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Glencoe Charter School celebrates 20 years

Students, teachers and parents at V.B. Glencoe Charter School celebrated the school’s 20th anniversary with a family picnic and freeze party on Thursday, Oct. 10. CJ and Jenn from CJ and Jenn in the Morning on KTDY were invited to the school’s family picnic/freeze party.

Big avocado earns Hawaii family Guinness World Records honor

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — A Hawaii family has won a place with the Guinness World Records for the world’s heaviest avocado.
The Pokini family from the island of Maui received the Guinness certificate this week for the avocado weighing 5.6 pounds, The Maui News reported Thursday.
The average avocado weighs about 6 ounces (170 grams), according to Guinness officials.
The Pokini family’s avocado tree is more than 10 years old and 20-feet tall. Mark Pokini planted it when his son was born, using a seed from his parents’ 50-year-old tree on Oahu island, he said.
Mark and Juliane Pokini and their son, Loihi, applied in December for the Guinness recognition involving an arduous verification process by the company known as the chronicler of the world’s record achievements.
The family in 2018 entered another avocado, but it did not meet all the elements of the Guinness verification process requiring input from a certified horticulturalist, two forms completed by witnesses, a state-certified scale, photographs, video and other documentation.
For the second attempt, the family gathered a team and the right tools ahead of time as they watched the growth of what became the record fruit.
They did not water or fertilize the tree, deciding to “kind of just leave it alone,” Juliane Pokini said.
Winning was emotional, she said.
“We were excited,” Juliane Pokini said. “But at the same time, we were like, finally. It was such a long wait.”
The prize avocado was put to good use when the family “made a whole bunch of guacamole” to share with relatives and friends, she said.

Happy smartphone user stops short of becoming an addict

DEAR ABBY: I have a smartphone, and I love its convenience. I check my email, texts and voicemail three or four times a day and always try to respond promptly. But I do not carry my phone with me every moment of the day. Some family members insist that the polite thing to do is to return a text message or voicemail immediately. They carry their phones with them and constantly interrupt whatever they are involved with to answer the phone, send a text, etc. For my birthday, one relative gave me a little pouch on a string so I ...

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Berwick finishes 4-0 at Highland Baptist's tournament

