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Letter to the Editor: Thanks to those who supported hurricane relief

The Parish of St. Mary and the City of Patterson are great places with lots of great people who support their neighbors in need when that need arises.
Recently we dodged a couple of potential disasters but our neighbors to our West did not fare so well. In the spirit of being good neighbors, VFW Post 12182 and its Auxiliary in Patterson decided to do something to help. A drive to obtain nonperishable food and supplies as well as cash donations was established at our gracious host Cypress Point Supermarket on Saturday, September 5th.
With great support from Cypress Point Supermarket, an able and willing team of Post and Auxiliary members, Super One in Franklin, the staff at KQKI, Geoff at The Daily Review, the wonderful shoppers at Cypress Point, and Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan, our efforts were tremendously successful. What a wonderful example this was of neighbor helping neighbor to survive this tremendous disaster. Thanks to all involved and thanks also to the other organizations and individuals that are doing the same.
Sincerely,
Bobby Boudreaux
Commander, Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 12182, Patterson

Two arrested on theft-related warrants

Two people face theft charges in St. Mary after arrests by deputies and city police.
Chief James F. Blair reported this arrest:
—John Hinton, 48, Old Highway 49, Saucier, Mississippi, was arrested 10:43 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for theft of a motor vehicle.
Hinton was located at the St. Charles Correctional Facility 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 these arrests:
—Scorpio Ledan Lemon, 37, Frederick Lane, Baldwin, was arrested at 8:20 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of theft. No bail has been set.
—Leroy Bourque, 57, Fulton Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:42 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and no tail lights. Bourque was released on a summons to appear Dec. 11.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Lionel Mitchell, 57, La. 1014, Labadieville, was arrested Tuesday on charges of violation of a protective order, resisting an officer and failure to appear in court on a previous protective order.
On Tuesday afternoon, deputies responded to a complaint in the area of La. 1014 regarding a disturbance and the accused violating a protective order.
Deputies made contact with the violator, identified as l Mitchell, who failed to comply to deputies’ orders to surrender.
The accused physically engaged the deputy and at some point, was arrested.
Mitchell was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention pending a bond hearing.

Morgan City police radio logs for Sept. 9-10

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. 9
6:18 a.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Assistance.
6:30 a.m. Sixth Street and Brashear Avenue; Utility.
8:45 a.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
8:51 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
9:01 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
9:23 a.m. 800 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
9:29 a.m. 500 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
10:39 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Welfare concern.
10:46 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
12:20 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Crash.
1:06 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
1:20 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Disturbance.
1:38 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
1:39 p.m. 100 block of Headland Street; Alarm.
2:07 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Complaint.
3:13 p.m. 900 block of Cherry Street; Animal complaint.
3:17 p.m. 1000 block of McDermott Drive; Complaint.
3:38 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
3:42 p.m. 900 block of Fourth Street; Theft.
4:14 p.m. 1500 block of North Third Street; Complaint.
4:59 p.m. Railroad Avenue and Fifth Street; Complaint.
6:28 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Suspicious person
6:50 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Stand by.
8:19 p.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Suspicious person.
11:11 p.m. Park Road; Loud music.
Thursday, Sept. 10
12:33 a.m. Clothilde and Seventh streets; Frequent patrols.
12:53 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
1:17 a.m. 1600 block of Maple Street; Complaint.
2:49 a.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Disturbance.
4:20 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.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.

