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The Early Childhood Excellence Honor Roll recognized J.B. Maitland, which received a state honor of excellence for the third consecutive year for their CLASS observational performance within pre-K classrooms. Pictured are J.B. Maitland Pre-K teachers Rebecca Nguyen, left, and Laura Cortez.

A new minimum purchase age is in effect in an attempt to deter young people from smoking. But the new rules have created some confusion.
On Dec. 20, President Donald Trump signed legislation increasing the federal legal minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The Food and Drug Administration had 180 days to update their regulations and have already posted the following information on the Food and Drug Administration website:
“It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21. FDA will provide additional details on this issue as they become available.”
In response to this announcement, the state of Louisiana’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control posted a statement on its website regarding tobacco purchases by people under the age of 21. It states:
“The FDA recently posted guidance on its website relating to the congressional legislation changing the federal smoking age to 21. The ATC awaits further guidance from the FDA on this issue concerning an effective date and other details. In the meantime, ATC intends to enforce Louisiana law which allows anyone over the age of 18 to purchase tobacco products. Please be aware that the ATC does not determine policy for other law enforcement agencies.”
In St. Mary Parish, the change to 21 is becoming effective now. The Circle K located at 6383 La. 182 in Morgan City is enforcing the federal legislation, as well as Stazione’s Deli locations. Other retailers, such as Rouse’s Supermarket located at 6403 La. 182 in Morgan City made the change on Friday afternoon.
Their registers were updating to reflect the new law and signs were being removed stating tobacco products could be sold to 18 and older.
But the new tobacco law isn’t cut and dried. It brings its own confusion, especially for law enforcement.
According to the Morgan City Police Department, with the Louisiana law still stating the legal age is 18, local and state law enforcement can only enforce the state law that is currently on the books.
However, federal Law enforcement can enforce the new federal law.
So where does that leave the smokers age 18-20 that could previously purchase cigarettes? In the state of Louisiana, sort of in a limbo until Louisiana legislators go into session and mirror Louisiana tobacco law to the federal tobacco law.
Retailers are abiding by the federal law, which says they are not going to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. But 18-20 year olds are not in violation of Louisiana state law if they buy them, at least not yet.

Surveillance video helped identify a Morgan City man who tried to break into an Amelia home with the residents inside, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.
—Clement Joseph Mire, 37, of Degravelle Road in Amelia, was arrested at 8:53 p.m. Saturday on charges of criminal trespass and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
A deputy responded to a residence on Barrow Street in Amelia about an attempted residential burglary. The deputy spoke with the complainant, who said someone attempted to get into the residence and showed the deputy video footage of the suspect. Later in the shift, the deputy responded to a residence on Degravelle Road in reference to a disturbance. The deputy made contact with a male subject who stated that he had viewed the footage from the previous incident and identified the male suspect as Mire and was confronting Mire concerning the incident when they began to argue. Mire was jailed with no bail set.
Smith also advised that the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to 103 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Randy Brown Sr., 46, of Coulee Street in Baldwin, was arrested at 1:19 p.m. Friday on a warrant for the Baldwin Police Department on the charges of attempted second-degree murder and simple battery. A transportation deputy made contact with Brown when she transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from another agency. He was jailed with bail set at $47,500.
—Matthew Taylor Rollins, 26, of Diane Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 3:01 a.m. Saturday on charges of general speed law, improper lane usage, driver must be licensed and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A deputy was patrolling the area of U.S. 90 in Jeanerette when he observed a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Rollins, and a passenger. The deputy learned that Rollins did not have a driver’s license, and drug paraphernalia belonging to Rollins was located. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear on May 1.
—Justin Matthews Batiste, 35, of Fox Run Lane in Lafayette, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Saturday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of failing to honor written promise to appear, operating a vehicle while license is suspended/revoked/canceled and two counts of speeding.
A transportation deputy made contact with Batiste when she transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from another agency. He was jailed and later released on a $7,000 bond.
—Jennifer Welsh-Harvey, 26, of Bowman Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Sunday on charges of turning movements and signals required, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle fail to give a proper signal before making a turn.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and made contact with the driver, Welsh-Harvey, and two passengers. Through the stop, marijuana and drug paraphernalia belonging to Welsh-Harvey was located. She was arrested and released on a summons to appear May 1.
—Anthony John Pennison Jr., 48, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A deputy was traveling through Berwick when he observed a male subject, Pennison, who he knew held an active warrant. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with Pennison and advised him of the active warrants. He was jailed with bail set at $1,981.26.
—Gregory Scott Payne, 44, of Oregon Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle not covered by security and failure to obey a traffic device. A deputy made contact with Payne at a residence on Oregon Street and advised him of the active warrant. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Hiram Anthony Variet, 43, of Clements Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:37 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana. A deputy made contact with Variet while working an unrelated complaint. Dispatch advised that Variet had an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed with bail set at $1,500.
—Eric Terrell Louis Sr., 43, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, turning movements and signals required and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, manufacturing of cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.
A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle fail to give a proper signal before making a turn. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and made contact with the driver, Louis, and a passenger.
Marijuana and drug paraphernalia belonging to Louis were found, and dispatch advised the deputy that Louis held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 102 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Mark A. Kinslow, 48, of Franklin Street, was arrested at 2:39 a.m. Monday on a charge of disturbing the peace. Officers were called to a local business on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard about an individual causing a disturbance. Officers came into contact with Kinslow who was observed to be in an intoxicated condition causing a disturbance. He was jailed.
—Jenry Jermaine Craft, 37, of Cherry Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:57 p.m. Sunday on charges of first offense possession of marijuana and resisting an officer. Officers were called to a residence on Allison Street about several individuals trespassing. Officers came into contact with Craft and he attempted to run from officers but was apprehended before he could exit the property. He was found in possession of suspected marijuana. He was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrests:
—Dwight Blackburn, 40, of Prairie Road in North Franklin, was arrested at 12:50 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension and no turn signal. An officer in the area of U.S. 90 observed a vehicle traveling west that failed to use a turn signal. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Blackburn. The officer learned that Blackburn’s driver’s license was suspended. He was jailed.
—Bailee Loupe, 19, of Chester Bowles Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:59 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) and possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (Adderall). An officer conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation and Loupe was identified as a passenger in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and marijuana and Adderall pills belonging to Loupe were located. She was jailed.
—Jason Johnson, 35, of Shoreline Drive in Austin, was arrested at 2:05 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated first offense refusal. An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for suspicious activity and the driver was identified as Johnson.
While speaking with Johnson a strong odor of alcohol was detected coming from his breath and person. Johnson was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he refused to submit a breath sample. He was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Reginald J. Talver Sr., 48, of Tall Timber Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 11:13 p.m. Friday on charges of suspended driver’s license and two headlights required. He was jailed and released on a $547 bond.
—Sarah Mercadante, 39, of Avenue A in Scott, was arrested at 3:05 a.m. Saturday on charges of no driver’s license and speeding 67 mph in a 55 mph zone. She was jailed and released on a $473 bond.
—Chad M. Bursh, 37, of Jude Drive in Thibodaux, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. Saturday on charges of suspended driver’s license and speeding 66 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was jailed with bond set at $596.

