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Suspect caught in death of man whose body was found in Morgan City

Authorities have caught a suspect who was wanted in connection with the homicide of man whose body was found in Morgan City during May.

On Tuesday afternoon, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to a tip that a fugitive wanted for the May 15 murder of Kirby Courteaux Jr. of Montegut, was at an address on West Main Street in Gray.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday, personnel discovered that Davonte Matthews was indeed at the home, and he was taken into custody, said Chief Criminal Deputy Col. Terry Daigre said in a news release. Matthews was wanted on a second-degree murder charge in the case. Lafourche Parish detectives were notified and the family of Courteaux was notified. Terrebonne personnel are assisting those from Lafourche Parish working on this new development in the case.

On May 14, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office began investigating the disappearance of Courteaux after a family member reported him missing since May 11. On the morning of May 15, Terrebonne deputies and detectives apprehended Terance Dupre, who faces a second-degree murder charge. He is in custody in Lafourche Parish, as is a juvenile also arrested in connection with this case. The victim’s body was found in Morgan City.
Investigation into matters surrounding this case is on-going, Col. Daigre said.

Man accused of 3 sexual batteries on juvenile

A 24-year-old Berwick man has been charged with three sexual battery incidents involving a juvenile victim in Morgan City, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Davontraye Jacoby Johnson, 24, of La. 182 in Berwick, was arrested at 12:10 p.m. Monday on warrants charging him with three counts of sexual battery and two counts of contempt of court.

A Morgan City patrol officer came into contact with Johnson on Egle Street. A computer check revealed police and city court had warrants for his arrest. He was jailed.

On June 27, detectives began investigating a complaint filed with police in reference to Johnson committing a sexual battery on a juvenile victim. During the investigation, detectives learned Johnson had committed a sexual battery on three separate occasions from December 2018 to June, Blair said. At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Johnson’s arrest.

Blair reported that officers responded to 39 calls.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 49 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Estive Cruz-Guerrero, 28, of Patty Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with two counts of identity theft.

Cruz-Guerrero was located at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City on the warrant for his arrest. Cruz-Guerrero was jailed with no bail set.

—Harold Demon Bias, 29, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:04 p.m. Monday on charges of speeding, driving under suspension and expired license plate.

Deputies were patrolling the area of Bayou Vista when they observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Bias.

Deputies learned that Bias’ vehicle had an expired license plate and they were advised by dispatch that he was driving under suspension, Smith said. Bias was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 16.

—Destiny Falgoust, 24, of Leo Street in Patterson, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a legend drug without a prescription.

—Kristyn Parker, 27, of Susan Court in Stephensville, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Detectives with the narcotics section went to a motel in Morgan City in regard to receiving information about illegal narcotics activity taking place. Upon arrival, detectives made contact with Falgoust and Parker.

During the investigation, drugs were located, Smith said. Falgoust and Parker were released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 16.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:

—Alton Knight III, 34, of Lake Long Drive in Houma, was arrested at 3:16 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana less than 14 grams.

At 2:52 p.m. Monday, Berwick officers received a call concerning a suspicious subject in the parking lot of a local business carrying a jar of an unknown substance. Officers arrived on scene and observed the subject sitting on the steps of the business.

He was identified as Knight. Due to Knight’s behavior, he was patted down for weapons and consented to a search of him, Leonard said. Officers located marijuana on Knight and arrested him. He was jailed with bail set at $2,000.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported no arrests.

Radio logs for July 9

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, July 8

12:56 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Complaint.

1:35 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Telephone harassment.

1:42 p.m. Seventh Street and Brashear Avenue; Stalled vehicle.

2:15 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Complaint.

2:20 p.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Warrant.

2:20 p.m. 600 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.

2:43 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Juvenile problem.

3:57 p.m. Palm and Maple streets; Fire.

4:22 p.m. 1300 block of Nebraska Street; Fire.

9:42 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Harassment.

11:44 p.m. 900 block of Hilda Street; Medical emergency.

12:17 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.

12:55 a.m. Federal Avenue and Greenwood Street; Assistance.

1:06 a.m. Patterson; Be on the lookout.

5:22 a.m. 1700 block of Sixth Street; Medical emergency.

(Updated) BBQ Bash canceled, Bikers on Bayou postponed; Bash kickoff party, festival poster unveiling will go on

Due to the threat of inclement weather, officials have canceled the Bayou BBQ Bash that was set to take place Friday and Saturday in Morgan City. Bikers on the Bayou that was set for Saturday in St. Mary Parish has been rescheduled for Aug. 24.

However, Hampton Inn & Suites in Morgan City will still host its Bayou BBQ Bash Kickoff Party from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday. Officials with the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival will also unveil the 2019 festival poster during that event.