The Berwick Lady Panthers volleyball team finished 4-0 this weekend at Highland Baptist’s tournament.
Berwick defeated Westgate, Covenant Christian, North Vermilion and Church Point.
While no scores were available for Berwick’s wins against North Vermilion and Church Point, Berwick defeated Westgate 2-0 (25-6, 27-25), and it was victorious against Covenant Christian 2-0 (25-19, 25-6).
Against Westgate, Ashlynn Fitter led Berwick with one ace and 23 digs. Other top Berwick contributors were Katie Conrad, six kills and one dig; Giuliana Spitale, two aces, one kill and seven digs; Emily Lousteau, one ace, two kills and six digs; and Lindsie Giroir: two aces and two digs.
Against Covenant Christian, Lousteau had four aces, two kills and 10 digs. Other top Berwick contributors were Fitter, 14 digs, and Conrad, five kills and nine digs.
Against North Vermilion, Fitter led Berwick with one ace, two kills and 22 digs. Other top Berwick contributors were Lousteau, one ace, two kills and three digs; Ryleigh Arnold, four kills and one dig; Conrad, two kills and nine digs; and Giroir, one ace and four digs.
Against Church Point, Fitter led Berwick with two aces and 25 digs. Other top Berwick contributors were Conrad, one ace, four kills and 14 digs; Giroir, one ace and 15 digs; Bronwyn Colbert, six kills; Laney Crouch, five kills and one dig; Lousteau, three kills and six digs; and Spitale, one ace and six digs
Thursday, Berwick fell to H.L. Bourgeois on the road 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 25-16).
No individual stats were available.
Berwick (8-14 overall, 0-1 in district) will return to action Tuesday when it resumes District 7-III action at home against Morgan City.
CCHS finishes 4-1 at
Terrebonne tourney
The Central Catholic Lady Eagles finished 4-1 at Terrebonne’s tournament Saturday, falling to Vandebilt Catholic in the semifinals.
The Lady Eagles fell to Vandebilt Catholic 2-0 (25-17, 25-22).
Yani Johnson and Katie Hoffpauir led Central Catholic. Johnson had 15 kills, four digs and five solo blocks, while Hoffpauir recorded 20 assists, one ace and six digs. Symone Wiggins contributed six digs.
Central Catholic’s four wins in the tournament came against East Jefferson, Baton Rouge High, St. Martin’s Episcopal and Lakeshore.
Against East Jefferson, Central Catholic won 2-0 (25-8, 25-8).
Hoffpauir led Central Catholic with 14 assists, two aces and six digs. Other top Central Catholic contributors were Johnson, six kills and one assist; Lexi Landry, five kills and three aces; Katie Luc, two kills, four assists and two aces; Ava Nicar, five kills and one dig; and Kennedy Grizzaffi, three kills, one dig and two solo blocks.
Against Baton Rouge High, Central Catholic won 2-0 (25-17, 25-7).
Hoffpauir led Central Catholic with 25 assists, three aces and three digs. Other top Central Catholic contributors were Johnson, eight kills, two aces, four digs and one solo block; Nicar, seven kills and six digs; and Landry, six kills and four digs.
Against St. Martin’s Episcopal, Central Catholic won 2-0 (25-15, 25-16).
Hoffpauir led Central Catholic with three kills, 17 assists, three aces and six digs. Other top Central Catholic contributors were Johnson, seven kills, one ace, two digs and two solo blocks; Landry, three kills, one assist, three aces and five digs; Grizzaffi, three kills and two solo blocks; Emily Lipari, five digs; and Gweneth Dohmann, one kill, two digs and one solo block.
Against Lakeshore, Central Catholic won 2-1 (23-25, 25-18, 16-14).
Johnson and Hoffpauir led Central Catholic. Johnson had 25 kills, one ace, three digs and five solo blocks, while Hoffpauir recorded four kills, 31 assists, two aces and 12 digs. Other top Central Catholic contributors were Grizzaffi, five kills, one dig and four solo blocks; Nicar, four kills and nine digs; Landry, two kills, one assist and five digs; Lipari, two aces, one assist and four digs; and Wiggins, seven digs.
Thursday, Central Catholic defeated Highland Baptist 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-17) in District 2-V action in New Iberia.
Hoffpauir and Johnson led Central Catholic. Hoffpauir had 24 assists, two aces and eight digs, while Johnson recorded 15 kills, three digs and five solo blocks. Other top Central Catholic contributors were Nicar, three kills, 10 digs and one solo block; Lipari, one ace, one assist and seven digs; Grizzaffi, two kills and four solo blocks; Wiggins, five digs; and Lucy Hamer, two aces and two digs.
Central Catholic (22-10, 2-0) will return to action Tuesday when it resumes District 2-V play at Covenant Christian.
Patterson struggles at Highland Baptist tourney
The Patterson Lumberjills finished 0-4 Saturday at Highland Baptist’s tournament.
Patterson fell to David Thibodaux (25-10, 25-21), Highland Baptist (25-14, 25-23), Lafayette (21-25, 27-25, 5-15) and Helen Cox (28-30, 25-16, 9-15).
No individual stats were submitted from the tournament.
Thursday, Patterson fell to Catholic High of New Iberia, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-10).
Patterson (11-8, 1-2) will resume District 2-IV play Tuesday when it travels to face Notre Dame.

