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LUCILLE 'LUCY' VINING FISH

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 9:49am

May 23, 1945 — April 22, 2020
Lucille “Lucy” Vining Fish, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at Ochsner St. Mary.
Lucy was born May 23, 1945, in Morgan City, the daughter of Junius O. Vining and Lucille Giroir Vining.
Lucy was a loving mother and grandmother. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, as well as AARP. Lucy was also a volunteer at Ochsner St. Mary, better known as “Teche Regional Medical Center,” for many years.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her two sons, Charles Fish Jr. “C.J.” and Randy Wolf, both of Morgan City; one daughter, Shawlyn Fraughton and husband Sean of Texas; grandchildren, Jennifer, Shane, Shiloh and Seth; and two aunts, Linda Tisdale of Morgan City and Lydia Broussard of Texas.
Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, Junius and Lucille Vining; one son, Kenneth Shawn Fish; and paternal and maternal grandparents.
At this time, no memorial services will be held for Lucy. Friends are encouraged to view and leave a memory of Lucy on our website, www.twincityfh.com.

EUGENE JOHN MORGAN

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 9:47am

Eugene John Morgan, 77, a native of Morgan City and resident of Stephensville, died Friday, April 24, 2020.
He is survived by his wife, Alberta Morgan; two daughters, Darlene Broussard and Tammy Richard; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; a sister; and a host of other relatives.
Due to the current health restrictions regarding COVID-19, private visitation and graveside services will be held by the family.
Hargrave Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

SSI, VA recipients with dependents may need IRS online tool

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 9:43am

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a special alert for Supplemental Security Income and Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries to act by May 5 if they didn’t file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and have dependents so they can quickly receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payment.
Their $1,200 payments will be issued soon and, in order to add the $500 per eligible child amount to these payments, the IRS needs the dependent information before the payments are issued.
Otherwise, their payment at this time will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount will be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.
“We want to ‘Plus $500’ these groups so they can get their maximum Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 and their $500 for each eligible child as quickly as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “They’ll get $1,200 automatically, but they need to act quickly and use the Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov to get the extra $500 per child added to their payment. Everyone should share this information widely and help others with the Plus $500 Push, so that more Americans get more money as fast as possible.”
Following extensive work by the IRS and partner government agencies, $1,200 automatic payments will be starting soon for those receiving Social Security retirement, survivor or disability benefits (SSDI), Railroad Retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and VA Compensation and Pension (C&P) beneficiaries who didn’t file a tax return in the last two years. No action is needed by these groups.
For VA and SSI recipients who have a qualifying child and didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 tax return, they have a limited window to register to have $500 per eligible child added automatically to their soon-to-be-received $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. A quick trip to a special Non-Filers tool on IRS.gov by May 5 for these groups may help put all of their eligible Economic Income Payment into a single payment. The Non-Filers tool is available in English and Spanish.
To help spread the word to recipients with children about this special “Plus $500 Push,” the IRS has additional material available on a special partners page that can be shared with friends, family members and community groups.
SSI and VA recipients: Have a child but don’t file a tax return? Visit IRS.gov now
SSI and VA recipients who have children and who weren’t required file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 should visit the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool on IRS.gov. By quickly taking steps to enter information on the IRS website about them and their qualifying children, they can receive the $500 per dependent child payment automatically in addition to their $1,200 individual payment. Otherwise, their payment at this time will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.
SSI and VA recipients who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments should receive their automatic payments by mid-May. If they have children and aren’t required to file a tax return, both groups are urged to use the Non-Filers tool as soon as possible before the May 5 deadline. Once the deadline passes and processing begins on the $1,200 payment, they will not be eligible to use the Non-Filers tool to add eligible children. Their payment will be $1,200 and, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with a return filing for tax year 2020.
SSA / Railroad Retirees: Economic Impact Payments arriving next week
For recipients of Social Security retirement, survivors or disability insurance benefits (SSDI) and Railroad Retirement benefits (RRB), automatic payments of $1,200 are scheduled to begin arriving next week. No action is needed on their part. This includes people who don’t normally file a tax return.
For Social Security / RRB beneficiaries who don’t normally file a tax return, have a child and registered using the IRS Non-Filers tool by the April 22 deadline, more payments are scheduled to begin arriving next week as well.
For SSA/RRB beneficiaries who don’t normally file a tax return and have a child but did not register on the IRS Non-Filers tool by April 22, they will still receive their automatic $1,200 beginning next week. Given the deadline has passed, by law, the additional $500 per eligible child amount would be paid in association with filing a tax return for 2020. This group can no longer use the Non-Filers tool to add eligible children.
Note - Direct Express Account Holders: You may use the Non-Filers tool, but you cannot receive your and your children’s payment on your Direct Express account. You may only select a bank account for direct deposit or leave bank information blank and receive the money by mail.
No action needed by most taxpayers
The Treasury Department will make these automatic payments to SSA, SSI, RRB and VA recipients. Recipients will generally receive the automatic $1,200 payments by direct deposit, Direct Express debit card or by paper check, just as they would normally receive their benefits.
For more information related to veterans and their beneficiaries who receive Compensation and Pension (C&P) benefit payments from VA, please visit VA.gov.
General IRS information about the Economic Impact Payments is available on a special section of IRS.gov.

