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Doing business: Officials see compliance with store hours order

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 1:21pm

GEOFF STOUTE

St. Mary Parish residents are doing well at complying with executive orders issued by Parish President David Hanagriff, including during the Easter weekend, city and parish leaders said this week.
The orders, which have been in effect since April 6, limited the hours of grocery stores, dollar stores, convenience stores and pharmacies to 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Exceptions were permitted for outside operation of fuel pumps at gas stations and 24-hour pharmacies using drive-through service. Also, the number of people who could be inside the businesses at one time was limited to 35% of the capacity determined by the state fire marshal.
“I think for the most part, everything’s going smoothly,” Hanagriff said. “Of course, like anything else, we’re going to have certain situations and instances where people aren’t complying, but the stores, for the most part, are doing a great job.
“All our large grocery stores, they’ve put policies in place, and they’ve really stepped up.”
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said his office has received more phone calls from the public to get a better understanding of the things that are permitted.
“Sometimes when they hear from a voice of some sort of authority, they seem to believe it more than if they read it,” he said.
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur said the guidance provided by parish leaders during this time is what citizens needed.
“They just needed the instructions, because I know deep down they all want to be safe,” he said.
The parish’s executive orders are set to expire April 30, and while Hanagriff said it is too early to tell if that order will be extended, he currently has no plans to do so.
“Our numbers are stabilizing with the exception of the nursing home in Franklin,” Hanagriff said of Legacy nursing facility. “Our numbers actually aren’t bad as far as cases and the spread.”
As of Monday night, there were two deaths, while 23 residents and six staff members were infected with the virus.
Hanagriff said the state is involved with trying to stop the spread at the nursing facility, which is the source of the parish’s rising cases.
He said when the return to a more familiar way of life in the parish happens, it will be an “easing” back in.
Hanagriff said he would recommend the elderly and those with underlying conditions remain under a stay-at-home order because he said they are where the “disproportionate number of the deaths that are occurring here.” He anticipates that order staying in effect until May and potentially June.
The remainder of the population could begin slowly going back to their normal routines, possibly first with relinquishing the executive orders and hopefully open more restaurants and other things, Hanagriff said.
“At one point, we have to go back to work, and we have to get back to some type of normal life here,” Hanagriff said.
He said with guidance from parish officials, citizens can achieve those goals.
During the current situation, parish leaders said that following the guidelines is something not just for the citizens.
“We’re doing the same thing, following the guidelines set forth by the governor,” Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said of him and his family.
In Patterson, Mayor Rodney Grogan implemented a dusk-to-dawn curfew of 8 p.m.-6 a.m. daily shortly before the parish’s mandates came.
Grogan said he had to implement it to slow what had become a high amount of COVID-19 cases in the city.
He said the measures from the city and the parish have kept people off the streets.
“It’s like a ghost town in Patterson,” he said.
While he said the city did hold a Good Friday program at City Hall, Grogan said it was streamed live on Facebook and played on the radio and citizens practiced social distancing, staying in their cars.
He said equipment was sanitized after each of the event’s seven speakers addressed the crowd.
Grogan said the curfew in Patterson would stay in effect until further notice and that instituting it was never meant to trample on anyone’s rights.
“I’m not going to impose something on someone that I’m not going to appreciate … but when I knew basically the numbers and as they were coming back and they were more favorable towards Patterson, that’s why I got together with the chief and I discussed it with the council and moved forward,” he said.

Thanking the people at Ochsner St. Mary

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 1:12pm

Submitted Photos
On Thursday, Lee and Christy Dragna donated spaghetti from Castalano's for all Ochsner St. Mary employees to show their appreciation for all they do. Pictured in the top photo are Lee and Christy Dragna. In the bottom photo, Christy Dragna hands the food to Audrey Jones, director of he Medical/Surgical Department.

TONY JOSEPH VIDOS JR.

