Dragna noted that as he spoke to the council that night, Councilman Mark Duhon made a procedural move known as calling the question. Under Roberts Rules of Order, which the parish charter requires the council to follow, calling the question cuts off debate.
But the rules of order say calling the question requires a two-thirds vote. Dragna cited April 22 meeting minutes that say the vote to call the question passed only 6-5. Eight votes would be required for a two-thirds majority. Dragna also said it was improper for Duhon to call the question when Dragna had the floor.
Next, the council went on to approve the consolidation 8-3. The three no votes came from Morgan City representatives: James Bennett, Kristi Prejeant Rink and Adams. Two other members from Morgan City, Gwen Hidalgo and Patrick Hebert, voted for consolidation along with J Ina, Craig Mathews, Rodney Olander, Duhon, Scott Ramsey and Leslie “Les” Rulf.
“So I believe and the law says that you should reverse that vote on that consolidation …,” Dragna said Wednesday.
“If the Parish Council wants to reverse that vote, it’s up to you all. If you say ‘no, we’re not going to reverse that vote,’ then the facts that have come into play and probably judges will have to come into it, too.”
Dragna said he will also ask for cellphone records and text messages during meeting times and dates in 2020, apparently in connection with a state attorney general’s opinion that messages among members of a public body during a meeting may fall under public records laws. Dragna said he’ll ask for the same information for members of the drainage district No. 2, No. 6 and No. 2A boards.
And Dragna wants documents from the parish government, parish boards, parish employees and contractors related to projects worth at least $50,000.
“That stems from some conversations at the drainage district about how the parish does business, and it proved to be wrong,” Dragna said.
On Dec. 5, residents of the new District 2A voted by a nearly 2-to-1 margin against combining the property taxes from the two old districts into a single millage. Dragna painted that vote as a public repudiation of the consolidation, although Hanagriff had said the propositions failure wouldn’t reverse consolidation.
Now Dragna, his attorney, the parish government and maybe others will have to sort out to whom the records requests should be made.
Some employees have cellphones provided by the parish government, said Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. "Bo" LaGrange.
That could make the parish government the official custodian of the records.
But others, including parish council members and Hanagriff, don’t have parish phones. Those officials have parish government email addresses, LaGrange said.
Neither LaGrange nor legal adviser Eric Duplantis, who normally reviews public records requests, received a formal request from Dragna by mid-afternoon Thursday.
After Dragna spoke Wednesday, Hanagriff said he didn’t want to make a full reply because of the legal issues involved.
“I don’t necessarily agree with what you said tonight,” Hanagriff told Dragna.