National Guard delivers water to Lake Charles

Louisiana National Guardsmen with the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, are providing and maintaining clean, potable water to support volunteers housed at the Sail Street Church, Lake Charles, who are assisting with cleanup in communities in following the devastation of Hurricane Laura.
According to 1st Sgt. Micki Bryant of A Co., 199th BSB, this sustained mission provides the necessary water needed for showers, cleaning, and cooking for the volunteers of Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.
Clay Steelman, program manager for Samaritan’s Purse, says, “Without the support of the Louisiana National Guard we wouldn’t be able to do what we do … chainsaw work, putting tarps on roofs, debris removal and assisting citizens with removing items from damaged homes free of service. There is no potable water in the community and without it that means that we would not have overnight volunteers.” Steelman expects to have 60-70 volunteers by the end of this week.
The water is stored and transported as a 2,000-gallon potable-water tank known as a Hippo.
Spc. Gabriela Morales Hernandez, a water treatment specialist originally from Puerto Rico, has been moving from site to site in Deridder and Lake Charles ensuring that the Hippos are operational and certified to be used for civilians and guardsmen to have sanitized, safe water.
“I am ensuring that the Hippos are mission ready for soldiers to roll them out to each site,” said Morales. “I do rounds at each site to verify that they are chlorinated, have the proper pH balance and that there is no bacteria in them.”
Pvt. Christopher Dixson, a logistical specialist from Alexandria, Louisiana, is assisting in distributing the water. “Helping down here feels great because both my dad and brother live here and both had to evacuate for the storm,” said Dixson. He says that his dad is happy that he is doing positive work in the area.

Poster, pin sales will support Shrimp and Petroleum Festival

The Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is seeking donations from local businesses and community leaders.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was canceled, and because of financial hardships associated with the pandemic, the festival elected not to have its annual membership and sponsorship drive.
“This festival is not able to operate fully without the support of the local business and community leaders. We thank all of you for your years of support towards the festival.” the festival leaders said in a letter.
While the event, which is the state’s oldest chartered harvest festival, is not being held this year, the board still will be selling its festival posters and pins.
“The festival would like to ask if you have allowed room in your company or household budget this year for a small donation to the festival, we would greatly appreciate it,” festival leaders said in the letter.
Additional 2020 festi-val posters or pins also are available. Posters are $30 apiece, while the pins are $5 each.

JAMES ONEAL “COACH JIMMY” JOHNSON SR.

James Oneal “Coach Jimmy” Johnson Sr., 91, a resident of Patterson, La. and native of Morgan City, La., passed away peacefully on Saturday August 29, 2020 at 11 a.m. at his residence.
Visitation will be ob-served on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at the Siracusaville Recreation Center All visitors are asked to adhere to the CDC-local regulations by wearing masks and practicing social distancing) 1110 Grace Street Morgan City, La. from 9 a.m. until military honors and funeral services which will begin at 11 a.m. with the East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad providing Military Honors. Bishop Thaddeus Escort will officiate the services. Mr. Johnson will be laid to rest in the Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary, La. James Sr., served in the United States Army during the time of the World War II and was later discharged, receiving a Honorable Discharge and a World War II Victory Medal.
Memories of James Sr., of “Coach Jimmy,” as he was known to many, will forever remain in the hearts of his wife, Deloris Johnson of Patterson, La.; his children, James O. Johnson, Jr. of Opelousas, La., Rodney K. Johnson of New Orleans, La., Charles J. Charlot Sr. of Bayou Vista, La. and Fredrick A. Charlot and Lynette M. Singleton both of Patterson, La.; one brother, Alvin Johnson Sr. of Carson, CA and a sister, Jacqueline Davis of Morgan City, La.; fourteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and great athletes he helped to produce here in St. Mary Parish.
James Sr. was preced-ed in death by his par-ents, one son, two sis-ters, and one brother.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements. Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

Corn maze set for Saturdays in October at Botanic Gardens at Burden

BATON ROUGE — The LSU AgCenter will present the Corn Maze at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge every Saturday in October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Participants may purchase tickets for two-hour sessions at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
In addition to the maze, participants can take part in a hayride, children’s obstacle course, pumpkin patch, farm animals, antique tractors, hay mountain climb, sunflower fields and a rock hunt to find a curious creature to take home. The event also will feature a picnic area and local food vendors.
Admission for each event is $15 per person, with children 3 and under admitted free.
Advance-purchase tickets, which are required, are available online at https://bontempstix.com and clicking on the preferred date and time.
Visitors will be required to practice social distancing and wear masks in designated areas.
Sponsored by the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden, proceeds from the Corn Maze events support the educational programs at the Botanic Gardens.
The Botanic Gardens is located in Burden Museum and Gardens at 4560 Essen Lane just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge.
For more information, contact the Botanic Gardens at 225-763-3990 or botanicgardens@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Caribbean culture gave rise to the 'zombie'

