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Sister thinks twice about becoming a kidney donor

Tue, 05/19/2020 - 8:20am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I’m currently waiting to donate my kidney to my sister, who is a year older than I am. My husband and I traveled many hours to get evaluated and tested at her clinic, so the insurance would cover the cost.
Before heading back to our home state, we decided to stop by to pay her a surprise visit and, honestly, she did something that’s making me rethink my decision. She was eating pizza and drinking a can of soda. Abby, my sister is on dialysis and supposed to be following a strict diet. It upset my husband, but he didn’t say anything to her because we had just had an argument in the car about my decision to donate to her. It upset me, too, but I didn’t speak up either.
I have been disciplined all my adult life, living a healthy life and making smart choices to benefit my body. Now that my sister needs a kidney, I feel this may have been the reason for my good habits. How can I stress to her how important it is to me that she adopt better eating habits if she is to get my kidney? I don’t have another one to donate if she ruins this one. My husband and I will also be sacrificing time away from our four kids (ages 1-15) for the surgery and recovery.
SECOND THOUGHTS IN TEXAS

DEAR SECOND THOUGHTS: Your concerns are valid. Donating a kidney is a decision that needs to be well thought out. It is also a decision that is ultimately up to only you. It shouldn’t be made because you feel pressure based on who you’re donating to, in your case, your sister. Keep in mind, it’s impossible to control another person’s behavior. Once this precious gift is given, there’s no going back. Speak up now and let her know how you felt about what you saw, but understand it won’t necessarily guarantee that she will make any changes.
My suggestion is to continue this conversation with your living donor social worker or ILDA (independent living donor advocate) at the transplant center where you were evaluated. These professionals can help to guide you toward making the best decision by further exploring your concerns, not only for you, but also your family.
While being a living kidney donor can be a positive and beautiful experience, it is equally important to make sure that it’s the right decision for you. The same is true for anyone considering donating. For those who are interested in being a potential kidney donor and would like to confidentially connect with someone who has already donated, contact the Patient Information Help Line of the National Kidney Foundation ((855) 653-2273). However: THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SPEAKING WITH A LIVING DONOR SOCIAL WORKER OR ILDA.
DEAR ABBY: I understand that nonbinary folks prefer the pronoun “they” instead of “she” or “he.” It’s going to take some getting used to, but that’s OK. My question is, when using “they” but referring to one person, do you use a singular or plural verb? Singular sounds weird, but plural is confusing.
THE GRAMMAR NERD

DEAR GRAMMAR: I agree that the usage will take some people a while to get used to, but language is constantly changing. Use the plural form of the verb when speaking about a nonbinary or gender-fluid person who prefers “they.” Example: “They are a new member of our company.” Or, “I love singer Sam Smith. They have won four Grammy Awards.”
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Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

UPDATED: New state figures say 73 COVID positives at Legacy of Franklin

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 7:11pm

Staff Report

Seventy-three residents of the Legacy of Franklin nursing home tested positive for COVID-19, and 15 residents have died, according to newly released figures from the Louisiana Department of Health.
The 15 deaths represent the majority of the 29 COVID-19 fatalities among St. Mary people.
As reported locally, one resident of Patterson Healthcare had tested positive.
The total number of residents at Legacy of Franklin was listed as 87, although local reporting has put the number as high as 106.
Eighteen members of the staff of roughly 100 have also tested positive for COVID-19, according to the department.
The only other COVID-19 positives at St. Mary nursing homes have been at Patterson Healthcare, where one of the 95 residents and one employee tested positive.
Coroner Eric Melancon said the Patterson Healthcare resident’s subsequent tests indicate the original result may have been a false positive. The employee developed symptoms while at home, called in sick and stayed home to follow anti-COVID guidelines.
Legacy of Morgan City has reported no COVID-19 positives among its 73 residents.
Across the country, nursing homes have been a source of concern as the novel coronavirus spread.
In St. John the Baptist Parish’s Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home, 28 of 88 residents died from COVID-19-related illness. Another 11 residents died at the Twin Oaks Nursing Home in St. John, which at one point had one of the highest per-capita COVID-19 death rates in the world.
The Department of Health stopped reporting nursing home COVID-19 information for several weeks, and began to release the information again Monday at the request of media outlets.
“We started off trying to provide that level of information,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said at his Monday press conference. “It just became very difficult over time to do it.”
He said the current plans are to provide weekly details about COVID-19 infections in “congregant settings” such as nursing homes and jails.
State health officials have recently begun urging the leadership at congregant settings to begin widespread testing of people who don’t have COVID-19 symptoms. That change in policy follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Also Monday, Assistant Department of Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux confirmed that public health officials are looking into about 100 COVID-19 cases at three crawfish farms. The state has not named the businesses or their locations.
At the press conference, Billioux said that at least some of the new COVID-19 cases involved immigrant laborers who live in dormitory-style settings.
Monday numbers
A new COVID-19 case in St. Mary was the only positive test reported in three local parishes in Monday’s midday report from the Louisiana Office of Public Health. No deaths were reported between noon Sunday and noon Monday.
The new COVID-19 case raised St. Mary’s total to 275 after 2,245 tests. The number of deaths remains at 29.
In St. Martin, the case count remains at 274 after 2,618 tests. Twenty-two people have died from COVID-19 in St. Martin.
In Assumption, the case count remains at 230 after 1,603 tests. Eleven people have died there.
Statewide:
—277 new cases raises the state’s total to 34,709 after more than 267,000 tests.
—15 people died, raising the death toll to 2,240.
—The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 illness rose by 12 to 1,031.
—Five fewer people are on ventilators for a total of 118.

