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Two MC officers injured in vehicle pursuit

Mon, 09/01/2025 - 11:43am
Staff Report

Two Morgan City police officers were hospitalized early Sunday in a crash during a vehicle pursuit. A Berwick teen, arrested Aug. 21 after another police pursuit, was arrested in the Sunday case.

The juvenile, 15, was arrested after a St. Mary Sheriff’s deputy attempted a stop of a suspicious vehicle in the Siracusaville area about 7 a.m. Sunday, police said. The driver refused to stop and drove into Morgan City, where city police joined the pursuit.

The driver hit a Morgan City police car head-on at Grizzaffi and Chennault, injuring the two officers , who sustained minor injuries.

The juvenile was arrested a short time later. The vehicle he was driving was confirmed to be stolen, police said.

In the Aug. 21 case, a vehicle fled from a stop by Berwick police on La. 182 and drove to the area of Berwick Elementary. The driver crashed the vehicle, reported to be stolen in Abbeville, into a yard and fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.

The teen was booked on charges of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, aggravated flight in a vehicle, improper lane usage, no driver’s license, stop signs and yield signs, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, illegal possession of stolen things (vehicle), hit and run, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, simple criminal damage to property, prohibited acts (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.

Festival Street Parade rolls

Sun, 08/31/2025 - 4:23pm

The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival continued Sunday afternoon with the street parade. The fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Sunday night.

The Review/Bill Decker

Troy dominates fourth quarter to beat Nicholls

Sun, 08/31/2025 - 12:08pm
Nicholls State Sports Information

The Nicholls State University football team held the advantage over Troy after three quarters, but the Trojans rallied for four touchdowns in the final period to hand the Colonels a 38-20 setback Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Nicholls (1-1) went up for the final time when Gabriel Showalter connected on his second field goal of the night, making the score 20-17 with 10 minutes remaining. But Troy (0-1) quickly answered with a touchdown pass for their first lead of the game, then following an interception, scored on a Tae Meadows 47-yard run.

Troy tacked on one more touchdown with two minutes to go to make the final.

Miequle Brock Jr. accounted for both touchdowns for the Colonels, scoring once on the ground and on a long catch-and-run. His first rushing TD of the season came after Showalter started the scoring with a 45-yard field goal. Brock scored from 10 yards out for a 10-0 advantage with 2:14 left in the first.

Neither team scored in the second until Troy struck for a 27-yard touchdown pass by Goose Crowder with a minute until halftime.

After the break, Brock caught a short pass and raced 58 yards for a touchdown as Nicholls led 17-7. Brock finished the night with 87 yards receiving on six catches and added another 34 yards on the ground.

Troy looked to respond right away but Nicholls stopped them in the red zone, holding them to a 24-yard field goal. It was one of two big stops for the defense with the first coming on a fourth-down try in the second quarter.

Early in the fourth, the Trojans tied the game at 17-17 when Crowder rushed for a touchdown. On the ensuing possession, Tamaj Hoffman started the Colonel drive with a 31-yard carry and Brock ran for 20 to put the ball at the 6, but Nicholls had to settle for Showalter's second field goal.

For the final 10 minutes, Troy pieced together three touchdown drives and went on to win for the fifth straight time in the all-time series.

Ethan Lee paced the defense with 12 tackles and Hayden Shaheen had 11. Rasheed Lovelace had the lone sack for the Colonels and totaled five tackles.

Deuce Hogan completed 21 of 27 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Hoffman led the way with 52 yards on nine carries.

Meadows fueled the Trojan offense with 186 yards on 23 carries.

Marcus Jones 100 Black Men 5K Run

Sat, 08/30/2025 - 9:15am

Dozens of local runners turned out Saturday morning for a longtime feature of the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival: the Marcus Jones 100 Black Men 5K Run in downtown Morgan City. The event's namesake, Marcus Jones, was at the run at age 80. The best time was turned in by Joseph Gil of Centerville, who finished in 17:52. His sister, Tracy Gil, was the first female finisher with a 21:20.

The Review/Bill Decker

Jamboree night

Fri, 08/29/2025 - 9:42pm

Morgan City High hosted the parish public schools football jamboree Friday. Patterson played Franklin Senior High, Berwick took on Centerville, and Morgan City High played West St. Mary.