Shutdown puts casino workers in losing game

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 9:41am

By ALLISON KADLUBAR, LSU Manship School News Service

LAKE CHARLES—Lake Charles attracts visitors to its restaurants, events and outdoor adventures, but its luxury casino resorts dominate the city’s hospitality and tourism industry.
COVID-19 has shuttered these money-making machines for seven weeks, leaving the booming Lake Charles economically filled with uncertainties.
Tye Robinson, a bellhop at Golden Nugget Lake Charles, collected his last tips from Golden Nugget guests over a month ago.
“I would get a lot of tips, so I would use my cash on my bills and daily necessities,” he said.
Robinson was working at the casino when he learned of the closure due to COVID-19.
“I found out the day before we shut the operations down, and I found out from a news report,” he said. “It was news to me.”
Robinson and his co-workers lived in uncertainty for a week before the casino informed employees. Robinson received one month’s pay and immediately filed an unemployment claim.
“I’m thankful for unemployment for saving me,” he said.
While the closing of the casino industry is impacting his life, it also is causing serious economic problems for the rest of the community and the state.
Gaming operations in the Lake Charles area amassed over $906 million in revenue in 2018, distributing over $36 million throughout Calcasieu Parish, according to a KPLC-TV report. The hospitality and tourism industry ranks No. 2 behind the petrochemical industry as an economic driver in the area.
“You know, our culture is something that people travel from around the world to come and see, so we get a lot of this,” said R.B. Smith, vice president of business and workforce development at the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.
Riverboat, land-based, video gaming and racetrack casinos in Shreveport, East Baton Rouge Parish, New Orleans and other cities in Louisiana generated over $3 billion in net revenue with over $700 million directly benefiting state government, according to the 2019 Louisiana Gaming Control Board Report.
Gambling normally tops even the oil and gas industry in its contribution to state revenue, and both industries have been severely hurt by the virus, threatening local and state budgets.
In Lake Charles, gaming typically brings in over a billion dollars a year from visitors from Houston alone. However, with the Louisiana-Texas border blocked, and the casinos closed, the businesses are taking a punch.
“Visit Lake Charles is currently predicting an economic loss in excess of $500 million from the tourism economy in 2020,” said Kyle Edmiston, chief executive of the local visitors’ bureau. “This is a highly fluid prediction as it is completely dependent on when tourism businesses are allowed to reopen and at what levels the crowds and attendance are mandated by executive order.”
The empty parking lots of hotels within the area show their losses with only an 18 percent occupancy rate. At this time last year, the rate was 73 percent.
“There is absolutely a ripple effect on all businesses in the travel and tourism sector with those properties remaining closed for approximately seven weeks,” said Edmiston. “It is still too early to predict permanent closures based on the information that is currently available.”
The dips in these revenues will also hurt the development plans of the City of Lake Charles.
The lack of revenue will not affect essential city projects, such as repairing underground sewer works. However, the overall impact depends on when and how the economy opens up again.
“Long-term, I think we’re going to be all right,” Smith said. “Short term again, I think everything’s on hold until we see it, when we can open the economy back up.”
As Lake Charles anxiously waits for the death of the virus and the resurrection of the economy, Robinson is eager to return to work.
“I plan on going back after all of this is over because it is a very good job, and I do enjoy working,” he said. “I just want this virus to end.”

