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Jobless benefit claims continue to fall

About 870,000 workers filed new unemployment claims last week, a slight increase from the week prior though the overall unemployment rate continues its slow decline.
According to U.S. Department of Labor data released Thursday, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.6% for the week ending Sept. 12, with 12.58 million workers filing continued claims for benefits.
That's down 0.1 percentage points from the week ending Sept. 5.
In the week ending Sept. 19, 870,000 new claims were filed, up about 4,000 claims from the revised numbers for the week of Sept. 12, according to the Labor Department.
The initial unemployment insurance claims in Louisiana for the week ending Sept. 19 dropped to 14,842 from the week ending Sept. 12 total of 16,182. For a comparison, during the week ending Sept. 21, 2019, 1,653 initial claims were filed.
The unemployment insurance continued claims for the week ending Sept. 19 decreased to 238,724 from the week ending Sept. 12 total of 250,244. The continued claims were above the comparable figure of 14,515 for the week ending Sept. 21, 2019.
In late March, when government restrictions shutting down businesses deemed nonessential to help slow the spread of COVD-19 were first put into place, new weekly unemployment claims peaked at more than 6 million.
California, as it has through most of the pandemic, once again led states in new claims last week, with 230,443.

NATHALIE PRINCE STEPHENS

January 13, 1930 — September 23, 2020
Nathalie Prince Stephens, 90, a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at Ochsner St. Mary.
Nathalie was born January 13, 1930, in Morgan City, the daughter of Beverly Prince and Eugina Vere Prince.
Nathalie’s life revolved around taking care of her family, always making sure they were happy; she enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews, as well as friends. Nathalie and her husband, Huey, enjoyed spending their off time traveling. Nathalie also enjoyed listening to country music, especially Luke Bryan, and cooking for her family.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband of 71 years, Huey Stephens of Morgan City; two sisters, Joan LeBlanc and Beverly Jean Prince of Morgan City; one niece, Angie Acosta and husband Billy; two nephews, Steven Prince and wife Sonia, and Wayne Leblanc and wife Joanna; five great-nieces, Brittany Acosta, Taylor Prince, Lauren Montgomery, Rebecca Tran and Kimberly LeBlanc; and three great-nephews, Brandin Acosta, Brennan Acosta and Jacob Prince.
Nathalie was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly and Eugina Prince; one brother, Donald Prince; and one sister, Martha Etienne.

Rotary Club happenings

Submitted Photo
Morgan City Rotary Club members heard from Bryce Merrill with the International Petroleum Museum & Exposition (“Mr. Charlie”) at a recent luncheon. From left are Jo Anne Bergeron, Morgan City Rotary president; Merrill and Tim Hebert, Rotary sergeant at arms.

Southland commits to play football in spring

The Southland Conference announced plans Tuesday to resume football championship competition in the spring semester, an unprecedented move in the league’s 58-year history, following the postponement of fall sports due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The conference’s revised regular-season schedule will begin Feb. 20 and continue through April 10 and will feature six league games for its participating seven members — UIW, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana.
“We are very pleased to confirm our delayed 2020 Southland Conference football schedule into the 2021 spring semester,” Commissioner Tom Burnett said in a news release. “While the spring playing opportunity will be different in many ways, we are looking forward to providing this competitive and championship opportunity for our participating football programs, their student-athletes and coaches and all of the fans and followers of Southland football.
On Aug. 12, Southland presidents approved the postponement of league football and other fall sports to the spring semester and later agreed on an opt-out opportunity with the spring plan. Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin committed to playing football exclusively in the fall, while in other fall sports, all 13 members are expected to fully participate in the spring competitive season. Spring schedules for other fall sports will be announced in the near future.
The six-game, single round-robin football schedule will feature each team playing three home and three away games during an eight-week period. Each team will have multiple open dates during the slate to provide flexibility if schedule changes are necessary.
Further, the NCAA has approved a maximum of eight games in a 13-week period that begins Jan. 23; thus, there also may be some non-conference opportunities available for Southland teams.
The revised schedule for the two-time defending champion Colonels will bring Lamar (Feb. 27) to Thibodaux for the conference opener. The two other home games are UIW (March 27) and the annual River Bell Classic against Southeastern Louisiana (April 10) to close the spring. Road games are at Northwestern State (March 6), Sam Houston (March 13) and McNeese (April 3).
With the new schedule, Southland teams will vie for a league championship, with the winner receiving an automatic berth to the adjusted NCAA Division I Football Championship.
The Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, with a reduced bracket from 24 to 16 teams, will include 11 automatic qualifiers and five at-large bids and a first-round starting date of April 24.
The NCAA Championship Game, hosted by the Southland Conference for the last decade, is scheduled to return to Frisco’s Toyota Stadium on the weekend of May 15-16.
Further, undertaking this schedule will be contingent upon current health conditions in each university community, following the guidance from the NCAA, and local medical authorities.
Game management details, ticketing and attendance matters, media and broadcast issues and other operational details will be determined by the Southland and the host institutions.

