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The kids are back in school

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 1:08pm

Top Photo: Thursday was the first day of the 2019-20 school year for more than 8,000 St. Mary Parish public school students. Students were greeted Thursday at Bayou Vista Elementary by the faculty and staff, as well as the school’s mascot, Allie the Alligator. Bottom Photo: These youngsters and their adult supervision wait Thursday for classes to begin at Patterson's Hattie Watts Elementary. From left are Danielle Harris, Frankie Harris, Murray Bridget, Rainee Merritt, Diane Gray and Khaven Merritt.

LINDA NERVE

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 1:02pm

Linda Nerve, 67, a resident of Franklin, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019 at 9:15 a.m. at Iberia Medical Center in New Iberia.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.

Washing the wharf

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 12:19pm

Morgan City firefighters were busy Thursday washing the mud off the city wharf, which had been underwater for months. High water in the Atchafalaya River system put the 2-year-old wharf renovation to the test. At 11 a.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service said the river at Morgan City had slipped to 5.96 feet, or 0.04 below the official flood stage.

The Daily Review/Bill Decker

Donation for Wee Jacks

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 11:35am

Submitted Photo
Hattie A. Watts faculty members Danielle Grow, left, and Katelyn Mayeux accept a donation from Patterson State Bank Chief Financial Officer Jason Watson. The Wee Jack Sponsorships received from area businesses help alleviate the cost of schoolwide events ensuring the students have a fun and productive school year.

Friday event will mark end of 'Ghosts' season

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 11:35am

Staff Report

As the first season of “Ghosts of Morgan City” on the Travel Channel comes to an end this Friday, the city of Morgan City, along with Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau, are sponsoring a fun-filled evening starting at 5:30 p.m.
Fans will be able to attend a Meet and Greet of the cast from the show, as well as a viewing of the season one finale.
This event is free to the public and will be held at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
The Meet and Greet portion of the event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the viewing of the show following at 8 p.m. Refreshments and souvenirs will be available.
Cast members Sarah Newton Lemos, a medium, as well as Jereme Leonard, known as the Cajun Demonologist, are hosting a separate event before the Meet and Greet at the auditorium.
Leonard will be giving a demonologist 101 class from 12:30-2:00 p.m. “We will discuss basics of spiritual warfare and how energy affects our lives” Leonard said. The cost for this is $10 at the door.
Lemos will be sharing a few hours answering questions the public may have about being a psychic medium from 2:30-4:00 p.m. She will also be providing a few psychic readings. The cost for this is $10 at the door.
Jereme Leonard, who is from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, said “my favorite part of filming in Morgan City would have to be the people. With me being from Louisiana myself, I feel like I have a deep connection with the fine citizens of Morgan City and St. Mary Parish.”
Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi, who was featured in the show, said he has watched all the episodes and “they are all good. Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, they showcase the city, which is a win-win for Morgan City and St. Mary Parish.”
On June 21, local residents, along with those in the nation, were able to watch the season premiere of a new Travel Channel series, “Ghosts of Morgan City.” DVRs were set to record, viewing parties were prepared, and locals were discussing the show on social media anxious to see which areas around St. Mary Parish would be featured.
Season one of Ghosts of Morgan City consisted of eight one-hour episodes, airing at 8 p.m. Fridays..
The show quickly gained a fan base, as well as skeptics, but the official “Ghosts of Morgan City” fan page on Facebook currently has 9,985 members.