Get It Growing: Get ahead of fire ants

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:54am

By HEATHER KIRK-BALLARD, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist

Fire ants can be a formidable foe in the garden and landscape. They come with a one-two punch for sure. Did you know that fire ants both bite and sting? But the pain comes primarily from their sting containing venom.
A few interesting facts about fire ants: When a mound is disturbed, ants can swarm their invader and start stinging within 10 to 20 seconds. It is the sterile female worker ants that rush to the surface and climb grass blades, sticks and legs of people or animals that are standing on or near to the nest. They begin to bite, sting and inject venom within 10 to 20 seconds.
Stings can cause localized sterile blisters. And if you are allergic or are heavily bitten, they can be a dangerous medical issue.
Fire ant colonies can be as large as 200,000 ants. They are typically comprise female worker ants and one queen, who is responsible for laying 1,500 to 1,600 eggs a day. The queen can live up to seven years, and she never leaves the nest. Workers create underground tunnels that can extend up to 25 feet away from the mound, and it can take several months for a colony to grow a mound that is actually large enough to be seen.
Fire ants were accidentally brought to the U.S. on a cargo boat from South America, and since then, they have spread aggressively in the South and Southeast. Colder northern soil temperatures make it hard for ants to survive winter there.
Fire ants prey on flea larvae, chinch bugs, cockroach eggs, ticks and other pests, making it a hard decision — us or them? They are also attracted to electrical fields, such as air conditioners, water pumps, equipment and electrical devices.
As the weather warms in spring and the ground begins to dry, mounds are more evident as the ants emerge from dormancy and begin their tyranny.
They can be a nuisance, but a variety of products and methods are at your disposal to help control ant populations. Be persistent and use the correct application for best control. Before using any product, always read the label carefully before you purchase it, and make sure you understand the directions.
Retired AgCenter entomologist Dale Pollet recommends using baits. They should be applied starting now in April and again in October for best control. He says it is crucial that they go down on dry ground 24 to 48 hours before expected rain. Baits are safe for use around pets. But if you have chickens, he recommends putting them up for a few days when applying ant bait. Never apply baits near water systems such as ponds and lakes.
Baits consist of an insecticide combined with a food material that the fire ants will eat and bring to the colony to feed to other ants, including the queen. You can apply bait to individual mounds, but it is best to broadcast it over an entire yard at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per acre.
For small lots, one-half to three-quarters of a pound is sufficient to treat the entire yard. Even more effective than treating one yard, coordinate distribution with surrounding neighbors for best control. Work with your homeowners association or organize an entire neighborhood treatment, and the results are even better.
Some additional options are dusts that typically contain acephate. Apply the dust to the mound, and it will pass through the entire colony killing them within days.
Mound drenches are liquid concentrates mixed with water to create 1 gallon of diluted mixture and applied to the top of the mound. Be sure to do this when the ground is dry and not saturated with water, or you will not get movement of the insecticide to penetrate underground to the entire nest. The ants should die within a day.
Granules are another treatment, usually used to treat mounds by sprinkling the recommended amount on the top of the mound without disturbing it. Check the label to see if should be watered in. Make sure to completely penetrate the mound, or ants will move to a different site through underground foraging tunnels to avoid the insecticide.
For organic options, use insecticides with boric acid, pyrethrin, rotenone or diatomaceous earth labeled for ant control. Boiling hot water is also effective but hardly ever penetrates the entire mound, only eliminating part of the mound. You will have to reapply boiling water in the following days to eliminate the remainder of the mound.
Let’s dispel some myths: Grits do not work to kill ants. In fact, you will just be feeding them because much like we Southerners, ants love them. Also, a shovel from one mound on top of another to make ant colonies fight to the death is an exciting notion (imagine tiny ants in gladiator suits). But again, there is no merit to this myth. In fact, colonies can spread up to 25 feet, and the others are likely members of the same colony. So avoid the colony reunion, and save your back from this myth.
The AgCenter offers several free publications, including the “Louisiana Home Lawn Series: Red Imported Fire Ant” available online at https://bit.ly/lafireants and a complete guide “Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas” available online at https://bit.ly/urbanfireants.