Luc leads Central Catholic in losing effort

Central Catholic fell to Assumption 3-0 (25-22, 25-13 and 25-13) Tuesday in volleyball action on the road.
Katie Luc led Central Catholic with 20 assists and two digs.
Other top Central Catholic contributors were as follows: Gweneth Dohmann, eight kills, one ace, six digs and one block assist; Haley Fontenot, five kills, seven digs and two solo blocks; Charlotte Callais, five digs; Kennedy Grizzaffi, three kills and two solo blocks; Lucy Hamer, three aces and two digs; and Kamille Lightfoot, two kills and one block assist.
Tuesday, Central Catholic fell to Lafayette Christian in straight sets, 25-13, 25-19 and 25-21.
Luc led Central Catholic with 17 assists and one dig.
Other top Central Catholic contributors were as follows: Callais, 11 digs; Fontenot, five kills and eight digs; Grizzaffi, five kills; Hamer, five aces, one assist and 10 digs; Lightfoot, three kills and five solo blocks; and Emily Lipari, nine digs.
The Central Catholic Lady Eagles defeated Morgan City 3-0 (25-19, 25-13 and 25-19) at Morgan City Saturday.
Fontenot and Luc led the Lady Eagles. Fontenot had 11 kills and six digs, while Luc recorded one kill, 29 assists and eight digs.
Other top Central Catholic contributors were as follows: Dohmann, eight kills and two digs; Lipari, one assist and 10 digs; Callais, 10 digs; Grizzaffi, six kills, two aces, two digs and two solo blocks; Lightfoot, five kills; Bri’yannah Johnson, two kills and two blocks; and Hamer, two aces, two assists and two digs.
On Sept. 17, Central Catholic fell to H.L. Bourgeois 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 17-25 and 15-17) in Morgan City.
The Lady Eagles had 51 kills, 48 assists, 71 digs and 14 solo blocks.
Fontenot and Luc led Central Catholic. Fontenot had 16 kills, 13 digs and two solo blocks, while Luc had 45 assists, one ace and nine digs.
Other top Central Catholic contributors were as follows: Dohmann, 13 kills, five digs and two solo blocks; Grizzaffi, 12 kills, one ace, four digs and four solo blocks; Lipari, two aces, two assists and 18 digs; Callais, 13 digs; Lightfoot, five kills, four solo blocks and one block assist; Hamer, one kill, one ace and seven digs; and Johnson, three kills, one dig and two solo blocks.
MCHS defeats
Patterson
The Morgan City Lady Tigers defeated Patterson 3-0 (25-12, 25-11 and 25-21) in nondistrict action at Morgan City Tuesday.
No individual stats were available from either team.
In junior varsity, Morgan City won 25-15 and 25-13, while the Lady Tigers took the freshman match 25-15 and 15-9.
Saturday, Morgan City fell to Central Catholic 3-0 (25-19, 25-13 and 25-19).
Mary Vincent and Haylie Crappell led Morgan City. Vincent had 12 assists and 12 digs, while Crappell had six kills and 17 digs.
Other top Morgan City contributors were Brynn Stephens, one kill and 11 digs, and Faith Bailey, four kills and eight digs.
On Sept. 17, Morgan City fell to Hahnville on the road 3-0 (25-19, 25-18 and 25-18).
No individual stats were submitted.
On Sept. 16, Morgan City defeated Houma Christian 3-0 (25-19, 25-21 and 25-8).Stephens and Vincent led the Lady Tigers. Stephens finished with three aces, 13 digs, three kills and one assist, while Crappell had one block, one ace, 11 digs, three kills and one assist.
Other top Morgan City contributors were as follows: Bailey, one ace, five digs, six kills and one assist; Mariah Pleasant, one block assist, two aces, three digs, two kills and one assist; and Hailey Denning, three aces, three digs and two assists.
Berwick falls twice
The Berwick Lady Panthers fell twice this week, dropping matches to Highland Baptist Monday in New Iberia and H.L. Bourgeois Tuesday in Berwick.
On Sept. 17, the Lady Panthers won their first game of the season with a victory against Ellender in straight sets by scores of 25-20, 25-12 and 25-18 in Berwick.
Monday, Berwick fell to Highland Baptist 3-0 (25-16, 25-13 and 25-16) in New Iberia.
Tuesday, Berwick fell to H.L. Bourgeois 3-0 (25-8, 25-8 and 25-17).
No individual stats were submitted from any of the matches.