UPDATED: Afternoon storm update; forecasters use the 'h' word

Another heat advisory is in effect

National Hurricane Center
12:30 p.m. update

The National Hurricane Center has a high 80 percent chance for tropical development in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The current scenario shows a potential tropical cyclone developing on Wednesday or Thursday in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, heading west towards the upper Texas or southwest Louisiana region. This system has the potential to become a dangerous hurricane. The threat for damaging winds and deadly storm surge is increasing.

Since this system has not developed yet, there is still considerable uncertainty to the exact timing, magnitude, and location of these threats. Everyone should continue to monitor the weather this week.

Morning update

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A broad low pressure system located over the eastern Florida
Panhandle is producing disorganized shower activity. The low is
forecast to move southward to southwestward and emerge over the
northeastern Gulf of Mexico later today. Once the system is over
water, environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for
tropical cyclone formation, and a tropical depression is likely to
develop by late Wednesday or Thursday while the system moves
westward across the northern Gulf of Mexico. Regardless of whether
or not a tropical cyclone forms, this system has the potential to
produce heavy rainfall along portions of the northern and eastern
U.S. Gulf Coast later this week. For more information about the
rainfall threat, please see products issued by your local weather
forecast office and the NOAA Weather Prediction Center. Interests
along the Gulf Coast from the Upper Texas coast to the western
Florida peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.
* Formation chance through 48 hours...medium...50 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...high...80 percent.

From Tuesday's print edition

Staff and Wire Reports
St. Mary Parish is getting both summer heat and a chance of more spring-like heavy rain this week.
A heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Tuesday, while a weather system is making its way into the Gulf, bringing with it the prospect of heavy rain.
The mercury is expected to reach 93 degrees Tuesday afternoon. The heat index, the combined effects of temperature and humidity, is expected to reach 108-110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Tuesday is the second straight day a heat advisory has been in effect.
Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport near Patterson recorded a temperature of 93 degrees just before 3 p.m. Monday.
The advisory says people should drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside, the advisory says. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
Meanwhile, the Hurricane Center says a tropical depression is likely to form in the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week.
Forecasters in Miami said Monday that a trough of low pressure over central Georgia is forecast to move southward toward the northeastern Gulf where a broad area of low pressure will form in a couple of days.
The forecasters say the system has the potential to bring heavy rain along the northern and eastern U.S. Gulf.
To help its residents prepare for the rain, the city of Tallahassee has opened four sandbag distribution centers.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday urged Floridians to be prepared.
He says residents in north and central Florida should be ready for heavy rain and the potential for flooding in low-lying areas.
High water has been a fact of life for this region since Mardi Gras, when backwater flooding along Bayou Chene began to threaten homes in Stephensville.
The St. Mary Parish Levee District installed a flood control barge in Bayou Chene for the third time since 2011.
State officials announced in March that funding has been secured for a permanent flood-control structure that will do the work that has been performed by the barge.
The Atchafalaya River at Morgan City was at 7.6 feet Monday night, the National Weather Service said. Flood stage is 6.0 feet.
And one-day downpours in April and June caused headaches for homeowners in the region.
After one of the downpours June 7, 39 Berwick residents reported water in their homes.
Officials in Patterson and Berwick have announced plans to examine flood-control and drainage measures.

TV ad wars begin in governor's race

BATON ROUGE (AP) — A day after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards launched the TV campaign for his re-election bid, a Republican group responded Tuesday with its own advertising to attack the Democratic incumbent’s performance.
The Republican Governors Association said its first 30-second TV spot of the governor’s race, financed by its political action committee, will run statewide on broadcast and cable television. RGA spokeswoman Amelia Chassé Alcivar described the ad buy to The Associated Press as in “the mid-six figures,” enough to run for several weeks.
With the pair of releases, the gubernatorial competition is intensifying, with an onslaught of advertising expected until Election Day on Oct. 12.
Edwards released his first statewide TV ad Monday, touting the state’s last two years of surpluses in contrast to the repeated financial gaps Louisiana faced during the tenure of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The RGA ad seeks to counter that message by juxtaposing Edwards’ support of tax hikes to balance the budget with the tax cuts championed by President Donald Trump. The GOP organization says the tax increases are chasing workers from Louisiana, citing recent population losses.
“While American workers get ahead, Louisiana gets left behind,” the television spot says. The narrator ads: “Higher taxes. Lost jobs. That’s John Bel Edwards.”
The ad doesn’t mention that the taxes passed since Edwards’ term began in 2016 won support from a majority-Republican Legislature.
And now Edwards is using the GOP’s television plans to solicit donations, in a campaign email saying “The RGA has zeroed in on Louisiana as a prime pickup opportunity, and they’re pulling out all the stops to take me down.”
The Deep South’s only Democratic governor faces two major GOP challengers trying to deny him a second term: U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, a doctor from Richland Parish, and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone, a longtime donor to conservative causes and first-time candidate.
The Edwards campaign says it intends to keep its ad on TV through Election Day. Alcivar wouldn’t describe her organization’s plans.
“We don’t disclose the details of our strategy, but suffice it to say, we see the governor as extremely vulnerable and will be committing the resources necessary to ensure Louisianans know the truth about his record and that they can do better,” she said in an email.
Abraham and Rispone haven’t publicly released timelines for their own TV ad campaigns.

