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December 11, 1926 — September 10, 2019
Bonnie Nini Agnelly, 92, of Berwick, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
A native of Berwick, she was born December 11, 1926, to Gilbert Nini and Agnes Theriot Nini.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, Walter Agnelly of Berwick; son, Kirk Guidry and wife Carolyn of Baton Rouge; daughter, Ann Guidry Martin and husband Jack of Berwick; stepchildren, Walter Agnelly Jr., Kathy Johnson and Yvette Agnelly, all of New Orleans; grandchildren, Jill Guidry of Baton Rouge, Jamie Aucoin Hotard of Berwick, Shelley Aucoin of Berwick, and Chris Guidry and wife Kristen Carlson of Belgrade, Maine; step-grandchildren, Michelle Martin Gilmore and husband Daniel of Patterson, and Rachel Martin Smith and husband Warren of Patterson; great-grandchildren, Seth Spinner of Baton Rouge, Rayne and Miley Hotard of Berwick, and Lo, Thora, Orion and Leo Guidry of Belgrade, Maine.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Agnes Nini; first husband, Dewey Guidry; two sisters and two brothers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations made to St. Stephen Church of Berwick would be greatly appreciated.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September, 12, 2019, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Berwick with Monsignor Courville officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 12, 2019, at St. Stephens Catholic Church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. After Mass, Bonnie will be laid to rest in the Berwick cemetery mausoleum.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s new energy minister suggested on Monday that oil producers would need to share greater responsibility to balance the market in comments that marked his debut since being named to one of the most important positions in the kingdom the previous day.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman’s remarks indicate he will likely continue a similar policy to that of his predecessor, Khalid al-Falih, who led the deal to cut global production among major oil producers. Al-Falih had been in the role since 2016, but saw his portfolio and role diminished in the days leading up to his replacement as energy minister early Sunday.
Prince Abdulaziz was speaking in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, at an energy conference ahead of a meeting later this week between OPEC member-states and other major oil producers like Russia to review an agreement to cut production.
The group, known as OPEC-plus, agreed this year to extend production cuts of 1.2 million barrels per day until March 2020.
“It’s all about incremental contributions that can make a deal work and work better, or may work in a less optimal way,” Prince Abdulaziz said.
Saudi Arabia has led production cuts as OPEC’s kingpin to keep oil prices from sliding further, even as Iranian and Venezuelan oil exports are down due to U.S. sanctions. The Saudi-driven strategy, however, has not been able to push prices up significantly with global trade tensions between China and the U.S. weighing on oil prices.
Prince Abdulaziz, who is the first prince from the ruling Al Saud family to lead the country’s energy ministry, said he did not want to be “too presumptuous” by discussing what he thinks the group of major oil producers should do heading into Thursday’s OPEC meeting.
“I’m not here to pre-empt the meeting that will be held in two days,” he said. “I respect consensus and maybe because we’re the biggest exporter that makes it even more incumbent on us to stress the importance of everybody.”
International benchmark Brent crude was trading Monday above $61 a barrel, up slightly from where it was trading on Friday.
Still, that’s considerably below the $80-$85 a barrel that analysts say is needed to balance Saudi Arabia’s budget. Defending oil prices, or at least working to keep them from plummeting, is a key task for Saudi Arabia’s energy minister.
Prince Abdulaziz said he wouldn’t describe concerns over global trade tensions that are impacting oil prices as a “trade war,” saying: “I’m fundamentally an optimist.”
He also waved off the International Energy Agency’s projections that demand for oil was slowing.
“I think the market is now is driven by negative sentiments emanating from negative views, but I don’t believe that demand has been impacted,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the conference.
The prince is King Salman’s fourth son and an older half brother to the 34-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He enters the job with a lifetime of experience in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and is seen as a safe and steady choice to lead the ministry, where he will oversee production of one of the world’s largest oil exporters. He has held senior roles in the energy ministry for more than three decades and most recently was minister of state for energy affairs.
Offering a glimpse into how he’s approaching the job of energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz described himself as a “kitchen or basement man.”
“I belong to the downstairs. I’ve always liked working in the “basement,” he said, adding that he’s content with the notion of serving “my country, my king.”
Prince Abdulaziz also made a brief mention of his much younger brother, referring to him as “Prince Mohammed” when thanking King Salman, the crown prince and his predecessor al-Falih for allowing him to pursue work he enjoyed in his previous role as state minister.
Prince Abdulaziz also said Saudi Arabia wanted to pursue a “full cycle” nuclear program, which would entail the kingdom processing and enriching its own uranium. That has spooked nonproliferation experts, who warn such technology could allow Saudi Arabia to pursue a nuclear weapon amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran’s program.
Dan Brouillette, a deputy U.S. energy secretary who attended Monday’s event, said he hoped Saudi Arabia would instead choose to go with a so-called “123 Agreement” like the United Arab Emirates. The UAE choose to agree to strict inspections and a pledge never to pursue uranium enrichment and plutonium processing.
“Personally, I think that’s something we have to work out with them,” Brouillette told journalists. “I think it’s very important that we stick to the 123 Agreements. What they look like at the end is going to be a subject of negotiation, but as we move forward with U.S. technology in particular, we are very much committed to finding an appropriate 123 with Saudi Arabia.”

Jeanerette-based Shipbuilder Metal Shark has announced its expansion into the country of Peru, with a new patrol boat order now in production, and a multiyear co-production agreement recently established with the state-operated Peruvian shipyard Servicios Industriales de la Marina.