Charges added in jail drug case

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 11:24am

Staff Report
A package intended for a Berwick woman who was incarcerated in the Morgan City jail was found to have drugs, leading to her arrest, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported in a news release.
—Kristie Blanchard, 40, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday on warrants for charges of criminal conspiracy to distribute Schedule II CDS (Hydrocodone), and criminal conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution. The warrants stem from a July 29 investigation conducted by the Morgan City Narcotics Division.
Investigators were alerted by the corrections supervisor about items that were delivered to the Morgan City Jail containing crushed up Hydrocodone pills. During the course of the investigation, it was learned the items were intended to be delivered to Blanchard, who was already incarcerated at the Morgan City Police Department. A warrant was obtained for her arrest. She was booked on the warrant and the investigation is ongoing at this time.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 30 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Timothy Francis, 32, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:57 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of criminal trespassing. Detec-tives with the Morgan City Police Department conduct-ing an investigation came into contact with Francis on Robin Street located within the Morgan City Housing Authority property. Detec-tives learned Francis was barred from the Morgan City Housing Authority property. He was jailed.
—Lamarcus Jermaine Francois, 25, of Douglas Road in Washington, D.C., was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for a charge of failure to appear. Officers came into contact with Francois on La. 70. A local warrants check revealed the City Court of Morgan City held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed.
—Dale R. Fromenthal, 63, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:18 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of first offense driving while intoxicated. An officer on patrol observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection of La. 182 and U.S. 90. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Fromenthal. The officer suspected driver impairment. Fromenthal was given a standardized field sobriety test which he performed poorly on. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department. Once at the Morgan City Police Department he submitted to an intoxilyzer test giving a breath sample of .203g%. He was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Moises Bonilla Jr., 21, of Williams Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:43 p.m. Tuesday on charges of simple criminal damage to property. He was jailed and released on a bond in the amount of $419.
—Corey Lee Percle, 40, of Field Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:27 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant from St. Mary Parish Sher-iff’s Office and a warrant from Morgan City Police Department. He was jailed with no bond set.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported that there were no arrests.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s office made no arrests.

Qualifying ends, races are set for Oct. 12 primary

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 10:58am

The races for the Oct. 12 primary are set, and St. Mary voters have choices to make up and down the ballot at the state and parish level.

Seven people, all incumbents with St. Mary constituencies, will remain in office by virtue of qualifying alone in their offices or districts:

--State Sen. Bret Allain, the Jeanerette Republican who is reportedly gaining influence in the Legislature.

--Assessor Jarrod K. Longman of Morgan City.

--Coroner Eric Melancon, who was first elected last fall to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Chip Metz, who retired.

--District 1 Parish Councilman Craig A. Mathews of Jeanerette.

--District 2 Parish Councilman J Ina of Franklin.

--District 6 Parish Councilman Patrick J. Hebert of Morgan City.

--District 7 Parish Councilman James W. Bennett of Morgan City.

This list has been updated to reflect a correction in the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office list.

Here are the candidates who qualified Tuesday through Thursday.

State Senate
District 21
R. L. “Bret” Allain II, Jeanerette, Republican - I

State Representative
50th Representative District
Shawn Canty, Berwick, Republican
Javon Charles, Morgan City, no party
Raymond Harris Jr., Franklin, no party
Chet Howard, Franklin, Republican
Vincent J. St. Blanc III, Franklin, Republican,

State Representative
51st Representative District
Beryl Amedee, Gray, Republican — I
Clayton Voisin, Houma, Republican

Sheriff
Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi, Morgan City, no party
Todd Pellerin, Centerville, no party
Blaise Smith, Franklin, Democrat--I

Clerk of Court
Rose Susan Dorsey, Franklin, no party
Cliff Dressel, Franklin, Democrat — I

Assessor
Jarrod K. Longman, Morgan City, Democrat — I

Coroner
Eric J. Melancon, Patterson, Republican — I

Parish President
David Hanagriff, Centerville, Democrat — I
Kenneth W. Perry Jr., Franklin, independent

Council Member District 1
Craig A. Mathews, Jeanerette, Democrat--I

Council Member District 2
J Ina, Franklin, Democrat — I

Council Member District 3
Rodney Olander, Franklin, Republican
Glynn Pellerin, Franklin, Republican
Peter Soprano, Franklin, Democrat