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 1:10pm

Tony Joseph Vidos Jr., 66, a native of Morgan City and resident of Berwick, died Sunday, April 12, 2020, at his residence.
He is survived by four sons, Tommy Vidos of Morgan City, Corey Vidos of Bayou Vista, Tony Hano Jr. of Ponchatoula and Paul Garrison of Patterson; two sisters, Victoria Clark of Berwick and Jacklyn Davidson of Lafayette; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter.
No memorial will be held at this time.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Woman arrested in Maryland Street stabbing

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 1:02pm

Staff Report
A Morgan City woman was jailed and accused of stabbing someone with a kitchen knife, Police Chief James F. Blair said.
—Katherine Richardson, 65, Maryland Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Saturday on charges of aggravated battery and resisting an officer.
Officers were called to a Maryland Street address for a disturbance. They learned from the victim that they were stabbed in the back and arm with a kitchen knife by Richardson.
When officers attempted to arrest Richardson, she began pulling away from arresting officers. She was eventually handcuffed and placed under arrest. She was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration. The victim received minor injuries.
Blair also reported these arrests:
—Bailey Jayne Carpenter, 21, Oriole Circle, Alexandria, was arrested at 7:12 p.m. Monday on charge of first-offense marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers conducting a crash investigation at the intersection of Seventh and Brashear came into contact with Carpenter. Carpenter was identified as one of the drivers of the vehicle in the crash.
She was found in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Wayne Michael Escort, 31, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:31 p.m. Thursday on charges of simple assault, remaining after forbidden and resisting an officer.
Officers were called to a Wren Street address for a disturbance. They came into contact with Escort. Officers learned Escort had been previously barred from the residence and assaulted an individual.
When officers attempted to arrest Escort, he began pulling away from officers. Escort was eventually handcuffed and placed under arrest. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Gilbert Harrison, 33, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Saturday on charges of domestic abuse battery-felony and remaining after forbidden.
Officers were called to an Apple Street address about a person trespassing. They came into contact with Harrison, who was previously barred from the property. Officers learned Harrison had committed a felony domestic abuse battery on the victim while at the residence.
He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Gerald Jones Jr., 19, Keith Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:13 p.m. Saturday on charges of careless operation, hit and run, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance law-drug free zone.
Officers were called to Brashear Avenue for a hit and run vehicle investigation. During the investigation, officers learned Jones was the driver of the vehicle that had fled the scene. Investigators were able to locate Jones on Keith Street along with the vehicle involved in the hit and run.
While speaking to Jones, investigators observed damage to Jones’s vehicle consistent with being involved in the hit and run crash on Brashear. Investigators also observed a quarter pound of suspected marijuana on the front seat of the vehicle. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Ben Patrick Kelone, 27, Offshore Drive, New Iberia, was arrested at 6:24 p.m. Monday on a charge of speeding over 25 mph. Kelone was released on a summons to appear June 27.
—Theresa A. Guillory, 42, Baileys Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:36 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic abuse child endangerment law. Guillory was released on a $3,500 bond.
—Adam Joseph Guillory, 36, Elaine Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:36 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic abuse child endangerment law. Guillory was released on a $3,500 bond.
Juvenile male, 15, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of curfew violation-juvenile. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.

Morgan City police radio logs for April 13

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:43pm

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 13
5:36 a.m. 600 block of Front Street; Utility.
5:51 a.m. Veterans Boulevard; Suspicious subject.
7:59 a.m. 500 block of General MacArthur Street; Criminal damage to property.
8:20 a.m. Third and Greenwood streets; Stalled vehicle.
8:38 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Removal of subject.
8:47 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Theft.
9:53 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
10:25 a.m. 600 block of Marshall Street; Theft.
11:25 a.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Arrest.
11:39 a.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Civil.
12:38 p.m. 1600 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
2:27 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Utility.
3:06 p.m. 500 block of Freret Street; Civil.
4:04 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Complaint.
6:02 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Complaint.
6:30 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Accident.
7:00 p.m. Bowman Street; Complaint.
7:27 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Complaint.
8:04 p.m. Sixth near Marguerite streets; Juvenile problem.
8:06 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Welfare check.
9:54 p.m. 200 block of Second Street; Complaint.

