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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

CLARENCE N. CHAPMAN JR.

A Graveside Service for Clarence N. Chapman Jr. was held Saturday, May 16, 2020, at 11 a.m. at New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Patterson, LA.
Clarence Nathanial Chapman Jr., also known as “Cuck” or “Bug,” of Patterson, LA, was born on January 31, 1966, to Clarence Sr. and Evelyn Chapman. He gained his wings on May 10, 2020, following a brief illness.
Left to cherish his memory are his parents, Clarence Sr. and Evelyn Chapman of Patterson, La.; his children, Clarence Chapman III of Verdunville, La., Sharome Lazaro of Verdunville, La., and Josiah Alexander Swan of Morgan City, La. He also leaves behind five sisters, Cherilyn Thomas (Gerald) of Patterson, La., Cathy Dejuan (Earnest) of New Iberia, La., Barbara Chapman of Patterson, La., Tammy Benjamin of Patterson, La., and Mary Chapman Wilson (Nathaniel) of Baton Rouge, La. He is also survived by six aunts, four uncles, and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Nathan “Redd” and Barbara Pratt Chapman, his maternal grandparents Ivory and Marylee Tate Johnson, a sister Katina Chapman, a niece Felicia Johnson, and a daughter Alecia Daniels.
Christopher Benjamin Jr., Damone Chapman, Jerime Chapman, Jerwuan Chapman, Brandon Levine, and Craig Levine Jr. served as Active Pallbearers.
Stephen Jones Sr., Clarence Keys Jr., Sanford Robinson, Clifton Tate, Gerald Thomas, and Nathaniel Wilson served as Honorary Pallbearers
MK Dixon Funeral Home was in charge of final arrangements, 337-940-9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, LA 70514.

NORRIS A. ADAMS

August 15, 1929 — May 14, 2020
Norris A. Adams, 90, a resident of Bayou Vista, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2020, at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
Norris was born on August 15, 1929, in Kaplan, Louisiana, the son of Aristile Adams and Ella Marceaux Adams.
He was a good man and will be missed by all who loved and knew him.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by two sons, Craig Adams of Stephensville, and Ronald Adams and wife Susie of Berwick; and two grandchildren, Travis Adams of Denver, Colorado and Evyn Adams of Berwick.
Norris was preceded in death by his parents, Aristile and Ella Marceaux Adams; his wife, Shirley Prouse Adams; one granddaughter, Britni Adams; three sisters and four brothers.
Due to the recent health concerns and the restrictions in accordance with limited gatherings, current guidelines will only allow for up to 75 family members and friends to be in attendance at the visitation and funeral service and still practice social distancing. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020, at Twin City Funeral Home with a visitation being held from 8:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Following the services Norris will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum.

Morgan City police radio logs for May 14-15

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.
Thursday, May 14
8:37 a.m. 3100 block of Jenny Drive; Alarm.
9:48 a.m. Brashear Avenue and Sixth Street; Lights out.
9:51 a.m. 200 block of Onstead Street; Complaint.
10:07 a.m. Sixth and Arenz streets; Assistance.
10:33 a.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Suspicious person.
11:24 a.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Alarm.
1:07 p.m. 700 block of Justa Street; Complaint.
1:17 p.m. 900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Suspicious person.
1:28 p.m. 900 block of Onstead Street; Animal complaint.
2:02 p.m. 900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Suspicious vehicle.
2:33 p.m. Glenwood Street; Complaint.
3:52 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
4:21 p.m. 900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Suspicious subject.
5:29 p.m. 600 block of Maine Street; Medical.
5:33 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Complaint.
6:20 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Complaint.
6:28 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Complaint.
7:09 p.m. 100 block of South Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
8:41 p.m. Garber Street; Frequent patrols.
9:41 p.m. 900 block of David Drive; Alarm.
9:44 p.m. 1100 block of Levee Road; Medical.
9:59 p.m. 100 block of Youngswood Road; Alarm.
10:16 p.m. Eleventh Street; Frequent patrols.
10:32 p.m. Victor II Boulevard and Cottonwood Street; Stalled vehicle.
Friday, May 15
12:19 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
2:10 a.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Juvenile problem.
3:23 a.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Removal of subject.

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