Daughter wants to keep parents close

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:51am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I love my parents. They are thoughtful, intelligent people who supported (even encouraged) me to attend a good school on the East Coast. I now live with my boyfriend in Connecticut, where my job is located. He’s 23; I am 22. We would like to start a family within the next five years, but I worry that our children will never see their grandparents on my side.
I grew up with both sets of grandparents nearby. They contributed so much to my personhood and upbringing that being without them would likely have been a detriment. The idea of my parents being strangers to my kids makes me sad and anxious.
I feel so guilty already that I want to be proactive in this. Barring the slim possibility of them moving here from Chicago, how can I help them be active grandparents when the time comes? How can I help my kids love and appreciate my parents as much as I loved my own grandma and grandpa, despite the distance?
LONGING IN CONNECTICUT

DEAR LONGING: You may be getting ahead of yourself. Slow down. Take things one step at a time. Get married and start planning your family.
Many geographically separated families stay in contact by using video chat, but it’s a poor substitute for actual human contact and shared interests. Because this bothers you to the degree that it does, discuss it with your parents. Not knowing the state of their finances or the degree of their freedom to travel, it’s hard to guess how involved they may be with your children. However, if you, your boyfriend and they put your heads together, I’m sure you can arrive at a solution.

DEAR ABBY: I have been friends with “Skip” for a very long time. Our lives have taken us on very different paths. We have always disagreed about certain philosophical issues, but now the divide in our opinions is huge.
Skip makes statements and posts items on social media that, in my opinion, are outrageous. Some of them appear to be merely contrarian. Several other friends have commented about his posts.
I am concerned about Skip because of the extreme nature of his posts, and I think some friends are concerned, too. Skip and I live far away from each other. His family doesn’t live near him, so contacting them probably won’t help. I am concerned that what I am seeing is beyond a difference of opinion, but I don’t know what, if anything, to do about it. Do you have any suggestions?
JUST POLITICS?

DEAR J.P.: If you are concerned about Skip’s mental health, then regardless of his family’s lack of geographic proximity, they should be told you are worried about him and why. If you are afraid he might engage in activity in which he could pose a danger to himself or others, notify the authorities. However, if this is simply a matter of being at opposite ends of the political spectrum, it may be time to snooze Skip’s posts or block him entirely.
***
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Theme days help alleviate boredom

Mon, 04/27/2020 - 7:45am

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing many families to “staycation” at home, things can get boring quickly.
Here are some themed options to spice up time at home:
—Superhero day: Embrace your favorite superhero by dressing up in his or her colors, donning a superhero T-shirt or watching an action-packed superhero movie.
—Pajama day: This is a fun theme for rainy days when Mother Nature keeps you indoors. Stay in your pajamas all day and enjoy a cozy, lazy day.
—Alma mater day: Parents and children can pull out their trusted college T-shirts, sweatshirts or other school attire. Bake up some tasty treats in school colors and then find some old photos or look for highlights of your alma mater’s sports teams online.
—Throwback day: Take a step back in time by playing games or engaging in activities from your youth. Teach youngsters about the toys you enjoyed or watch movies from the era in which you grew up.
—Crazy hair day: Embrace bed head, plug in the curling iron, double down on hair gel or pomade, or put those wacky coiffures into full effect.
—Cultural day: Tap into your personal heritage by researching your family tree and then preparing a meal that coordinates with your heritage.
—Arts and crafts day: Get crafty by tackling a creative project that the family will enjoy. Or engage in individual projects before comparing the final results collectively.

COVID-19 spread slows in newest report

Sun, 04/26/2020 - 12:01pm

Sunday's Louisiana Office of Public Health COVID-19 statistics show some of the slowest growth in weeks in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption as well as across the state.

One new St. Mary case was reported between noon Saturday and noon Sunday . The parish has recorded 179 positives after 964 tests. The official death toll remained at 20.

Two new cases were reported for St. Martin, where 221 people have tested positive after 1,621 tests. One new death was reported there, the only death reported Sunday in the three parishes. St. Martin's death toll is now at 15.

In Assumption, one new case brought the total to 173 after 662 tests. Three deaths have been reported among Assumption people since the pandemic reached Louisiana.

Statewide, 261 new COVID-19 positives were reported, about a quarter of the daily case count increases reported earlier this month. The Louisiana total is now 26,773 after more than 143,000 tests.

The number of new deaths reported for the day, a number that has been consistently over 50 this month, was 26. The Louisiana death toll is now 1,670.

The number of hospitalizations rose by only one, to 1,701, and the number of people on ventilators dropped by three to 265.