Some inmates will be reviewed for early release

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:32pm

Department of Corrections Secretary James Le Blanc announced that he is working with local and state law enforcement partners on additional measure to safely reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 in Louisiana’s prisons and jails.
The Department of Corrections has created the COVID-19 Furlough Review Panel to consider inmates, who are within the last six months of their prison sentence for crimes other than violence and sex crimes, for temporary furloughs as allowed for under state law. These efforts mirror the same actions being taken at the federal level based on the order from U.S. Attorney General William Barr.
The Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, and Louisiana courts have implemented measures to help reduce the spread of the virus throughout the criminal justice system. The creation the of the COVID-19 Furlough Review Panel is an extension of these efforts and is a mechanism to safely reduce the inmate population in a way that maintains public safety and promotes public health.
“We have worked hard to reduce the potential risk of COVID-19 throughout Louisiana prisons and jails,” Le Blanc said.
“This additional endeavor will help further our efforts to protect staff and inmates in these facilities. Public safety is paramount when making a decision to furlough any inmate, which is why I have chosen to create this panel comprised of cross agency membership to evaluate each inmate for suitability.”
State law authorizes the DOC Secretary to grant temporary furlough to inmates who are within six months of their release date, and to add eligibilityand suitability criteria and delineate a process and conditions for temporary furloughs.
In collaboration with stakeholders, the Secretary has established the COVID-19 Furlough Review Panel, which is comprised of:
—Secretary of DOC, or designee
—Director of Probation & Parole, or designee
—Executive director of Pardon & Parole Board, or designee
—Victim’s advocate, as appointed by the governor
—Executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, or designee
—Executive director of the District Attorney’s Association, or designee
The COVID-19 Furlough Review Panel will review inmates on a rolling, case-by-case basis until the public health emergency declared by the Governor is terminated. At least a five out of six vote of approval is required for an inmate to be furloughed.
Conditions of the furlough require home incarceration, ankle bracelet monitoring, and active supervision for the duration of the furlough. The temporary furlough terminates on the inmate’s assigned Good Time Parole Supervision release date, the date of release assigned by the Parole Board, or full-term release date, whichever is earlier, at which point the inmate will transition onto parole supervision. If the inmate reaches full-term release date, the sentence is completed and there is no parole supervision. These COVID-19 temporary furloughs will be done on an individual basis and not on a general group classification.
The panel is tasked with reviewing two separate groups of DOC inmates:
Group 1 includes inmates currently housed in state prison facilities with pre-existing medical conditions who meet the following criteria:
—Serving sentences for nonviolent/non-sex offenses.
—Are currently within six months of their release date.
—Have housing or residence ready to receive them.
Group 2 includes offenders who are mostly housed in local jails and meet the following criteria:
—Serving sentences for nonviolent/non-sex offenses
—Are currently within six months of their release date and have served at least six months.
—Have housing or residence ready to receive them.
Probation and Parole may cancel an inmate’s temporary furlough at any time for any violation of conditions placed upon them and bring them back into custody to serve the remainder of time left until their release date:
—If an inmate’s temporary furlough status is canceled, he or she will be brought back into a DOC facility or will be placed in local facility.
—DOC will track statistical data on the incidence of furlough violations by participating inmates. Violations shall include the commission of new offenses, as well as any transgressions that result in disciplinary action or removal from the program.
The COVID-19 Furlough Review Panel will sunset upon the expiration of Proclamation Number 41 JBE 2020, or any subsequent extension proclamation.
Prior to this, various district attorneys, judges, and sheriffs across the state agreed to adopt new practices that include:
—Promoting summons for release in lieu of arrest in appropriate cases.
—Immediate and expedited screening of new arrests.
—Daily review of jail population for any accused who can be released on their own recognizance, pre-trial monitoring conditions, plea, or alternatives that would result in immediate release.
—Conducting expedited hearings through expanded use of video conferencing with all necessary parties to maintain all constitutionally mandated hearings (230.1, bail reduction, Gwen’s Law hearings, emergency child removal cases, etc.).
The Office of Probation and Parole has also collaborated with the same criminal justice partners to help reduce COVID-19 exposure in our state and local jail facilities. Probation officers have worked with the courts to remove detainers on individuals being held in jails across the state for supervision violations, reducing the number of people in the facilities. They have also implemented video check-in, in lieu of face-to-face visits with probationers and parolees.

