RSS Feed

12 new COVID cases, 1 death in three parishes

Sun, 06/14/2020 - 12:16pm

Twelve new COVID-19 cases were reported in three local parishes for the period from noon Saturday to noon Sunday. One new death was reported in St. Martin.

Six new cases were reported in Assumption for a total of 269. Fourteen deaths have been reported in Assumption.

Three news cases made St. Mary's total 356. Thirty-three deaths have been reported in St. Mary.

One new death was reported in St. Martin Sunday along with three new cases. The parish now has had 343 cases and 27 deaths.

Statewide:

--336 new cases raised the total to 46,619.

--10 people died, pushing the death toll to 2,901.

--14 more people were hospitalized for a total of 556.

--The number of people on ventilators remained at 76.

State says lab backlog boosts COVID-19 numbers Saturday

Sat, 06/13/2020 - 1:20pm

The Louisiana Office of Public Health posted the largest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases in weeks Saturday and said a backlog of older test results is partially responsible.

But even without the backlogged results, the numbers were among the highest seen recently.

Locally:

--St. Mary has five new cases for a total of 353. No deaths were reported, so the death roll remains at 33.

--St. Martin has 24 new COVID cases for a total of 340. Twenty-six people have died there.

--Assumption had five new cases for a total of 263. A total of 14 deaths have been recorded.

Statewide:

--1,288 new cases raise the state total to 46,283. The OPH said the backlog accounts for 560 cases resulting from tests performed April 25-June 9. But even without the older test results, the state logged 728 new cases, significantly more than have been reported in recent weeks.

Hospitalizations haven't risen in proportion. The state reported seven new hospitalizations for a total of 549, and two more people went on ventilators for a total of 76.

The number of cases can be expected to increase with an upswing in testing, Dr. Alex Billioux of the Louisiana Department of Health told reporters Wednesday. That indicates that the testing is catching asymptomatic cases.

But if hospitalizations track the rise in cases, Billioux said, that's a sign of greater COVID spread in the community or group settings. Outside of some areas, including the regions centered on Monroe, Alexandria and Lake Charles, Louisiana hospitalizations haven't risen along with new cases since economic sanctions have begun to be eased.

Eight new deaths were reported Saturday for a total of 2,891.

Gone fishin'

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:43pm

The Daily Review/Bill Decker
Three young men found a way to enjoy a beautiful afternoon Thursday. From left: Max Simmons, Kollin Nelson and Jamyre Bias, all 12, fish from the bridge at La. 70 and Veterans Boulevard in Morgan City, above, and show a gar they caught in the bottom picture.

Schools look for best ways to use new laptops

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:41pm
GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com

