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Morgan City police chase two suspects in stolen vehicle

A Patterson man and a Pierre Part woman fled from an officer during a traffic stop, leading officers on a chase with a crash and ending with the arrest of both, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Zoe Rives, 20, of Shell Beach Road in Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:02 p.m. Sunday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway, no driver’s license, turn signal violation, possession of stolen things $5,000 to 25,000 (motor vehicle), possession of drug paraphernalia and accessories after the fact.
—Claude Moses Charlot, 26, of Leonard Street in Patterson, was arrested at 12:02 p.m. Sunday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway, no driver’s license, possession of stolen things $5,000 to 25,000 (motor vehicle), possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespassing and on warrants for the charges of simple burglary and two counts of failure to appear.
An officer on patrol observed a vehicle violation in the area of Sixth Street and Onstead Street. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop but the vehicle failed to stop for the officer.
The vehicle fled to La. 70 headed north toward Fig Street.
As the vehicle approached the curve on La. 70 in the area of Lake End Park, the vehicle lost control, briefly leaving the roadway before re-entering the roadway.
The vehicle then traveled about another quarter mile before coming to a sudden stop on La. 70. The driver, Rives, and passenger, Charlot then switched seats.
Charlot turned the vehicle around re-entering the city of Morgan City.
The vehicle left the roadway again in the area of Federal Avenue and General McArthur Street resulting in a crash into two parked vehicles.
Charlot fled from officers on foot. Pursuing officers were able to locate Charlot hiding behind a residence and he was taken into custody.
Rives was taken into custody by officers on the scene of the crash.
Officers learned the vehicle Rives and Charlot were driving was reported stolen by the Berwick Police Department. Rives had knowledge Charlot was wanted for outstanding warrants and that was the reason she fled from officers.
A warrant check revealed the City Court of Morgan City and 16th District Court held an active warrant for Charlot for failure to appear in court. The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office also held an active warrant for Simple Burglary for Charlot. A computer check revealed both Rives and Charlot did not have a valid driver’s license and officers found suspected drug paraphernalia in the vehicle belonging to Rives and Charlot.
Both were jailed.

Ronnie Turner

Ronnie “Square Biz” Turner, 44, a resident and native of Morgan City, Louisiana, passed peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, at 10:27 p.m. at his residence.
Visitation will be observed Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Jones Funeral Home, 715 Sixth St., Morgan City, from 10 a.m. until funeral services at Noon. Brother Michael Ledet will officiate the services.
Survivors includes his father, Ronnie Turner of Cottonport, his sisters, Shakiewa Wallace of Houston, and Bella Grace Turner and Gabrielle Rubin Turner, and his brother, Cash Henry Rubin Turner, all of Cottonport, his son, Ratlin Turner of Franklin; two nieces,; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his mother.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Julian Sons Jr.

A Funeral Mass for Julian Sons Jr. of Hessmer will was set for Monday morniing, January 13, 2020, at the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church of Belledeau. Burial will be was at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Mausoleum.
Julian “Sonny” Sons, Jr., age 87, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at his home in Hessmer.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dolores Vinning Sons of Hessmer; sons, Jeffery Sons (Francine) and Justin Sons (Donna); daughters, Frances Lydia Sons Rentrop (Kurt) and Juliana Sons Snyder; sisters, Diane Sons, Irma Lee Lombas, and Paulette Wilson; brothers, Jimmy Sons and Barry Sons. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Rev. Caleb Sons, Martin Sons, Dustin Sons, Cody Thompson, Jason Thompson (Aliesha), Telizia Rentrop, and Harley Snyder; and one great-grandchild, Lillian Ray Sons.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julian J, Sr. and Lydia Granier Sons; brothers, Horace Sons, Merval Sons, Lloyd Sons, and Ballard Sons; sisters, Shirley Mae Rock and Zelda Fromenthal; and son-in-law, Phil Snyder.
Visitation was held Sunday, Jan. 12th, 2020, at the Escude Funeral Home of Mansura and resumed Monday morning at 8 a.m.
Family and friends were nvited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.escudefuneralhome.com.
Escude Funeral Home of Mansura, 6608 Porterie St. Mansura, LA 71350 (318-964-2324) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Patterson moves closer to flood control answers

