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August 27, 2004 — April 24, 2020
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Kole Ashton Blakeman was unexpectedly called home to the Lord on Friday, April 24, 2020, at the young age of 15.
Kole loved playing video games on his Xbox and hanging out with his friends, a typical teenager in every sense of the word, but yet so much more. A jokester who livened up any moment, he never shied away from speaking his mind to the point that you literally never knew what he was going to say next. He had a laugh that was contagious, a personality like no other, could keep you entertained for hours upon hours, and was a true friend through thick or thin. But more than these wonderful qualities, Kole was a little brother and his sister’s constant source of arguments, which she will deeply miss, Kole was his dad’s little buddy, even though at 15 they stood at the same height, and Kole was his mom’s “ride or die partner in crime.” The old adage “To know him was to love him” could never have been more true than with Kole. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him and will be fondly remembered with a smile.
His memory will forever live on in the hearts of his parents, Brandon Scott Blakeman and Heather Linn Blakeman; his sister, Madison Blakeman; his grandmothers, Cheryl Estay Blakeman and Paula Grow Blakeman; his uncles, Toney Linn and his wife Errica, Joey Blakeman and his wife Karyn, Dane Grow and his wife Lacy, and Nick Blakeman and his companion Chasity Marcel; his aunt, Toni Phillips; his best friends, Kade Dupre and Blade Pennison; as well as a host of cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Ralph Blakeman; and his maternal grandparents, Tony Linn and Shirley Humphries Linn.
Due to the current circumstances and unprecedented times we are facing, at this time no memorial services will be held for Kole. Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, love, prayers, and support for the family as well as cherished memories of Kole.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1111 Lia Street, Patterson, LA 70392, (985) 395-7873.

The Louisiana Department of Education will provide subsidized child care to essential workers for an additional 30 days, officials said Tuesday.
A month ago, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the department expanded access to the Child Care Assistance Program, generally for low-income families, to “critical infrastructure workers” regardless of income. First responders and people who work in manufacturing or agriculture are among the types of workers included in the federal government’s definition of critical workers.
The licensed child care centers and the registered and certified family child care and in-home providers in Louisiana that remain open primarily are serving children of critical personnel, according to the state education department. To date, more than 3,700 critical personnel have applied for the CCAP for their children, the department says, and more than 3,800 of their children have been approved.
Meanwhile, 69 percent of Louisiana’s child care and early learning centers have closed since the pandemic began, officials say.
“If families can keep children at home, they are urged to do so,” said Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian, who oversees early childhood education. “But for those who are on the frontlines and who do not have this option, we must continue to ensure affordable access to child care. We must also support child care providers who, already operating on razor-thin financial margins, are experiencing serious, negative impacts as a result of COVID-19.”
Though lawmakers increased funding for early childhood care and education during the last legislative session, there were still 560 families on the waiting list to be admitted at the end of last year to the Child Care Assistance Program, which provides subsidized care to low-income families while the adults are working or attending school.
But as much of the state stays home in hopes of mitigating the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, more space has opened up at qualified centers. Gov. John Bel Edwards on Monday announced that he would extend his “stay at home” order, which would have expired after Thursday, for two more weeks.
Louisiana’s school campuses have been closed since mid-March. Child care centers have been allowed to stay open, though parents have been asked to care for their children at home if possible.
“Given the importance of reliable, quality child care to Louisiana working parents and the state economy, any post-COVID-19 economic recovery effort should take the condition of the child care industry itself into account,” the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children says.

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.
Monday, April 27
9:02 a.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; Accident.
9:34 a.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
10:27 a.m. Roderick Street under bridge; Loud music.
10:40 a.m. 200 block of Chennault Street; Narcotic activity.
10:58 a.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Medical.
11:19 a.m. 1000 block of Hickory Street; Damage to property.
11:57 a.m. 1500 block of Sandra Street; Alarm.
12:34 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Theft.
12:41 p.m. David Drive; Fire.
2:22 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
2:30 p.m. Brashear Avenue; Arrest.
3:03 p.m. 400 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
3:49 p.m. 3000 block of Lizabeth Drive; Alarm.
4 p.m. 800 block of David Drive; Harassment.
4:06 p.m. 1600 block of Azalea Drive; Complaint.
4:47 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Juvenile problem.
4:54 p.m. 600 block of Willow Street; Theft.
5:31 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
6:44 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Theft.
6:50 p.m. 700 block of Florence Street; Animal complaint.
7:07 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
7:50 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Arrest.
9:05 p.m. 800 block of Clothilde Street; Complaint.
9:23 p.m. Park Road; Complaint.
9:56 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Animal complaint.
10:51 p.m. 300 block of Wise Street; Complaint.
Tuesday, April 28
1:49 a.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Theft.
3:35 a.m. 600 block of Louisiana Street; Loud music.
4:26 a.m. 3200 block of Susan Drive; Medical.