The Patterson-Franklin game ended early when, at 12:36 of the second 15-minute jamboree half, Franklin's Daylan George collapsed near the Hornet huddle after a play. First responders from the Morgan City Fire Department and later Acadian Ambulance medics tended to George, who was on the ground for several minutes. Acadian medics took him off the field on a stretcher for treatment at a local medical facility. The initial word from the field was that George will be all right, but there was no immediate official news about his condition.

The Review/Bill Decker

New sex crime charges filed against Patterson man

Fri, 08/29/2025 - 4:45pm
Staff Report

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

A Patterson man arrested Tuesday in a sex crime investigation now faces additional charges, Morgan City Police said

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Jaquandre Williams, 23, Tiffany Street, Patterson, was arrested at 4 p.m. Aug. 27 on two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and production of child sex abuse materials.

On Aug. 26, the Morgan City Police Department reported the arrest of Williams on charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with juveniles. Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department continued this investigation.

The ongoing investigation into Williams has led to additional charges being filed. The case originally began Aug. 25, and, during the investigation, additional victims have since been identified, leading to additional charges.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the Morgan City Police Department Detectives division at 985-380-4605.

--Eloy Vargas Rodriguez, 20, Cane Field Road, Youngsville, was arrested at 3:28 p.m. Thursday on a charge of contempt of court (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Joseph Burton, 50, Duke Street, Morgan City, was arrested 6:38 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), unlawful refusal of chemical test, improper lane usage and no driver’s license.

--Corwin Smith, 43, Dora Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:15 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana (first offense), inspection sticker required and modified exhaust system.

--Dale Garrett, 40, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:32 a.m. Friday on charges of home invasion and second-degree battery.

--Amber Fendley, 40, Crenshaw Street, Berwick, was arrested at 10 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.

--Kaiden Adams, 20, Onstead Street, Morgan City, was arrested at10:04 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of simple battery.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Desmond James Green, 22, Sorrel, was arrested at 11:28 p.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Cheryl Lynn Bowie, 66, Baldwin, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of illegal possession of stolen property. Bail was set at $5,000.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:

--Michael D. Rahm, 43, Baytree Lane, Houma, was arrested at 11:46 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), simple escape and improper lane usage. Rahm is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Lisa Hunter, 60, Kildare Street, Huntsville, Alabama, with the assistance of Huntsville Police Department, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Thursday on a warrant dated Oct. 30 on a charge of residential contractor fraud. Hunter was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--Anthony Gant, 43, Apple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Wednesday on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and misrepresentation during booking. Gant was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

Dear Abby: Neighbor is suddenly a fixture in couple's lives

Fri, 08/29/2025 - 6:00am

DEAR ABBY: I have a female friend, “Kylene,” who needs yard work done weekly. My fiancé, “Josh,” goes over there to do the work for her. He charges $60. During the last two weeks, she has been popping up at our home uninvited. Kylene knows Josh’s work schedule and makes sure she sees him daily at the neighborhood bar around 4 in the afternoon. The other day, I went to the bar with Josh, and lo and behold, she was there waiting for him. I was pretty upset, because I don’t see my Josh very much due to his tight work schedule.
Do you think she is stalking my fiancé? Kylene hardly talks to me when we are all together. She talks mostly to Josh. I have always believed that you don’t mix business with pleasure. I think she’s stalking him. Kylene doesn’t have any friends, and I think she’s jealous of me. What do you think?
SUSPICIOUS
IN INDIANA
DEAR SUSPICIOUS: I think that rather than stalking Josh, Kylene is “chasing” him. How does Josh feel about it? Is he flattered? Is he attracted to her? Have you discussed the fact that her dropping by your home unannounced is inappropriate? I agree that your “friend” may be jealous of you, but the person who should put a stop to what has been going on is Josh, not you.