CAMILLE FRANKLIN PEELE

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 2:10pm

Camille Franklin Peele died the morning of May 10, 2020 surrounded by his family in his home in El Paso, Texas.
Camille was born on May 14th, 1938, in Pikeville, North Carolina to Heniard Aaron Peele and Winnifred Provost Peele. His family moved to St. Mary Parish, Louisiana where Camille graduated from Franklin High School in 1957. During his school years he participated in 4H and in his senior year of high school represented Louisiana at the National 4H Congress where he was awarded the National 4H Award for agriculture. After high school he joined the National Guard as a mess hall sergeant. He would go on to attend USL Lafayette and Lamar Tech, to become a machinist and a mechanical engineer. On April 3rd, 1966, he married Carol Ann Lang. The family traveled to Alaska where Camille worked on the Alaskan pipeline. After Alaska, Camille and his family eventually settled in Nahunta, North Carolina where Camille built a house for his family and a machine shop for his work. Camille was an active member of the Church of Latterday Saints and a Boy Scout Troop Leader.
Throughout his life he was an inventor, craftsman, lecturer, fisherman, tugboat pilot, trapper, hunter, draftsman, chef, provider, mentor, teacher, leader, and a beloved friend to many.
He is survived by his wife Carol Lang Peele; his brother David Aaron Peele and his wife Katharine Martin Peele; his children Deborah Peele Simon, Carl Aaron Peele, and Joel Franklin Peele; his children-in-law William Ray Simon, Cristopher Jay Merritt, and Carolyn Poythress Peele; his grandchildren Monika Lynn Howell, Michael Alan Simon, Madison Lousie Merritt, Mackenize Brooke Beasley, Jake Camille Merritt, Cody Blake Adams, Aaron Nicholas Peele, Taylor Renee Peele, Morgan Winnifred Peele, and Preston Camille Peele; and his great grandchildren Caleb Ryan Dudley, Cainen Blake Adams, Owen David Howell, and Cambree Elizabeth Adams.
Being from south Louisiana was a point of pride for Camille, often speaking Cajun phrases while frying fish or making bread and jambalaya. One of his great passions was cooking for his family and friends. In this time when we cannot celebrate his life together, make your family their favorite meal and remember Camille.
In lieu of flowers Camille’s family has created a scholarship fund in his honor to be received by students pursuing a machining technology degree in El Paso. Please donate at https:--www.mightycause.com-story-Camillefpeelememorial.
Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home West.
Please visit our online registry at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.
(Paid Notice)

One new COVID-19 case, no deaths in three local parishes

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 11:51am

A new COVID-19 case in St. Mary was the only positive test reported in three local parishes in Monday's midday report from the Louisiana Office of Public Health. No deaths were reported between noon Sunday and noon Monday.

The new COVID-19 case raised St. Mary's total to 275 after 2,245 tests. The number of deaths remains at 29.

In St. Martin, the case count remains at 274 after 2,618 tests. Twenty-two people have died from COVID-19 in St. Martin.

In Assumption, the case count remains at 230 after 1,603 tests. Eleven people have died there.

Statewide:

--277 new cases raises the state's total to 34,709 after more than 267,000 tests.

--15 people died, raising the death toll to 2,440.

--The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 illness rose by 12 to 1,031.

--Five fewer people are on ventilators for a total of 118.

EVELYN MOORE MACK

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 11:30am

Evelyn Moore Mack, 78, a native of Shadyside, La. and resident of Franklin, La. passed away peacefully Friday, May 8, 2020 at 10:10 a.m. at her residence.
Memories of Evelyn will forever remain in the hearts of: her four children, Morris (Janet) Mack, Jr., Jason Mack, James Mack, Angela (Oscar) Stewart of Franklin, La.; four sisters, Carolyn Boatman and Delores Stewart both of Franklin, La, Linda (Victor) Lashley of Verdunville, La., and Diane (Eddie) Freeman of New Iberia, La.; twelve grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces nephews, cousins, and friends.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Morris Mack Sr.; her parents, Walter and Orelia Moore; her sisters, Georgia Moore-Perkins, Lilly Moore-Campbell-Akbar, Orelia Moore, Catherine Broussard and Geraldine Hart; two brothers, Pastor Walter Moore, Jr. and James Moore; her maternal grandparents, Pastor Johnny Carr Sr. and Evelyn Ford-Carr and paternal grandparents, Walter Moore Sr. and Lilly Mitchell-Moore.
In an effort to comply with the CDC recommendations to cancel-postpone events with 10 or more people, and state officials imploring people to stay home and limit social interaction. A private service will be held.
Jones funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements. Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

Graduates on the go

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 11:06am

The Daily Review/Geoff Stoute
A parade was held Saturday afternoon in Morgan City to honor Central Catholic High School’s graduating class. The seniors, who originally were scheduled to graduate Saturday, wore their caps and gowns for the event. In the top photo is Judy Ruffin, while John Charles Hebert is shown in the bottom photo. The senior class is schedule to graduate June 26 at Holy Cross Catholic Church.