The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation have drafted a request for federal aid for poultry producers, who are not included in the most recent farm aid package. But the request has been turned down.
Poultry is the largest agricultural enterprise in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter livestock specialist Jason Holmes said poultry is a major component of the north Louisiana economy.
Holmes and AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry drafted the funding request letter.
In 2019, 251 Louisiana growers produced more than 1 billion pounds of broiler meat with a gross farm value of $923.8 million, according to AgCenter statistics. But Holmes said the overall commercial poultry industry faces uncertainty created by a bottleneck at processing plants.
“It’s a perfect storm for the meat industry,” Holmes said.
The request said producers face an uncertain, difficult future.
“The next few weeks could be an unparalleled challenge for all segments of meat protein production,” the request said. “We beg you take these words into consideration and help us keep a very vital part of state’s agricultural, and the state’s economy overall, intact.”
But the aid request has been rejected, according to Butch Oakes, a poultry producer in Ouachita Parish and chairman of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Poultry Committee.
“We were told we wouldn’t get it, point blank,” Oakes said on April 23.
He said federal agriculture authorities believe the poultry companies can withstand the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic, but Oakes said poultry producers are contract entities.
“We are tenant farmers on our own land,” he said.
Poultry producers receive young birds from companies, then house and feed the birds until they reach market size in about six weeks. But several problems have interrupted that chain, and growers stand to lose about 25% to 40% of their income if that continues, Holmes said.
Oakes is one of about 100 growers raising chickens for the Foster Farms poultry plant near Farmerville. Many of the workers at the processing plant have walked off the job citing an unsafe work environment with the pandemic, Oakes said.
In addition, prison labor was used for some of the work, and authorities have stopped the work-release program because of the possibility that inmates could return to the prison and spread the virus.
In March, two workers at the Farmerville plant were diagnosed with the coronavirus. The company says it has operated safely and has taken additional precautions because of the virus.
The company says it conducts daily sanitation and personal hygiene checks; has increased handwashing and sanitizer stations; has restricted travel; and screens all visitors. The company also says it conducts daily wellness checks and provides protective clothing.
Oakes said another processing plant in Louisiana, Raeford Farms near Arcadia, has curtailed its operations because much of its business depended on restaurant company orders. The company has started selling directly to the public, advertising on the company’s Facebook page.
Pilgrim’s Pride near Natchitoches, which processes birds for retail sales, is operating at slightly lower-than-normal production, Holmes said.
Oakes has six chicken houses, all full of birds three weeks old.
“In six weeks, I produce 500 three-piece chicken dinners,” he said.
It’s possible that a grower’s entire flock would have to be destroyed if a processing facility is shut down or doesn’t have the capacity, Oakes said.
The beef industry also is facing a similar problem at processing plants because workers have become sick, Holmes said.
“Feed yards are getting full, and live weights are getting bigger,” Holmes said, adding that higher-quality cuts of meat are difficult to move.
Oakes also has beef calves that need to be weaned so their mothers can be bred for another calf crop.
“If I take them off their mommas, I’ve got to feed them,” he said.
Holmes said the pork industry, while not a major commodity in Louisiana, faces the same problems.
AgCenter regional beef cattle specialist Vince Deshotel said many cattle producers have cattle ready to sell.
“People are just hesitant to send anything to a sale because there’s no market,” he said.
Many of the buyers are from Texas, and they have had difficulties getting back to their home state because of travel restrictions imposed by Texas on travelers from Louisiana, Deshotel said.
Some cattle owners have been able to create niche markets by selling calves to individuals, he said.
Oakes also has timber, but the market is flat.
“You can’t give timber away,” he said.
Oakes said he knows a farmer who grows cabbage that needs to be harvested and has tried to sell his crop for 25 cents a head.
“He’s literally Bushhogging the cabbage down,” he said.
As bad as things are, Oakes hasn’t heard of anyone getting out of poultry — probably because most producers are carrying substantial debt, he said.
A new chicken house costs $500,000. Lenders are willing to restructure loans, but that usually means a borrower ends up paying more in interest, he said.
Oakes said Foster Farms provides chicks on a regular schedule, and chicken houses are empty for about seven to 14 days between flocks. But with the problems at the processing plant, that downtime may be as long as 28 to 35 days.
Oakes said his current is three weeks old. “I sweated bullets not knowing if I was going to get birds,” he said. “Everybody is on pins and needles.”