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Radio logs for July 3

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 10:30am

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.

Tuesday, July 2

12:11 p.m. 1000 block of Onstead Street; Animal complaint.

12:21 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.

2:20 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182 East; Hang up call.

2:39 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical emergency.

2:51 p.m. 300 block of Franklin Street; Frequent patrol.

2:59 p.m. 2900 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal complaint.

3:05 p.m. 300 block of Bowman Street; Phone harassment.

4:02 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Welfare concern.

4:04 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Disturbance.

4:39 p.m. 500 block of Leona Street; Complaint.

5:21 p.m. Morgan City Police Department; Complaint.

11:21 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Arrest.

Wednesday, July 3

12:15 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.

2:16 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.

2:51 a.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Complaint.

3 a.m. Federal Avenue and Egle Street; Arrest.

3:50 a.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Stalled vehicle.

Franklin native is Erath Grand Marshal

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:50am

Longtime Erath businessman and civic leader Terry Lancon has been selected as the 2019 Erath 4th of July Grand Marshal. He will reign over the grand parade that will roll through the streets of Erath on July 4th at 5 p.m..
Lancon owned The Wild Iris, a local flower shop he purchased in 1984. He operated the business in downtown Erath until his retirement in 2017. His unique floral creations served as the centerpiece of many area celebrations during that time. He is an award winning florist and was presented a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Louisiana State Florist Association in 2003. He has always been involved in efforts to promote Erath. He helped organize and sponsor the Christmas Open House in downtown Erath for many years.
Lancon is a longtime board member of the Erath 4th of July Association. He began serving on the board in the early 1980s. He has been an active board member and served for many years as the chairman of the Dunking Booth and Special Contests. Lancon is also on the board of the Erath Community Building Association. He donated his time when the building began as the manager of the building, handling the rentals and continues to serve as vice president.
Lancon has always been an active member of the community, both on a state and local level. He is a member of the Vermilion Parish Tourism Commission and the Louisiana State Florist Association, where he served as vice president for eight years. He served on the state board for the American Cancer Association and American Diabetes Association. He a member of Krewe de la Renaissance Acadienne, served as captain of the Krewe of Vermilion for 2 years, and reigned as King of the Krewe of Teche in Franklin in 1990.
Lancon is a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. Over the years, he has given freely of his artistic talent by providing beautiful floral arrangements to the church for various occasions. Lancon is a member of the Erath Knights of Columbus. He has served in nearly office in the organization, including Grand Knight from 1981-1982. He is also a 4th Degree Knight.
Lancon is a native of the Four Corners community near Franklin. He graduated from Hanson High School in 1965, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL Lafayette) with a degree in elementary education in 1969 and business education in 1978. He taught school for several years, including one year at Erath High School.
Lancon was married to the late Alice Hebert Lancon for 29 ½ years at the time of her death in 2002. They are the parents of two children: Yvette Broussard, married to Chad; and Andre Lancon, married to Tanaya. He has eight grandchildren: Ty, Courtney, Taylor, Coy, and Coty Broussard, Kaylon, Bo, and Emma Grace Lancon.

LDWF raises bounty for coastwide nutria control

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:47am

The Coastwide Nutria Control Program (CNCP) bounty will be raised to $6, up from $5, when the program season commences Nov. 20, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.
The increase is to make the take of nutria more lucrative for hunters and trappers enrolled in the program.
“Protection of our coast is of the upmost importance,” LDWF Biologist Director Amity Bass said. “The Coastwide Nutria Control Program plays an important part in keeping down the number of this invasive species that destroys our marshes. We hope the increase in the bounty will incentivize hunters and trappers to go after more nutria.”
The program was established in 2002 to combat nutria in coastal Louisiana. Its goal is to remove up to 400,000 nutria each season to reduce marsh damage. The program season runs each year from Nov. 20-March 31.
Participation in the program requires a trapping license, completion of the CNCP application and designation of property or properties to be harvested along with landowner information and signature.
Public properties are available and instructions for registering these properties is in the application packet. All registered properties must be within the program boundary area, which is all of coastal Louisiana, bounded on the north by Interstate 10 from the Texas state line to Baton Rouge, Interstate 12 from Baton Rouge to Slidell and Interstate 10 from Slidell to the Mississippi state line.
For more information on the program, go to https://www.nutria.com/site.php or contact Jennifer Hogue-Manuel at jhogue-manuel@wlf.la.gov or 337-735-8674.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.