DA's Office cuts staff after COVID-19 cuts revenue

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 11:02am

Staff Report

The 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is cutting more than a third of its staff because self-generated revenue has fallen because of COVID-19 restrictions, District Attorney Bo Duhé said Friday.
The staff for the office, which serves St. Mary, St. Martin and Iberia parishes, will be reduced by 45 employees, or 38% of the 117 staffers, Duhé said.
The reduction includes employees in all three parishes.
“The implementation of these measures became necessary to ensure the continued financial stability of the District Attorney’s Office and were made in the best interest of the Office and the public that we serve,” Duhé said.
“Unfortunately, a significant portion of the District Attorney’s funding is from self-generated funds related to court costs, fines and fees, including traffic citations. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in very limited court functions and minimal traffic enforcement to allow our law enforcement officers to rightfully handle more pressing matters and protect their personal safety by practicing social distancing. …
“Hopefully, this action is temporary and many of these employees can return to work when revenues return to pre-pandemic levels or significant federal, state or parish funding becomes available.
"Until such time as that occurs, it will be necessary for the remaining staff members to take on additional tasks in an effort to continue to fulfill the constitutional and statutory duties and responsibilities of the office during these difficult times,” Duhé said.
“It is my sincere hope that this pandemic and the resulting fiscal crisis will provoke a meaningful discussion about how the criminal justice system is presently funded and the need to establish a more stable funding source for public safety,” said Duhé. “Such a crucial debate is long overdue."

No cause identified yet for Sunday morning power outage

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 10:58am

Staff Report
A citywide power outage hit Morgan City Sunday morning, lasting for hours after the breaker in the city’s main transformer tripped, Morgan City Utilities Director Bill Cefalu said Monday.
To restore power, the city hooked up its backup transformer, and power still is being generated on it, Cefalu said.
“I don’t have any reports on what went wrong with it yet,” Cefalu said. “They’re testing it.”
Power was lost around 5 a.m. and was restored by 10 a.m., Cefalu said.
He said the city was getting ready to use its backup transformer anyway, as it had scheduled annual testing for its main transformer.

Committee rejects casino tax break

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 10:57am

By MARIA MARSH, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — A Senate committee on Friday rejected a resolution that would have suspended taxes on promotional play wagers in the gaming industry and cost the state $29 million in tax revenues.
The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Committee voted 4-3 against the proposal by Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier, with three of his fellow Republicans among those opposing it.
The resolution was an attempt to fuel the gaming industry’s reopening following a nearly three- month halt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of several proposals this week by Republican lawmakers to provide tax breaks to help businesses that have been hurt by the virus.
The House Ways and Means Committee pass resolutions to suspend severance taxes on oil and gas and suspend business franchise taxes for a year to help companies and their workers rebound from the shutdown.
But other lawmakers expressed concern that the tax breaks would add to the $1 billion in revenue losses that the state faces as a result of the virus. That would make it harder for the Legislature to balance the budget and could force it to make larger cuts in health services and higher education.
Legislative analysts estimate that suspending the oil and gas severance tax would result in a loss of nearly $514 million in revenues for the state in the fiscal year beginning July 1. Suspending the franchise taxes levied on many types of business operations would decrease state revenue by $378 million.
In debating Peacock’s bill, multiple senators voiced concern about the cost of the resolution. That tax break also would have expired after one year.
“We would be voting to cut $29.3 million dollars out of next year’s budget,” said Sen. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, who opposed the resolution. “And on that hope, we would be hoping that it’s going to generate more money in revenue than we’re giving away?”
Gaming is one of Louisiana’s biggest sources of tax revenue along with the oil and gas industry, both of which have taken major economic hits.
Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, said the proposals to suspend the oil and gas and the franchise taxes marked an attempt to spur the state economy and help local businesses reopen.
The lost revenues would likely have a large impact on state-offered services unless the federal government offers further aid. Given that much of the state’s spending is specifically mandated in laws or the state Constitution, the Legislature typically has to cut funding for higher education,

Wheel House for May 18

Mon, 05/18/2020 - 10:49am

MUSEUM OPEN
Louisiana State Museum — Patterson, housing Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum, is open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays at 118 Cotten Road. Staff will wear masks, encourage social distancing, limiting occupancy to 50 individuals inside the museum and has hand sanitizer available for guests. Free admission. For info call 985-399-1268.