Staying safe at home: Winter increases the need to practice home fire safety

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 4:08pm

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Cooking is part of many holiday plans. But be aware that the State Fire Marshal's Office is seeing an increase in kitchen-related fires.
Kitchen fires, along with fires related to home heating, are the most common types of calls the Morgan City Fire Department responds to at this time of year.
The most important thing a homeowner can do is have a smoke detector, Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said Wednesday.
Cockerham said “unattended cooking” is something that is common in fire calls they respond to, with people saying they were just gone simply for a few minutes.
“That’s all it takes sometimes,” he said, noting that leaving something unattended on the stove for five minutes or forgetting it in the oven can lead to a fire. “It may seem like five minutes, but it’s probably longer than five minutes.”
The State Fire Marshal’s Office urges people not to leave the home when cooking and not to leave the kitchen when cooking using a stove.
Along with those steps comes the smoke detector.
“Smoke detectors save countless, countless lives,” Cockerham said. “That’s one of the best things anybody can have.”
As of Dec. 11, State Fire Marshal Chief H. “Butch” Browning reported that 70 people statewide had died this year due to fires.
“While that is currently less than the fatality counts of the past few years, it’s too many, and we don’t want to see anymore,” Browning said in a recent news release.
For those unable to install a smoke detector due to disability, etc., the State Fire Marshal’s Office has the Operation Save-A-Life program, which works with local fire departments and district to install smoke alarms for free.
Cockerham said his department can install those locally if Morgan City residents need them.
To register online with the State Fire Marshal’s Office for the program, visit www.lasfm.org.
As for heating, Cockerham said a pre-winter checkup on heaters is a good idea.
“It’s always good to have your heater checked out before winter time gets here just as a safety precaution to see if it’s burning right, to see if it’s not full of dust,” he said.
Another crucial element for safety is a carbon monoxide detector, Cockerham said.
“We get several calls a year with carbon monoxide,” the chief said. “People having detectors and they work, and sometimes you don’t even realize that you’re breathing that stuff.”
Fire extinguishers also are good to have in a home, the chief said.
As for Christmas decorations, Cockerham says they should be checked to ensure wiring doesn’t have any frays. While he said power strips can be used, Cockerham recommended only using one that is both heavy duty and is approved by Underwriters Laboratories.
“Not one of these small ones that you buy, and they’re cheap,” he said.
However, Cockerham said do not “overload” the strip.
He also said that it’s never a good idea to leave Christmas decorations on overnight and to make sure you water your Christmas tree daily if it is live.
“If you keep water in it, keep constant moisture in it, it’s less likely to catch a fire if something does happen,” Cockerham said. “That don’t mean it won’t, but it’s just less likely.”
If residents do have smoke in their house, however, Cockerham urged them to evacuate everyone and call the fire department to handle the situation.
“It may be a light fixture. It may still be something minor, but if you don’t know where it’s at, then the best thing on the safety side is to get out of the house,” he said.

Patterson Ph.D. hopes to put degree to good use

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 3:39pm

DAVID TISDALE, Southern Mississippi

Even if he helps just one person in his career -- through either his teaching or research -- Dr. Ray Jones says all of his hard work in pursuit of his doctorate at The University of Southern Mississippi will have been worth it.
A newly minted Ph.D. in kinesiology from The University of Southern Mississippi School of Kinesiology and Nutrition, Jones is one of more than 1,000 USM students who earned degrees from the University this fall.
“My time here at USM has molded me into an academician and researcher,” said the Patterson native. “I was provided so many opportunities to grow as an independent thinker, researcher, and a person.”
Under normal circumstances, a doctoral program is challenging. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continued throughout 2020, Dr. Jones had to adapt to new ways of living, working, and studying, along with fellow students.
“Any Ph.D. program is going to be difficult, and this one was no different -- juggling everything, including classes, research, teaching, and other activities. More recently, the most difficult thing I had to do was work on my dissertation -- writing, data collection, defending -- during the pandemic. That was hard.