Council Member District 4
James "Jimmy" Lemoine Jr., Morgan City, Republican
Daniel "Danny" Lipari, Patterson, no party
Ramsey, Morgan City, Republican

Council Member District 5
Leslie “Les” G. Rulf Jr., Patterson, Republican
Reginald D. Weary, Patterson, Democrat

Council Member District 6
Patrick J. Hebert, Morgan City, Republican--I

Council Member District 7
James W. Bennett Jr., Morgan City, no party—I

Council District 8
Mark A. Duhon, Amelia, no party
"Nick" Morris , Amelia, no party
Andros A. Williams, Morgan City, no party

Council Member at Large District 9
Dale J. Rogers, Franklin, Democrat—I
Murphy Pontiff, Franklin, Democrat
Kristi Prejeant, Morgan City, Republican

Council Member at Large District 10
Jeremy A. Chesteen, Patterson, Republican
Rhonda R. Dennis, Patterson, Republican
Gwen Landry Hidalgo, Morgan City, no party

Council Member at Large District 11
Dean S. Adams, Morgan City, Republican
Howard Castay, Democrat, Morgan City
William "Bill" McCarty, Morgan City, no party

State races
Governor
Ralph Abraham, Baton Rouge, Republican
Oscar "Omar" Dantzler, Hammond, Democrat
Patrick J. Doguet, Rayne, Republican
John Bel Edwards, Baton Rouge, Democrat--I
Gary Landrieu, Metairie, Independent
Patrick "Live Wire" Landry, New Orleans, Republican
Manuel Russell Leach, Natchitoches, Republican
M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza, Ponchatoula, Democrat
Eddie" Rispone, Baton Rouge, Republican

Lieutenant Governor
Willie Jones, New Orleans, Democrat
William "Billy" Nungesser, Belle Chasse, Republican--I
Rao M. Uppu, Prairieville, Democrat

Secretary of State
Kyle Ardoin, Baton Rouge, Republican--I
"Gwen" Collins-Greenup, Clinton, Democrat
Amanda "Jennings" Smith, Bastrop, Republican
Thomas J. Kennedy III, Metairie, Republican

Attorney General
"Ike" Jackson Jr., Plaquemine, Democrat
"Jeff" Landry, Broussard, Republican--I

Treasurer
Derrick Edwards, Harvey, Democrat
Teresa Kenny, New Orleans, no party
John M. Schroder, Baton Rouge, Republican--I

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry
Marguerite Green, New Orleans, Democrat
"Charlie" Greer, Natchez, Democrat
Michael G. "Mike" Strain, Covington, Republican--I
Peter Williams, Baton Rouge, Democrat
Bradley Zaunbrecher, Egan, Republican

Commissioner of Insurance
James J. "Jim" Donelon, Metairie, Republican -- I
"Tim" Temple, Baton Rouge, Republican

BESE District 3
"Sandy" LeBlanc Holloway. Thibodaux, Republican--I
Janice Perea, Houma, Republican

Radio Logs for August 8

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 9:51am

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, August 7
6:01 a.m. 1125 Marguerite Street; Battery.
7:24 a.m. Sand pit area; Suspicious vehicle.
7:33 a.m. 100 block of Youngs Road; Escort.
7:43 a.m. Holy Cross; Escort.
7:51 a.m. 1600 block of Dale Street; Animal complaint.
8:13 a.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
9:36 a.m. 1600 block Ridgeway Drive; Medical emergency.
9:36 a.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Medical emergency.
11:02 a.m. 1100 Marguerite Street; Accident.
11:12 a.m. 1600 block of Parlange Drive; Alarm.
11:56 a.m. 500 block of Duke Street; Hang up call.
12:42 p.m. Morgan City Police Department lobby; Remove a subject.
12:59 p.m. 1200 block of Clothilde Street; Disturbance.
2:19 p.m. Jail; Arrest/hold.
2:42 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Suspicious vehicle.
3:05 p.m. La. 182/Greenwood Overpass; Escort.
3:27 p.m. 100 block of Youngs Road; Escort.
3:30 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Accident.
4:11 p.m. 400 block of Greenwood Avenue; Alarm.
4:35 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
4:56 p.m. Morgan City Police Department lobby; Arrest.
9:05 p.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Alarm.
9:55 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Trespassing.
10:14 p.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal.
10:16 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
10:33 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
11:29 p.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Suspicious activity.
Thursday, August 8
1:55 a.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Suspicious activity.
3:04 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.