PATTERSON — The City Council could learn as early as next month what it will take to cure some of the flooding that afflicted the city in 2019.
Data collection on the way storm water flows in Patterson is complete and has been entered into a computer model, reported Melanie Caillouet, P.E., at Tuesday’s council meeting.
The model is also complete and is identifying areas where drainage is a problem.
“We are evaluating projects that would provide better drainage in those areas,” wrote Caillouet, who works with consulting engineers Providence Engineering.
In a phone interview, Caillouet said Providence could have some potential solutions ready for the city government in time for the Feb. 2 council meeting.
Strangely enough, a stretch of dry weather at the end of the year slowed the process, she said. The analysis was based on the way water is flowing, and there was no water to flow.
But a lack of rain was a very different problem from the difficulties faced by east St. Mary residents in 2019.
Flooding in the North kept the Mississippi River above flood stage for nearly two-thirds of the year, leading officials to open the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway twice in the same year for the first time since its construction in the 1920s.
The added volume in the Atchafalaya led to back-flooding, the sinking of a barge to relieve flooding in the Bayou Chene area and a freshwater influx that reduced the shrimp catch
Farther west, in Morgan City, Berwick, Bayou Vista and Patterson, the problems were worsened by lunch-time downpours in April and June, flooding streets and pushing water into homes.
That put local officials to work on reducing storm flooding that has, by all accounts, grown worse in recent years.
Patterson deployed eight staff gauges around the city to collect information on water depths and water flow.
That data, fed into the computer model, is the basis for identifying the problem areas and developing solutions.
How much those solutions will cost depends on what the model finds.
Any remedy that includes boring under U.S. 90 is likely to be expensive, Caillouet said.
“Some of the things might just be redigging ditches,” she said.
Berwick has also been working on flood problems after the June flash flood put water in 39 homes in Country Club Estates Subdivision.
The town government came up with the plan that included improving a ditch, which was quickly completed. The next steps involve more expensive measures, such as installing better storm drains.
The town government is awaiting the results of its application for grant funding for the more expensive work.

Storm's worst mostly misses St Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish was spared the worst of a much-anticipated storm system that killed at least 12 people as it spawned tornadoes in the South and dumped winter weather in the upper Midwest on Friday and Saturday.
But the parish still felt the effects.
Cleco reported that 62 St. Mary customers were among the more than 12,000 homes and businesses that lost power in Louisiana on Saturday.
By 5 p.m. Saturday, only about 242 Cleco customers in Grant and Rapides parishes were without power. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles reported wind gusts of up to 48 mph, or 11 mph above the sustained-winds threshold for a tropical storm, on Saturday in the Alexandria area.
Also in St. Mary, Vitalant said the holidays and the severe weather alert in the Morgan City area caused the cancellation of blood drives and the adjustment of hours for the donation center.
Vitalant appealed for donors after it said it was down 21,000 donations. Vitalant reported that it had less than half the four-day supply of type O blood it tries to maintain.
The Morgan City donation center will be open until 4 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wed-nesday.
You can schedule an appointment at vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825. Walk-ins are welcome.
The National Weather Service gauge at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport near Patterson recorded south and southeast winds of 18-25 mph from about midnight Friday until about 7 a.m. Saturday, with gusts of up to 36 mph.
More 30 mph gusts were recorded Saturday afternoon.
Only trace amounts of rain were recorded.
Temperatures dropped briefly but sharply, too. The mercury fell from 73 degrees at 7 a.m. Saturday to 45 degrees by dawn Sunday.
Elsewhere in Louisiana, media reported at least three deaths, including a couple killed when their Bossier Parish mobile home was demolished by 135 mph winds.
Another man was killed when a tree fell on a home in nearby Caddo Parish. Interstate 20, which cuts across north Louisiana, was closed at one point.
In south Louisiana, Facebook photos showed wind damage to homes and other structures in Vermilion and Lafayette.
Gov. John Bel Edwards scheduled a trip to examine storm damage Saturday in Bossier. But the Governor’s Office reported later that the trip was canceled because the weather conditions remained unsettled.
Three people were killed by an apparent tornado in Pickens County, Alabama, and at least three people died in Texas, including a Lubbock police officer and firefighter who were struck as they worked at a crash scene. Wind flipped a car into a creek near Dallas, resulted in another fatality.
Damage to homes was reported in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Kentucky.
Warm temperatures in St. Mary are expected in the early part of this week, and a chance of storms will continue into Tuesday.
The most significant threats are lightning and fog, the National Weather Service said.