“What helped me overcome it all was a solid support system I call my ‘village.’ This group of people – faculty, staff, fellow students, family and friends -- were there to keep pushing me and motivating me to be the best version of myself, to keep me moving forward on this journey, and for that I am so thankful.”
Among those members of his village was his academic adviser, USM Assistant Professor Dr. Stephanie McCoy, who said Jones met and exceeded expectations as a student.
“In his three years here, Ray showed a pointed interested in being more involved in scholarship and service to his field through publications, presentations, and involvement in our exercise physiology governing body, The American College of Sports Medicine, as well as the Southern Miss community,” Dr. McCoy said.
“Other than his many accomplishments as a student, Ray is also a joy to be around. He has an infectious laugh that brings a smile to everyone’s face. He will be truly missed by all of us, especially me.”
Jones says he was drawn to kinesiology because the name “looked cool and ‘science-y’.” “I went into my undergrad program knowing I wanted to go to physical therapy school, and kinesiology seemed like the most logical way to get there by combining my love for anatomy/physiology and exercise,” Jones said. “So I decided to stay in kinesiology, and it has been the most amazing experience.
“However, I never thought I would be in research. I didn’t get a taste of it until the end of my master’s program. It was great because I learned new skills, but it was also extremely challenging, which I believe is what attracted me to it. Afterwards, I applied for jobs and Ph.D. programs, and the rest is history.”
Dr. Jones’s research focuses on sedentary behavior and the cardiovascular contribution to brain health. Using noninvasive techniques such as Doppler ultrasound, he examines blood flow response during prolonged, uninterrupted sitting in minority populations, particularly African-Americans.
His work, recognized at the university, regional and national levels, includes accolades from the USM Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Research Symposium, the Southeast Region American College of Sports Medicine, and the American College of Sports Medicine. He is a recipient of the Robert Smith, MD Graduate Scholar designation through the Jackson Heart Study Graduate Training and Education Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center [UMMC-GTEC] (2019-present), a highly competitive program enhancing the research skills in cardiovascular health epidemiology and health disparities of doctoral and health professions students. A 2020 inductee into the USM Graduate School Hall of Fame, he was a category winner and overall runner-up in the school’s Three-Minute Thesis competition.
USM Graduate School Dean Dr. Karen Coats said she first became acquainted with Dr. Jones when he participated in the school’s professional development program “Professionals in Preparation” during the 2018-19 academic year.
“Ray was a leader in that group because he was so engaged and interactive, and contributed so much to all our discussions and activities,” Dr. Coats said. “He recognized the value in taking advantage of opportunities beyond the basic requirements for his degree program, and he excelled in all.
“He is just a delightful, talented, and eager young scientist, and I’m so glad I was able to interact with him during his studies at Southern Miss. He represents the best of USM, and I know he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Dr. Jones now moves on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine’s Center for Exercise Medicine, where he has accepted an NIH-T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship.
“I thoroughly enjoy the scientific process, and am motivated by the fact that there are so many questions in the field that are unanswered,” he said. “If I can just answer one question, that’ll be one more thing that could, potentially, help someone else. On the other side of academia – teaching - I’m able to share my passions in exercise physiology and research with students, with the hope of shining some light on their own passion, and helping them achieve their goals.”
That helping spirit was instilled in him early on, Dr. Jones said, because of “the generosity that has been shown to me throughout my life.”
“The one thing that inspires me to continue is the prospect of helping others -- even if it’s just one person.”
The USM School of Kinesiology and Nutrition is housed in the University’s College of Education and Human Sciences. Learn more about the School at https://www.usm.edu/kinesiology-nutrition/index.php.