JERRY W. GADDIS SR.

Jerry W. Gaddis Sr. passed away on Monday, July 8th following a brief illness. Jerry was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1947 and was a long-time resident of Morgan City.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Charlene Roe Gaddis; his son, Jerry Gaddis Jr. and wife, Carey; and his daughter, Allison Chighizola and ex-husband and best friend, Keith. He is also survived by his brother, Jack Gaddis and wife, Ann, of Fort Myers, Florida, as well as his grandsons, Shade Suire, Greg Gaddis, Alex Gaddis, Grant Chighizola, Kyle Chighizola and Evan Chighizola, along with one great-granddaughter, Remmi.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Carl Warren and his sister, Carla.
The family requests that a time of visitation be observed on Thursday, July 11th from 10 a.m. until time of services at noon at Hargrave Funeral Home. Following services, Jerry will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to St. Jude in Jerry’s memory.

TRAVIS JOSEPH BLANCHARD

Travis Joseph Blanchard, 43, a resident of Thibodaux, died Saturday, July 6, 2019.
He is survived by a son, Gage Theriot; father, Morgan Blanchard and wife Reba; two sisters, Tracy Parker and Charmaine Blanchard; a brother, Bronson Blanchard; grandmother, Lucy Blanchard; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his mother, and paternal and maternal grandfathers.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 10 a.m. until services at 2 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Guard brigade hones battle skills at training exercise

PINEVILLE – More than 3,400 members of the the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team pparticipated in a rotation at the U.S. Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk in Leesville during their annual training, May 30-June 28.
The center the Army’s premier combat training center used to mobilize, validate, deploy and redeploy active, National Guard and Army Reserve forces. It is one of the Army’s three combat training centers across the nation, and is set up to train infantry brigade-sized task forces and their subordinate elements in an operational environment.
“The goal of JRTC is to train brigades to fight as a team. This collective training begins at the squad level and builds by echelons until reaching the brigade level,” said Lt. Col. Cameron Magee, 256th executive officer.
“JRTC allows us to identify our shortfalls and weaknesses in our systems and processes so that we can adjust our deficiencies here rather than in a combat situation.”
The 256th and other participating units were evaluated by active duty soldiers from the center's Operations Group, Brigade Mission Command Task Force at Fort Polk, who observe, coach and train units that participate in the exercise.
“The Tiger Brigade, like all Army brigades, consists of a core formation which includes infantry, cavalry, artillery and engineers,” said Magee. “Our enabler forces bring anything from special forces to additional transportation assets, which improves our capabilities as a brigade.”
These enabler forces included over 2,600 guardsmen and reservists from Puerto Rico, Belize, the Virgin Islands, Illinois, Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Mississippi, Georgia, California, Maryland, Minnesota, Tennessee and Alabama.
During the two-week training exercise, the 256th was tasked to move and liberate towns from an opposing force in the area. The opposing force was played by active-duty soldiers from 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, who are stationed at Fort Polk.
Guardsmen were trained and tested in every operational capacity they have, from ensuring proficiency with each weapons system to moving quietly and tactically at night.
“This training lets us test our standard operating procedures and strategies and numbers we have on paper in a real life setting,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Sandel, senior enlisted advisor for the 256th. “Our soldiers are given the opportunity to evaluate and lead their personnel on individual or collective tasks they are assigned.”
In addition to go giving the brigade a chance to practice their tactics in a large scale force-on-force exercise, the month-long training opportunity gives individual guardsmen more hands-on time to teach or learn more about their military job, which they may not have time to practice outside of their monthly drill weekend.
“The sldiers enjoy doing their job, and when things get tough, they have their first line leaders there for support,” said Sandel.
“A huge benefit of training exercises like this is battlefield circulation and building camaraderie within the units so they can work better as a team.”
Spc. Lane Bergeron, an information technology specialist in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 256th IBCT, from Church Point, was awarded the title of “Hero of the Battlefield” during the exercise for going above and beyond the expectations that are established for junior enlisted soldiers.
“My favorite thing out here has been getting to actually do my job,” said Bergeron. “We [information technology Soldiers] had a huge role while in the field. Without communication assets, different battalions and companies can’t move around the battlefield.”
As a younger Guardsman, Bergeron used his time in the field to learn from more experienced IT Soldiers.
“I was able to learn a lot while we were out here from people who are masters of their trade and add the tips they taught me to the notes I have for troubleshooting problems in our job field,” said Bergeron. “It was nice to know that my hard work was noticed by my leadership.”
“Our Soldiers trained hard and performed tremendously,” said Sandel. “We can’t thank the civilian employers and families who take care of everything back home enough for showing us great support.”
The 256th has units headquartered across the state who have stood up to support various stateside emergency response missions, to include Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Harvey, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, and various flood events over the last four years.
The brigade deployed to Iraq in 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and again in 2010 in support of Operation New Dawn. They also send Guardsmen to participate in training opportunities around the world to learn from international partners.