Police received a report of a vehicle theft where a laptop was stolen and surrounding surveillance video captured the burglary, leading to an arrest, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Beau Snyder, 21, of Riverview Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:25 a.m. Friday on a charge of simple burglary.
On Jan. 2, officers with the Morgan City Police Department initiated an investigation of a vehicle burglary. Officers learned a laptop and laptop carrying case were stolen during the vehicle burglary.
Officers were able to locate surveillance footage in the area with the suspect in possession of the stolen laptop. On Jan. 3, officers were able to locate Snyder, matching the description, walking in the area of Egle Street and Federal Avenue. During the investigation, evidence was revealed linking Snyder to the vehicle burglary. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 48 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Bradford G. Jones, 41, of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear. Jones was located at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and placed under arrest on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
—Angie Renea Stanford, 53, of Dale Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:03 p.m. Thursday on charges of disturbing the peace intoxicated and possession of an alcoholic beverage container in public. Officers were called to a business on Roderick Street about an intoxicated female causing a disturbance. Officers came into contact with Stanford who was causing a disturbance. Officers observed she was in an intoxicated condition and in possession of an open alcoholic beverage container. She was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 29 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Dowayne Charlot, 43, of M Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:29 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family and on a Morgan City Police Department warrant for battery of a dating partner.
A deputy was dispatched to a local business in Bayou Vista in response to a male subject lying on the ground unresponsive. The deputy made contact with the subject, identified as Charlot, who was sleeping. A warrants check revealed that Charlot held active warrants for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Kyle Jesse Sanders, 47, of Third Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:49 a.m. Thursday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family and resisting an officer.
A deputy was dispatched to the Berwick Police Department to assist them in locating Sanders who held active warrants for his arrest. Deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office along with officers from the Berwick Police Department located Sanders at a residence on Third Street. He was jailed with bail set at $20,788.84.
—Aljacia Jerelyn James, 26, of Prairie Road North in Franklin, was arrested at 4:34 a.m. Thursday on charges of failure to dim headlights, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia in a drug-free zone and possession of marijuana.
A deputy patrolling the area of Prairie Road North near Centerville observed a vehicle with its headlights on bright, failing to dim them for other motorists. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, James. Dispatch advised the deputy that James’ license was suspended. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia belonging to James were also located. She was jailed and later released on a $4,750 bond.
—Larandon Kendall Hawkins, 29, of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:09 p.m. Thursday on charges of proper equipment required on vehicles and possession of marijuana. A deputy patrolling the area of Verdun Lane near Franklin observed a vehicle with a license plate cover obstructing the license plate. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Hawkins. Through the stop, marijuana belonging to Hawkins was located. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear March 1.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported there were no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported there were no arrests.