DEAR ABBY: My husband was let go from his job due to restructuring. He’s understandably upset, and I see him sink further into depression with every rejection letter he receives for the positions he has applied for. How can I help him?
SUPPORTIVE WIFE IN OHIO

DEAR WIFE: Help your husband by not pressuring him during this difficult time. If he hasn’t yet applied for unemployment benefits, remind him he is entitled to them. Suggest that if there are no openings in his field, he should consider using his skills to do something different and perhaps contact a temporary employment agency. Let him know you are a willing listener, but do not pump him for information. If no job turns up for him in the next six months (and if you are not already employed), consider finding a job to relieve the financial pressure.

DEAR ABBY: I have worked with the same six women and three men for 19 years. Each time one has a birthday, we have a small office party with lunch, cake and ice cream, and a gift in the $50 range, and the birthday person gets the remainder of the day off. This is done for everyone except me.
Although it hurts my feelings, I’ve never said anything about being excluded, and no one seems to have noticed the omission. I did inquire (twice) if anyone had dined at a restaurant my husband will be taking me to for my birthday, but no one picked up my hint that I’m also a part of the staff. Should I politely continue celebrating other people’s special days or proclaim, “Hey! I’m here, too!”
INVISIBLE CO-WORKER

DEAR INVISIBLE: As the saying goes, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Could you have inadvertently been omitted from a list of employee birthdays? By all means, speak up before it’s time for you to retire.

***

To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Jim Brown: Katrina tried to wash us away

Fri, 08/29/2025 - 6:00am
JIM BROWN

Just as most Americans remember where they were on 9/11, those of us living on the Gulf Coast remember the fear and concern that enveloped our region 20 years ago on Aug. 29. A lady named Katrina changed many of our lives. In looking back, many Louisianans felt that maybe New Orleans really was a city that care forgot, and the whole Gulf Coast was thrown in for good measure. This human tragedy has haunted the Bayou State over the past decade as even today the rebuilding effort continues.
Two days before Katrina attacked, I was hosting a local radio program in Baton Rouge and was interviewing a key official with the National Hurricane Center in Miami. “Katrina has turned in a much more northerly direction, with a beeline for New Orleans. We are saying a possible Category 4 hurricane, and you folks are going to have some big problems up there.”
I was stunned. “What? We’ve had no warning of this. You’re telling me it’s going to come right towards New Orleans?” At dinner with friends that evening, no one was aware of the impending storm. Now major storms often head our way, but veer east towards the Florida coast, or west to Mexico. Our group was cautiously optimistic.
The next morning, with Katrina only a day away, I called my sister, living at the southern tip of Louisiana in Port Sulfur. I offered to come get her family, but she told me the single road north was completely congested and it was best for her to spend the hours evacuating. New Orleans has only four roads that lead out of the city, and they too were ensnarled in massive traffic jams as the locals fled for safety.
But as thousands who had transportation escaped, there was virtually no evacuation plan in place and no mandatory exodus. When asked repeatedly by the press, the Mayor of New Orleans issued a statement saying: “He’s having his legal staff look into whether he can order a mandatory evacuation of the city.” The storm was now only hours away, yet no public effort was undertaken on either the city or state level to supply public transportation for the thousands who had no way out.
That evening, a steady stream of New Orleans’ area evacuees called or knocked on our door in Baton Rouge looking for a place to ride out the storm. Twenty-five people slept on floor pallets and sleeping bags at my home that night. The number would grow in days ahead.
Miraculously, the storm passed on a Sunday night, and did little damage to the Crescent City.
By the next morning our New Orleans family and guests were packing up to head back home. Then the chilling news came in a phone call from a friend who had ridden out the storm. The levees had broken and the city was flooding.
The real tragedies took place in the days that followed. Thousands were stranded on rooftops and in attics.
When private boat owners headed into New Orleans and surrounding areas to help, they were often told by state and federal law enforcement officers that it was illegal to bring their personal boats into the disaster area. I was told that very thing when I tried to make it by boat to my in-laws' house on Bayou St. John. Hundreds of boat owners, labeled the Cajun Navy, ignored the ludicrous orders and charged in to save thousands of stranded homeowners.
For a week, the Governor and the President squabbled over who had the authority to oversee the Louisiana National Guard. It was a ridiculous turf battle that delayed the rescue efforts by several more days. It took an Army Ggeneral from New Roads, Russell Honore’) to take charge and bring some order to the devastated area.
There has been much second-guessing and lessons learned in a hard way. Many books have been written about the Katrina experience. I’ll have a lengthy chapter about the devastating storm in a new book out next year.
The Gulf Coast has been rebuilt, with new development and upgraded construction.
But levees can only be built so high, and water pumps can only be built so big.
Other storms will come. Louisiana was drastically unprepared for the coming of Katrina. Over 2000 lives were lost. This just cannot be allowed to happen again.