Poll: 1 in 4 don’t plan to retire despite realities of aging

CHICAGO (AP) — Nearly one-quarter of Americans say they never plan to retire, according to a poll that suggests a disconnection between individuals’ retirement plans and the realities of aging in the workforce.
Experts say illness, injury, layoffs and caregiving responsibilities often force older workers to leave their jobs sooner than they’d like.
According to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 23% of workers, including nearly 2 in 10 of those over 50, don’t expect to stop working. Roughly another quarter of Americans say they will continue working beyond their 65th birthday.
According to government data, about 1 in 5 people 65 and older was working or actively looking for a job in June.
For many, money has a lot to do with the decision to keep working.
“The average retirement age that we see in the data has gone up a little bit, but it hasn’t gone up that much,” said Anqi Chen, assistant director of savings research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. “So people have to live in retirement much longer, and they may not have enough assets to support themselves in retirement.”
When asked how financially comfortable they feel about retirement, 14% of Americans under the age of 50 and 29% over 50 say they feel extremely or very prepared, according to the poll. About another 4 in 10 older adults say they do feel somewhat prepared, while just about one-third feel unprepared. By comparison, 56% of younger adults say they don’t feel prepared for retirement.
Among those who are fully retired, 38% said they felt very or extremely prepared when they retired, while 25% said they felt not very or not at all prepared.
“One of the things about thinking about never retiring is that you didn’t save a whole lot of money,” said Ronni Bennett, 78, who was pushed out of her job as a New York City-based website editor at 63.
She searched for work in the immediate aftermath of her layoff, a process she describes as akin to “banging my head against a wall.” Finding Manhattan too expensive without a steady stream of income, she eventually moved to Portland, Maine. A few years later, she moved again, to Lake Oswego, Oregon.
“Sometimes I fantasize that if I win the lottery, I’d go back to New York,” said Bennett, who has a blog called Time Goes By that chronicles her experiences aging, relocating and, during the past two years, living with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Meanwhile, Americans have mixed assessments of how the aging workforce affects workers: 39% think people staying in the workforce longer is mostly a good thing for American workers, while 29% think it’s more a bad thing and 30% say it makes no difference.
A somewhat higher share, 45%, thinks it has a positive effect on the U.S. economy.
Working Americans who are 50 and older think the trend is more positive than negative for their own careers — 42% to 15%. Those younger than 50 are about as likely to say it’s good for their careers as to say it’s bad.
Just 6% of fully retired AP-NORC poll respondents said they left the labor market before turning 50.
But remaining in the workforce may be unrealistic for people dealing with unexpected illness or injuries. For them, high medical bills and a lack of savings loom large over day-to-day expenditures.
“People like me, who are average, everyday working people, can have something catastrophic happen, and we lose everything because of medical bills,” said Larry Zarzecki, a former Maryland police officer who stopped working in his 40s after developing a resting tremor in his right hand and a series of cognitive and physical symptoms he at times found difficult to articulate.
At 47, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Now 57 and living in Baltimore, Zarzecki said he has learned “to take from Peter and give to Paul, per se, to help make ends meet.”
Zarzecki has since helped found Movement Disorder Education and Exercise, a nonprofit organization that offers support and treatment programs to those with similar diseases and certain traumatic brain injuries. He has also helped lobby state and national lawmakers to address rising prescription drug prices.
He receives a pension and health insurance through the state, but he spends more than $3,000 each year out of pocket on medications.
“I can’t afford, nor will my insurance cover, the most modern medication there is for Parkinson’s,” he said. “Eat, heat or treat. These are decisions that people in my position have to make. When it’s cold out, or if it’s real hot out, do you eat, heat (your home) or treat (your ailment)?”
—EDITOR’S NOTE — Andrew Soergel is studying aging and workforce issues as part of a 10-month fellowship at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORC’s independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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Phone: 337-828-3706
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Morgan City Review
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