The first round of Peruvian Navy maritime interdiction vessels are now being built by Metal Shark in the United States. Under a co-production agreement with SIMA, Metal Shark plans to deliver multiple similar vessels to Peruvian interests through training and the transfer of designs, technological resources, and production methodologies to SIMA.
“This agreement represents a cooperative commitment by Metal Shark and SIMA, Peru’s national shipyard, to dramatically expand Metal Shark’s influence in Peru,” said Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard. “This strategic move will further bolster Metal Shark’s presence in Latin America while allowing Peruvian military and commercial operators expedited access to Metal Shark’s engineering and technological resources, as well as our extensive portfolio of proven vessel designs.”
Production of 45-foot Defiant-class patrol boats for the Peruvian Navy recently commenced at Metal Shark’s Jeanerette production facility.
The standardized 45 Defiant patrol craft platform has been customized to suit the Peruvian Navy’s maritime interdiction mission requirements. Powered by twin inboard Cat Marine diesel engines coupled with Hamilton water jets, the vessel will reach speeds well in excess of 40 knots.
“Metal Shark is proud to add the Peruvian Navy to our growing list of international customers, which now totals over 50 military and commercial operators worldwide,” said Henry Irizarry, Metal Shark’s vice president of international business development.

Staff Report
A narcotics search warrant led police to a large amount of drugs, cash and a handgun in a River Road residence, Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. said in a news release.
—Peter Dupre, 60, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 1:52 p.m. Monday on charges of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Vonda Dupre, 56, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 1:52 p.m. Monday on charges of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (Xanax), possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers with the Berwick Police Department with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at the Dupre’s residence on River Road. Officers made contact with Vonda and Peter Dupre. A search of the residence resulted in finding a large amount of marijuana along with Xanax pills, items of drug paraphernalia, and a large amount of U.S. currency. It was learned that the marijuana and Xanax pills were destined to sell and that the monies were derived from the illegal sales of narcotics. During the search, a handgun was located in the residence. Both were jailed.
Leonard also reported the following arrests:
—Garry Elliott, 35, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 9:51 a.m. Monday on a charge of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).
—Brandie Ramsour, 40, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 10:22 a.m. Monday on a warrant for St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear on a charge of stop sign violation.
—Stephanie Farison, 28, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 10:22 a.m. Monday on charges of possession with the intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Antoinette Farison, 60, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 10:22 a.m. Monday on a charge of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).
Officers responded to a disturbance call on River Road where an odor of Marijuana was detected coming from the residence. Elliott was found to have marijuana on his person, Leonard said. Consent was given to search the residence at which time Marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia were found inside the residence. It was later learned that the marijuana belonging to S. Farison was destined to be sold. A warrants check revealed that Ramsour had an active warrant for her arrest. All were jailed.
—Robert Carter Askew, 53, of Techeview Drive in Berwick, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Monday for warrants on the charges of domestic abuse battery, aggravated battery and hit-and-run driving. Askew turned himself in to the Berwick Police Department for the active warrants. The warrants stem from an incident on Sept. 8 where Askew is accused of committing a battery on a victim and allegedly struck the victim’s vehicle with his own vehicle and left the scene. He was jailed.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 42 calls for service and the following arrests were made:
—Ryan Vaughn, 35, of Katelyn Street in Shriever, was arrested at 4:50 a.m. Monday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, and a warrant for Assumption Parish for failure to appear on charges of simple burglary.
—Lawrence Garrett, 23, of Railroad Alley in Gibson, was arrested at 4:50 a.m. Monday on a charge of second offense possession of synthetic marijuana, and warrants for the City Court of Morgan City for failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, probation violation, contempt of court and possession of synthetic marijuana. Officers were called to a La .182 business due to possible drug activity and were given a description of a vehicle which they located at the business.
Officers located Vaughn and Garrett and learned that both subjects had outstanding warrant. Officers located suspected drug paraphernalia in property belonging to Vaughn, Blair said. Garrett was found to be in possession of suspected Synthetic Marijuana found on him during a search. Both were jailed.
—Paul Daigle, 41, of Park Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:41 p.m. Monday on warrants for City Court of Morgan City for failure to appear on the charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace, and disturbing the peace intoxicated. Officers located Daigle at a Federal Avenue residence at which time officers knew of warrants for his arrest. He was jailed.
—Surgio Sumano-Garcia, 55, of Second Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:33 p.m. Monday on charges of first offence driving while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vehicle. Detectives on La. 182 noticed a male subject in a vehicle yelling at them and they noticed that the subject appeared to have slurred speech. Detectives saw the vehicle cross the center line and swerving between the two lanes of travel.
Detectives stopped the driver who was identified as Garcia. Garcia seemed intoxicated and did poorly on a field sobriety test. Garcia was transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he submitted to a breath sample with the results of 0175 g%. He was jailed.
—Wayne Demarco Jr., 30, of Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of Scheduled II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and warrants for the charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law drug-free zone. Detectives patrolling the area of Brashear Avenue came into contact with Demarco knowing that he had outstanding warrants. Officers arrested Demarco on the outstanding warrants and during a search found him to be in possession of syringes and suspect methamphetamine. The warrants stemmed from a previous narcotics investigation. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 29 complaints and the following arrest was made:
—Kacy Lynn Sons, 34, of North First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:35 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Sons was located at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on an active warrant for her arrest. She was jailed with bail set at $17,620.85.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:
—Aaron Johnson, 33, of Third Street in Patterson, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Monday on charges of speeding 25 miles per hour in a 15 miles per hour zone and driver’s license suspended. He was jailed with bond set at $582.