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Woman accused of violations with kids in vehicle

A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Morgan City woman who was speeding with two small children in the car unrestrained, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Reandra Wenndresse Taylor, 31, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:34 a.m. Tuesday on charges of turn signal violation, general speed law (55 in 35 mph zone), no motor vehicle insurance, no proof of vehicle registration, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker and two counts of no child restraint, and warrants for three counts of failure to appear.
An officer observed a vehicle that committed several traffic violations in the area of Justa Street and La. 182 and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Taylor.
The officer observed two small children in the vehicle without child restraints. The officer also observed the motor vehicle inspection sticker was expired. Taylor could not provide proof of insurance or vehicle registration. A computer check revealed the vehicle was uninsured. A warrants check revealed the City Court of Morgan City held active warrants for her arrest. She was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 46 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Danny Paul Dupuy, 40, of Julia Street in Amelia, was arrested at 11:02 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana (14 grams or less) and for charges of obstruction to driver’s view, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A deputy was patrolling the area of La. 182 near Old Spanish Trail in Berwick when he observed a vehicle with a large crack down the driver side front windshield. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Dupuy. The deputy was advised by dispatch that Dupuy held an active warrant for his arrest. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were located inside the vehicle. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Calvin Smith Singleton, 37, of Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:11 p.m. Tuesday on three warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of hydrocodone, possession of tramadol, possession of clonazepam, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free zone, two counts of possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer by giving false information, resisting an officer with force or violence, misrepresentation during booking, two counts of possession of methamphetamine, possession of oxycodone, obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence, and battery of a police officer.
Singleton was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from the Assumption Parish Jail on the active warrants for his arrest. No bail has been set.
—Brandon Carnes, 25, of Walker Drive in Houma, was arrested at 3:19 a.m. Wednesday on charges of no headlights and possession of marijuana. A deputy was patrolling the area of La. 182 in Amelia when he observed a vehicle with an inoperable headlight. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Carnes. Drugs were found. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 2.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Roger Velma, 37, of Lacy Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Tuesday on charges of expired motor vehicle inspection and no driver’s license. He was jailed and released on a $481 bond.
—Brian Klein, 38, of Park Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:21 p.m. Tuesday on charges of speeding (43 in 35 mph zone) and no driver’s license. He was jailed with bond set at $550.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported there were no arrests.

Annual Berwick festival set for Oct. 4-6

Berwick’s Lighthouse Festival will be Oct. 4-6 on the Berwick Riverfront, from 6-11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
There will be arts and crafts, food and drinks, and beer.
Inflatables will be available for all ages all weekend. The cost to use the inflatables will be $20 per day at the event or $15 per day if a bracelet is purchased at the pre-sale.
The pre-sale bracelets will be available for purchase at Berwick Town Hall at 3225 Third St. in Berwick or by contacting Marty Dehart, 985-255-4580.
Bracelets for each day will be a different color and will only be eligible for use on the day for which it is purchased.
The event will feature live music all weekend.
The lineup for Friday will be Lowdown 6-8 p.m. and the Kyle Daigle Band 8:30-10:30 p.m.
The lineup for Saturday will be Blue Collar Boys noon-2 p.m., Left on Red 2:30-4:30 p.m., Jus Cuz 5-7 p.m. and Don Rich 7:30-11 p.m.
The line-up for Sunday will be Krossover noon-2 p.m., Old Soul 2:30-4:30 p.m. and Déjà vu 5-7 p.m.
Saturday morning from 7-7:30 a.m. will be registration for “A Walk to Remember,” a 5k sponsored by Chez Hope benefiting victims of domestic violence.
Early registration for the walk is $15, and registration on the day of the event is $20.
Shirts can be purchased before the walk for $10 sizes small to XLarge and $12 for sizes 2Xlarge and 3Xlarge.
Registration and T-shirt information can be found on the Chez Hope Facebook page or by sending an email to brittany.chezhope@gmail.com.
At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, there will be a rose petal ceremony at which rose petals will be released into the Atchafalaya River on the wharf behind the bandstand in remembrance of victims of domestic violence.
The walk will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The starting point and ending point will be at the bandstand located on the Berwick Riverfront.
The route will take participants onto the La. 182 Bridge between Morgan City and Berwick, which will be closed from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday.
This will accommodate the 5k as well as encourage foot traffic throughout the day and allow spectators to enjoy the fireworks that evening. The closure was approved by both Mayor Boo Grizzaffi of Morgan City and Mayor Duval Arthur of Berwick.
Saturday will have fireworks at 9 p.m.
A Mass will be performed on the Riverfront at 8:30 a.m. Sunday led by Msgr. J. Douglas Courville of St. Stephen Catholic Church.
There will be an open car show 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday hosted by the Cypress Corvette Club. All entries will be made on-site with a $25 entry fee. Trophies and door prizes will be given.
The awards ceremony for participants in the Tour du Teche will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday on the Berwick Riverfront.
Tour du Teche, taking place Oct. 4-6, is an annual race of 135 miles for canoes, kayaks, pirogues (the traditional Cajun canoe), and stand-up paddleboards along the entire length of Bayou Teche in southwestern Louisiana, including small sections of Bayou Courtableau and the Atchafalaya River.
Visitors to the festival are also encouraged to visit Berwick’s Heritage Museum, The Brown House, located at 3326 Third Street in Berwick for three new exhibits: The Orphan Train, Lighthouses, and Berwick: From Wilderness to Statehood. Museum hours are Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Throughout the festival, no ice chests or glass bottles are permitted, also no pets are allowed.
Platinum sponsors for the event are Sewart Supply, Berry Brothers, Urgent Care of Morgan City, Nautical Design, Kolder, Slaven & Co, Patterson State Bank, Felterman Foundation, B&G Food Enterprises, Teche Towing, Omega Waste, Clean Sweep Janitorial, Inland Barge Rentals, Chitimacha Tribe, Abigail Kathleen Photography, Del-Con, Crappell’s Fish Market, T&M Boat Rentals, Boo Grizzaffi Campaign, G&J Land & Marine, ERE LLC and Kentwood.