Seven new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths reported in St. Mary

Sat, 04/25/2020 - 12:02pm

Fourteen new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths were reported among people in St. Mary, St. Martin and Assumption by the Louisiana Office of Public Health at noon Saturday. The statewide figures showed some of the most positive numbers in weeks.

Seven new St. Mary COVID-19 positives were reported Saturday, bringing the total to 178. Two more deaths, which had already been reported by local officials Wednesday, appeared in Saturday's OPH totals, raising the death toll to 20. Another death reported locally Wednesday is pending.

A total of 941 St. Mary people have been tested.

In St. Martin, one new positive brought the total to 219 after 1,602 tests. The death total remained at 14.

Another death was reported in Assumption Saturday for a total of three, while six new positives raised the total to 172 after 646 tests.

Statewide:

Another 372 positives raised the total to 26,512.

Forty-three deaths raised the total to 1,644.

Three new hospitalizations bring the the total to 1,700.

The number of people on ventilators dropped by 18 to to 268.

About 139,000 Louisiana people have been tested.

COVID numbers may be larger

Fri, 04/24/2020 - 6:05pm

Edwards under pressure to open

LEO HONEYCUTT

BATON ROUGE

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced antibodies-testing of shoppers at 3,000 supermarkets revealed 13.9 percent of New Yorkers had been infected with COVID-19 but in New York City, that number shot to 21 percent. That would mean one in five people in the nation's largest city either has or has had the virus. Governor Cuomo says that represents 1.7 million city dwellers, or 10 times the official count. But the silver lining, Cuomo says, is if infections are indeed that high, the vast majority recover with minor symptoms and the death percentage is lower.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes a different view. Having tested only 1 percent of Georgians, Kemp was one of the last to lock down his state and now is among the first to reopen. Despite an explosion of COVID cases in southern Georgia, the governor is catching flak for reopening businesses that cannot social distance such as hair salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, massage parlors, and small restaurants.

"It's too soon," said President Trump of Kemp's reopening plan. "They can wait a little bit longer, not much, because safety has to predominate." Kemp opened anyway.

Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee are also set for marginal reopening despite each state's continuing cases of the virus.

Jump-starting economies in some states is pressuring other states to do the same, including Louisiana which has been praised by the White House and Centers for Disease Control as one of the top 2 states to do the most testing and respond quickly. Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana of all states has to get it right because the state is heavily dependent on tourism, conventions and sports enthusiasts.

"I want people to have their expectations in check," said Governor Edwards, " because Phase One is a very gradual easing of current restrictions. It's not as if we're going to be reopening to go back to where we were before this pandemic struck. That's not the case. We believe that when we meet the given threshold criteria, we will be able to go to Phase One, accompanied by robust testing and contact tracing."

Of paramount concern, Edwards says, is not just the reopening of businesses, but how quickly New Orleans and the state can attract conventions and tourists from around the world. For instance, the Saints' NFL season starts in just four months while reigning NCAA National Football Champion LSU will be the team every other team wants to beat.

"How are we going to get tourists to Louisiana," Edwards questioned, "if we have cases spiking here in greater numbers than they're spiking elsewhere? They're going to choose to go elsewhere with their conventions. They're going to choose to take their vacations elsewhere. In my conversations with the hospitality industry and the tourism folks, they fully understand that. They want to go as fast as we can while we adequately protect public health."

Coronavirus is just another in a string of catastrophes Louisianans have endured over the last fifteen years. Among them, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav; 2008's financial meltdown; 2010's Deepwater Horizon explosion; and years of repeated flooding with the Mississippi River setting record highs. All these major setbacks have been balanced by record tourism fueled by Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, the Saints' Superbowl win in 2010 and LSU's National Championship this year with quarterback Joe Burrow the top pick in the NFL Draft this week.

But the state's residents continue to fight chronic health problems with some of the highest comorbidities of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the nation, the key factors in COVID deaths. To examine those problems and find solutions, Edwards accepted this weekend $500,000 from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to fund the Governor's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to find answer and solutions for why the state's minority and poor population has been particularly hard hit by the virus. Though Louisiana's African-Americans account for one-third of the state's population, 60 percent of COVID deaths are African-Americans.

"We've got find answers to this age-old question that's plagued us for generations," said Edwards. CDC records show that the entire country has steadily become morbidly obese over the last 30 years, particularly in the Gulf South.