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Narcotic Detectives following information about illegal drug activity at a Morgan City residence arrested a Morgan City man with a quarter-pound of marijuana intended for sale, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported in a news release.
—Ervin Joseph Picou, 64, of First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance drug-free zone.
Narcotic Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department received information about illegal drug activity at a First Street residence. Detectives made contact with Picou at the residence. During their investigation, Picou was found in possession of a quarter-pound of suspected marijuana that was destined for sales in the Morgan City area. Detectives also located suspected drug paraphernalia in his residence. The residence was located within a drug-free zone. He was jailed.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 35 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Sylvester L Francois Jr., 22, of Taft Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:12 a.m. on warrants for five counts failure to appear. Francois Jr. was located at Patterson Police Department and placed under arrest on active warrants held by City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
—Cade Patrick Neill, 24, of Becky Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for the charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and violation of controlled dangerous substance law drug-free zone.
The warrant stems from a Sept. 12 investigation conducted by Narcotics Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department. During the investigation, Neill was found in possession of suspected marijuana that was packaged for sale in the Morgan City area. Neill was located within a drug-free zone during the investigation. At the conclusion the investigation a warrant was obtained for his arrest. Neill was located in St. Martin Detention Center and placed under arrest on active warrants held by the Morgan City Police Department. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Kerry Elair, 57, of Second Street in Berwick, was arrested at 3:36 p.m. Thursday on warrants for three counts of failure to appear. Elair was located at St. Mary Law Enforcement Center and placed under arrest for active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Tatyiana Gray, 23, of Jones Street in Berwick, was arrested at 6 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for a charge of simple battery. Gray turned herself into the Morgan City Police Department on an active warrant for her arrest. She was jailed.
—Jason Vining, 20, of Louisa Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Friday on charges of improper lane usage, no driver’s license, and first offense driving while intoxicated.
An officer on patrol observed a traffic violation in the area of Sixth and Sycamore streets. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Vining. A computer check revealed Vining did not possess a valid driver’s license.
The officer suspected driver impairment and suspected Vining was under the influence of an illegal narcotic. Vining was placed under arrest and transported to a medical facility where a blood sample was obtained. The results of the blood sample are pending testing at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 46 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Kerry Elair, 57, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:24 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane usage, driving under suspension, and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of driving under suspension, hit and run, and no insurance.
A deputy patrolling the area of La. 182 in Amelia observed a vehicle cross the fog line and conducted a traffic stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, Elair, and was advised by dispatch that he held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed and transferred to another agency.
—Sharah Faye Sons, 45, of La. 20 in Thibodaux, was arrested at 1:04 p.m. Thursday on three warrants for failure to appear on the charges of failure to dim headlights, driving under suspension, possession of Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (alprazolam) and theft. A deputy was patrolling the area of Teche Road due to requests for patrols in the area. He observed a vehicle pull halfway into a driveway with occupants acting suspiciously. Later, the deputy observed the same vehicle parked at a local business with one female occupant. The deputy made a welfare contact with the female, later identified as Sons. Through the conversation he learned that Sons held active warrants through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Thibodaux Police Department. She was jailed and transferred to another agency.
—Calvin Matthew Acosta, 33, of Landry Lane in Stephensville, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A transportation deputy made contact with Acosta, who held an active warrant as he was incarcerated at another agency. Acosta was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. He was jailed with bail set at $50,555.56.
—Nicholas Michael Judd, 25, of Clarke Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. on charges of failure to signal turn and driving under suspension. A deputy was stationary near the intersection of Saturn Road and Southeast Boulevard when he observed a vehicle fail to give a turn signal when turning as well as the hazard lights blinking briefly. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Judd. The deputy learned that Judd was driving under suspension. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear on Dec. 2.
—Keith Oliver, 48, of Daggs Street in Plattenville, was arrested at 10:28 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving under suspension, turning movements and required signals. A deputy was traveling on Lake Palourde Road when he noticed a vehicle fail to signal a turn. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Oliver. The deputy learned that Oliver was driving under suspension. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear on Dec. 2
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:
—Wayne Bergeron, 52, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 8:34 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. Officers were dispatched to a residence on River Road in reference to a disturbance. Officers came in contact with Bergeron who was irate, shouting profanities, and intoxicated. He was jailed with bond set at $176.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported there were no arrests.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World on Friday introduced its newest way to get around the Florida resort — an aerial cable car system that whisks visitors from hotels to theme parks three stories above the ground while going 11 mph.
The Disney Skyliner cable cars opening to visitors on Sunday are the latest addition to one of the largest private transportation systems in the U.S. The almost 300 enclosed cable cars join 423 buses, 61 mini-vans (appropriately named Minnie Vans), 30 parking lot trams, 29 watercraft and 12 monorail trains.
In any given 24 hours, 350,000 people — the size of a medium-sized city — can be on Disney World property, which is the physical size of San Francisco. Disney transportation workers need to move them efficiently from parks to hotels to Disney World’s shopping and restaurant districts with as little friction as possible.
In a given year, Disney World visitors take 100 million rides on its transit system, said Thomas Mazloum, a Disney senior vice president.
Unlike municipal transportation systems that typically are a means to an end — your destination — the experience is the most important part of Disney’s transit system, Mazloum said.
Disney World guests aren’t going to tolerate the smell of urine (looking at you, New York subways) or cars so crowded that gloved workers are hired to push in passengers (ahem, Tokyo subways).