What has happened down there is the wind has changed
Clouds rolled in from the north and it start to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

River rose all day, the river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away all right
River has busted through clear down to Plaquemine
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away

Randy Newman

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. Â You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownla.com.  

Pet Talk: When do you need a board-certified vet?

Fri, 08/29/2025 - 6:00am

Veterinarians play an essential role in keeping pets healthy, often working as a team to ensure each animal receives the care it needs. In some cases, a board-certified specialist with advanced training in a specific body system or field of medicine may be sought to collaborate with primary care veterinarians, offering additional insight that helps expand diagnostic and treatment options.
Dr. Stacy Eckman, associate dean for hospital operations and chief executive officer for the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, explains what board certification involves and how these specialists work alongside general practitioners to provide advanced, highly coordinated care tailored to each patient’s needs.
All practicing veterinarians must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and pass a national licensing exam to treat patients, after which they can choose to enter the workforce or continue their training to pursue board certification.
“Board certification generally means that an individual has had additional training and education in their area of expertise,” Eckman said. “You can choose to be board certified in a variety of different specialties, such as cardiology, neurology, or pathology.”
Veterinarians who want to specialize typically complete a one-year rotating internship to explore a wide variety of specialties, followed by a three or four-year residency in their chosen field. Some may also complete a one-year specialty internship before their residency to further prepare them for a residency program.
“Another path to board certification is through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, commonly referred to as practitioner boards,” Eckman said. “After spending a minimum of four years in general practice, veterinarians can pursue this certification by completing additional testing and submitting written work. This can also be achieved by completing a residency program under an ABVP specialist. Practitioner board certification is species-specific, with specialties such as equine, food animals, canine, feline, and exotics.”
A primary care veterinarian can handle many common pet health concerns, but a board-certified specialist can provide an extra layer of expertise for complicated conditions and treatments.
“There are some things that a general practitioner may not be able to do, but a cardiologist or neurologist can,” Eckman said. “Like in human medicine where you have a doctor who specializes in treating specific health conditions — such as hormone-related conditions, eye surgeries, or brain disorders — veterinary specialists allow you to get care and answers that a general practitioner cannot provide.”
Determining when it is time to seek care from a board-certified specialist can be overwhelming for many pet owners, but having a conversation with your primary care veterinarian is a great place to start. 
Most of the time, your primary care veterinarian will recognize that the case is outside their comfort level and it’s in the pet’s best interest to see a specialist. 
“Board-certified veterinarians collaborate very closely with the primary care veterinarian, who saw the animal first and, therefore, has a deeper understanding of the pet’s history and diagnostics and treatments already performed and response to that treatment,” Eckman said.
“Specialists consult with them throughout the process, and when the pet is stable, they often return care back to the primary veterinarian.”
While board-certified specialists are often necessary for treating complex issues, seeking care from a specialist can come with higher costs due to their specialized expertise.
“Typically, you are not just working with one specialist; you work with a team of multiple specialists — such as a cardiologist, an internist, and an anesthesiologist — to get their expert opinions,” Eckman said. “Additionally, there is specialty equipment involved for advanced imaging such as MRIs, surgeries, and other procedures, which contributes to cost differences.”
Budget constraints can make decisions difficult for owners, but veterinarians are typically upfront about pricing and alternatives.
“If the top-tier recommended treatment is not affordable, having a conversation with your veterinarian about middle-ground options can help,” Eckman said. “It’s all part of the team working to get the best care for the patient within the client’s budget.”
As veterinary medicine continues to advance, access to specialized expertise is becoming easier, ensuring pets receive the highest level of treatment tailored to their needs. Staying informed about your pet’s health and having open discussions with your primary care veterinarian can help you determine when seeing a specialist is the right choice. 
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.

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