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Most people think of the Louisiana Fire Marshal's Office when it comes to fighting fires and rescuing burn victims from within an inferno, but Louisiana's Fire Marshal Butch Browning is today at the forefront of keeping COVID-19 from spreading like wildfire.  

Browning's office has always regulated how many people can cram into a space.  Why?  Because too many people have died over the years not from a burning building but from the stampede of panicked people trying to get out. Thus, the fire marshal measures the square footage of public businesses and determines "occupancy" rules for how many can safely visit that businesses.

"We do about 9,000 inspections a year that open up businesses across the state," Browning says, "so we know how to do it."

Now those same businesses need to know exactly how to do it in reopening without violating some statute or order.  That's why the governor's office and the fire marshal have instituted the website, http://opensafely.la.gov.

"We know how to apply the code in a very amicable and commonsense way," says Browning.  He has listed the code in layman's terms on opensafely.la.gov by answering the most frequently-asked questions, such as:
    • When can I partially or fully open?
    • What are the steps?
    • What are the changes for businesses that are already operating?
    • What new restrictions, if any?
    • Any new sanitation requirements?
    • Are masks, gloves, etc. required for my employees?

Browning says the guidelines are mostly just common sense.

"Remember this," he says, "we're talking about restaurants that people frequent, for instance.  Many of the people who frequent the restaurants that I'm aware of, they're like family to those restaurant owners.  They don't want to put their customers, their constituents, in harm's way.  They don't want people to get sick in their restaurant. What I find in a competitive world when everybody's open, is that they're working to outdo each other.  They're going to create stricter standards and develop a reputation for being clean."

Sunday in Colorado, that was not the case.  Owners of a Castle Rock café defied Colorado state orders and threw open their doors with no apparent regard for distancing, masks, or any CDC guidelines.  Authorities shut them down the next day.

At the Louisiana legislature, one lawmaker, Representative Blake Miguez, R-Erath, called "opensafely.la.org" a tattletale website because residents can post complaints of businesses who are not abiding by safety rules while others are.

"No, this is not a tattletale website," responded Browning.  "Look, on our main Fire Marshal's website, we accept complaints every day on building standards and other issues, things we should know about to keep people safe. There's no such thing as a tattletale website. This is about communicating with businesses so they can do the right thing."

Fire Marshal Browning has spent his whole life figuring out how to prevent fires, how to stop them quickly, and, in short, how to save lives.  

Nineteen years ago, while mobilizing firefighters to collect donations statewide, he spearheaded a small group of citizens who built and delivered "The Spirit of Louisiana" Fire Truck to New York in time for Christmas after 9-11.  Then Governor Mike Foster handed the keys to FDNY's first new firetruck to New York Governor George Pataki on The Today Show.  Since then, Browning has also elevated Louisiana another way by helping to unify safety codes statewide.

"I'm very proud," he says today, "that in the 50 states, we're close to Number one in the least amount of fire deaths in commercial buildings.  We just don't have the fire deaths that other states have and it's because we have a statewide fire code managed by the state."

Browning is confident Louisiana will survive.  He has fought fires, floods and hurricanes and, though the virus is an invisible menace, he thinks people have understood it.  To him, the last two months have proved again that Louisianans will always be resilient and cooperative to keep others safe.

Staff Report
A Napoleonville woman has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $474,000 from an Amelia business, St. Mary Sheriff Blaise Smith said.
Ava Hirstiuf, 64, of Convent Street in Napoleonville was arrested at 9:24 a.m. Thursday on theft and forgery charges.
St. Mary detectives met with a local business owner April 21. The owner said someone had stolen money from his business in Amelia. Through the investigation, it was discovered that money in the amount totaling $474,105 had been stolen from the business.
Detectives made contact with Ava Hirstiuf on Thursday and advised her of the active warrant for her arrest on the charges of theft and forgery. Hirstiuf was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail has been set.
Smith also said his office made these arrests:
—John Daten Martin, 21, Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, was arrested at 2:05 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of an access card. Martin was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Calvin Walter Griffin Sr., 43, Marie Street, Patterson, was arrested at 3:41 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace-intoxicated. Griffin was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Jeremiah T. Singleton, 18, Friendship Alley, Amelia, was arrested at 4:31 p.m. Thursday on a charge of battery of a dating partner. Singleton was released on a $2,500 bond.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported this arrest:
—Brett Sanders, 29, Lagonda Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:55 a.m. Friday on charges of simple battery, second-offense possession of marijuana, first-offense possession of synthetic marijuana, violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Act-drug free zone, obstruction of justice-tampering with evidence, possession of a Schedule III drug and possession of a legend drug.
Officers were called to a Third Street residence to remove a subject. Officers located the subject walking near the residence.
During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect, Sanders, had committed a battery at the residence. Sanders was also in possession of a bag that was searched after officers were given consent.
Officers located a small Zip-Lock bag that contained suspected marijuana along with pills. Officers also located suspected synthetic marijuana on Sanders. Sanders was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Brandon Stratton, River Road, Berwick, was arrested 1:39 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone, violation of the controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free-zone and possession of marijuana.
—A juvenile male, 17, was arrested at 1:39 a.m. Friday on a charges possession of a firearm by a juvenile, possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone, violation of the controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free-zone, and possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At about 11:28 p.m. Thursday, officers of the Berwick Police Department along with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on River Road after receiving a complaint of a juvenile being in possession of a firearm.
Officers made contact with Stratton and the juvenile at the residence. During the investigation, a handgun was located belonging to Stratton. Through further investigation it was learned that the juvenile also had possession of the firearm at a previous time.
Marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia belonging to Stratton and the juvenile were also located. The residence in which the incident took place is in a posted drug/gun free zone.
Stratton and the juvenile were placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department. Stratton is currently incarcerated in the Berwick Jail awaiting a bond.
The juvenile was later released to a parent pending a court hearing.