Nicholls defeats Northwestern State, 45-35, in conference play

The No. 12 Nicholls State University football team churned out a season-high 537 yards of offense and led by as much as 24 points before fending off a second-half comeback by rival Northwestern State in a 45-35 win Saturday evening on Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium.
The Colonels (4-2, 3-0 SLC) scored on the opening drive of the second half to take a commanding 31-7 lead before Northwestern State (0-6, 0-3 SLC) answered with two touchdowns to make it a 10-point game.
In the fourth, the squads traded touchdowns twice, but the visitors were unable to get any closer as Nicholls won its fourth straight in the series for the first time in team history.
For Nicholls, quarterback Chase Fourcade had another solid showing, but unlike last week, he did most of his damage on the ground. The senior eluded the Demon pass rush several times and finished with 14 carries for a career-high 135 yards — the first 100-yard game of his career. He rushed for two touchdowns, and senior running back Dontrell Taylor crossed the goal line three times — also a first for his career.
The Colonels totaled 349 yards rushing with a 7.3 yard-per-carry average and had two players eclipse the 100-yard mark. Kendall Bussey had 102 yards on eight carries with most of his yardage coming on a 65-yard rush in the third quarter. The duo gave Nicholls its first pair of 100-yard rushers since 2017 at Stephen F. Austin.
The defense sparked the fast start with two key plays to end the Demons’ first two possessions. On the third play of the game, Laryon James forced a fumble and Jarius Monroe recovered it. Fourcade then scored on a 13-yard scamper before Jordan Jackson stopped a fourth-down at the Colonel 26.
Taylor capped another scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge, and the Demons answered with their own 1-yard score by Jared West.
For the rest of the half, Fourcade found a seam up the middle for a 29-yard touchdown, and Gunnar Jones tacked on a 20-yard field goal before the break for a 24-7 advantage.
Jackson started the second half with a 62-yard kick return, setting up a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fourcade to running back Julien Gums. The touchdown pass was Fourcade’s 58th of his career — tying Doug Hudson’s program record.
For Gums, the sophomore totaled over 100 yards of offense with 62 on the ground and 49 yards receiving.
Searching for its first win, Northwestern State quickly answered with two touchdown passes by Shelton Eppler to make the score 31-21. Eppler had 387 yards passing and four touchdowns on 27 of 37 attempts.
In the fourth, Taylor found the end zone twice to put the game away. His first score came on a 27-yard dash up the middle, and he then added his third touchdown on a 3-yard rush.
Eppler connected with Quan Shorts for his second touchdown throw of the quarter, but with 32 seconds remaining, Nicholls ended the game with a recovery on an onside kick.
Fourcade finished with 188 yards passing on 19 of 28 attempts.
Tahj Smith led all receivers with a career-high 70 yards on four receptions. Fourcade spread the ball out to seven different players, with four having four receptions.
On defense, Sully Laiche had a team-high seven tackles and recorded a sack for the third straight game. Not only did it come at a crucial time in the game as it forced Northwestern State to punt trailing 38-28 in the fourth, but it also moved him into a tie for eighth on the Southland’s all-time sack list with 28.5 for his career.
Allen Pittman, Kevin Moore III and James all had six tackles each. Kevin Johnson broke up two passes in the secondary.
With the season-high in yards, the Colonels did not punt for the first time this season.
Central Catholic alum and Nicholls senior Stefano Guarisco had two catches for 15 yards with a long gain of 12 yards.
Central Catholic alum and Nicholls redshirt senior Garret LeBlanc also received playing time.
UP NEXT
The Colonels hit the road next weekend to face Sam Houston State on Saturday. The Bearkats and Colonels entered this past week’s contests as the lone undefeated teams in the Southland before Sam Houston fell in triple overtime against Lamar. Next weekend’s kickoff in Huntsville is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.

