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JAMES JIMMY ESCORT SR.

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:14pm

James Jimmy Escort Sr., 74, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Friday, July 19, 2019, in Lafayette.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Siracusaville Recreation Center. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
He is survived by two sons, James Escort Jr. and Lawrence Francois, both of Morgan City; four daughters, Lahouma Francois and Shelia Knight, both of Morgan City, Dannier Escort of Lake Charles and Pamela Francois of Lafayette; a brother, Melvin Jackson of Morgan City; a sister, Dianne Jackson of Port Arthur, Texas; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, six sisters and two brothers.

APOSTLE JACK ANTHONY PRATT

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:13pm

Apostle Jack Anthony Pratt, 77, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Friday, July 19, 2019, at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma.
Visitation will be Friday, 5-7 p.m., at Jones Funeral Home. Services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Miracle Revival Center in Bayou Vista.
He is survived by his wife, Arthur Marie Pratt; seven children, Angel Pratt of Morgan City, Jamie Pratt-Wagner of Houma, John Pratt of Los Angeles, Jason Pratt and Jocqulyn Whitlow, both of Carson, California, Tonya Doctry of Denver, North Carolina, and Thai Pratt of Victorville, California; three siblings, Jacquelyn Brown and Charles Pratt, both of Morgan City, and Virginia Pratt of Los Angeles; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, his brothers, and paternal and maternal grandparents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

MARVIN JOHNSON

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:11pm

Marvin Johnson, 57, a native of Silverwood and resident of Patterson, died Friday, July 19, 2019, at Patterson Healthcare Center.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church in Patterson. Burial will follow in Home Industrial Cemetery in Patterson.
He is survived by his wife, Muriel Johnson of Patterson; six children, Quantina Richard of San Antonio, Shelia Gallow of Crowley, Destinie Gallow of Carencro, Selena Elmore of Alexandria, Charles Elmore of Patterson and Jackie Elmore of Houston; five siblings, Warren Hector of Houston, Roy Mayfield of Jennings, Raynod Johnson of Crowley, Brandon Johnson of Patterson and Marlene Johnson of Lake Charles; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and two brothers.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

OSWALD 'OZZIE' ANDREW VERRET

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:10pm

Oswald “Ozzie” Andrew Verret, 85, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019, at AMG Specialty Hospital in Houma.
Ozzie was born October 12, 1933, in Bayou L’Ourse, the son of Howard P. Verret and Theresa Lajaunie Verret.
Ozzie was a devoted parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church, where he served for many years. He was also a Knights of Columbus Member, where he served as secretary, and went to meetings until recently. Ozzie was a loving husband, father, and grandfather; he would do anything for his family and enjoyed spending time with them.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 62 years, Yvonne Myers Verret of Morgan City; two daughters, Denise Guarisco of Morgan City, and Cheryl Rodriguez and husband Terry of Houma; three grandchildren, Aaron Guarisco and wife Monica, Jason Rodriguez and wife Sandi, and Amanda Rodriguez; three great-grandchildren, Taylor Guarisco, Owen Guarisco and Braedon Rodriguez; and one sister, Roberta Justillian.
Ozzie was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Theresa Verret; and one brother, Viltress “V.J.” Verret.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father Andre officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 26, 2019, from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass. After Mass, Ozzie will be laid to rest in Morgan City Cemetery.