Jim Bradshaw: Great fireball in the sky got La.'s attention

At a few minutes after 10 a.m. on October 15, 1955 — during a period when Cold War tensions were building to their highest and little men from outer space were all the rage — something brilliant, loud and scary passed overhead.
We thought at first that we were all going to die.
A pilot from Dallas, Roger Harlan, may have been the first to have the bewillikers scared out of him by what he described as “a flaming, orange‑colored object.”
He was flying at about 2,300 feet across Lake Maurepas, just north of New Orleans, when the thing whizzed by.
“It came alongside right off our left wing at a tremendous rate of speed, began to slow down and then exploded in a shower of flying sparks and shrapnel,” he said.
At first we thought it was a flying saucer. Your mind is conditioned for that sort of thing.”
Military minds were conditioned otherwise. The pilots of three military planes flying over Alabama reported seeing a “red rocket,” or maybe it was “Red rocket.” Whichever, it shook them up a little.
When we discovered it wasn’t a Russian attack or a flying saucer, we thought it was a plane crash and began looking for the wreckage.
Sheriff departments in Acadia, Vermilion and Jeff Davis parishes were among those who received calls from citizens who thought they’d seen an airplane in flames.    
After shrimp boats in the Gulf radioed reports of a blinding flash of orange and the sound of an explosion, the Coast Guard sent boats from Galveston to look for the remains of what they thought was a jet plane that had blown up.
The communications center at the Lafayette airport received reports from as far away as Jackson, Mississippi, that there had been a midair explosion.
Search pilots sent to look for the downed plane reported small fires in the marsh south of Gueydan and Delcambre and in wooded areas near Elton.
A woman who lived in Bridge City, just across the Sabine River in Texas, said she saw two columns of smoke coming from the marsh on the Louisiana side of Sabine Lake.
The ball of fire turned out to be a meteor that blew up as it roared through the morning sky. People from Baton Rouge, Franklin, New Iberia, Abbeville, Crowley , Jennings and a dozen other towns saw flaming chunks of it falling to the ground. 
Newspapers from Mobile to Albuquerque reported on readers who heard or saw the fireball.
The Galveston newspaper headline read “Flaming Fireball Causes Talk on Entire Gulf Coast.” The Crowley Signal headlined in its biggest type, “Fiery Meteor Explodes Over Area.” Other local papers didn’t play it up quite that much.
According to the Galveston report, “The giant fire ball exploded with a roaring noise and left a trail of black smoke.” It said emergency officials received calls from “thousands of persons in Louisiana and Texas.”
Air Force investigators said the meteor — or a big chunk of it — passed directly over Houston, and that its debris was spread from Baton Rouge to Brownsville.
“It just disintegrated,” according to a weather observer in Beaumont who said he saw it explode.
Skies were clear before the explosion. Afterwards, a haze — presumed to be meteor dust — covered much of the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, “Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Attempted burglary, stalking suspect arrested in Berwick