Tigers for title: Louisiana is watching

LSU will play for the national college football championship Monday night in New Orleans at the beginning of Mardi Gras season.
Is there any way things won’t get crazy?
LSU, undefeated this year, will play defending national champion Clemson, undefeated for two years, at 7:15 p.m. Monday at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The game will be carried live by ESPN.
That’s if you stay in the relative sanity of your home. Down at the Superdome, the experience is likely to exceed the ordinary.
—President Donald J. Trump will be among the spectators at the Superdome.
As a result, the Secret Service has imposed added restrictions on what spectators may carry into the game.
You’re not allowed to bring ammunition. That shouldn’t be a hardship, because you’re not allowed to bring firearms or other weapons, either.
Drone aircraft, explosives, Mace and pepper spray, laser pointers, toy guns, bicycles, balloons, selfie sticks, unspecified “structures,” and “recreational motorized mobility devices” are on the forbidden list.
A word to the wise.
—To keep things fair and balanced: LSU Manship School student journalists have been touring Iowa ahead of the upcoming presidential caucuses.
The students have extracted “Geaux Tigers” cheers on video from former Vice President Joe Biden, who said he’d be in trouble because his daughter attended Tulane; Andrew Yang; Amy Klobuchar; and Cory Booker.
—One great to another: Saints quarterback Drew Brees paid a weekend visit to the Tigers and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
Brees, who played at Purdue, has been a big booster of the Tigers during their championship run. Burrow is a refugee from Purdue’s Big 10 competitor, Ohio State.
“Brees and Burrow were able to share a moment on the practice field, where Burrow told the NFL’s all-time leading passer how much he idolized him growing up,” reported the Saturday Down South website.
—Coach Ed Orgeron, who has piled up kudos for transforming LSU’s plodding offense, offered his congratulations to another noted coach: Jimmy Johnson, who will enter the NFL Hall of Fame after making Dallas a Super Bowl fixture in the 1990s.
“Congratulations to Coach Jimmy Johnson one of the all time greats on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” Orgeron tweeted.
Orgeron’s honors have included at least four Coach of the Year trophies, including the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, named for the late Grambling great — one Ed to another.
—LSU was greeted by a brass band and cheering crowds when the team arrived in New Orleans.
But Coach O says the team isn’t distracted by the hoopla.
He said the team is “staying focused, stay working on football and fundamentals. We still have a lot of work to do. This is a great football team we are playing. We are going to prepare all the way until game time.”
—-Like it or not, we live in the era of the hype video, and LSU and its supporters have been cranking them out.
The Advocate reported on the latest, this one featuring an inspirational valediction from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
"The closer I get to the finish line, the more I think about where I started," said The Rock.
Other celebrities who helped LSU hype the hype are John Goodman, Tim McGraw, and former LSU legend Glenn Dorsey.
—ESPN is billing its coverage of the title game as “MegaCast,” which will capture the action with more than 100 cameras and a variety of views online .
The coverage will be made available to viewers in 160 countries.
The play-by-play and analysis for the traditional coverage will be provided by Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Tom Rinaldi and Maria Taylor.
—What’s a poor Alabama fan to do on Monday? Bama, coached by the same Nick Saban who abandoned LSU after leading the Tigers to a national championship, is at home for a college football playoff tournament for the first time.
Alabama has the unpalatable choice of rooting for the SEC team or hoping that Clemson takes some of the shine off LSU recruiting, writes Bama Hammer blogger Ronald Evans.
“Maybe there is another, third option, watching the game without rooting for or against either team,” Evans wrote. “Speaking from the experience of always wanting Tennessee AND Auburn to lose whenever the two battle, I can say not pulling for either team is always a failure. The best outcome in those games at least used to be a 0-0 tie.”