ROSE MARIE BEATTY FIELDS

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:08pm

January 11, 1933 — July 23, 2019
Rose Marie Beatty Fields, 86, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Teche Regional Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
Rose was born on January 11, 1933, in Algiers, Louisiana, the daughter of Samuel and Elise Clark Beatty.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by three children, Kathleen Fields Gaudet and husband Elward of Bayou L’Ourse, Daniel Eugene Fields of Amite, and Melanie Fields Askew and husband Perry of Morgan City; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer Viccellio and husband Steele, Jessica Makepeace and husband Tyler, Chelsea Mayden and husband Jeff, Elise Gaudet, Adam Fields and wife Erin, Sarah Fields, Tiffany Waguespack and husband Jon, Danielle Grow and husband Scott, Brandt Askew, Justin Askew and wife Megan, and Jennifer Fanguy and husband Dusty; 14 great-grandchildren, Riley, Spencer, Anthony, Nicholas, Vincent, Zachary, Gabrielle, Zoe, Kylee, Talan, Elizabeth, Jace, Easton and Alex; and three great-great-grandchildren, Mason, Zaylie and Arleigh.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Elise Clark Beatty; husband, Eugene Anthony Fields; and two brothers, Arthur Beatty and Clark Brown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Toto Buenaflor celebrating Mass. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the Mass time and following Mass, Rose will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3772 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

JERWIN PAUL BRIGGS

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:07pm

May 3, 1990 — July 9, 2019
Jerwin Paul Briggs, age 29, passed away on July 9, 2019, in Sour Lake, Texas. He was born on May 3, 1990, in Morgan City to Anthony Briggs and Jada Tate Briggs.
Jerwin was a 2008 graduate of Morgan City High School and had one year at Young Memorial College for automotive. He graduated from Kaplan College as a computer tech in Beaumont, Texas. At his passing, he was a loyal employee at Tri-Supply in Beaumont, Texas.
Jerwin was born with an infectious smile. His friendly nature and cheerful attitude would often light up a room. He always wanted others to be happy, trying often to get a laugh or to bring a smile to others. He was a teddy bear to his “Momzie,” Jada, and went by many nicknames. “Bear,” in reference to his loving nature, “JayBee” to his many family and friends, and after the birth of his son, he would often refer to himself as “Mufasa” and his son Jamari, as “Simba.”
Later in his life he met and married Liz, and they shared many wonderful years together, and through their union, “Mufasa” gained a daughter, Layla.
He was contagiously funny, an undeniable hard worker, and a wonderful friend to many throughout his life.
Jerwin will be missed by all and his memory cherished by his loved ones.
Memories of Jerwin will forever remain in the hearts of his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Briggs; son, Jamari Briggs; stepdaughter, Layla Briggs; father, Anthony Briggs and fiancé Tarneetra Johnson; mother, Jada (Lonnie) Gray; brothers, Bregan Lonnie Gray, Anthony Briggs II, Antonio Briggs, Quantaevios Harris and Koryian Sadler; sisters, Quiana Briggs, Marie Briggs, Antwaneisha Williams, Coryanna Harris, Katori Sadler, Briana Gray and Monica Privett; beloved aunts, Yolanda (Gregory) Thomas, Arnise Tate, Sandra (Stephen) Floyd, Annella Nash and Kathleen Young; uncle, Kevin Tate; his special brothers, David Dugar and Jordan Tate; and numerous extended family, loved ones and many, many friends.
Preceding Jerwin in death are his sister, Tyneisha Briggs; maternal grandparents, Charles Tate Sr. and Gloria Tate Brown; paternal grandparents, Donald and Lois LaCour; step-grandmother, Ezilda Gray; beloved aunt, Geraldine West; and uncle, Charles Tate Jr.

Wheel House for July 25

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 2:00pm

FAMILY/FRIENDS
Second Missionary Baptist Church, 401 Fifth St., Morgan City, celebrating Family and Friends Day at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 28. Guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Jackson, New Rising Sun Baptist Church, Houma; and New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Schriever. Public invited.

fish dinners
Zion Chapel AME Church, 1511 Cherry St., Patterson, selling fried fish dinners 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Donation $7. To order on Aug. 3, call 985-395-4824.