Jeremy Alford: Special session may be in Legislature's future

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:28pm

JEREMY ALFORD

Due to disruptions brought about by COVID-19, Louisiana lawmakers are now expecting at least one special session to be called in Baton Rouge, possibly following the June 1 adjournment of the ongoing regular session. Essential budgetary and health care needs will need to be addressed, and additional lawmaking hours will be required.
Our senators and representatives convened their regular session on March 9, the same day Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Louisiana’s first official case of coronavirus. Roughly five weeks have passed since then, and the Legislature has yet to find an opportunity to safely return to Baton Rouge to get the policymaking ball rolling.
As such, many others who ply a trade inside the Capitol aren’t ruling out a second special session for 2020, either, maybe in the fall. There have been some suggestions that a second special session could be dedicated to the topic of economic development. (The governor, for his part, recently announced that an economic development task force was being formed to help guide the state’s recovery.)
To be certain, lawmakers have a variety of topics they want to cover this calendar year, and a regular session followed by a single special session may not be enough. For example, about two weeks ago most lawmakers I interviewed said their constituent calls largely involved queries about school closures. But since then unemployment questions have dominated district offices. So you can expect to see that on a committee agenda in some form in the coming months.
Tort reform may have to wait, as far as the ongoing regular session is concerned, but an economic development special session could allow a token bill of sorts to be advanced, temporarily satisfying the thirst that developed during the last election cycle. The messaging connected to the importance of tort reform, however, isn’t going anywhere.
Speaker Clay Schexnayder, according to a spokesperson, has assembled a small group of representatives to reach out to business and industry to seek ideas for “super-charging” the Louisiana economy. Whatever emerges from that exercise could end up on an agenda too.
In terms of revenue, lawmakers and lobbyists alike seem to be quietly circling around the sales tax structure and statutory dedications. (For now.) Just the mention of both issues will surely stir up a violent reaction from some folks, but they’re nonetheless part of the general conversation.
Historically, lawmakers have turned to sales tax changes during times of emergency and great need. While opponents would argue that it targets the poorest among us, the Legislature has traditionally viewed the sales tax structure as a path of least resistance when compared to other forms of higher tax rates.
Statutory dedications, meanwhile, have been a thorn in the side of conservative lawmakers for a while, and Sen. Sharon Hewitt led a panel through a review of all 370 statuary dedications a couple years ago in hopes of shedding new light on the matter and configuring a new management style for the funds.
Speaking of special sessions, the only one that’s actually anticipated should be called some time next year, to tackle the decennial task of redistricting. That undertaking is roughly a year away, but some leaders are already sweating the most basic functions of the survey effort underway by the U.S. Census.
Door-to-door appeals are on hold due to the pandemic and the deadline to complete the headcount, which is used to allocate federal dollars and draw election lines, has been pushed back from July to August. Lawmakers and governors in a few states are asking for another extension as Census officials contend they’re sticking to the mandated Dec. 31 deadline for handing over a finished product to Congress and the president.
We can hope a learning curve on the legislative level won’t accompany the Census questions hampering the feds. Dwight said a redistricting training session for legislative leaders next month has been canceled and a September seminar in Portland for House and Senate committee members is uncertain at best.
If members want to follow the legislative model from the 2011 process, they’re just eight months away from scheduling statewide meetings and 12 months away from the House submitting a redistricting plan.
In late 2009 committee members also participated in a two-day training event, but the Legislature wasn’t facing the kind of turnover that marked this current term. So no such training exercise was held last year, but freshmen House members did receive a 10,000-foot view briefing from the staff.
The good news in all of this is that the Legislature can be somewhat nimble. They could reconvene their regular session in early May and work around the clock. Along with the governor they could host one special session after another if needed, although that’s unlikely. Lawmakers will adapt, plain and simple.
Let’s just hope they deliver for us as well. There’s no eliminating politics from this process, and any promise to do so would be fool-hearted. But politics can take a seat in the proverbial back row, staying six feet away from anything truly important. That kind of social distancing would most certainly be welcome.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow

Only one new COVID-19 positive in St. Mary; La. spread slower, deaths up by 90

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 12:15pm

One new St. Mary COVID-19 case was reported by the Office of Public Health at noon Wednesday, bringing the parish total to 130.

The number of St. Mary people who have died of COVID-19-related illness is now at four. The numbers apparently reflect two deaths late last week among residents at Franklin's Legacy nursing facility.

Two previous deaths had been reported last week: a parish resident who died in New Orleans after going there for medical therapy, and a woman who died at Ochsner St. Mary.

The number of tests here is now at 490.

Two more fatalities were reported in St. Martin, where the death toll is now at 10. The number of reported cases there rose by six Wednesday to 174 after 551 tests.

Six more cases were recorded among Assumption residents, bringing the total there to 129 after 159 tests. One death had been previously reported.

Statewide, 433 new COVID-19 positives bring the total to 21,951. The number of new cases has been growing more slowly this week, but the number of deaths continues to grow more quickly. Another 90 deaths were reported Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,103.

The number of COVID-19 patients in Louisiana hospitals fell by 34 to 1,943, and the number of people on ventilators was down by 11 to 425.