Police check on resident, find marijuana plants

Deputies checking the welfare of a resident discovered marijuana plants and paraphernalia to grow them, leading to the arrest of a Bayou Vista woman, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.
—Brandi N. Crews, 29, of Jordin Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:23 p.m. Thursday on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and aggravated obstruction of justice.
Deputies received information that prompted a welfare concern at a residence on Jordin Lane. The deputies made contact with Crews and advised her of the concern. Marijuana plants and paraphernalia used in cultivation were found. She was arrested and released on a summons to appear on April 23.
Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 45 complaints and reported the following arrests:
—Kristy Lynn Tedder, 39, of Clements Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:05 p.m. Thursday on a charge of theft. A deputy was dispatched to a local business in Bayou Vista in reference to a theft.
The deputy made contact with store personnel who stated that a female exited the store with items for which she did not make payment. The deputy made contact with Tedder, arrested her, and released her on a summons to appear on May 1.
—Cedric Dwayne Sapp, 25, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Thursday on a charge of theft. A deputy was dispatched to a residence on Francis Street in Amelia in reference to a theft. The deputy made contact with the complainant who stated that when she returned home, her air compressor was missing. Through the investigation, Sapp was developed as a suspect. The deputy made contact with Sapp at a residence on Apple Street and located several items that the complainant had reported missing. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Drizzt Anthony Morales, 23, of Lagrange Road in Franklin, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Thursday on charges of resisting arrest or officer, attempted disarming of a police officer and simple assault.
—Nathaniel Albert Rollins, 23, of Diana Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Thursday on a charge of resisting arrest or officer.
Deputies were executing a cell extraction at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center when a dorm inmate, Morales, lunged at a deputy. While gaining control of Morales, he attempted to grab a taser from a deputy. Another inmate, Rollins, resisted being detained by deputies. Rollins and Morales were additionally charged and remain incarcerated.
—Timothy Wayne Tindell, 46, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal institution and on a Morgan City Police Department warrant on charges of contempt of court, switched license plate/stolen license plate, no insurance and expired or no inspection sticker. A deputy was dispatched to a residence on Hunting Road in Centerville in reference to a disturbance. The deputy made contact with Tindell who was involved in a dispute about the property. Dispatch advised the deputy that Tindell held an active warrant for his arrest. Tindell was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. While in booking, a booking deputy discovered contraband that Tindell had on his person. Tindell was additionally charged. He was jailed with no bail set and is being held for another agency.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 34 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Agatha Maria McCleary, 27, of Brashear Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:15 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for contempt of court. McCleary turned herself into the Morgan City Police Department on an active warrant held by the City Court of Morgan City. She was jailed.
—Donald Byrd, 50, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:13 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for simple battery. Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department came into contact with Byrd in the area of Everett Street and Fifth Street. A warrants check revealed the Morgan City Police Department held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed.
—Mario Williams Jr., 20, of Wedell Street in Patterson, was arrested at 5 p.m. Thursday on warrants for four counts of failure to appear. Williams was located in the City Court of Morgan City and placed under arrest for active warrants held the City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:
—Zachery Johnson, 34, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 6:20 p.m. Thursday on a charge of probation violation. Officers learned that Johnson, who is currently being held in the Berwick Jail, had an active warrant through Louisiana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole on a charge of probation violation. He remains jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Chad Bertrand, 34, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:32 p.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding 43 mph in a 35 mph speed zone, no driver’s license and no insurance. He was jailed and later released on his own recognizance.
—Jerral W. Prestenbach, 30, of Marin Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana. He was jailed with a $2,000 bond set.
—Charlotte T. Bracamontes, 31, of Marin Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Thursday on a warrant and for charges of possession of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine and possession of clonazepam. She was jailed with a $2,000 bond set.
—Kevin T. Pierre Jr., 23, of Hickory Street in Patterson, was arrested on Thursday on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and unauthorized use of an access care. He was jailed with no bond set.
—Jerry L. Favors, 54, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:28 p.m. Thursday on charges of theft by shoplifting and remaining on premises after being forbidden. He was jailed with no bond set.