FPD arrest in Sept. 2 murder

Franklin Police Chief Morris Beverly reported Thursday the arrest of murder suspect Trinity Coleman.
According to Beverly, Coleman, 36, of Morris Street, Franklin, was arrested Wednesday at 9:34 a.m. for warrants for second degree murder and two counts of attempted second degree murder.
Coleman was reportedly booked, processed, and remains incarcerated at Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The warrants were issued after the Franklin Police Department received a complaint of shots fired in the area of Scottie Street and Pine Street on September 2, at approximately 8:48 a.m.
Beverly further reported that upon officer’s arrival, one female victim was located and identified as 37 year old Chiquita Lumpkin.
The Franklin Police Department along with the Third Ward Marshal’s Office, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Fire Department, and Louisiana State Police assisted in investigation efforts, and during the investigation, a person of interest was identified as Coleman.

Latest area births are announced

Born to Janaya Wade and Rashaud Thomas of Berwick, a girl, Marley Rae’ Thomas, on Aug. 17 at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City. She weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and measured 19 inches. —— Born to Delmy Damaris Gutierrez Escalante and Elias Carrillo Chan of Morgan City, a boy, Axel Elias Carrillo Gutierrez, on Aug. 30 at Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City. He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 20.7 inches. —— Born to Magda Ochoa Alvarez and Marcelo Martinez Hernandez of Morgan City, a girl, Victoria Saray Martinez Hernandez Ochoa Alvarez, on Sept. 4 at Teche Regional Medical ...

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Corn maze is Saturdays in October