St. Mary represented by 49 youth at 4-H University

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 9:37am

On June 18, a group of St. Mary Parish 4-H members traveled to the LSU campus in Baton Rouge to attend an educational experience known as 4-H University. The delegation consisted of 49 4-H youth, seven adult volunteers and three extension agents.
The 4-H University program provides opportunities for youth to learn, interact with one another, and explore campus life while discovering about possible educational and career options of their interest.
St. Mary Parish 4-H members who attended 4-H University learned how to take responsibility for their actions, think independently, and focus on personal and team goals.
Months before the event, youth spent countless hours studying and attending trainings to prepare for their competitions. These youth who took the opportunity to compete see their efforts rewarded by winning educational trips or advancing to national competitions representing Louisiana.
For those that do not compete, several classes are offered in a noncompetitive learning event called Clover College. Participants in Clover College received more than seven hours of hands-on learning over the three days spent on campus.
Several St. Mary Parish 4-H’ers interviewed at 4-H University for a spot in one of the different state boards. Early in May, the youth interested in applying for a board submitted an application and based on this application interviews were decided.
St. Mary’s Chloe Morris was elected as a regional representative and will serve on the 4-H executive board. The St. Mary Parish 4-H Program officials stated how proud they are of the youth that will be adding state responsibilities to their workload.
The St. Mary Parish 4-H Program would like to acknowledge St. Mary Parish Government for constant support and the St. Mary Parish School Board for providing transportation for the trip.
Special thanks to Clatter Polidore for going beyond his duties by always making sure that all transportation details are covered and to Raymond Price for his assistance in providing a trailer for the luggage.
LSU AgCenter Extension Agents are Adriana Drusini (4-H), Jimmy Flanagan (ANR) and Ashley Punch (4-H).

Winfrey praises her late friend, idol Toni Morrison

Thu, 08/08/2019 - 9:35am

By MARCELA ISAZA, The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey praised her late friend and idol, Toni Morrison, hailing the best-selling author’s “confidence and self-assuredness and nobility.”
Winfrey and Morrison knew each other for more than 20 years, dating back to when Winfrey was so determined to learn the author’s unlisted phone number that she called the local fire department. Winfrey said that when she started her book club in 1996, she was thinking of Morrison.
Winfrey recalled that when Morrison made her first appearance on “The Oprah Show,” she talked about raising her boys as a single mother and left many in the audience moved.
Winfrey said Morrison recalled that her boys used to complain that she would fuss at them when they entered her room, asking them to button their shirts or comb their hair. “What I realize is that what every child really wants to know is do your eyes light up when I enter the room?” Morrison said then.
Winfrey said Morrison’s lesson that day was larger than about children. It was about husbands, wives, lovers and anybody we care about.
“That’s the great memory and gift that I think that she gave to me and the audience. I think people will read her books. They will feel whatever they feel. They will experience literature at its finest. But do your eyes light up when I enter the room?” Winfrey said.
Morrison, the first black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, died Monday night at 88. Winfrey was attending the premiere for her latest show on OWN, “David Makes Man,” in Los Angeles on Tuesday. She and Michael B. Jordan serve as executive producers of the series, which debuts Aug. 14.
“Words don’t seem adequate enough,” said Jordan. “They don’t seem like they’re enough for what she’s done. The legacy that she leaves behind, the inspiration that she was so many people and natural born activist leader. Yes, she’s an amazing soul.”