Locals contribute for East Texas Baptist in loss

Taking on the top team in NCAA Division III, it was the second half that was the difference as East Texas Baptist University fell to No. 1 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 50-14.
East Texas Baptist was down 26-14 at the half before UMHB scored 24 unanswered points in the second half. UMHB scored 28 points off East Texas Baptist turnovers and a punt return for a touchdown.
East Texas Baptist (2-3 overall, 2-2 in American Southwest Conference play) was led by Brian Baca’s 311 yards passing. Baca finished 24-of-38 with one interception.
Jeremiah Robertson was the team’s top receiver with 72 yards on six receptions, while Tariq Gray had 67 yards. Central Catholic alum and East Texas Baptist junior Samarick Paul had 66 yards receiving on two catches with a long gain of 37 yards. Jalen Blanton recorded the only touchdown reception of the day.
Anton Clark led the defense with seven tackles (six solo) with an interception and a sack. KJ Kelly and Zach Pike also had seven tackles each. James Wright IV recorded a sack and a half, while Chad Pajestka had a sack.
Patterson High alum and East Texas Baptist senior Sirbatian Charles had five tackles (two solo and three assists) and three pass breakups.
Robertson put East Texas Baptist in front early, 7-0, on a four-yard run just five minutes into the game (10:10). That drive was set up off Clark’s interception on UMHB’s opening drive.
Clark picked off UMHB’s Jase Hammack at the 45-yard line and returned it to the 20-yard line. Six plays later, Robertson rolled into the end zone, giving East Texas Baptist the lead.
UMHB responded on the following drive, going 64 yards, ending on a 25-yard pass to tie the game with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter.
East Texas Baptist took the kickoff and went from their 20-yard line to UMHB’s 38-yard line, threatening again, but turned the ball over on downs after a fourth-and-four wasn’t converted.
Both teams traded possessions the rest of the first quarter as it ended tied at 7.
UMHB punted the ball just four plays into the second quarter, and it only took their defense three plays to intercept Baca at their own 28-yard line.
The next play, UMHB ran in from 19-yards out for the 14-7 lead.
Again, both teams punted on their next possessions, and then UMHB received two points on East Texas Baptist’s third possession of the quarter on a bad snap that went out of the end zone for a safety and a 16-7 UMHB lead with 8:03 remaining in the first half.
Receiving the ball back after the safety, UMHB went 49 yards in four plays to move the score to 23-7 with 6:42 remaining in the first half.
Answering back, East Texas Baptist drove 76 yards in just over three minutes as Blanton and Baca connected on a 28-yard pass to cut the lead to nine at 23-14.
UMHB added three more points before the half on a 52-yard field goal, taking a 26-14 lead into the locker room.
The difference in the game came in the second half as UMHB capitalized on East Texas Baptist’s turnovers, scoring 24 points.
East Texas Baptist opened the third quarter threatening with a drive that started at the 18-yard line. Moving the ball up to midfield, East Texas Baptist fumbled and UMHB recovered, taking over at the 50-yard line. Six plays later, UMHB scored, making it 33-14 with 10:07 remaining in the third quarter.
East Texas Baptist once again took its next possession to midfield but had to punt. UMHB drove to East Texas Baptist’s 24-yard line and kicked a 41-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 36-14 with 1:23 remaining in the third to finish off the third-quarter scoring.
UMHB scored at the 11:53 mark in the fourth quarter when it returned an interception 73 yards for a 43-14 lead. UMHB’s final score came on East Texas Baptist’s next possession with a 79-yard punt return for a 50-14 lead with 9:12 remaining in the game.
East Texas Baptist drove to the UMHB 10-yard line on their next possession, but a fumble ended any threat of a second-half score.
UMHB ran the clock out after that turnover to end the game.
Central Catholic High alum and East Texas Baptist freshman Bailey Badeaux also received playing time.
This coming Saturday, East Texas Baptist will host McMurry University at 2 p.m. in Ornelas Stadium.