Laptops will be coming to St. Mary Parish Public Schools next school year, courtesy of funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
The funding will be used to provide a 1:1 ratio for students in third through 12th grades and could be extended to grades kindergarten through second, too, if funding is secured, Superintendent Teresa Bagwell told school board members at Thursday’s monthly meeting.
The move is to prepare the district for an extended absence of school because of COVID-19, as happened this year, or even for regular classroom usage while school is in session, Bagwell said.
To help with this, Bagwell proposed that the district hire a third technology facilitator to help train educators.
“As we move into 2020-2021, we have to be prepared again to leave school for an extended period of time and to educate students in an online environment,” Bagwell said. “We’re not ready for that yet.
“We have to train our teachers to instruct via an online environment and to use the Microsoft applications that the district has in place but just frankly have not been utilized to the extent that they’re going to need to be if we are to close” or for even in daily classroom use.
Bagwell said that by hiring the third facilitator, it will enable one facilitator apiece to focus on training elementary, junior high and high school teachers.
“One person to train all of those teachers is just an overwhelming and probably impossible job,” Bagwell said.
Also Thursday, Bagwell proposed eliminating the positions of Title 1 supervisor and special education supervisor and combining the two jobs into a director of federal programs position.
“It will direct all federal programs for the Special ED and the federal title programs,” Bagwell said of the new position. “That person would in turn replace two supervisors, so by replacing two supervisory positions, it would account for a savings of a partial salary that currently comes out the general fund.”
Board member Alaina Black said she has heard from concerned employees “about maintaining the integrity of these programs and not losing money in the long run if it’s too much” for one person. Black explained these are large funding sources for programs that affect so many different students.
“If it’s too much of a job for one person, we could end up losing more than we would end up saving in the long run,” she said.
Black said that she works with the programs daily and it is a huge undertaking for one person.
“I would agree that it is a massive undertaking,” Bagwell said, “but I also would contend that it’s an undertaking that for one person to coordinate all of those services … to make sure that we are maximizing every dollar.
“More money needs to be in the classroom and less money in the orchestration involved.”
The board approved the agenda item adding the third technology facilitator and the director of federal programs to the district’s organizational chart in a 10-1 vote, with Black voting against it.
In other action, the board approved renewal of the district’s Student Accident Insurance, beginning Aug. 1 through Frank’s Agency in Patterson, at a reduction of more than $21,000 in premiums.
While there were no changes in the coverages, terms or conditions, the school district received a 15% decrease in premiums equating to more than $10,700 in reductions in its All Sports Plan blanket. Last year the board paid $71,584, while this year’s quote was $60,846.
“That is all because of your good claim history for the last couple years,” Carmel Breaux of Norris Insurance Consultants Inc. told the board.
Additionally, a COVID 19 credit of 15% or $10,738 will be applied to the renewal, decreasing that $60,846 price tag to $50,108.
Breaux said the additional 15% is money the board received from last year from its premiums because it didn’t have any sports or activities in the last nine-weeks of the school year.
In other action, the board:
—Directed Supervisor of Maintenance Brad Wiese to rebid unused property at Wyandotte Elementary in Morgan City. No bids were received for the work on June 3, but Chief Financial Officer Alton Perry noted that someone had interest in the property. However, they missed the bid deadline. The property will be rebid at the minimum acceptable amount of $111,100.
—Approved an emergency declaration to cover any storm-associated damage from Tropical Storm Cristobal. Bagwell said there was some roof leakage in school facilities.