Coaching coaches in CPR

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 1:56pm

Submitted Photo
Drew Eschete, Terrebonne General Medical Center athletic trainer, oversees a coach as he demonstrates CPR. The TGMC Community Sports Institute provided free CPR and AED training over two days to the Terrebonne Parish School District coaches and band, cheer and dance instructors in preparation for the upcoming school year. The TGMC Community Sports Institute provides athletic trainers at all area schools offering education, prevention and care to keep the community safe. Soccer coaches from the Houma-Terrebonne Soccer Association will be trained Saturday.

Public health officials see rise in hepatitis cases

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 1:54pm

BATON ROUGE (AP ) — Data from the Louisiana Department of Health shows cases of Hepatitis A have been continuing to increase across the state.
There have been 375 reported cases since the outbreak began in January 2018 through July 18, 2019, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reports .
The outbreak is mostly affecting drug users and homeless people, said Louisiana Bureau of Community Preparedness Medical Director Frank Welch.
“It’s become endemic in a certain population,” Welch said. “It’s in this subgroup of people and it keeps passing around.”
“Oftentimes when we talk about a public health disease with these particular risk factors, people will say, ‘That’s not my problem. I don’t have that,’” Welch said.
“But once outbreaks get large enough, we get spillover in the general community.”
Welch says the infection has been making people sicker than normal.
About 60% of infected people were hospitalized whereas the typical hospitalization rate is around 25%.
The state bought 15,000 Hepatitis A vaccinations to limit the outbreak among homeless populations and have distributed about 8,000.
Hepatitis A is a liver infection that’s often spread when people use the bathroom and then don’t wash their hands.

Gulf state reps back fisheries disaster aid

Thu, 07/25/2019 - 1:51pm

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. House members from three Gulf Coast states are backing their governors’ request for a fisheries disaster declaration, saying freshwater flooding into saltwater ecosystems has killed oysters, hurt fish catches and damaged livelihoods.
The letter released Wednesday asked Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for the disaster declaration being sought by the governors of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. A news release said seafood and recreational fisheries have been disrupted by the deluge of freshwater from the Bonnet Carré Spillway west of New Orleans, diluting normally brackish and salty waters.
The letter sent Monday was signed by four U.S. representatives from Louisiana and one each from Mississippi and Alabama.
“The livelihoods of many in our coastal communities are dependent on a healthy marine environment, and disruptions to these ecosystems have heavy impacts on both the commercial and recreational fishing industries,” the letter said.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant asked Ross for such a declaration on May 31. Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana followed suit June 17 and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on July 10.
If Ross declares a fisheries disaster it would make federal grants, loans and other aid available to affected people and open the way for Congress to appropriate money to help fishermen and businesses that rely on them.
Fed by rains and melting snows in the Midwest, the Mississippi River has been high since fall, so even more fresh water than usual is pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the Army Corps of Engineers has twice had to open the spillway, which protects New Orleans’ levees by diverting huge amounts of river water into normally brackish Lake Pontchartrain, a huge tidal basin which feeds into the Mississippi Sound.
The reduced salinity has hurt production and harvesting of oysters, crabs and shrimps, the governors said.
Ivey’s letter said floodwaters coming down the Tombigbee River were a major problem for Alabama, but the spillway has disrupted the marine ecosystem in the Mississippi Sound, which includes Alabama’s western coastal waters.
She said Alabama crab, shrimp and oyster processors receive most of their seafood from Louisiana and Mississippi. “Any impact to fisheries in Louisiana and Mississippi has a direct and pronounced impact on ... Alabama processors,” she wrote.
Seafood is a $2.4 billion business in Louisiana and accounts for one out of 70 jobs in the state, with shrimping alone accounting for 15,000 jobs and a $1.3 billion impact, according to the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. It said 70% of the nation’s oysters come from the Gulf Coast waters.
When Bryant made his request, he said 70% of the Mississippi Sound’s already imperiled oyster population was estimated to be dead, with the crab catch down by 35%.
The letter released Wednesday was signed by House Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Cedric Richmond, D-La., and Republicans Garret Graves and Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Steven Palazzo, of Mississippi, and Bradley Byrne, of Alabama.