Fans of the popular television show “The Walking Dead” know that the show follows a group of people trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world dominated by reanimated dead humans who feed on the flesh of other living creatures. While they’re referred to as “walkers” by everyone on the show, viewers are led to believe these creatures are “zombies.”
Zombies have long been a subject of horror movies, video games and scary tales. Zombies are believed to be corpses without souls who have been reanimated through supernatural means.
Unbeknownst to many, the lumbering undead on the search for fresh brains that makes up the contemporary zombie characterization actually trace their roots to the Caribbean.
Some speculate the word “zombie” was derived from West African languages. The Oxford English Dictionary says “zombie” is a word that was first recorded in English in 1819. It is related to words zumbi, meaning “fetish,” and nzambi meaning, “a god.”
In spirit religions, such as the voudou (voodoo) practiced by some Haitians, zombies are not flesh-eating corpses but the unfortunate dead whose souls were stolen. According to content published by the University of Michigan, believers of voodoo believed people could die naturally through sickness or a god’s will.
Those who died unnaturally due to murder, suicide or before their time would linger at their graves until the gods offered them respite. During this period, souls would be vulnerable to powerful sorcerers known as “boko.” A boko could capture the soul and keep it in a bottle, controlling the undead body or just the soul.
Under the best circumstances, zombies helped the boko, but unsavory boko could use the zombies as slaves. Many Haitians did not fear the zombies, but rather were afraid of becoming zombies against their will.
Another interpretation published in The Atlantic says zombies were of their own making. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Haiti was ruled by France and known as Saint-Domingue. During this period, African slaves were used to work on sugar plantations where the working and living conditions were brutal.
Death was seen as a release back to their home countries. However, suicide was frowned upon and would not allow souls to return to Africa. The souls of slaves who committed suicide would be condemned to roam plantations for eternity.
When the United States briefly occupied Haiti in the early 20th century, zombie stories and rumors began to grow popular. Stories of zombies permeated American culture.
Writers and filmmakers have long offered their own interpretations of zombies. However, many of these interpretations have little, if any, similarities to the zombie stories rooted in Caribbean culture.
AMC's "The Walking Dead" has been renewed for its 11th and final season. The final season will air in 2022.

Dealing with ex-girlfriends causes man consternation

DEAR ABBY: What is acceptable after a breakup occurs? Several years ago, I reached out to an ex-girlfriend. We had dated for six months, but she broke up with me to take a job in another state. A year later, I heard through mutual friends that she had recently moved back. I didn’t call or text, but I did send an email asking how she was doing and if she’d like to talk.
She completely freaked out! She threatened to get a restraining order and told many of our mutual friends that I had been stalking her for a year. From that experience I learned never to contact an ex-girlfriend if they initiate the breakup.
Fast-forward: I recently ran into another ex-girlfriend who initiated the breakup. She told me that for an entire year after that breakup she hoped I would call her and, when I didn’t, it proved I had never loved her. Abby, I feel like I can’t win. It’s similar to how some women say they won’t let a guy kiss them unless they ask first, and others say if a guy asks, he’s a wimp and they would refuse. As a man, I feel like I’m in an impossible position.
No matter what I do, half the women on the planet will either view it as too aggressive or too passive. Help!
CONFOUNDED IN OREGON

DEAR CONFOUNDED: Welcome to reality. Accept that no matter what you do, you can’t please everyone.
If the only contact you had with that first ex-girlfriend was ONE email after her return to your city, then she was either grandstanding to get attention or it was a symptom of emotional instability. As to your second ex, men with self-esteem rarely call back after being rejected because once is enough.
Please don’t let those two “dolls” sour you on all women. As you know, the #MeToo movement has highlighted the importance of consent. Asking a woman before you make a move is always prudent.

