RSS Feed

Churches sponsor voter registration drive

Thu, 09/03/2020 - 8:53am

Franklin churches Lighthouse Baptist Church and Triune Church of God in Christ will hold a voter registration event Friday, Sept. 4 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
There will be services at Lighthouse BC, 118 Barrow St., followed by individuals at high traffic intersections of the city. Triune COGIC is the site to register, and will include a noon service. Registration will continue until 1:30 p.m. Masks and social distancing will be practiced.

CMS nursing home training set to prevent COVID-19

Thu, 09/03/2020 - 8:13am

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is implementing a national nursing home training program for frontline nursing home staff and nursing home management, according to the CMS news release. The training is designed to equip both frontline caregivers and management with the knowledge needed to stop the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
The training is available immediately to staff of the United States’ 15,400 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes. Training focuses on critical topics like infection control and prevention, appropriate screening of visitors, effective cohorting of residents, safe admission and transfer of residents, and the proper use of personal protective equipment — all critical elements of stopping the spread of COVID-19.
“CMS is taking unprecedented action to ensure that nursing homes are doubling down on efforts to prevent the spread of the virus,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said. “This national training program is just the latest example of our coordinated and aggressive response to this unprecedented situation.”
The first-of-its kind scenario-based training is called the “CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff and Management” and it has been designed specifically with COVID-19 in mind. The program features a tailored course that incorporates the most recent lessons learned from nursing homes and teaches frontline staff best practices they can implement to address issues related to COVID-19.
Training builds upon results of CMS nursing home inspections and the findings of epidemiological experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who work with nursing homes. The design was also influenced by the findings of federal nursing home task force strike teams, through which experts from CMS and CDC were deployed to nursing homes actively battling COVID-19 outbreaks in hot spot areas over the summer.
The strike teams learned that while current regulations were designed to protect the health and safety of residents, the pandemic created an urgent need to directly assist frontline workers with more focused training and guidance than has been used in the past.
Training Specifics
The CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff & Management has five specific modules designed for frontline clinical staff and 10 designed for nursing home management. The training will be available on the CMS Quality, Safety & Education Portal.
Training for frontline staff, called “CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff,” covers five topics separated into five modules. These modules address some of the most common concerns found by surveyors and strike teams, basic infection control and prevention.
Modules are focused on the most urgent needs of frontline nursing home staff and they include:
Module 1: Hand Hygiene and PPE
Module 2: Screening and Surveillance
Module 3: Cleaning the Nursing Home
Module 4: Cohorting
Module 5: Caring for Residents with Dementia in a Pandemic
Training for management, called “CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Nursing Home Management,” covers 10 topics separated into 10 modules. These modules are comprehensive, focusing on infection control and cleanliness but also larger institution-wide issues like implementation of telehealth, emergency preparedness, and vaccine delivery.
They include:
Module 1: Hand Hygiene and PPE
Module 2: Screening and Surveillance
Module 3: Cleaning the Nursing Home
Module 4: Cohorting
Module 5: Caring for Residents with Dementia in a Pandemic
Module 6: Basic Infection Control
Module 7: Emergency Preparedness and Surge Capacity
Module 8: Addressing Emotional Health of Residents and Staff
Module 9: Telehealth for Nursing Homes
Module 10: Getting Your Vaccine Delivery System Ready
To ensure nursing home staff are aware of the training and availing themselves of it, CMS is directing Quality Impro-vement Organizations — CMS’ nationwide quality improvement contractors — to include the training in the action plans that QIOs develop in collaboration with each nursing home they assist. This will help ensure that nursing homes are building the training into their existing quality improvement efforts.
Finally, while the training announced is comprehensive, CMS and CDC will also have subject matter experts available on bi-weekly webinars from 3-4 p.m. through Jan. 7, 2021, to answer questions.
Registration is required for these question and answer sessions. Participants can register on the Zoom webinar registration page.
If a nursing home’s staff is unsure which training module best meets their needs, CMS is offering an online self-assessment tool at www.qioprogram.org to help them identify their needs and suggest the appropriate training modules that best reflect those needs. A certificate of completion is offered for each completed training course.