Staff Report
Berwick police on Wednesday arrested a man wanted for attempted burglary and stalking in Morgan City, Berwick Police Chief David Leonard said.
—Tyler Sylvester, 21, Short Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:51 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of resisting an officer and on Morgan City Police Department warrants for attempted burglary of an inhabited dwelling, criminal trespass, stalking, criminal damage to property and violation of a protective order.
About 2:49 p.m. Wednesday, Morgan City detectives requested assistance in locating Sylvester, who was named in active arrest warrants.
Officers with the Berwick Police Department along with Morgan City Police Department detectives went to a residence on Versen Street in Berwick to locate Sylvester. 
Officers observed Sylvester, and he fled on foot.
After a brief foot pursuit, officers were able to take Sylvester into custody without further incident.
Sylvester was booked into the Berwick Jail. He was later transported to Morgan City Jail.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported these arrests:
Harpreet Singh, 40, Victor II Boulevard, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday on warrants for 10 counts of failure to appear.
An officer located Singh at an address on La. 182 and placed him under arrest on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City.
He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Rachel L. Vidos, 43, Levee Road, Morgan City, was at 7 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for careless operation of a motor vehicle, hit and run, and proper equipment unsafe vehicle.
Vidos turned herself into the Morgan City Police on active warrants held by the Morgan City Police Department. She was booked and incarcerated.
—Tra Andrew Acosta, 24, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:04 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for domestic abuse battery-strangulation and telephone harassment.
Acosta was located at Lafourche Parish Detention Center and placed under arrest on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department.
He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported this arrest:
—Dennis James Driskill Jr., 47,  River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 11:07 a.m. Wednesday on charges of careless operation, switched license plate/stolen license plate, no insurance and expired or no inspection sticker.
Driskill was released on a summons to appear Dec. 11. 

Morgan City police radio logs for Sept. 23-24

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.
Wednesday, Sept. 23
7:36 a.m. Brownell Homes; Stalled vehicle.
7:36 a.m. Brownell Homes; Stalled vehicle.
8:14 a.m. 7000 block of Railroad Avenue; Smoke alarm.
9:27 a.m. Ochsner St. Mary; 911 hang up.
10:15 a.m. Glenwood Avenue; 911 hang up.
10:23 a.m. Lake End Park; Loud music.
10:28 a.m. Justa Street; Complaint.
10:41 a.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Juvenile problem.
11:56 a.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Stand by.
12:21 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Frequent patrols.
12:34 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Utilities.
12:50 p.m. Federal Avenue near Franklin Street; Complaint.
1:39 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.
2:36 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Arrest.
2:44 p.m. Berwick; Assistance.
2:49 p.m. Bush Street near Federal Avenue; Complaint.
2:58 p.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
3:02 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless driver.
3:31 p.m. Stephensville; Complaint.
3:38 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Accident.
3:38 p.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Medical.
4:04 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
4:09 p.m. 7100 block of Park Road; Medical.
5:07 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Accident.
6:06 p.m. 3000 block of Catherine Street; Medical.
6:08 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Medical.
6:11 p.m. Terrebonne Street; Disturbance.
6:18 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
6:22 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
7:22 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Patrol request.
9:40 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
10:57 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.
11:04 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
11:43 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Removal of subject.
Thursday, Sept. 24
12:12 a.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Medical.
3:38 a.m. Brashear and Federal avenues; Assistance.

