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Rotarians hear from VA rep on outpatient clinic in Franklin

Wed, 09/11/2019 - 9:42am

Story and Photo By CASEY COLLIER

Chandra D. Johnson, RN-BSN, administrator for the Franklin Community Based Outpatient Veterans Administration Clinic, was the guest-speaker at Tuesday’s Rotary meeting in Franklin.
Her professed aim in addressing the attendees was to foster civic relationships to better serve veterans.
She opened with a run-down of the services available at the Franklin clinic.
Among the services mentioned were: laboratory services, individual and group counseling, immunizations, electrocardiograms, annual physical exams, acute and chronic outpatient services and mental health consultations.
Johnson also explained the new telecom consultation resource available.
She said that veteran enrollees at the clinic could now use a video conference network to access a wider array of treatment from providers in other cities. This she said has resulted in the Franklin clinic’s broadening its utility in treating its 640 patients.
She also discussed an upcoming mobile phone app which will be compatible with iPhones and android devices.
She said that VA Video Connect will allow Franklin clinic patients to receive treatment from VA facilities through their mobile devices or laptops. This, like video conferencing, will allow for greater access for local veterans in need of medical assistance, but who cannot come to the clinic.
When asked what she considers her biggest obstacle at the Franklin clinic, Johnson said, “Visibility,” the fact that so many citizens are unaware that Franklin even has a VA clinic.
She said the clinic has been at 603 Haifleigh St. for 10 years and people still respond with surprise when they hear about it.
She expressed gratitude for having linked up with Beverly Domengeaux, executive director of St. Mary Council on Aging, and agreed to work with Domengeaux on transportation access for senior veterans in the care of COA.
She closed the address by reminding folks of the VA-sponsored town hall meeting, that night at the Franklin Recreation Center at 6 p.m., where questions of VA programs and access would be answered through dialogue.
To learn more about the Franklin VA clinic, call 337-828-9092, or visit www.neworleans.va.gov.

Council on Aging fundraiser Sept. 20

Wed, 09/11/2019 - 9:41am

St. Mary Council on Aging will hold their 47th Annual Membership Meeting on Sept. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Patterson Civic Center.
Executive Director Beverly Domengeaux invites the public to “come out to hear our annual report, meet our employees and learn about their part in our program, elect our board of directors and enjoy good food and some surprises. Then, dance to the great music of the 5 o’clock Shadows.”
For more information call 337-907-6310.

River drops, but now sandbars are a problem

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 2:48pm

By BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

For the first time in about a year, Coast Guard Cmdr. Heather Mattern could tell the Port of Morgan City board that as of Monday, the Atchafalaya River is no longer considered to be at a high-water stage.
Now a different problem has surfaced: shoaling.
“There’s islands popping up all over,” said Mattern, who commands the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit Morgan City.
At the Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District board meeting, members talked about sandbars that have appeared in the river. The most visible of them, easily seen from the U.S. 90 bridge, is in Berwick Bay near the Morgan City wharf and north of the railroad bridge.
The sandbars are a reminder of how much sediment has been deposited in the river during high water. Pictures of sandbars have become popular on local Facebook accounts.
Mattern said the problem is more pronounced near 20 Grand Point and other local other areas.
A question from the audience was about whether Coast Guard vessels would continue to shadow traffic between Tidewater Point and 20 Grand Point, a process that can slow the flow of cargo.
Mattern said a mishap might slow traffic even more.
A ship running aground could block the channel for several days, she said.
The Coast Guard has let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers know that the sandbars are a priority for dredging, Mattern said.
The port board’s efforts to keep area waterways open for commercial traffic have come to resemble a game of whack-a-mole. After years of efforts to obtain more funding for dredging, the board learned last year that it would receive more than $40 million over two years for dredging.
Sediment deposited by the river has prevented some traffic, including import-export shipping.
A 2017 study found that having the bar channel maintained to 20 feet deep, 365 days a year would have an annual economic impact of at least $137 million and up to $270 million.
Then came the high water.
Board Chairman Joseph Cain expressed a hope that material removed by dredging could be moved to land rather than dumped elsewhere in the waterways.
While most of Louisiana’s coastline is being eroded, the mouth of the Atchafalaya is actually adding new land as sediment filters out there.
“It would be beneficial to the landowner, to the port …,” Cain said.
“There’s lots of material to be had, I guarantee you,” said Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade. “There’s millions of yards of sand in the bay.”
One side effect of the recent water conditions is that the boat carrying officials, including members of the Mississippi River Commission, for their annual tour down the river couldn’t get to Morgan City.
So Wade was offered the chance to make the case to a captive audience for improving conditions near the port, said Economic Development Manager Cindy Cutrera.
Some officials representing other interests along the Gulf Coast have pushed for more water to be diverted from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya through the Old River Control Structure, Cutrera said.
“We made it clear that we don’t need more water or sediment coming through the Old River complex,” Cutrera said.