Nearly 122,000 tests have been performed among state residents.

Officials warn that delays in the reporting of test results from commercial labs mean that new cases and deaths listed each day may reflect tests that were performed days earlier.

Stephen Waguespack: Our vision for 2020 lacks clarity

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 9:41am

STEPHEN WAGUESPACK

Isn’t it ironic that 20/20 is how we describe perfect vision but the year 2020 has made everything look so cloudy and uncertain?
I mean, what happened to everything we thought to be true? 2020 has shredded all that to pieces.
What once was up is now all down.
Don’t go hug grandma. Separation of church and state is now separation of people from their church.
Stop your children from playing outside with the neighborhood children. They are much safer inside playing with their phones on the couch.
Don’t shake someone’s hand and look them in the eye, instead give them an elbow bump while staying six feet away from them if possible (it’s not by the way).
Don’t wear a mask to stay safe. Never mind: Do wear a mask to stay safe. Doctor’s offices performing non-emergency, routine health checks are to be shut down, yet liquor stores are to stay open to continue providing their “essential” services.
Schools, family vacations, festivals, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, the College World Series, March Madness, the Masters, the NBA, Nascar, Disneyworld and toilet paper all gone in the blink of an eye. Your 401k is either DOA or MIA.
Years from now, what will they see when they look back to 2020? A united, heroic, appropriate and successful response to a global pandemic that posed a unique risk to the viability of civilization as we know it? A government-led overreaction that bankrupted thousands and destroyed the modern economy? Both? Neither? Something else?
The truth is who the hell knows at this point, but one thing is for sure… economically, we have some serious work to do once this virus is whipped to get folks back to anywhere close to even.
The 2020 unemployment numbers are truly staggering. In January, before the COVID-19 response kicked off in earnest, the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8% while Louisiana’s was 5.7%. Since then, Hurricane Corona has walloped our economic shores with Category 5 force impact. More than 10% of American workers have filed for unemployment in the first month of this response. Louisiana’s unemployment claims are already more than double than what was filed during all of last year. We have never seen numbers like that in modern history.
Louisiana’s economy is especially vulnerable to this type of response due the hallmarks of our economic strength. We are a service-based economy. We depend on oil/gas, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism, healthcare, agriculture and government for most of our jobs. So, how do those sectors look right now?
Hospitality and tourism have been shut down. In January, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted oil would average $68 a barrel in 2020. The price is in the low $20s today, with little prospects for a significant bump anytime soon. Manufacturing continues to operate, but global demand for non-response items has dropped considerably, forcing many of them to hold off on major capital projects and turnarounds, which has led to major losses in construction. Government will see much of the revenue and taxes they depend on drop considerably. Health care has been forced to shelve profitable elective procedures to prioritize COVID-19 response, leading to millions in unbudgeted costs and revenue cuts.
The point is not to be a bummer, but instead, to put us all on high alert for the next mission that will quickly be at hand: Louisiana’s economy will need to be rebuilt from the ground up and redesigned into something much different for long-term viability.
So, what does that look like?
Well, in the short term, we must help those existing businesses stay alive any way we can. That means access to capital and letting them keep more of their own money. This can be done this legislative session by ideas like suspending limitations on NOL carryback and other harmful business taxes from the last few years like the expansion of franchise tax to small businesses.
Short-term relief will also require suspending regulations and licenses that create unnecessary costs or barriers to marketplace entry. People need to keep capital any way they can and start a new business with ease. As many of these suspensions that can turn into permanent new policy, the better.
In the medium term, we need to pass a budget that provides critical services but is as efficient and innovative as possible.
The Legislature must also doggedly pursue smart policy like legal reform to protect those good Samaritans who have stepped up in the last few months and maximize all efforts to pass the Talbot bill to lower auto insurance rates by limiting frivolous lawsuits and allowing more evidence in courts.
The Louisiana political establishment’s historic fear to tackle tort reform needs to get quarantined for good this year. There is no excuse on this, none, especially not now.
In the long-term, Louisiana needs historic, systemic change.
It’s time to rewrite that Constitution inspired by Huey in the 1920s and expanded by Edwin the 1970s, and instead adopt a more market-driven model.
It makes sense to embrace common sense reforms like centralized collection, innovative reforms like unfettered school choice, lower taxes on small business, effective workforce training for all workers and an all-out, Apollo mission-type effort to attract big job creators and investors to our state.
Defeating COVID-19 and fixing 2020 will require a team effort.
It’s time to dream big. Getting back to “normal” is way too timid of a goal. We need 20/20 vision for something much bigger to salvage the second half of 2020.
Stephen Waguespack is president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Johnson-Dufrene wed at Sacred Heart