With the Skyliner air gondolas, visitors get neon-colored cars painted with the images of almost two-dozen Disney characters taking them on the three lines to five stations where they can access nine resorts and two parks. Disney World has four theme parks and more than two dozen resorts.
“Most organizations around the world look at transportation as something that is just necessary but we ... simply try to create memories of a lifetime,” Mazloum said. “And this mode of transportation will absolutely create memories of a lifetime.”

McDonald’s is finally taking a nibble of the plant-based burger.
McDonald’s said Thursday that it will sell the PLT, or the plant, lettuce and tomato burger for 12 weeks in 28 restaurants in South-western Ontario by the end of the month. McDonald’s says it developed a special recipe using burgers from Beyond Meat, a California-based startup that makes “meat” from pea protein, canola oil, beet juice and other ingredients.
The small-market test is rolling out about six months after rival Burger King began testing the plant-based Impossible Foods burger, a rival to Beyond Meat. It’s now selling the Impossible Whopper nationwide because of strong demand from customers.
The entry of McDonald’s, the world’s largest burger chain, into the alternative meat arena has largely been seen as a question of when, and not if. Shares of Beyond Meat Inc. rose more than 11% to close at $154.34.
The burgers aren’t really aimed at vegans or vegetarians, but at meat eaters who perceive plant-based eating as healthier and more environmentally conscious. In a recent survey, the consulting firm Alix-Partners found that 61% of U.S. meat eaters sometimes order vegan or vegetarian food at restaurants.
McDonald’s says the PLT will be grilled on the same grill used for meat and eggs. Burger King will cook it separately, but only by request.
PETA, the animal rights organization, says it’s happy to see more plant-based options on fast food menus, even if they’re cooked next to meat.
“To PETA, helping animals is not about personal purity, it’s about reducing suffering,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. “McDonald’s is doing that by serving them, and its customers are doing that by buying them.”
It’s been a breakthrough year for the companies that are trying to perfect the no-meat burger.
Beyond Meat became a publicly traded company in May when it listed its shares for $45 on the Nadaq. By July, those shares had risen more than 430%. Impossible Foods has raised more than $750 million, but remains private.
KFC last month began testing plant-based chicken nuggets and boneless wings at an Atlanta restaurant in partnership with Beyond Meat. Carl’s Jr. and Del Taco are also selling Beyond Meat products. Tim Hortons has tested a Beyond Meat breakfast sausage in Canada.
Impossible Foods announced in May that it was making meatless “sausage” crumbles for the Little Caesars pizza chain in some states.
Fans of Wendy’s have begun a petition to get the chain to add a plant-based burger to the menu. It’s garnered more than 26,000 signatures as of Thursday and earlier this month, CEO Todd Penegor said plant-based burgers are a “trend that will be here to stay.”
McDonald’s is pushing forward, albeit in a very limited introduction.
“Why just a small test? We’re in learning mode, so testing is a major part of how we develop our menu,” wrote Ann Wahlgren, McDonald’s vice president of global menu strategy. “It’s how we look- before we leap.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser proclaimed October the fifth annual Louisiana Folklife Month, recognizing Louisiana’s rich living traditions and the people who sustain them.
Folklife month activities showcase “tradition bearers” in a series of public programs throughout Louisiana that highlight overlooked cultural communities and increase appreciation of the vital role folklorists play in sustaining the state’s distinct culture. All events will be introduced by folklife ambassadors and professional folklorists who will contribute contextual and historical information.
Lt. Governor Nungesser emphasized the importance of the folklife program and what it means for Louisiana, saying, “Folklife month is a perfect time for us to remember our traditions and honor our culture. Each of our traditions trace back to our ancestors and the people who colonized Louisiana, and without that, we would not have the identity we have today.”
Presentations will honor the following tradition bearers: Elaine Bourque, Acadian brown cotton weaver in Lafayette; Mariana Titus, artist, writer, photographer in Franklin; Janie Luster, Houma Indian artist, basketweaver, jewelry maker in Theriot; Zion Travelers Spiritual Singers, gospel quartet in Baton Rouge; and James Norcom “Buzz” Jackson III, songwriter in Covington.
Louisiana Folklife Month is a project of the Louisiana Folklife Commission in collaboration with the Louisiana Folklore Society and partner organizations in each of the host communities, and it is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. An abridged listing of Folklife Month events is listed below. For more information these events, you can view the complete schedule of Folklife Month events around the state or visit the Louisiana Folklife Program website.
Honoring a St. Mary Parish Legend: Mariana Titus – Artist, Writer, Photographer, at the Alex P. Allain Main Branch Library in Franklin, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m.
From her early years, spent in Garden City, tradition bearer Mariana Titus was an avid reader and photographer. Mariana merged her experiences of growing up in bayou country and listening to these unique voices, with her innate gift of storytelling, to be able to create new stories and to re-tell the stories of others in an honest, authentic, uniquely St. Mary Parish voice.
Using this technique of listening and informally interviewing local people, she wrote six books. Mariana Titus will be honored, and will give her presentation, entitled St. Mary Parish: Roots and Reflections from a Native Daughter, in the very library that she frequented as a young girl and that is within walking distance of her mother’s — Mama T’s — front porch. She will be presented by folklife ambassador Rebecca Hamilton.