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WILLIS JAMES TOUCHET

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:30am

September 8, 1943 — May 28, 2020
Jennings: The family and friends of Willis Touchet are mourning the loss of their loved one who was called from this life on May 28, 2020.
Willis was born in Jennings, LA to James Dozia Touchet and Azema Allemand Touchet on September 8, 1943.
He enjoyed working on motors and was a member of the singles social club. Willis was an avid outdoorsman, especially when he was fishing and hunting. He loved spending quality time visiting with friends and family. Willis also loved dancing, which he was extremely enthusiastic about. He had an overall true love for life and lived it fully. Willis will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Willis is survived by his son, Patrick Touchet of Lake Charles, LA; daughters, Suzanna (Steven) Cox of Houma, LA and Jennifer Touchet of Jennings, LA; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; companion, Barbara Abshire of Sulphur, LA; brother, Don (Betty) Touchet of Hathaway, LA; sister, Margia (Lester) Barrilleaux of Andrus Cove, LA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Willis was preceded in death by his parents, James D. Touchet and Azema A. Touchet; brothers, Harold Broussard, Eddie Dean Touchet and Francis Adam Touchet; wife of 25 years, and the mother of his children, Mildred Trahan Touchet; and his long-time companion, Daisy Mae Billiot.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Willis James Touchet, 76, will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jennings, LA, on Monday, June 1, 2020, at 10 a.m. with Father Susil Fernando officiating. Visitation will be held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home on Sunday, May 31, 2020, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 6 p.m. by the Catholic Daughters. Visitation will resume on Monday, June 1st from 8 a.m. until the time of his Funeral Mass. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery following his Mass.
To extend online condolences, please visit our website at www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Matthews & Son Funeral Home.

KAY FRANCIS SASSER VINSON

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:27am

Kay Francis Sasser Vinson passed away at age 80 after a lengthy illness. She was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and resided in Morgan City, Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Vinson; son, John Vinson; and infamously bad dog, Killer.
She is survived by a brother Wiley Bert Sasser Jr.; a sister, Connie Jo Sasser; her son, Barry Vinson and his children: Matthieu Vinson, Michael Vinson, Daniel Vinson and Luc Vinson; John’s children, Hanah Vissepo and Seth Vinson; her daughter Jo Ann Vinson; and two beloved dogs, Sweet Pea and Lucky.
Ms. Kay loved renting drill pipe and bad dogs, in that order. Shortly after Sub Surface Tools was founded in 1970, she went to work alongside Joe, while holding down two other jobs to pay the bills until the company got on its feet. In 1984, Sub Surface Tools became one of the first woman-owned oilfield services companies in Louisiana. While Joe entertained customers, Ms. Kay ran the business. Through constant learning and a willingness to adapt, she allowed the company to thrive through the ebbs and flows of the oil and gas industry. Rather than accept praise for her accomplishments, she’d always laugh and say, “I’m just a dumb country girl from Mississippi.” Anyone who ever met her knew that only part of that was true.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the LASPCA.
Visitation will be held at Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City on Tuesday, June 2nd between 6-9 p.m. Burial will be held at Arlington Baptist Church cemetery in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi on Wednesday, June 3rd at 1:30 p.m. Due to the current requirements regarding limited gatherings, Hargrave Funeral Home can only allow up to 75 guests in the facility during the visitation while friends and families attending the graveside service are encouraged to follow social distancing procedures.
Hargrave Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SHIRLEY MITCHELL DUKE

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:24am

Shirley Mitchell Duke, 83, a native of Houma and resident of Morgan City, died Monday, May 25, 2020.
Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at House of Prayer in Thibodaux. Burial will be in St. Peter Baptist Cemetery, Thibodaux.
She is survived by two daughters, Jewell Duke and Belisa Duke; two sons, Dwayne Duke Sr. and Dale Duke; a sister, Eva Spinks; 15 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter, a son, her parents and 16 siblings.
Landry’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

NIGAL T. SPAN

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:22am

Nigal T. Span, 39, a native and resident of Patterson, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at his residence.
He is survived by his mother, Cora B. Spain of Patterson; three brothers, Herman Span Jr. and Milton Span, both of Morgan City, and Montreal Span of Berwick; a sister, Aline Long of St. Louis, Missouri; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, and maternal and paternal grandparents.
Visitation will be Monday from 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City, with masks required. A private service will be held. Burial will follow in Home Industrial Cemetery in Patterson.
Services will be accessible at time of service on the Jones Funeral Home Facebook page.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JIMMY PATRICK SONS SR.