Happy love life turns best friend into a Debbie Downer

Thu, 09/03/2020 - 8:10am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I have been lucky enough to have fallen madly in love with the most wonderful man in the world. We have been together for two years and living together for almost a year. I’m in my mid-30s; he’s in his mid-40s. We both have had plenty of experience in love — enough to feel sure that we’ve found the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with.
My best friend has been very disparaging of our relationship and makes rude comments about it. If I tell her how happy we are in spite of the pandemic, she says it’s because we’re still in the “honeymoon phase.” If I describe something kind that my boyfriend has done for me, she adopts a condescending tone and makes remarks about “new love” and that I should enjoy this now because it will change.
She’s the same age I am and has been with her fiancé for nine years. I have always been very supportive of their relationship, but she seems incapable of offering me the same level of support in my love life. When I try to talk to her about something she has said or done that bothers me, she often becomes aggressive, and I don’t know how to approach this subject without getting into an argument or losing our friendship. What should I do?
PROUDLY LUCKY IN LOVE

DEAR PROUDLY LUCKY: Could your friend be suffering from a touch of jealousy because you constantly extoll your boyfriend’s virtues? Her cynicism may have something to do with the fact that she and her fiancé have been together for nine years with no marriage in sight.
If you can’t talk to her about sensitive issues without her becoming aggressive or you being afraid of losing the friendship, it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see the two of you are growing increasingly distant with the passage of time. I do think you should ask your friend why she reacts the way she does and tell her how it makes you feel. It may be the only way to save your friendship.

DEAR ABBY: At what age is it no longer appropriate for children to play naked while outside in their yard?
We are a childless couple in our 60s who live in a suburban neighborhood in the Northeast. A new couple moved here with their children, a boy and a girl, who appear to be about 5 and 8 years old. Both of them often are naked while playing in their yard. This happens in all kinds of weather, not just when it’s extremely hot.
We all have fairly large yards, but none of the yards in the neighborhood are private. Neighbors on both sides of this family and anyone walking up or down the street can see the children. We are not prudes, but this happens frequently, and it makes us uncomfortable. Is it time for us to move?
AVERTING MY EYES

DEAR AVERTING: Five- and 8-year-old minors are too old to be naked in public. Pay a visit to your new neighbors’ house and introduce yourself. Ask why the kids play outside with no clothes on. Gauge what you learn, and if you suspect neglect or abuse, report it to Child Protective Services.
***
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

KADEN MICHAEL MAYON

Thu, 09/03/2020 - 7:22am

Kaden Michael Mayon, age 15, a native and resident of Patterson was called to his heavenly home on Aug. 31, 2020 at 9:23am surrounded by his loving family at Lafayette General Hospital.

Kaden was born on July 14, 2005 to the parents Shelly Kaye Beadle Mayon and Mark Mayon Jr.

Kaden loved the outdoors, baseball, football, basketball, riding dirt bikes, fishing, hanging out with his many friends and family especially his niece Paisley and nephew Kolbe.

Those left to cherish his precious memory are his parents, Shelly Kaye Beadle Mayon and Mark Mayon Jr. of Patterson; his brothers, Mark Mayon III and fiancé Gayla Raymond of Morgan City, Blaz Mayon and girlfriend Riley Teeple and Dylan Lanclos; his sisters Ashley Lanclos and Halie Mayon of Patterson; his niece Paisley and nephew Kolbe. Kaden also leaves many cousins; his paternal grandparents, Mark and Cindy Mayon of Morgan City; his maternal grandparents, Nelda Thomas and Dean Beadle of Bayou Vista; his grandmother Cindy Clausen; parrin Derrick Mayon Sr. of Patterson; uncles Perry Bailey Jr. and wife Deryan along with their daughter Ada, Harold Driggers, Manuel Francois, and Nathan Francois. He also leaves three aunts, Natasha Clausen, Ramona Raymond , and Nikki Mayon; his nanny, Heather Lorenzo and husband Dale of Morgan City; his great aunt, Dawn Beadle Pete and husband Horace of Berwick; and his girlfriend, Paidyn McGraw of Patterson.

Kaden was welcomed into heaven by his great-grandparents Clarice and Edward Mayon Sr. and Jeannette and Sing " Clarence " Beadle; J.O. Thomas, Boots Thomas, Allen and Earline Rink, Uncle Pook, Uncle Mickey, Uncle Dale Beadle and Uncle Daryl Beadle as well as his aunt Nicloe Rink.