Wheel House for Sept. 10

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 2:44pm

BINGO
Tri-City Bingo, every Wednesday through Sunday. Doors open at 2 p.m., 612 Catherine St., Suites 4 and 5, Patterson. First game at 3:30 p.m. Bingo closes at 8 p.m. For more info., 985-992-3090.

MOUNT ZION
Baptist Church, 507 Fourth Street, is celebrating 145th church anniversary Sunday, Sept. 22, 2 p.m. The Rev. Mark Lewis, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, New Iberia, is guest speaker. Public invited.

ZION CHAPEL AME
Pastor appreciation program for the Rev. Richelle Castine Sunday, Sept. 22, 3 p.m., at Zion Chapel AME Church, 1511 Cherry Street, Patterson. The Rev. Vincent Mills of Nelson Chapel AME Church in Napoleonville and Bethel AME Church of Plaquemine is guest speaker. Public invited.

LIFE CHAIN
Seventh Annual Patterson Louisiana Life Chain Sunday, Oct. 6, 2-3 p.m., at U.S. 90 and Wise Street in Patterson. Rain or shine.

Visitor in blue

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 2:40pm

Submitted Photos
The Morgan City Police Department takes care of the students of the Presbyterian Pre-K by conducting safety walk-throughs. Officer Carl Johnson, pictured with the students, surprised them recently with bubbles and ring lights. The school thanked him for his kindness.