47 new COVID cases, no fatalities in local parishes

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 3:32pm

Staff Report

Forty-seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported at midday Thursday for St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption, according to the Louisiana Office of Public Health. Twenty-nine of the cases were in St. Martin, but no new fatalities were reported.

Statewide, COVID hospitalizations reached a level not seen since the early days of the pandemic.

In St. Mary, nine new confirmed cases raised the pandemic total to 2,525.Those positives resulted from molecular tests. Another 165 cases were detected with the less sensitive antigen tests and are considered probable.

St. Martin's 29 new confirmed cases raised its case count to 3,151 with 179 probable.

Assumption had nine new confirmed cases Thursday for a total of 1,060 with 126 probable.

Statewide:

--3,851 new cases raised the confirmed pandemic case count to 257,483 confirmed plus 21,828 probable.

--31 newly reported fatalities raised the confirmed toll to 6,637 with 327 probable.

--The number of COVID-positive people in hospitals grew by 18 to 1,602, the first time hospitalizations have reached 1,600 since July 24. Hospitalizations peaked at 1,991 April 12, fueling fears that the health care system would be overwhelmed.

--Two more people are on ventilators for a total of 169.

John Flores: Winter is the time to hunt big bucks

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:37am

JOHN FLORES

Earlier this week while leaving for work in the morning the last words I said to my wife when I felt the cold chill in the air were, “This is a good deer day. I love hunting close to Christmas when the days are shorter, and the weather is cold.”
Meanwhile, on that same morning, Michael Skelton, a Berwick native now living in Luling, was already in his stand hunting in Yazoo County, Mississippi.
If the Skelton name rings a bell, he is the son of John and Darlene Skelton of Berwick, who taught a couple generations of Berwick High School students. John and Darlene’s careers at BHS covered 30 and 33 years respectively.
After seeing plenty of deer right at daylight with a number of small bucks running around moving away from him, at around 8 a.m. Skelton decided to get down from his stand and move. Some 450 yards through the woods directly east of him was another stand. Since the smaller bucks were pushing a doe in that direction, he thought maybe he stood a better chance of seeing something better.
While walking through the timber he blew his grunt call slowly every few minutes to try and simulate a buck.
Peak deer rut periods vary region to region across the southeast. Usually, in both Louisiana and Mississippi, there is either some sort of first or second rut happening during the month of December.
Skelton laughed, saying, “At this time of year it only takes one hot doe to get the attention of a big-boy. Just like us, where there are females, more than likely there are going to be guys chasing them. One of my tactics is to stay close or near areas that house lots of does.”
“Being in areas that hold does,” Skelton continued, “working a grunt call or estrus bleat call sequence every so often to try and simulate a buck doe interaction will drive a bigger mature buck to come in and take over the doe.”
About 20 minutes after leaving his first stand, Skelton climbed up into his new position, and racked a shell into his .270 Winchester. No sooner had he settled in and grabbed his binoculars, when he looked up, “there he was,” Skelton says, walking down the shooting lane away from him some 300 yards away.
That’s when he began blowing on his grunt call aggressively hoping to get the deer’s attention. Suddenly, the big buck turned broadside.
During the course of every deer hunter’s lifetime, moments like this occur that rest on the verge of panic and self-control. Milliseconds feel like minutes and minutes hours. Time sort of suspends in an ethereal moment.
“I honestly didn’t have time to think about it, which probably was a good thing,” Skelton said. “He turned broadside and I let him have it. He ran about 10 to 15 yards and spilled over. I hit heart and I am as proud of the shot as I am the deer.”
The buck turned out to be a big 8-point with an inside spread of 18 inches and 23-1/2 inch long main beams; Skelton’s personal best deer so far.
One of the keys to Skelton’s successful shot was confidence in his rifle and the way it’s sighted in, he says.
“I have my gun sighted in 2-1/2 inches high at 100 yards. From shooting and ballistic charts, I knew I was about 5 inches low at 300 yards.
"I just got steady as I could and aimed for the center of the body mass and let it fly,” Skelton said.
Both Skelton’s wife Meagan and daughter Sawyer were excited for him. Today’s technology allowed him to FaceTime after the kill so his daughter could see, “Daddy’s deer!”
The winter portion of Deer Season can be an excellent time of year to hunt. Deer expend a lot more energy during the winter with shorter, colder days. Therefore, they tend to get up regularly to feed.
In St. Mary Parish, there are divergent ruts. Portions of the parish are made up of Area 7 and Area 9. One of the largest deer I have harvested was a nine-point that I killed while it chased a doe one week prior to Christmas in the marsh below Centerville.
Between holiday hugs, meals, and family time there is usually some time off. Like Skelton, if you’re lucky enough to squeeze a couple days in the deer stand, winter is one of the best times to sit.
From my house to yours, Merry Christmas, everyone.

AL JEWETT BELAIRE

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:35am

Al Jewett Belaire, 88, a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
Al was born September 20, 1932, in Lafayette, the son of Phillip Belaire Sr. and Lucille Roy Belaire.
Al graduated from Hanson Memorial High School. He was an all-around athlete for Hanson playing baseball, football, and basketball. His first love was baseball and he was known for pitching several no-hit, no run games as a left-handed pitcher. Al received a four-year scholarship from Loyola University where he continued to play baseball. After graduating from Loyola, he served in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps where he was stationed in Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1964. Thereafter, he was an educator and administrator for over 30 years, serving as a teacher, coach, and principal of Morgan City High School. Thereafter, he worked with the St. Mary Parish School Board as the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Director of Personnel until he retired in 1988. Al was a great mentor throughout his years in the education system, and he left a huge mark on all who knew him. Al enjoyed woodworking; he would share this hobby with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed gardening, golfing, and fishing. Al was also a huge fan of the beach.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 66 years, Anna Lee Lajaunie Belaire of Morgan City; three daughters, Karen Belaire of Bayou Vista, Donna Cheramie and husband Tommie of Morgan City, Susan LeBouef and husband Jeffery of Broussard; William “Bill” McCarty, who was like a son to Al; seven grandchildren, Jamie Mallet, Colin Mallet, Jada Bernadou, Amanda Mallet, Ryan Cheramie, Sissy Daigle, and Aiden LeBouef; Jill McCarty, who was like a granddaughter to Al; 11 great-grandchildren, Alexis, Landon, Logan, and Jordyn Bernadou; Addison and Asher Mallet; Henry and George Mallet; Rylee and Rose Cheramie; and Hazel Daigle.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Lucille Belaire; one brother, Phillip Belaire, Jr.; two sisters, Hattie Maraist and Joyce Susie Hicks.
Pallbearers will be David Arboneaux, Justin Bernadou, Tommie Cheramie, Ryan Cheramie, Dane Daigle, Craig Lajaunie, Jeffery LeBouef, Jamie Mallet, Colin Mallet, and William “Bill” McCarty. Honorary Pallbearers are Landon Bernadou and Aiden LeBouef.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Rev. Jay L. Baker officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Twin City Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. with a rosary being prayed at 10:30 a.m. After Mass, Al will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum.