Those honored to serve as Pallbearers are Mark Mayon III, Blaz Mayon, D.J. Mayon, Dylan Lanclos, Eithan Peterson, Collan St. Germain and Caleb Teeple. Honorary pallbearer will be Kolbe Mayon.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made in Kaden's name to Hargrave Funeral Home to help defray the cost of the Funeral.

There was a special balloon release held in Kaden's honor, Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 6:00pm, at the Patterson High School.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 at Lighthouse Community Church in Berwick from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Visitation will resume on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020 from 9:00am until time of Services. Funeral services are set for 11:00am at Lighthouse Community Church with services conducted by Brothers Matt Jackson and Mo Seneca.

Following services Kaden will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Mausoleum.

13 COVID cases, no deaths in Wednesday report

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 2:39pm

Thirteen new COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday in three local parishes. But no deaths were reported in the local area.

In St. Mary, five new cases raised the total since the pandemic began to 1,773. Seventy St. Mary people have died of COVID-related causes.

St. Martin had seven new cases Wednesday for a total of 1,982 with 57 deaths.

Assumption had one new case for a total of 670 with 22 deaths.

Statewide:

--972 new cases raised the pandemic total to 149,838.

--20 new deaths lifted the toll to to 4,841.

--37 fewer people are in hospitals for a total of 873.

--4 more people are on ventilators for a total of 132.

Berwick Police investigating gunshots

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 12:10pm

Staff Report

The Berwick Police Department is investigating a report of gunshots Tuesday evening in the Bayside Village Apartments area.
At about 11 p.m. Tuesday, the Berwick Police received numerous calls about gunshots, Chief David Leonard said.
While there were no injuries, officers learned that two vehicles had been struck by gunfire and a third vehicle was struck by another vehicle, Leonard said.
The vehicles were unoccupied at the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Berwick Police at 985-384-7710.

Street plan under review in Patterson

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:56am

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

PATTERSON — The City Council approved a way to save $348,000 Tuesday, and then began to identify the best way to spend more than $400,000 to fix city streets.
The savings will come from an ordinance under which the city will refinance the $3.4 million still to be repaid from a $5 million 2012 bond issue for the new water plant.
The city government is taking advantage of lower interest rates to drop the rate on the remaining balance from 3.79% to 1.9%.
After a public hearing, the council passed the ordinance unanimously.
Those savings will be realized over the next 13 years.
The city government currently has $440,000 from another source, a parish government bond issue that generated funds that are being shared with municipalities.
Melanie Caillouet of Providence Engineering proposed spending the money on:
—Asphalt overlays for Hurst and Church.
—Complete reconstructions of Waveland, Veterans, Pietro, Corman and Hickory.
The plan also included two alternatives. One is work on Shady Grove Drive with an estimated cost of $213,000, and work on Taft and Eighth, Ninth, 10th and 11th streets as an estimated cost of $121,000.
The work will make the streets true asphalt streets, Caillouet said. Some are now just a limestone base covered with tar.
On Waveland, the material has been pushed up into a hump, Caillouet said.
The council will take the time before the Oct. 6 meeting to see if the work identified in the Providence plan makes the best use of the money.
Mayor Rodney Grogan expects the selection of streets for improvement to generate public comment. He talked briefly Tuesday about moving the Oct. 6 meeting to the Patterson Area Civic Center to accommodate the audience.
The council chamber has limited seating because of social distancing requirements.
Also Tuesday:
—The council received the copy of a proposed police policy manual developed by Chief Garrett Grogan, City Attorney Russel Cremaldi and others.
The manual will supplement the city government personnel policies with police-specific information such as uniform rules and the policy against racial profiling.
—The council heard from 16th Judicial District Judge candidates Keith Thibodeaux and Anthony Saleme, who will be opponents in the Nov. 3 election.
—The mayor said free COVID-19 testing will be available Sept. 28-Oct. 2 at the Patterson Fire Department.
The tests will begin at 10 a.m. each day and will include a nasal swab and a blood sample.