BATON ROUGE — The LSU AgCenter will present the Corn Maze at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Saturdays in October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
In addition to the maze, there will be a farm animal petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, hay mountain climb, riding a kids zip line and a hayride. Concessions for sale will include hamburgers, popcorn, corn dogs and other snacks and drinks from local vendors.
The corn maze festivities will culminate with a Night Maze and Bonfire from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28. The AgCenter encourages families to were costumes at the family-friendly, Halloween-themed evening. The Oct. 28 event will also feature games, live music and roasting s’mores at the bonfire.
Admission for each event is $10 per person, with children 3 and under admitted free.
“What better way for families to end the summer than with a trip to the farm during harvest season,” said Jeff Kuehny, director of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.
Sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, proceeds from the Corn Maze events support the educational programs at the Botanic Gardens.
For information, contact the Botanic Gardens at 225-763-3990 or botanicgardens@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Health experts back treatment for kids with peanut allergy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Government experts on Friday backed an experimental treatment for children with peanut allergies that could become the first federally approved option for preventing life-threatening reactions.
The treatment is daily capsules of peanut powder that gradually help children build up a tolerance.
The outside panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted overwhelmingly in favor of the treatment from Aimmune Therapeutics. The nonbinding vote amounts to an endorsement for approval.
The FDA is expected to make its final decision by January.
The panelists said the medication was an important option for parents and children dealing with peanut allergies. However, several also said they had concerns because the pill has to be taken continuously to maintain its effect.
An estimated 1.6 million children and teenagers in the U.S. would be eligible for the medication, to be sold as Palforzia, which is intended for ages 4 to 17.
Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy in the country and the standard treatment involves strictly monitoring what children eat. That approach doesn’t always work and accidental exposure is common, sending 1 in 4 children with peanut allergies to the emergency room every year.
Parents at Friday’s meeting urged approval of the drug, describing the anxiety of watching their children’s diet and daily routine, even avoiding public places and transportation because of possible peanut residues.
“These are constant and real fears with extreme consequences,” said Cathy Heald of Dallas, whose 12-year-old son Charlie took part in a study of the treatment.
Heald said her son’s improved tolerance allowed him to travel overseas by himself for the first time.
“The peace of mind this treatment brings is invaluable” said Hill, whose trip to the meeting was paid by Aimmune.
After one year, about 66% of study participants who took the pills could tolerate the equivalent of three to four peanuts, compared to just 4% of patients who received a dummy treatment. At the beginning of the study, most participants could not tolerate even a minuscule amount of peanuts.
But the benefits of the treatment came with risks. More than 9% of patients taking the pills reported severe allergic reactions, more than twice the number in the placebo group. And 11% of patients dropped out of the company’s study due to side effects.
“The effectiveness of the treatment has, in fact, not been demonstrated,” said Dr. John Kelso, of Scripps Clinic in San Diego, who voted against the treatment.
The California-based company has previously said it expects the first six months of treatment to cost $5,000 to $10,000 and $300 to $400 a month after that. The company declined to elaborate on price earlier this week.
Aimmune is pursuing other treatments for common food allergies, including eggs. The company does not yet have any products on the market.

Daughter-in-law is barred from family after robbery

DEAR ABBY: Our son is married to a beautiful girl, “Debra.” Several years ago, while we were away on vacation, she entered our home without our consent. (Our son has a key to our house.) She took several expensive, very personal and sentimental items, and we have no idea what she did with them because she denies doing it. Abby, we have absolute proof it was her. Our son denied her involvement for a while until other suspicious things happened with some of their friends’ possessions. We all agree now it was Debra. Her mother sided with her until Debra ...

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Radio Logs for September 19

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.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
6:54 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Alarm.
8:38 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
8:39 a.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Disturbance.
9:21 a.m. Sixth Street and Sacred Heart Drive; Complaint.
10:23 a.m. Railroad Avenue and Second Street; Assistance.
11:41 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
11:47 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:19 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Accident.
12:20 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Suspicious vehicle.
12:43 p.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Complaint.
1:09 p.m. 2400 block of Tupelo Street; Medical.
1:58 p.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Medical.
2:06 p.m. Garber Street and Federal Avenue; Frequent patrol.
3:12 p.m. 1800 block of Maple Street; Officer stand by.
3:32 p.m. 1500 block of Maple Street; Juvenile problems.
3:55 p.m. Glenwood Street; Fire.
3:57 p.m. Duke and Fourth streets; Disturbance.
4:49 p.m. 1500 block of North First Street; Theft.
6 p.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Complaint.
6:01 p.m. 300 block of Union Street; Remove a subject.
6:17 p.m. 100 block of Egle Street; Alarm.
7:22 p.m. Marquis Manor; Complaint.
7:24 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Juvenile.
7:42 p.m. 2100 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.
8:09 p.m. 1500 block of Walnut Drive; Disturbance.
8:27 p.m. 900 block of Florence Street; Frequent patrol.
8:40 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Welfare concern.
8:44 p.m. 500 block of Barrow Street; Complaint.
9:16 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Medical emergency.
Thursday, Sept. 19
12:12 a.m. 1400 block of Redwood Street; Suspicious subject.
12:44 a.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Medical emergency.
1:06 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical emergency.