Ethics inquiry delays first meeting of new drainage board

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:37pm
Staff Report

East St. Mary has a newly consolidated drainage district. But the labor pains aren’t over yet.
The first board meeting for the new district, which the St. Mary Parish Council formed by combining the districts now serving Amelia and Morgan City, will be delayed because of an ethics challenge involving one of the newly appointed board members, President David Hanagriff told the Parish Council on Wednesday.
That happened one day after Lee Dragna, who chairs the board of the district that has served Morgan City and Siracusa, resigned that post at a Tuesday meeting after registering displeasure with the consolidation process at recent public meetings.
The inquiry to the State Ethics Board was instituted by Parish Council Chairman Dean Adams of Morgan City, who represents At-Large District 11.
In a phone interview Thursday, Adams said the ethics inquiry involves Tim Tregle. He was appointed to the newly consolidated district’s board by the council May 29 along with Leroy Trim, Larry Aucoin, Charlie Solar Jr. and Hanko Hoffpauir
The council had already created the new district with an ordinance consolidating gravity drainage districts No. 2, in the Morgan City area, and No. 6, in Amelia, into a new District 2A.
Adams said Thursday that Tregle works for the parish government as a senior planning analyst whose duties include analyzing possible consolidation of districts.
“I just feel like [Tregle’s presence on a drainage district board] is a conflict of interest,” Adams said.
The Ethics Board is scheduled to take up the question July 2, he said.
The Daily Review was unable to contact Tregle for comment Thursday.
The new board had been scheduled to meet June 15. But Hanagriff told the Parish Council on Wednesday that the meeting will be postponed until July 6.
“My belief is Mr. Adams didn’t get accurate information,” Hanagriff said.
Hanagriff said he obtained a legal opinion that there was no conflict. He called moving ahead with the consolidation “critical.” He noted that Adams voted to seat Tregle and the other board members May 29.
“If the chairman truly believes it is unethical to the extent that he files an ethics opinion and he votes for it anyway, I see a problem with that,” Hanagriff said. “If there’s any ethical issue there, that’s it.”
Adams didn’t respond during the meeting. But on Thursday, he noted that the council voted on the nominated board members as a group.
“There are some good people there,” Adams said. “All the members were put up at one time. You either voted them all up or voted them all down.”
The consolidation of the two districts is part of an effort to simplify St. Mary’s patchwork of special-purpose and taxing districts. Hanagriff has also said combining the two districts would reduce administrative costs.
Officials are anticipating an election later this year on a consolidated property tax for the consolidated district. Hanagriff has said the money raised in the Amelia area would be used for work there, and the same is true of the Morgan City area now served by the current District 2.
Dragna’s resignation from the pre-consolidation District 2 board comes after he has questioned the consolidation process recently. At one point he said he wasn’t opposed to consolidation but was hoping for more time to complete projects before consolidation takes place.
Later, Dragna said he believed the consolidation ordinance wording would force District 2 to turn over money to the consolidated district even before it was ready to begin operation.
Dragna served on the current District 2 board for seven years. Along with Jean Paul Bourg, now the parish public works director, Ron Berry and Paul Cheramie, he took on leadership of a district in trouble in 2013.
Maintenance supervisor Peter Businelle had been accused of directing millions in district business to his own company and of making payments to the former board Chairman Carl Kraemer. Both men later pleaded guilty as part of plea agreements.
The district emerged from the scandal to put into a motion plans for an upgrade of Morgan City flood-control pumping stations and the district’s portion of an $18 million-$20 million levee improvement project that is nearing complete.

Contractor gets go-ahead for Bayou Chene work

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:34pm
Staff Report

One of the major pieces of the Bayou Chene flood control project is officially under way.
St. Mary Parish Levee District Director Tim Matte told the district board Thursday that the staff gave contractor Sealevel Construction Inc. notice to proceed on Phase 3 of the eagerly awaited work.
The district accepted the $22 million bid from Sealevel, a Thibodaux company, for Phase 3 at a special meeting last month.
The heart of the $80 million project is a flood wall and a barge that can be swung into place on pivots to block the back-flooding that occurs along the bayou when the Atchafalaya River is high. Locally, the flooding affects Lake Palourde and lower St. Martin, but surrounding parishes stand to benefit from the work, too.
Phase 3 includes the placement of the barge, which will be constructed at the Bollinger facility in Amelia, Matte said.
Phase 2 is construction of the flood wall itself. Sealevel also holds the contract for Phase 2.
Phases 1 and 4 are about clearing the way for and building a levee along the Tabor Canal.
The permanent Bayou Chene flood control structure is designed to eliminate the back-flooding remedy employed three times since 2011: sinking a barge in Bayou Chene at a cost of millions each time.
Funding for the project came through via the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority in March 2019.
Also Thursday, Matte told the district board that property tax collections from 2019 are running about $15,000 less than budgeted. The budget for 2020 anticipated $100,000 less in revenue.
Matte said the early word is that assessed valuation will fall this year. The district may be able to raise its 5-mill tax rate to keep property taxes revenue neutral.