School Board honors

Students of the Month and Employees of the Month were recognized Thursday at the St. Mary Parish School Board meeting.

Getting crafty for Mardi Gras

New Cajun Coast show brings people out in the weather

The Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau hosted its first Mardi Gras craft show Friday. and Saturday at the Cajun Coast Welcome Center, l900 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Morgan City.
Shoppers were able to purchase Mardi Gras themed crafts such as tumblers from Bec’s Creations, oyster shell ornaments from Causey’s Creations Authentic Cajun Crafts, Mardi Gras themed clothing from Just2kool Enterprise, jewelry from Sherry’s Intuitions, woodworking from Landry’s Custom Woodworking, candles from Ebb and Flow, aprons from Cajun Princess Crafts and Baker Goods and more.
“The turnout was good considering the weather was bad,” said Carrie Stansbury, Cajun Coast executive director. “We had 18 vendors that registered, but we had at least five that didn’t show up because of the weather.”
The cost for vendors was $10 per booth for a single and $20 for a double. Entrance was free and door prizes were given throughout the day Saturday.
“Most of the crafts are handmade and the artists are all Louisiana artists, mostly local.
"This is something we can build upon. It has great potential to grow. We are excited about it,” Stansbury said.

St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency will be accepting appointments for LIHEAP utility assistance program

Mrs. Almetra J. Franklin, CEO for St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency, announced that appointments for utility assistance will be accepted on Tuesday, Jan. 14 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
To schedule an appointment in the St. Mary Parish area, call the central office at 337-828-5703. No walk-ins will be accepted. All information must be present at time of application or the application will not be accepted.
Information needed to apply includes:
—recent copies of utility bills (gas and light bills only)
—last four consecutive copies of check stubs for employed household members
—proof of unearned income (social security, unemployment insurance, pension funds, disability, etc.)
—disconnect notice if received
—proof of present address (cable, telephone, water, rent receipt, lease or deed, etc.)
—driver’s license or picture ID of everyone 18 and older in household
—social security card for all members living in your household
—additional information may be required to determine your eligibility for energy assistance.
The LIHEAP Utility Assistance Program helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills as well as increase energy self-sufficiency. This program targets people with the lowest incomes and the highest energy costs based on their income and family size. Additional targets are low-income households that include the elderly, persons with disabilities, and young children.
To quality if the number in household is 1, the gross income per month cannot exceed $2,011.
To quality if the number in household is 2, the gross income per month cannot exceed $2,630.
To quality if the number in household is 3, the gross income per month cannot exceed $3,249.
To quality if the number in household is 4, the gross income per month cannot exceed $3,868.
To quality if the number in household is 5, the gross income per month cannot exceed $4.486.
Applications will also be accepted for the Crisis Assistance Program. This program is to help households whose lights and/or gas bills are turned off or threatened to be disconnected due to do no other means of payment. Households are eligible for one crisis payment not to exceed $475.
To be eligible, applicants must be responsible for the household energy bill. Applicant must have an active heating/cooling utility account.

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ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255