Police: Man went 103 mph on motorcycle, fled officer

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 10:43am

STAFF REPORT

A Donaldsonville man was doing 103 mph on a motorcycle and led a chase involving Morgan City police, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and Patterson Police, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Nicholas Leblanc, 28, of St. Simon Place in Donaldsonville, was arrested at 11:06 p.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, reckless operation of a vehicle, vehicle without required equipment or unsafe, aggravated flight from an officer, no driver’s license on person, no motorcycle endorsement, and resisting an officer.
An officer patrolling U.S. 90 saw a motorcycle traveling at what appeared at an extremely high rate of speed. The officer activated his radar, which showed the motorcycle traveling at 103 mph. The officer attempted to catch the motorcycle and called for assistance from other agencies.
The driver of the motorcycle then passed a St. Mary sheriff’s deputy, who joined the chase. The driver turned into a residential area and pulled into a driveway at which time he dropped the motorcycle and ran on foot. Officers from the Patterson Police Department helping in the chase caught the driver as he attempted to enter a wooded area. The driver identified as LeBlanc was placed under arrest, Blair said.
LeBlanc was found not to have his driver’s license on his person, nor did he have a motorcycle endorsement. The motorcycle was found to have unsafe equipment which resulted in the additional charges. He was jailed.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 144 calls for service and the following arrests were made:
—Tracy Vidos III, 40, of Shell Beach Road in Pierre Part, was arrested at 4:12 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance methamphetamine, no turn signal, and improper lane use. An officer in the area of the U.S. 90 and La.182 intersection saw a vehicle turn without using a signal and then drive in both lanes of the roadway. The officer stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Vidos, Blair said.
During the stop, the officer obtained consent to search the vehicle and located suspected methamphetamine, the chief said. Vidos admitted to the officer that the suspected methamphetamine was his. He was jailed.
—Daniel Espinoza, 42, of Idaho Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:15 a.m. Sunday on charges of domestic abuse battery and fraudulent use of an identification card.
Officers were called to an Idaho Street residence due to a battery that had taken place. Officers learned that the suspect had run from the scene before they arrived, Blair said. They were able to locate a subject near the area and brought him back to the scene where he was identified as Espinoza. Espinoza then gave officers a Texas ID card, which was found to be fake. He was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrests:
—Gregory Hartman, 67, of Oregon Street in Berwick was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Friday on charges of simple cruelty to animals and a warrant for the 16th Judicial District Court for failure to appear on charges of attempted distribution of cocaine.
Officers were dispatched to Oregon Street in reference to a small dog running loose with a collar that was tight. The dog ran into a residence identified as the residence of Hartman. Officers recognized the dog as belonging to Hartman due to recent complaints about the dog being malnourished.
Officers observed the collar on the dog was cutting into the dog’s neck and it was bleeding, Leonard said. Officers rendered aid and took the dog into custody for further treatment. Officers learned that Hartman had active warrants for the 16th Judicial Court. He was jailed with no bond set.
—Marvin Mejia-Aguilar, 32, of Jerica Street in Galliano, was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Friday on charges of reckless operation of a motor vehicle and no driver’s license. Officers were patrolling in the area of U.S. 90 East when they observed a vehicle travelling with no headlights or taillights. The vehicle was traveling at speeds of 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. A traffic stop was conducted and Mejia-Aguilar was identified as the driver. He was jailed and released on a $302 bond.
—Raven Burise, 28, of Taft Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. Saturday on charges of license plate light required, driving under suspension, no insurance, and for a warrant for failure to appear to the 16th Judicial District Court on charges of issuing worthless checks.
Officers were patrolling the area of Bowman Street when they observed a vehicle operating without a working license plate light. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Burise. It was learned that Burise’s driver’s license was suspended and she had an active warrant for the 16th Judicial District Court. She was jailed and released on a $1500 bond.
—Sarah Watson, 26, of Marquis Manor in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:09 a.m. Sunday on charges of first offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated (refusal), improper lane usage, and texting while driving. Officers were patrolling the area of La. 182 when they observed a vehicle swerve and cross the white fog line and the solid yellow line of the roadway. Officers conducted a traffic stop and the driver was identified as Watson.
Officers indicated that Watson had a strong odor of alcohol emitting from her breath and person. Officers advised that Watson admitted to drinking and also texting a friend while driving. A field sobriety test was conducted on which Watson performed poorly, Leonard said.. Watson was placed under arrest and transported to Berwick P.D. for the state’s breath test which she refused to submit a sample. Officers obtained a no refusal search warrant for her blood, which was acquired with results pending. She was jailed and released on a $3,250 bond.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 903 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Euclide Legnon, 70, of Filmore Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:36 p.m. Friday on two warrants for charges of residential contractor fraud and exploitation of the infirm. Legnon turned himself into the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office on the active warrants for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Shane Orion Suire, 23, of Carol Drive in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:45 p.m. Friday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of heroin and simple burglary. A deputy received an anonymous call of a subject at a business in Amelia who held active warrants for his arrest. The deputy made contact with Suire and confirmed the active warrants. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Malcomb Jerome Williams III, 20, of Trevino Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of failure to stop at a stop sign. Williams turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed with bail set at $350.
—Ricardo Zermeno, 21, of Aycock Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:47 p.m. Saturday on charges of obedience to offer/traffic signs and driving under suspension. A deputy was conducting a funeral escort on the corner of La. 182 and Aycock Street in Morgan City when he observed a vehicle proceed past his unit while blocking traffic. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Zermeno, Smith said.
The deputy learned through dispatch that he was driving under suspension. Zermeno was arrested and released on a summons to appear in court on Dec. 2.
—Kacy Bonin Sons, 34, of Nevada Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:01 a.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of forgery and possession of alprazolam. A deputy was traveling east on La. 182 in Bayou Vista when he observed a vehicle driving on the shoulder of the highway. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Sons. The deputy was advised by dispatch that Sons held the active warrants for her arrest. She was jailed with no bail set.
—Christopher Thomas Singleton, 33, of Friendship Alley in Amelia, was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace by language and resisting arrest/officer. Deputies were dispatched to Friendship Alley in Amelia in reference to gunshots being fired. The deputies made contact with Singleton who became irate with another subject. During the arrest, Singleton resisted. He was jailed with bail set at $3,000.
St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronald J. Theriot reported the following arrest:
—Quvando Henry, 28, of Breaux Bridge, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of armed robbery, simple possession of marijuana, illegal possession of stolen firearms and possession of a firearm (concealed) by a convicted felon.
Investigators learned a subject was contacted on Facebook Marketplace in reference to a dirt bike he had for sale. On Aug. 8, the subject agreed to meet the potential buyer in the Breaux Bridge area. Upon meeting with two subjects, one of the subjects asked to drive the dirt bike. Simultaneously, the second subject produced a handgun and robbed the victim of several personal items. The two suspects were identified by investigators as Henry and Kelvondrick Zeno, 18, of Breaux Bridge, Theriot said.
Henry was jailed with bond set at $80,000. Zeno is still currently wanted on charges for principal to armed Robbery.
Investigators are asking anyone who has information as to the whereabouts of Kelvondrick Zeno, to please contact the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-394-3071, via messenger on the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Facebook, or St. Martin Parish Crime Stoppers at 441-3030.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported there were no arrests.