Louisiana Spotlight: State figures in major Supreme Court cases

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Among cases on the U.S. Supreme Court docket for the term that began this month, two Louisiana cases stand out — one because of its implications for criminal justice in the state, the other because of what it portends for abortion rights and access nationwide.
And, both, in part, because they deal with matters that, on the surface, might appear to have been settled.
Yes, voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous jury verdicts in felony cases — following Pulitzer Prize winning reporting by The Advocate on the racial impacts of allowing 10-2 verdicts. But sometimes lost amid celebrations of the measure’s passage is its effective date: it applies to crimes that happened on or after Jan. 1 of this year.
No help to people like Evangelisto Ramos, who was convicted on a 10-2 jury vote in 2016 of second-degree murder in the killing of a woman in New Orleans. Ramos is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole.
“What about the constitutional rights of people in prison?” Justice Neil Gorsuch asked Elizabeth Murrill, a lawyer with Louisiana’s Attorney General’s Office, who argued last week in the Ramos case that the state’s court system could be inundated with claims if the justices rule against the state.
“A ruling in the defense’s favor would be enormous,” said New Orleans attorney Patrick Barker, who said most of the appeals he handles involve non-unanimous verdicts — including the 10-2 manslaughter conviction of Cardell Hayes.
Hayes was 28 and the father of a young son when he fatally shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith during a confrontation following a 2016 traffic crash. He’s still got appeal issues pending at the state Supreme Court and Barker is ready to press on to federal courts to keep the appeals alive — hoping to capitalize if a decision is reached in Ramos’ favor.
Certainly, this could mean pain ahead for victims’ families. The Will Smith death trial was an often gut-wrenching spectacle where Smith’s widow had to relive the night her husband died and she was wounded by gunfire.
But should Hayes, who never backed down from his insistence that the drunken Smith was the aggressor, be denied a chance at a plea deal or new trial for the 2016 shooting if the rules have changed?
While the Ramos case is pending, the high court also is preparing for arguments in the Louisiana abortion case.
In 2016, justices struck down a Texas measure requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal later upheld a virtually identical Louisiana requirement. Judge Jerry Smith wrote for the majority in a 2-1 decision last fall that the situation in Louisiana is different. He disputed findings by a lower court judge that the law could lead to closure of one or two of Louisiana’s three clinics. The full court, in January, rejected a request for rehearing in a 9-6 vote.
There were two highly critical dissents in the case.
The first came in the fall 2018 panel ruling from Judge Patrick Higginbotham, tapped for the court by President Ronald Reagan. His 30-page dissent took the majority to task for, in effect, retrying the case after U.S. District Judge John deGravelles had given full consideration to the facts, finding that the law provided no medical benefit and would illegally reduce access.
When the full court voted 9-6 against a rehearing, Justice James Dennis, a Bill Clinton nominee, also strongly dissented.
But the majority teed the case up for a Supreme Court that has changed since the 2016 decision in the Texas case. Donald Trump nominee Gorsuch has since joined the court. And Justice Anthony Kennedy, part of the majority in the 2016 case, has retired, replaced by Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Kevin McGill is an Associated Press reporter in New Orleans.

HOWARD JOSEPH THIBODAUX

April 15, 1929 — October 10, 2019
Howard Joseph Thibodaux Sr., 90, a resident of Donner for the past 25 years, passed away suddenly at his home, Thursday, October 10, 2019.
He was born on April 15, 1929, in Amelia, the son of Howard F. Thibodaux and Jennie Gauthe Thibodaux.
He will be sadly missed and remembered by his wife of 68 years, Clara Barrilleaux Thibodaux; his three sons, Glenn (Melanie) Thibodaux, Michael (Carla) Thibodaux, and Howard “Joey” (Gina) Thibodaux II; daughter, Stephanie (Troy) Leonard; grandchildren, Claire (Frank) Yates, Jennifer (Patrick) Arabie, Howard (Bethanie) Thibodaux III, Sarah (Joel) Fisher, and Drake Leonard; five great-grandchildren, Mark, Caroline, Emma, Colbie and Ian; one sister-in-law, Betty Bighorse; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special niece and nephew, Ruth and Gerald Sanchez, who were always there in a moment’s notice when needed.
Howard retired after 38 years as a Steel Purchasing Manager at McDermott, Inc. in 1992. Even though he was a man of few words, he always had a story or a joke ready to share in his own slow-talking way, and he definitely made an impression on those who were lucky enough to have shared time with him. He loved to sit and reminisce about his time in the Air Force during the Korean War or escapades at Uncle Red’s camp but only if it didn’t interrupt an LSU football or baseball game on TV. Spending time with his family and friends was his greatest joy, whether it be at home, playing slots at a casino, or eating his favorite meal of meatballs and spaghetti at Pepper’s. He was most proud of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved seeing their pictures on Facebook and hearing of all their accomplishments.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard F. and Jennie Thibodaux; and his only brother, Floyd.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Father Blair Sabaricos celebrating Mass. A time of visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until Mass time, and following Mass Howard will be laid to rest in St. Andrew Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard and the East St. Mary Veterans Funeral Squad.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Lawrence Church Building Fund, 2128 Bull Run Rd., Schriever, LA 70395.

Little firefighters

Submitted Photos
Members of the Morgan City Fire Department recently talked to Atkinson Memorial Presbyterian Pre-K students during Fire Prevention Week. Top Photo: From left, Assistant Fire Chief Joe Marino, Operator Kyle Price, Pre-K students and Capt. Daniel Dryer pose with a firetruck. Second Photo: Students were able to get a look inside the firetruck. Third Photo: Price, pictured with Graham Guidry, shows students the equipment and clothing firefighters use to fight a fire. Bottom Photo: Students wait to watch a video in the Fire Prevention House.

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