Wyandotte Elementary closed Thursday

As a precautionary measure Wyandotte Elementary will be closed Thursday due to an unidentified odor in the gym. Maintenance personnel and the Morgan City Fire Department are working diligently to identify the source, Assistant Superintendent Joseph Stadalis said.

Students will return to school once the issue has been resolved.

Opening weekend producted single-digit teal numbers

During the late ’60s, a band called Three Dog Night had a hit single, “One is the Loneliest Number That You’ll Ever Do.”
Well, if you took one look at and read the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Coastal Wildlife Management Area Hunter Participation and Harvest Survey from the opening day of the September teal season last Saturday, you’d know just how appropriate that song is.
Essentially, 232 hunters were checked on three coastal wildlife management areas: The Atchafalaya Delta, Pass a Loutre and Point aux Chenes. In years past, Salvador Wildlife Management Area typically has been included in the survey, but opening day last week, it was not. The combined actual number of teal killed by wildlife management area hunters was “one” duck per hunter.
In other words, the gumbos cooking for LSU’s big win over Northwestern last Saturday night were thin on ducks and long on gravy.
Dialing in hunter participation on St. Mary Parish public land, there were 98 hunters who were actually bag checked on the Atchafalaya Delta. Utilizing some fancy statistical mathemat-ics, the estimated number of hunters was 145 that actually harvested 1.5 teal per hunter.
I guess since we’re estimating here, 1.5 could be rounded up to mean two teal per hunter, but Three Dog Night had a lyric for that too.
“Two can be as bad as one”.
“It’s the loneliest number since the number one”.
Local hunter Corey Toups takes full advantage of the Atchafalaya Wildlife Management Area’s Wax Lake Delta year round both hunting and fishing. Toups hunted teal opening morning.
“We shot 4 teal,” Toups said. “We had opportunities that we didn’t capitalize on but had a great time. We saw much more than expected. Large flocks that seemed to be just arriving were cruising around the Atchafalaya Delta.”
During the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries aerial survey conducted during the first week of September a week prior to the season opener, biologists estimated 127,000 teal in the state. Of those estimates, 119,000 of those were reported to be in the southwestern part of the state and the remaining 8,000 in the southeast.
The estimate was twice the estimate of the 2018 aerial survey, which was the worst on record, but still one of the lowest and well below the state’s long-term average.
Lafayette resident, photographer, and avid duck hunter Danny Womack hunted teal with his brother on their lease in the marsh near Forked Island, just south of Abbeville.
“Saturday started off really dead,” Womack said. “No nothing. Then the marsh came alive with everything except teal. I didn’t have my camera with me, and the tri-color herons were lighting 15 feet away. Later in the morning we saw a nice flight of about 40 teal and saw probably 8 to 10 more before 8:30.”
“Nothing would get close,” Womack continued. “Finally, around quitting time about 8 dipped in and we missed, then had a good chuckle. We went back Sunday and saw a few and did manage to return with 3 that my brother ate that afternoon. All in all, it was really slow, but I enjoy the marsh, so it was all good.”
A little further west in Gueydan, Jack Cousin, who guides for Sportsman Charters, said things weren’t much better.
“Man, it has been a big struggle for most people in this area, unfortunately,” Cousin said. “But, it’s been okay here. We quickly learned that our best opportunities for clients have been in the afternoon, due to the full moon.”
Charles Schultz farms over 1,200 acres of property near Hayes, just south of Lake Charles. During the 2018 teal season, when blue wing numbers were the lowest on record, Schultz had one of the best seasons ever. The teal were thicker than mosquitos. And, that’s saying something for rice field country.
This year Schultz said, “Terrible. Worst I’ve ever seen area wide. I don’t know. I really think it’s just too early, although my buddy, who hunts just north of Holly Beach in the marsh, has been having a stellar season so far.”
The September teal season is the prequel to the big show that comes in November. Many duck hunters simply consider the 15-day season a tune up. The more fanatical chase ducks every chance they get.
For them, one may be the loneliest number they ever do “today,” but there’s always tomorrow…
EDITOR’S NOTE: Flores is The Daily Review’s Outdoor Writer.

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