Morgan City Fire Department responds to minor fire

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:55am

The Morgan City Fire Department responded to a minor fire at a house on Federal Avenue between Terrebonne and Egle streets around mid-morning Wednesday. The incident began while someone was cooking on a butane burner and subsequently a wall was scorched and a couch outside under a carport caught on fire, Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham said. The fire was extinguished quickly, and no injuries were reported, Cockerham said. The Morgan City Fire Department responded with assistance from the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department.

Prep volleyball teams get the go-ahead to play

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:52am

GEOFF STOUTE

gstoute@daily-review.com

Volleyball teams across the state were given the go-ahead by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to start their seasons Tuesday.
In the plan, no more than 25 students can be in the gym, as well as no more than 10 essential personnel.
“We are all trying to get our student-athletes back on the courts and fields as soon as possible while keeping them safe,” LHSAA Assistant Executive Director Karen Hoyt said in the emailed document to coaches.
This week, teams can compete in up to two scrimmages in preparation for the season.
“This is a very fluid situation that is constantly changing,” Hoyt said. “We are hopeful with these measures in place we will have a successful volleyball season.”
Locally, there was excitement to be able to begin their seasons.
“It feels great,” said new Central Catholic Coach Kindra Solar. “Practice (and) conditioning for months on end with no start date in sight was wearing on our girls, but getting the good news Monday gave us that extra fire going into the season.”
Solar will begin her second stint as Central Catholic coach, replacing Latashia Wise this season. She is one of two new area head coaches this season, joining Lianne Seumanu at Berwick High, who is replacing Megan Fegenbush.
Seumanu, a Berwick alum who has served as an assistant softball coach for the last two seasons, said things have been great taking over the volleyball program.
“It’s been good to be in the gym,” she said. “I have a great group of girls, a good solid core of seniors and honestly leaders throughout every grade. By the time I got them, everyone was ready to be back in the gym, so it just made everything easier. We needed it. It was time. Even considering dealing with unexpected things, it’s been absolutely incredible.”
At Patterson High School, assistant coach Travis Darnell said that considering the pandemic, things have gone well, and he has been telling the team they just need to stay prepared.
“In that regard, we’re doing everything that we can do to stay prepared, and when it’s our time to play, I think we’ll be ready,” he said.
Area coaches have had to practice while following COVID-19 safety protocol. For Berwick, the preseason prep has included video conference meetings when they couldn’t meet in the gym. They served as “mental practices,” Seumanu said, explaining they were able to focus on things like discussion of their mindsets for the game of volleyball, aspects that they had more time to talk about outside of a gym setting.
Under the stipulations released by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Monday, teams will not participate in jamborees, tournaments or tri-matches this year.
All matches will remain the best three-out-of-five format.
Face masks, temperature checks and social distancing will be mandated, although athletes may decline to wear the masks while playing.
Even with a start date announced, there still is the realization that things could change.
“Fingers crossed that next week, we will be able to start our regular season games,” Solar said.

More parishes eligible for hurricane ad

Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:50am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

The federal government has approved Louisiana’s request to add three more parishes to the six already approved for individual disaster assistance following Hurricane Laura, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday.
Residents of Acadia, Ouachita and Vermilion parishes are eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA previously approved individual assistance for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis and Vernon parishes.
Edwards has asked FEMA to add 14 additional affected parishes to the list.
Displaced residents of approved parishes may be eligible for a one-time $500 payment. People who are unemployed as a direct result of the storm may receive $108 per week. Residents can apply at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.
Residents of the nine parishes can also apply for disaster food benefits, commonly known as D-SNAP. Families already receiving SNAP benefits do not need to re-register.
Louisiana is sheltering more than 11,000 people displaced by the storm, most in New Orleans hotels. The state is trying to avoid putting people in mass shelters because of the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The federal government is sending Louisiana 50,000 COVID-19 antigen tests which don’t need to be performed in laboratories, Edwards said. He said they may be employed in shelters or at supply distribution points.
He said the National Guard has helped open 17 COVID-19 testing sites after community testing mostly was shut down last week. Guard members also have cleared debris from more than 1,400 miles of roads and distributed 1.2 million meals, 1.2 million liters of water, and 25,000 tarps from 40 sites in 20 parishes, Edwards said.