Area hospitals announce births

Born to Jamie Butler and Marcus Gray of Patterson, a boy, Marcus Andrew Gray, on Sept. 8 at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measured 20.1 inches.
——
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Todd J. Leblanc II (nee: Brooke A. Theriot) of Morgan City, a girl, Emma Grace Leblanc, on Sept. 10 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 6.3 ounces and measured 19¼ inches.
——
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Brett M. Dore’ (nee: Katie M. Savoie) of Patterson, a boy, Beck Anthony Dore’, on Sept. 11 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. He weighed 7 pounds and measured 19 inches.
——
Born to Reva S. Thomas of Patterson and Corey J. Fox of Lafayette, a boy, Corey James Fox Jr., on Sept. 13 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. He weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 21 inches.
——
Born to Kayla Fernandez and Heath Hernandez of Stephensville, a girl, Helena Jo Hernandez, on Sept. 14 at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City. She weighed 6 pounds and measured 18.2 inches.
——
Born to Katelyn N. Fontenot and Larry Joe Guillory Jr. of Morgan City, a girl, Jacqueline Blair Guillory, on Sept. 16 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 19 inches.
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Born to Luke A. Lodrigue and Ashley N. Voisin of Morgan City, a girl, Hazel Fay Lodrigue, on Sept. 16 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 19 inches.

Study: Mechanism may offer glaucoma protection

NEW ORLEANS — A team of researchers from LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence and the University of Copenhagen provides the first evidence that patients with ocular hypertension may exhibit superior antioxidant protection that promotes resistance to the elevated intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. Their findings are published online in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
In general, glaucoma patients are vulnerable to increased intraocular pressure, the LSU Health news release stated.
However, a particular group of patients has no glaucomatous neurodegeneration despite high intraocular pressure — patients with ocular hypertension.
The paper reports the discovery of a new mechanism to explain why patients with ocular hypertension do not have glaucoma. This is the first study evaluating oxidative stress and antioxidative agents in patients with normal-tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension during oxygen stress.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, ocular hypertension is when the pressure inside the eye (intraocular pressure) is higher than normal.
The authors found that patients with ocular hypertension have increased antioxidant capacity and higher levels of anti-inflammatory, omega-3 derived chemical messengers involved in sustaining cell function in their plasma compared to patients with normal-tension glaucoma and age-matched controls.
The abundance of these omega-3 fatty acid chemical messengers provides antioxidant defense, and as a consequence, potential resistance to elevated intraocular pressure and glaucomatous neurodegeneration by eliminating increases in systemic oxidative stress.
“The study opens avenues of therapeutic exploration highlighting the significance of the omega-3 fatty acid chemical messengers’ antioxidant capacity as a potential diagnostic biomarker and as a novel treatment to prevent glaucomatous neurodegeneration,” said Dr. Nicolas G. Bazan, Boyd Professor, Ernest C. and Ivette C. Villere Chair of Retinal Degeneration, and Director of the Neuro-science Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine.
Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness. The sight-threatening disease is defined by a progressive loss of the innermost retinal neurons with corresponding visual field losses. Despite current treatments to lower the intraocular pressure, 15% of glaucoma patients go blind, and as many as 42% will lose sight in one eye.
The study is a result of a collaboration between Dr. Bazan and Professor in Translational Eye Research, Chief Phys-ician, and Glaucoma Specialist at the Copenhagen University Hospital, Dr. Miriam Kolko.
Their collaboration began many years ago when, as a medical student from Denmark, Dr. Kolko worked with Bazan at LSU Health New Orleans.
“I began developing my interests in neuroprotection and ophthalmology working under Nicolas Bazan, who mentored, motivated and guided me, as a medical school student from Denmark supported by a Fulbright Scholarship (1994-1996), and from 2000-2003,” says Dr. Kolko.” I was lucky to work with and be inspired by Dr. Nicolas Bazan. Later, he also became my PhD thesis director.”
Other members of the research team included Mia Langbøl, Sarkis Saruhanian, Thisayini Baskaran, Daniel Tiedemann, Zaynab A. Mouhammad, Anne Katrine Toft-Kehler, and Rupali Vohra form the University of Copenhagen; as well as Bokkyoo Jun from LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence.
The research was supported by grants from Lion’s Prize; Fight for Sight, Denmark; Jørgen Bagenkop Nielsen’s Myopi-Foundation; the Synoptik Foundation; the Hørslev Foundation; and Novo Nordisk Foundation.
“Professor Kolko is a brilliant and innovative clinician-scientist who bridges a clinical career treating patients with glaucoma medically and surgically with basic and translational research to understand the pathophysiology behind it,” concludes Bazan. “We are so proud that this international superstar’s roots are here at LSU Health New Orleans.”

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