While seating will be limited and spaced out due to precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, St. Mary Parish public high school seniors will get to cap their careers with graduation ceremonies at the high school football stadiums of their respective schools later this month.
The occupancy, in compliance with the state mandate, will be at 25% of a stadium’s capacity, St. Mary Parish Schools Superintendent Teresa Bagwell said Thursday. Seating is different at each stadium, meaning the number of tickets distributed for each graduating senior’s family will differ, Bagwell said.
Families will be asked to sit together and remain six feet apart from others,” Bagwell said. “School staff and law enforcement will help in maintaining social distancing and seating placement.”
There will be multiple entry and exit points to the stadiums, Bagwell said, to avoid too many people gathering in one area at a time.
Bagwell said the school system’s goal was to have graduation as soon as safely possible due to “the inevitable weather issues inherent in south Louisiana” and to have it before seniors leave for college or other ventures.
“High schools have been vetting options for graduation since we realized that schools would not go back into session and were prepared to put various alternatives into place once reopening guidance was communicated,” Bagwell said. “We still have private graduation ceremonies that will be conducted as a couple of our seniors have orders to leave for military training prior to the revised ceremony dates.”
In the Tri-City area, Berwick High will lead off the graduations with a 7 p.m. ceremony on May 28, while Morgan City will hold its ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on May 29. Patterson will conclude the area’s public school ceremonies with a 10 a.m. ceremony on May 30.
While temperatures will not be taken for those attending ceremonies, Bagwell asked those in a high-risk category or small children to refrain from attending.
Graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed to offer families the ability to attend in a virtual format from the safety of their home,” she said.
She encourages those attending to wear masks, something advised in public by the Louisiana Department of Health.
High schools are working creatively to offer the senior class a fitting tribute to their academic success and accomplishments after 12 years of schooling,” Bagwell said. “We are very grateful to all those who have partnered with their local high school to spotlight the Class of 2020 through billboard images, yard signage, parades, etc.
“We ask that attendees be respectful of the public by wearing masks and maintaining a six feet distance in order to offer our graduates a graduation ceremony that is free of distractions and that completely focuses on the Class of 2020,” Bagwell added.
If inclement weather arises, Bagwell said changes will be made to ceremony times or locations.
At Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, graduation is set for June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Plan A is to have as close to a normal graduation ceremony as possible,” Central Catholic Principal Peter Boudreaux said.
While he said they hope not to have to place limits on the number of attendees, the school is prepared if they have to.
Limits for the number of guests, if any, will be decided as we get closer to graduation and will depend on any restrictions from the governor,” Boudreaux said.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is set to give an update on any possible changes on June 1.
Seating arrangements also will depend on any restrictions that may be in place via government orders.
Boudreaux said he doesn’t foresee temperatures having to be taken for attendees or the wearing of masks unless they are determined necessary by government orders.

January 5, 1943 — May 13, 2020
Roland Eugene Alphonso Sr., 77, a resident of Berwick, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2020, surrounded by his loving family.
Roland was born on January 5, 1943, in Pensacola, Florida, the son of Clarence Joseph Alphonso and Ruby Evelyn White Alphonso.
Roland loved to be in the outdoors in his boat navigating the waterways of Louisiana. He loved to be out fishing or just taking a ride with his son and sidekick, Roland. He was a mechanical master, always tinkering with something that was broken, until he had fixed it. When he wasn’t working or spending time with his family, Roland was an artist who loved to paint.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Janelle Bonner Alphonso of Berwick; five children, Valerie Alphonso Bella and husband Blaise of Berwick, Roland E. Alphonso Jr. of Berwick, Kristene Alphonso LeCompte and husband Tim of New Iberia, Luke Alphonso Sr. and wife Monica of Leesville, and Carlo Alphonso and wife Laurie of New Iberia; 12 grandchildren, Micaela Beach, Sara Bella, Blaise Bella, Ian LeCompte, Evan LeCompte, Aaron LeCompte, Devin Alphonso, Luke Alphonso Jr., Nicklaus Alphonso, Madison Alphonso, Taylor Villareal and Reagan Martin; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Kathy Acosta and husband Daryl of Bayou L’Ourse, and Ruby Mark and husband Bob of Florida; and one brother, Raymond Alphonso of Florida.
Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Ruby White Alphonso; one brother, Ty Alphonso; and father and mother-in-law, Emory and Sina Bonner.
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 Mass and still practice social distancing. A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at St. Stephen Catholic Church with Monsignor J. Douglas Courville celebrating Mass. Following Mass, Roland will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery. Friends are encouraged to leave a memory of Roland on our website at www.twincityfh.com. The family thanks everyone for their understanding during this difficult time.