Bill would let universities raise student fees

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:32pm
CATHERINE HUNT, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — A House committee unanimously supported a bill Thursday that would let state universities continue to increase student fees at a time when they are facing tens of millions of dollars in cuts in state support and in costs from the COVID-19 shutdown.
The bill, by Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue, R-Houma, attempts to mitigate those impacts while also considering student concerns about rising fees.
The House passed another version of his bill last month, but the Senate surprisingly failed to act on it before the regular session ended June 1.
Zeringue’s original bill would have allowed colleges and universities to set their own fee levels until 2023. He adjusted it so that the ability to do so ends at the end of the 2021 school year.
Some legislators worried that families would be negatively impacted by rising fees during a pandemic, which has caused over 300,000 Louisianans to file for unemployment.
Despite a projected drop in tax revenues, the Legislature has largely been able to avoid major cuts in much of the state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, by relying on roughly $1 billion in federal aid related to the pandemic.
But lawmakers are planning to cut the higher education budget by at least $21 million, even as they move to suspend various taxes and fees to help businesses at a significant cost in lost tax revenues for the state.
Several university leaders supported Zeringue’s bill at a hearing Thursday. They said they are still trying to determine how to handle virus-related costs that far exceed what they are receiving under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.
The federal funds for each school were determined by the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants who were not enrolled in online classes before the virus forced students to switch to online classes exclusively. Half of the funds provided under the act must be allocated to students.
LSU Interim President Tom Galligan said LSU has lost about $43.4 million since mid-March, when most schools decided to send students home for the semester. The LSU system has only received about $27 million in federal money.
The Southern University System has faced about $4 million in losses related to the virus in the past few months, said Dr. Ray Belton, system president and chancellor, and he expects a loss of about $71 million in the next fiscal year. His system received about $39 million in relief money, he said.
The University of Louisiana System, which consists of nine schools, is projecting to lose $121 million in revenue next year because of the virus, said Jim Henderson, system president. The system received about $65 million in federal funds.
Technical and community colleges faced losses of about $3 million during the current fiscal year and expect to lose about $9 million in the next year, said Monty Sullivan, President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. They received about $41.3 million in federal funds.
“CARES Act funding is one-time money,” he said. “We have to acknowledge that the CARES Act money is buying us one thing: time.”
The switch to online classes cost schools millions, and some refunded students for housing and food costs, further hurting their funds.
During a freeze in state aid in 2018, LSU raised student fees about $282 a student, for a total of about $17 million, according to a report from The Advocate.
Before the virus hit, Gov. John Bel Edwards had proposed increasing state support for higher education by $25 million next year.
“As we were coming into this session, we had some really high hopes for higher education with the budget,” said Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Lake Charles. “Then COVID hit and we’re back to square one.”
If approved by the Senate and Edwards, Zeringue’s bill would take effect immediately in order to give schools flexibility before classes start in August.
Also in the House, another committee approved a bill that would set an 8% tax rate for fantasy sports betting in the parishes that legalized fantasy sports betting in 2018.
The bill by Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley, set the tax rate for a bill that allowed voters to decide whether their parish should allow fantasy sports betting. Forty-seven parishes voted to legalize it. Edwards signed a bill by Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, into law Thursday that outlines the rules and regulations for the betting.
The money from the tax would go to early childhood education, but Stefanski said he does not expect the state to make a significant amount of money from it. Louisiana could collect about $375,000 from the tax, according to the Associated Press.

11 new COVID cases, one death in three local parishes

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:26pm
Staff Report

Nine new COVID-19 cases and one death were reported in St. Martin on Friday, and two more cases were reported in St. Mary.

The nine cases raise St. Martin's case total to 316, and the death toll is now 26.

The two new cases raise St. Mary's count to 348. The number of deaths stays in 33.

Assumption's numbers remain at 258 with 14 deaths.

Statewide:

--523 new cases raised the case count to 44,995.

--9 new deaths make the total 2,883.

--4 fewer people were hospitalized, lowering the total to 549.

--3 fewer people were on ventilators, making the total to 74.