BYRON COURTNEY O'GWIN

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:30am

Byron Courtney O'Gwin, 59, a resident and native of Morgan City, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Siracusaville Recreation Center, 1110 Grace St., Morgan City, from 11 a.m. until funeral services at 1 p.m. All visitors are asked to adhere to the CDC and local regulations by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Pastor Norman A. Stovall will officiate the services. Burial will follow services in the Morgan City Cemetery. Services will be accessible by viewing the Jones Funeral Home,Inc. Facebook Page at 1 p.m. Saturday.
He is survived by his mother, Patsy A. O'Gwin; a son, Courtney Smith all of Morgan City; brothers Ronald (Linda) O'Gwin of Seattle, Reginald O'Gwin of California, Efrem O'Gwin of Abbeville and Cory Martin of Jacksonville, Florida; sisters Melonie A. O’Gwin and Patrice L. Hebert both of Morgan City, and Tina Walton of Baton Rouge, ; nieces, nephews; 15 great-nieces and nephews; god children, five aunts, two uncles; a special friend, Yvonne Renthrope; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Byron was preceded in death by: his father, brother, paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, six uncles, five aunts and seven cousins.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LUCILLE HOWARD TEMPLE

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:29am

Lucille Howard Temple, 89, a resident and native of Morgan City, passed away peacefully at 8:10 p.m. Monday Dec. 7, 2020, at Patterson Healthcare Center in Patterson.
A public viewing will be conducted from 9 a.m. until funeral time at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church 113 Federal Ave., Morgan City. Pastor Michael Bradford will officiate. Per CDC requirement and local regulations everyone is required to wear face masks upon entering into the building at all times). Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery.
She is survived by two children, Robert B. Nelson of Atlanta and Eureka Temple Price of Kanagawa, Japan; five sisters, Louella Howard-Verret, Evangelist Yvonne Howard-Hanzy, Mrs. James (Daisy Howard) Douglas, Minister Genevieve Howard-Brown and Betty Howard-Ross; one brother, Jesse Polk Howard (Alice); four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, a son, her parents, two brothers and five sisters.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

TIMOTHY 'TIMMY' JOHN OHMER

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:26am

Timothy “Timmy” John Ohmer, 54, a resident of Amelia, passed away on Monday, December 14, 2020, at his home.
Timmy was born on November 2, 1966 in Morgan City, the son of Cleveland J. Ohmer Sr. and Shirley Roy Ohmer.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his parents, Cleveland J. Ohmer Sr. and Shirley Roy Ohmer of Amelia; two sisters, Rita Chatsko and husband Micheal of Schriever, Phyllis Ohmer of Thibodaux; two brothers, Cleveland J. Ohmer Jr. of Amelia and Howard James Ohmer and wife Andree of Thibodaux; two God children, Taneka Lynn Ohmer and Jayna Renee Landry both of Thibodaux; numerous nieces and nephews.
Timmy was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Oliver and Edna Roy; paternal grandparents, Phillip Ohmer and Helen Solar; one brother, Michael Anthony Ohmer; three nephews, Jordan Joseph Mayon, Xavier John Ohmer and Jamie John Folse.
A memorial visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2020 at Twin City Funeral Home with a memorial service being held at 2:00 p.m.