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:20am

Jimmy Patrick Sons Sr., 70, a native of Berwick, former resident of Morgan City and resident of Birch Tree, Missouri, died Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Baton Rouge General Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Betty DeHart Sons of Birch Tree, Missouri; seven children, Joseph Sons of New Iberia, Michael Sons of Birch Tree, Missouri, Tammy Gary of Youngsville, Peggy Gober of Patterson, Marilyn Townsend of Alton, Missouri, Crystal Dugas of Marshfield, Missouri and Jimmy Sons Jr. of Erath; 22 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Barry Sons; and two sisters, Irma Lombes and Dianne Sheehan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 10 siblings.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Saturday and again Sunday from noon until services at 2 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home with up to 75 guests allowed at a time.
Burial will be in Birch Tree, Missouri.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

AUDREY MAE COMEAUX

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:15am

Audrey Mae Comeaux, 81, a native of Morgan City and resident of Patterson, died Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at Ochsner St. Mary.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 10 a.m. at Twin City Funeral Home, with up to 75 guests allowed at a time. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Poet laureate, who has Morgan City ties, receives fellowship

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:10am

The Academy of American Poets has awarded Louisiana Poet Laureate John Warner Smith a prestigious Laureate Fellowship, given to honor poets of literary merit serving in civic positions around the country.
Smith, who was born in Morgan City and still has family here, was named poet laureate in 2019 by Gov. John Bel Edwards. He received $50,000 as part of the award to produce meaningful, and innovative projects in Louisiana. In partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and local schools, Smith will conduct youth poetry workshops in four under-resourced parishes in northeast Louisiana’s Delta parishes.
Smith joins 23 other poets around the country who received a Laureate Fellowship. He earned his Master of Fine Arts at the University of New Orleans and is the author of four published collections of poetry. A Cave Canem fellow, Smith has directed Education’s Next Horizon and teaches English at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
“John Warner Smith’s writing captures the human experience through meaningful, passionate poetry that moves your emotions. John is not only a talented and gifted poet, he is a trailblazer who devotes himself to education and the greater good of the community,” Edwards saidn.
Smith’s poems have appeared in numerous literary journals across the country, including Ploughshares, Callaloo, North American Review and Missouri Review, and he is the winner of the 2019 Linda Hodge Bromberg Poetry Award. Much of his poetry draws upon African American history and his personal experiences of growing up and living in the South.
“Here at the LEH we are proud to not only manage the Poet Laureate selection process, but also to support meaningful interaction with poetry around the state,” said LEH President/Executive Director Miranda Restovic. “John has worked hard to make himself available across Louisiana in person and during the COVID-19 crisis online, and this recognition from the academy confirms what we already knew — he is a poet of extraordinary talent and commitment.”
The Academy of American Poets has awarded 23 individuals with Laureate Fellowships to lead civic poetry programs in their respective communities in the year ahead. They will each receive $50,000 for a combined total of $1.1 million. The Academy also awarded the LEH a $9,000 matching gift in support of Louisiana Poet Laureate programming.
The fellowship program is made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For more information about the fellowship, including the full list of recipients, visit poets.org/academy-american-poets-awards-1-million-poets-laureate.

Bollinger delivers fast response cutter for Guam duty

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:06am

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC Myrtle Hazard to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Florida.
This is the 162nd vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 39th fast response cutter delivered under the current program.
The Myrtle Hazard is the first of three FRCs to be home-ported in Apra Harbor, Guam, increasing the presence for the U.S. Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific Theater.
Additionally, later in 2020, Bollinger will be delivering the first of six FRCs that will be home-ported in Manama, Bahrain, which will replace the Island Class Patrol Boats supporting the Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, the U. S. Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States.
“Our latest delivery of the USCGC MYRTLE HAZARD is an important milestone in the FRC Program as it is the first of several vessels that will expand and support the Coast Guard’s operational presence and enhance the U.S.’s mission in the Indo-Pacific region – a focal point emphasized by both President Trump and Admiral Shultz,” said Bollinger President and C.E.O. Ben Bordelon in a press release.
“Building ships for the U.S. Coast Guard provides critical assets to bolster our national security interests, both domestic and abroad. We are proud and humbled to be partners in the FRC program.”
The homeporting of three FRCs in Guam is part of the U.S. Coast Guard’s “doubling down on Oceania,” allowing more frequent and longer patrols in an area where the U.S. Coast Guard has increased its presence over the past 18 months and is aligned with the priorities set in the 2018 National Defense Strategy on countering strategic competitors such as China and Russia. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz stressed the strategic importance of the service’s presence in the region saying,
“We’re on a trajectory where the geostrategic importance of the Oceania region has not been higher here in decades, and it’s a place that the Coast Guard’s looking to be part of the whole-of-government solution set," Schultz said.
While the last 12 weeks of the Myrtle Hazard's build occurred during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Bollinger said the compay undertook precautions to ensure the health and safety of employees and maintain its delivery schedule. In addition to increased and enhanced sanitization practices across the shipyard, Bollinger enacted more liberal leave and remote work policies as well as altered shift schedules to promote social distancing.
“Delivering vessels on schedule and on budget to the Coast Guard in these unprecedented times given the COVID-19 challenges that we are all facing shows the resiliency and dedication of our incredibly capable workforce," Bordelon said. "The FRC hot production line continues to produce and provide stability in the industrial base for the U.S. government and our Bollinger workforce, assuring economic benefit for the Lafourche Parish Louisiana, region, our vendor partners in the 40-plus states that support the FRC program, and our country.”
Each FRC is named for an enlisted Coast Guard hero who distinguished himself or herself in the line of duty. A young mother in 1918, Myrtle Hazard answered a help-wanted ad for a qualified radio operator after graduating from a radio and telegraphy class at the Baltimore YMCA. Extremely skilled in telegraphy and proficient in Morse code, Hazard enlisted Jan. 21, 1918, on January 21, 1918 and became the service’s first female electrician.
Hazard worked at U.S. Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. as an electrician’s mate 3rd class and was later promoted to electrician, 1st class, before being demobilized after the war’s end.
The FRC is designed to be an operational “game changer,” according to senior Coast Guard officials. FRCs are consistently being deployed in support of the full range of missions within the United States Coast Guard and other branches of our armed services. This is due to its exceptional performance, expanded operational reach and capabilities, and ability to transform and adapt to the mission.