Morgan City police radio logs for June 10-11

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:13pm

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, June 10
7:38 a.m. 800 block of Freret Street; Runaway juvenile.
8:13 a.m. 500 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
8:39 a.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Animal complaint.
9:07 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Vehicle theft.
9:32 a.m. 800 block of Onstead Street; Complaint.
9:38 a.m. 100 block of Railroad Avenue; Welfare concern.
9:44 a.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Complaint.
10:29 a.m. 700 block of Bush Street; Animal complaint.
10:49 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue ; Complaint.
12:04 p.m. 300 block of Aucoin Street; Animal complaint.
12:59 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
1:14 p.m. 100 block of South Railroad Avenue; Remove a subject.
1:20 p.m. U.S. 90 West before Martin Luther King Boulevard; Stalled vehicle.
2:11 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Stalled vehicle.
2:21 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:15 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Telephone harassment.
4:46 p.m. U.S. 90 Bridge West, Morgan City side; Accident.
6:06 p.m. 1600 block of La. 70; Complaint.
6:30 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Assistance.
6:40 p.m. Oak Street; Frequent patrols.
7:57 p.m. Second and Belanger streets; Traffic incident.
11:52 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Alarm.
Thursday, June 11
12:23 a.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Loud music.
3:56 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.

Morgan City police recover stolen vehicle

Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:11pm
Staff Report

Morgan City police recovered a stolen vehicle Wednesday and in the process made a drug arrest, Police Chief James F. Blair said.
—Erica Lee Gaddy, 32, Fig Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:41 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of stolen things over $25,000, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers located a vehicle that was reported stolen and was parked at an address on Fig Street. Officers made contact Gaddy at the residence.
Officers learned she had driven the vehicle to the residence. She was also found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
Blair also reported this arrest:
—Hunter Wayne Gros, 20, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 10:51 p.m. Wednesday on charges of tail lights required and no motor vehicle insurance, and on a warrant for failure to appear.
Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Brashear Avenue and Fourth Street for a traffic violation. A warrant check revealed the City Court of Morgan City held active warrants for his arrest. 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:
—Ronnell Demond Williams Jr., 20, Oregon Street, Berwick, was arrested at 12:09 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, obstruction of justice-tampering and possession of a Schedule IV drug. No bail has been set.
—Jacob Thomas Alcina, 32, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Patterson, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 6:29 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of resisting an officer and on two warrants on the charges of simple burglary and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. No bail has been set.
—John Alcina, 35, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Patterson, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 6:06 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Alcina was released on a summons to appear Sept. 24.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported this arrest:
—Rickey J. Watts, 31, of Oregon Street, Berwick, was arrested at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of battery of a dating partner.
Officers responded to a residence on Oregon Street for a call to remove a subject from the residence. The subject involved was identified as Watts, and a warrants check revealed that he held an active warrant through the Berwick Police Department.
The warrant stemmed from an investigation that occurred April 3, in which Watts was alleged to have committed a battery upon his dating partner. In that incident, Watts left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival, therefore, a warrant was prepared for his arrest. Watts was booked into the Berwick Jail with no bond set.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Sierra Denise Thibodeaux, 33, La. 308, Napoleonville, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of obstruction of justice.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation near Labadieville and initiated a stop of the vehicle. After interviewing the driver, the deputy made contact with the passenger identified as Thibodeaux.
The deputy noticed Thibodeaux appeared extremely nervous. As the deputy spoke to the suspect, she appeared to have some trouble speaking. Upon asking Thibodeaux what she had in her mouth, she indicated that she had ingested marijuana. The deputy was able to see the substance.
Thibodeaux remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
—Dylan Paul Giroir, 27, Flamingo Road, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Wednesday on charges of illegal window tint, illegal carrying of weapons in the presence of controlled dangerous substances, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and conducted a stop of the vehicle. Shortly before pulling over, the deputy noted that the driver had thrown an item from the motor vehicle.
The deputy made contact with the driver, now identified as Giroir. The deputy noted a firearm in the vehicle and took possession of it. The deputy conducted a pat down search for officer safety and seized marijuana off Giroir’s person.
The deputy detained Giroir and then located marijuana nearby. Deputies also seized drug paraphernalia. Giroir was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention pending a bond hearing.

Pages

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

St Mary Now Copyright  © 2026