DEAR ABBY: I have struggled with my weight for years. My husband doesn’t eat sweets, but we have a friend who insists on dropping off trays of dozens of cupcakes, candies, cookies, etc. I appreciate the time, money and effort, but I’m finally on an eating program that’s working for me. I told her (nicely) that while I appreciate her gesture, I can’t be trusted alone with such goodies, so please share them with folks who have better self-control. Well! She swore at me and told me to lose her number.
To say the least, I was shocked. Abby, I was as gentle and appreciative as could be. I explained that I have a problem and I’m the only one here who indulges in such foods. Was I wrong? What gives? I would donate them, but since I have a problem with sweets, I prefer not to have them in my house.
SWEET LOVE/HATE IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR SWEET: You did nothing wrong; you did yourself an important favor. That woman is not only not a friend, but she is also someone who cares nothing about your health and well-being. She is a “saboteur” with a vested interest in keeping you heavy.
I admire your determination to take a stand on behalf of your eating program and your health. It took courage, and I applaud you for doing it. Sadly, too many people are afraid to do what you did.
***
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Levee District awards Bayou Chene contract, hears about sugar cane flooding

The St. Mary Parish Levee District awarded a contract for one of the four major parts of the Bayou Chene Flood Control Project on Thursday and heard one of the district board's members ask for help with flooding damage to the sugar cane crop on the other end of the parish.

At its monthly meeting, conducted by teleconference, the Levee District board accepted the bid by Rigid Constructors of Lafayette for Phase 4A of the Bayou Chene work. Phase 4 involves construction of a levee along the Tabor Canal. The 4A portion for which the bid was awarded is for raising the Avoca Island Road.

The bid award was for $5,348,628.50.

When complete, the Bayou Chene project will consist of a structure on the bayou with a gate that can be moved into place to block backwater flooding when the Atchafalaya River runs high. The $80 million project, funded through the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, will eliminate the costly need to sink a barge in the bayou to protect property in east St. Mary, lower St. Martin and surrounding parishes.

The Levee District staff reported that the dredging required for the first phase of the work is 90% complete. Sealevel Construction Inc. of Thibodaux, the contractor for the receiving structure and the gate, is driving piles for the structure.

Also Thursday, during a report on levees in the Charenton area and canals south of U.S. 90, board member Will Terry made a plea for Levee District assistance with drainage, even though Terry acknowledged that additional legislation may be required to allow it.

Terry said unprotected land used for sugar cane production has been vulnerable to flooding during hurricanes like Laura.

"It always has," Terry said. "It has since Hurricane Audrey."

Audrey came ashore in June 1957 in the same area where Laura made landfall Aug. 27.

"We need some help," Terry said. "We're paying a tax, and we expect something for our tax dollars."

St. Mary Parish is already suffering from a slowdown in energy industry activity in this region and doesn't need damage to sugar cane, another economic asset here, Terry said.

"Killing another major industry in St. Mary Parish -- what's going to happen then?" Terry asked.

Board Chairman Bill Hidalgo said he'd ask for information about what would be required to get involved with drainage in that area.

Also Thursday:

--The board heard that preliminary work continues on the Morgan City levee improvement project.The biggest remaining piece is construction of a levee between Lake Palourde and the area from Lake End Park to Siracusaville, including the portion that will protect Lakeside Subdivision.

The staff reported that a hydrographic survey is complete, and a topographic survey is nearly done. A right of way survey is also underway.

--The board heard that the Bayou Teche Flood Control Project is on course to be complete in November. The project near Baldwin is designed to prevent storm surge flooding by way of the Charenton Canal in the Franklin, Garden City and Centerville area. Most of the $11 million project is being funded with a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development grant.

Chariman Hidalgo said he toured the site.

"It's going well," Hidalgo said. "Bayou Teche looks awesome, very robust."

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ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255