Senator: State tax changes are needed

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 10:36am

JACLYN BREAUX

jbreaux@daily-review.com

State Sen. Bret Allain thinks it’s time to change the way Louisiana people are taxed.
Allain, R-Franklin, spoke to members of the St. Mary Industrial Group on Monday at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Allain qualified to run for a third Senate term and is unopposed, meaning he’ll return to the Louisiana Senate, where he is the vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
“The tax structure in this state, along with several other things, I think needs to be fixed,” he said Monday.
Allain targeted the practice of taxing local people to raise state revenue, some of which is then returned to local governments.
“We collected to send back to local governments almost $5 billion, maybe $6 billion when you consider the MFP,” Allain said. “That’s way too much.”
The MFP is the Minimum Foundation Program, the main state funding mechanism for local public education.
Allain traced the local-to-state-to-local system to the Kingfish.
“The idea at the time, at least during Huey Long, and that has continued on to the next, was, let’s make local government come to Baton Rouge and ‘kiss the ring’ for the money,” Allain said. “I just think the whole philosophy of that is wrong.”
Allain would prefer not to see local funds going through the state. He believes that local funds should be appropriated and spent locally.
His solution would be to have a constitutional convention. This would be an assembly of delegates or representatives of the state gathered for the purpose of framing or amending the existing system.
“Let’s present to the people a holistic plan,” Allain said. “The way it works is two-thirds of each body approves the calling and dictates which topics to discuss. Once the constitutional convention produces a product, it has to go to the voters for ratification, so [voters] have the last say on it,” Allain said.
“There are a lot of things that need to be changed and over the last eight years, we have tried to Band-Aid and change little pieces here and there, and I just don’t think it’s a holistic plan,” Allain said.
“The confidence in the Legislature because of it is, I think, a little bit lower than it needs to be. But I think if we produce a plan that everyone can get behind, we can change the tax structure.”
Allain said his time on Senate Finance is spent “trying to figure out a $32 billion budget.” About $10 billion comes from state revenue, and the rest comes from the federal government.
“I think we will be declaring somewhere around a $250-300 million budget surplus, which means we took that much more in than we gave,” Allain said.
The state was able to give an increase to higher education and councils on aging, and provide $100 million toward teacher pay raises in the last session.
“All in all, I think we did a pretty good job,” Allain said. “The budget seems to be in pretty good shape. I think we have enough money to do everything we need to do, and I would be opposed to any additional taxes or revenues.”

Radio Logs for September 10

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 10:28am

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.
Monday, Sept. 9
5:52 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:03 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
6:46 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless operation.
8:15 a.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Hit and run.
8:36 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Theft.
8:52 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Civil.
8:56 a.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Complaint.
9:07 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Alarm.
10:36 a.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious subjects.
11:08 a.m. 2200 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
11:47 a.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Disturbance.
11:51 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Theft.
11:52 a.m. Lawrence Street; Loud music.
12:09 p.m. 1600 block of Walnut Street; Animal complaint.
12:10 p.m. Vine Drive; Reckless operation.
12:33 p.m. 1600 block of Federal Avenue; Arrest.
12:39 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
12:50 p.m. 600 block of General MacArthur Street; Telephone harassment.
1:23 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
1:33 p.m. Kidd Street; Warrant.
1:41 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Crash.
2:05 p.m. 1100 block of Second Street; Alarm.
2:37 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Complaint.
2:57 p.m. La. 182; Complaint.
3:13 p.m. Orange Street; Complaint.
3:22 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Stand by.
3:47 p.m. 500 block of Freret Street; Complaint.
3:49 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:54 p.m. La. 70; Reckless operation.
5:44 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
7:03 p.m. 1700 block of East Garner Street; Accident.
7:37 p.m. Fifth Street and Brashear Avenue; Warrant.
7:56 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Remove subject.
8:57 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Sign removed.
9:12 p.m. U.S. 90 Westbound near Martin Luther King Boulevard; Stalled vehicle.
Tuesday, Sept. 10
12:44 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.

Medical centers announce area births

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 10:04am

Born to Morgan Niyae Jones of Patterson, a girl, Milan Paige Jones, on Aug. 19 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 8 pounds, 3.5 ounces and measured 20 inches. —— Born to Joei Loreal Bailey and Jeremie Earl Harrison of Patterson, a girl, Emma Grace Harrison, on Aug. 20 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. She weighed 6 pounds, 12.86 ounces and measured 20 inches. —— Born to Mr. and Mrs. David Paul Nolting (nee: Lindsey Johnson) of Morgan City, twins, a girl, Julia Catherine Nolting, and a boy, James Merritt Nolting, on Aug. 20 at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Julia weighed 6 pounds,

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Wife discovers man has been secretly recording arguments

Tue, 09/10/2019 - 10:02am

DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 10 years and have two children. One of them is a toddler. I recently found out that my husband has been recording me with his phone at various times without my consent when we have heated arguments. He claims he does it to protect himself in the event that I try to have him arrested. Abby, there is no abuse in our marriage, and I have never threatened to call the police on him. I’m hurt and paranoid now. I don’t even want to be in my own home. He claims to have ...