Piper, Williams named to Danos posts

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 11:02am

Renee Piper has been named vice president of marketing, strategy and community affairs.
In her new role, Piper is responsible for leading the company’s marketing initiatives, strategic planning and execution, and building community engagement in Danos’ key markets.
Piper has more than 25 years of marketing experience, which includes positions in the gaming, retail, economic development and higher education sectors. Before joining Danos in 2014, Piper served as the director of university relations at Nicholls State University for seven years.
An LSU grad, she and her husband have two children and live in New Orleans.
Piper has also been named executive director of the Danos Foundation. Founded in 2017 by Danos employees, the Foundation awards funds to nonprofit organizations through Danos GIVES, the Foundation’s grant-giving program, and Danos WORKS, a program that contributes money to qualified organizations where Danos employees volunteer their time.
Taking over the leadership of the marketing and communication department is Nicole Williams. A 25-year industry veteran and graduate of Northwestern State University, she joined Danos in 2008. Williams and her husband have three children and live in Larose.

COVID-19 rebate advances in Senate; oil tax break stalls

Fri, 05/29/2020 - 10:50am

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

A Senate committee on Thursday advanced a tax rebate meant to help businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The bill’s author agreed to continue working on the proposal to reduce the amount of revenue state government would lose while better targeting the hardest-hit small businesses.
In the version discussed Thursday, House Bill 846 would give participating restaurants, hotels and retailers a rebate equal to 6 percent of the salaries of workers hired or rehired, as long as they hire at least five people and add at least $40,000 in total payroll.
Rep. Mark Wright, a Covington Republican, described it as a boost to businesses struggling amid the deliberate economic slowdown meant to control the spread of COVID-19. Joel Robideaux, the former state lawmaker who is part of a legislative task force focused on economic recovery, said one in five restaurants may never reopen.
“For many of our small businesses, this [upcoming year] is about survival,” Wright said.
But lawmakers said some of the smallest businesses might find the program too complicated for them to participate in, while big-box stores that are doing well would be eligible. The program probably would not stimulate job creation, because those decisions will be based on the need for employees, some speakers said.
And the impact to state finances is impossible to calculate because lawmakers don’t know how many businesses will participate, lawmakers noted.
Also on Thursday, the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs tabled a severance tax reduction for oil producers. House Bill 506 over several years would lower the state’s oil severance tax rate from 12.5 percent to 8.5 percent.
“This is just a small step in the right direction [to help the industry],” said Rep. Phillip DeVillier, the Eunice Republican who sponsored the bill.
Louisiana’s severance tax rate for oil is the highest in the nation. However, when all taxes on oil production are taken into account, Louisiana’s tax burden is in the middle of the pack, said Greg Upton with the LSU Center for Energy Studies. Upton also said the decline in production in Louisiana compared to states like Texas and North Dakota is driven by the production shale plays in those states, not tax differences.
The change would keep an estimated $112.6 million out of state coffers over five years, according to the Legislative Fiscal Office. DeVillier argued the loss would be greater without the tax reduction, which he said would stimulate more production.
Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Chairman Bret Allain said he would prefer to set aside the bill in hopes of a more “holistic” plan that would help the industry and protect the state’s bottom line. DeVillier suggested the state should eliminate its subsidy for film production to pay for the tax cut.