Police make arrests on heroin, meth charges

Thu, 12/17/2020 - 10:19am

(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
Another Morgan City traffic stop resulted in two arrests on charges that include possession of methamphetamine and heroin, Police Chief James F. Blair said.
A stop earlier Tuesday resulted in an arrest on meth, cocaine and heroin charges.
Blair reported these arrests:
—Kaitlynn Seale, 28, Tullahama Drive, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 10:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of proper equipment required on vehicles and possession of methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
—Turner Crews Jackson, 30, Mossy Oak Avenue, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 10:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
An officer on patrol observed a traffic violation in the area of Margurite Street and La. 70. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Seale, along with her passenger, Jackson.
During the traffic stop, K-9 Lady and her handler arrived on the scene to assist. K-9 Lady was deployed around the exterior of the vehicle.
K-9 Lady gave a positive odor response to the presence of illegal narcotics. During the traffic stop, officers located suspected methamphetamine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia in Seale and Jackson’s possession. They were placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Joseph Matthew Atkins, 36, Missouri Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:02 a.m. Wednesday on charges of turning movement and required signals and possession of paraphernalia.
An officer on patrol observed a traffic violation in the area of Federal Avenue and General MacArthur Street. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Atkins.
During the traffic stop, he was found in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Sable Ann Leal, 31, Gibson, was arrested at 4:01 pm Tuesday on a charges of probation violation (felony). Leal is being held for another agency.
—Herman Terrell Solone, 29, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:58 p.m. Tuesday on charges of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. No bail has been set.
—Morris Franklin Hankins, 51, Garden City, was arrested at 3:43 a.m. Wednesday on charges of careless operation and possession of marijuana. Hankins was released on a summons to appear March 30.
—Nathan Joel McLain Jr., 39, Franklin, was arrested at 12:13 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of for battery of a dating partner. Gonzalez was released on a summons to appear March 30.
—Bobby Brown, 39, Baldwin, was arrested at 11:14 p.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to signal, no license plates and no insurance. Brown was released on a summons to appear March 30.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Shawn Weathersby, 51, Acadiana Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of over 28 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
—Lacie Santaolla, 36, Dupuis Road, Breaux Bridge, was arrested at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
About 5:31 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Berwick Police Department observed a vehicle traveling on U.S. 90 with no headlights.
A traffic stop was conducted, at which time officers made contact with Santaolla and Weathersby.
During the course of the stop, Weathersby and Santaolla were both found to be in possession of methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia. Both were placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Travis Jay Leonard, 29, South Walnut Street, Opelousas, was arrested Monday on charges of tail lamps required, careless operation of a motor vehicle, illegal carrying of weapons in the presence controlled dangerous substances, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to distribute Klonopin (Clonazepam).
—Katelyn Elizabeth Grandin, 28, French Street, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute Klonopin (Clonazepam) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Joel Landry, 36, La. 70 South, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia (second offense). was issued a summons for:
The arrests followed a traffic stop near Paincourtville early Monday evening.
An I.C.E.-assigned unit observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation on La. 70 west of Paincourtville and initiated a stop of the suspect vehicle.
The deputy made contact with the driver, now identified as Leonard. Upon completion of the driver interview, the deputy proceeded to speak to the passenger, now identified as Grandin.
The deputy noted activity and present conditions consistent with illegal drug activity.
The deputy observed a handgun, which was attributed to Leonard in the driver capsule area. That firearm was indicated to be stolen through a serial number check.
The suspects, during the interview process, identified items in the vehicle consistent with illegal drug possession and usage.
The deputy requested consent to search the vehicle which was granted.
During the search process, quantities of Klonopin (Clonazepam) were recovered.
Based on all elements of this investigation, both Leonard and Grandin were arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending bond hearings.
Landry was released with a court appearance obligation.