Wed, 04/15/2020 - 8:20am

Paige Elizabeth Johnson and Bobby Dufrene exchanged wedding vows Jan. 18 during a 6:30 p.m. double-ring ceremony at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City. The Very Rev. Jay Baker officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. David Johnson of Berwick. The groom is the son of Barry Dufrene of Morgan City and Tammy Murphy of Shreveport.
For the ceremony, the altar was decorated with white fresh floral arrangements of gladiolas, stock and Playa Blanca roses. Pews were reserved with a bouquet of assorted foliage consisting of Italian Ruscus, silver dollar and seeded eucalyptus tied together with ivory, double satin ribbon.
Music was by organist Lee LeBlanc, vocalist Margaret Kreider, and the Arco Music Strings.
Readers were Amy Kirkpatrick, Leslie Marino Davis, cousin of the bride, and Felicia Marino, aunt of the bride. Gift bearers were Manuel Ramirez, Sharon Ramirez and Elizabeth Ramirez.
Escorted in marriage by her father, the bride was attired in a ball gown designed with voluminous tulle skirt, lace motifs, illusion long sleeves with keyhole details and beading at the waist. The dress was finished with covered buttons and an illusion V-back with lace edges.
Gracing her head was a crystal headpiece holding a cathedral-length veil complemented with lace motif details along the edges.
She carried a bouquet of white Playa Blanca roses, Patience garden roses, ivory spray roses, white ranunculus, Queen Anne’s lace, Italian Ruscus, seeded eucalyptus and dusty miller. A rosary and brooch, belonging to the late Esther Marino, grandmother of the bride, were attached to the bouquet.
Katherine Ramirez Albarado was matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Megan Monier, Caitlin Bruce, Anna Busalacchi, Hailey Hodson, Mallory Johnson Fuhrer, sister of the bride, and April Dos Ramos, sister of the groom.
They were attired in dark hunter green lux chiffon and stretch crepe dresses in varied styles.
Bridal attendants each carried a bouquet of Patience garden roses, porcelina spray roses, Jade roses, Italian Ruscus, seeded eucalyptus and dusty miller.
Junior bridesmaid was Teresa Dos Ramos, niece of the groom.
Blakely Ann Fuhrer, niece of the bride, was flower girl. She carried a small gold hoop embellished with Patience garden rose, porcelina spray roses, Playa Blanca roses, ivory spray roses, Italian Ruscus and seeded eucalyptus.
Ringbearer was Miller Charles Fuhrer, nephew of the bride.
Brennan Albarado served as best man. Groomsmen were Neal Mayon, Adam Lefort, Connor Gonzales, Brant Dos Ramos, nephew of the groom, Justin Simon and Josh Dos Ramos, brother-in-law of the groom.
Ushers were Johnny Marino, uncle of the bride and Terry Dufrene, uncle of the groom.
A reception followed at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.
The entrance was adorned with sheer drapes embellished with smilax vines, pulled back with garden rose bouquets. In the reception area, the bride’s formal portrait was displayed along with a pre-bridal music video.
A five-layer white buttercream creation served as the bride’s cake. It featured floral embellishments placed intermittently and was topped with the couple’s initials in gold.
The groom’s cake was shaped as a barrel containing sugar sculpted “Colonel’s Retreat Lager Beer” complete with sugar sculpted ice.
Prior to the wedding, the groom’s father hosted a rehearsal dinner at Café Jo Jo’s in Morgan City.
Prenuptial parties included an engagement party at The Napoleon House in New Orleans hosted by Terry and Lynette Dufrene, uncle and aunt of the groom; a bridal shower hosted by bridesmaids, a couples shower hosted by Katherine and Brennan Albarado, and their families; and a bridal brunch hosted by the bride’s mother.
The bride graduated from Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, received a bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, and a master’s in speech pathology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She is a speech pathologist at The Center for Pediatric Therapy in Thibodaux.
The groom graduated from Central Catholic High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in financial services marketing and accounting at Nicholls State University. He is a loan officer for The First National Bank of Jeanerette’s Morgan City branch.
They honeymooned in Napa Valley, California, and reside in Morgan City.