'Top Gun': Deputy faces heartbreaks, finishes academy

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:42am

In the first couple of days of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy, Session 59, candidates were introduced to adversity in the form of training.
But none of them were facing it at the level of their fellow cadet, Raul Vega.
They were sitting in class when Vega was called out of the room to find out that his sweetheart, Daylen de Jesus, was in the hospital.
Vega and de Jesus were expecting twins, but there were serious complications.
He went to the hospital immediately; but he and de Jesus later lost their twin girls, who they had named Amelia and Sophia Marie.
In the academy, a cadet can only miss a few hours out of the 17-week experience before they have to be “recycled” to the next academy session.
The cadets expected Vega to be the first one to drop out of Session 59, and in Vega’s case, it would have been understandable.
“I didn’t know if he was going to continue,” explained fellow cadet Dylan Toups, who went to the hospital after work to see Vega on the day of the tragedy. “He was destroyed and I had to physically hold him up.”
Toups was surprised at Vega’s resiliency when he saw Vega had returned to the Academy early the next morning.
“I was surprised to see him show up that day. I love him to death and was so glad he didn’t quit,” Toups said. “After that first week, I knew he would never quit.”
As if losing the twins wasn’t enough discouragement, Vega’s patrol unit was burglarized and his duty rifle was stolen.
Vega said that there was a moment when he considered quitting. However, a hug from his little boy, Lucas, and words of encouragement from Daylen were the support needed for him to refocus on completing the session.
Not only did Vega graduate, but he was awarded the “Top Gun” award for his excellence in firearms in an academy class that performed well above average on the range.
Captain Nick Rogers watched Vega’s progress in the academy, and was reportedly impressed with his determination to rise above difficulty.
Rogers consulted with the Academy Director Captain Brian Charpentier, and made some phone calls to put a plan in place to replace Vega’s rifle.
That is where Charlie Solar with Charlie’s Pawn Shop, Morgan City, became connected with the situation.
Solar ordered the rifle, told Rogers that no money was needed, and gifted it to Vega.
Solar initially insisted that there be no mention this.
According to him, the look on Vega’s face and his response to the gift was “all the recognition he needed” for his involvement in the situation. However, SMPSO was so touched with the story, that they decided it needed to be told.
When Captain Rogers called Vega to come to the SMPSO office on Saturday morning, Vega assumed they needed his Spanish-speaking skills.
“I thought I was being called to translate,” Vega said. “So whenever we got to Charlie’s and he told me about the rifle, it was like a dream. I don’t want to wake up from this. This is the greatest thing ever, it’s amazing working in this department. Good things are happening to me now and I’m so grateful.”
Sheriff’s officials said they are thankful for people in their community like Charlie Solar, who are quick to support them.
They also said they are thankful for deputies like Raul Vega, who want to wear the badge and be in law enforcement, and will overcome adversity when it presents itself, in order to do so.

Port commission audit, updates

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:40am

Progress and sound fiscal practice were the prevailing themes of Tuesday’s meeting of the Commission of the Port of West St. Mary.
In an update concerning the future site of the technical school at the port’s industrial park, Executive Director David Allain outlined a plan to dig drainage ditches, install a flood gate, and build a berm to secure the site from the flooding which has heretofore hamstrung construction efforts.
Allain requested $3,600 for the contract for the work, and was approved.
Also contained in Allain’s report was an update on security efforts at the port’s Baldwin Campus, about which Allain expressed an inclination to remain guarded, but would say that the project was “moving along,” to include interviews of possible tenants.
In reference to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development project, in its third and final phase, Allain said the project is complete, that the crane has been erected, the fencing has been set, and that all that remained was to make the last payment to the contractor, in the amount of $34,641.
In other news, Alan Taylor of Kolder, Slaven and Company, LLC, gave a report on his audit of the port’s finances for 2018 in which he described the port’s financial position as “strong.”
He stated, “During the last year, the port commission took in revenues of $1.4 million, about $240,000 more than last year.”
He detailed that expenditures were down $25,000 from 2017, and that as per usual from year to year, the commission’s reserve funds were solid and consistent.
Taylor did, however, provide commissioners with a second report containing “statewide agreed-upon procedures” and updates to such legislative procedures which the commission is required to compose and adopt to remain in compliance.
He said he has been in correspondence with Allain about conforming to new requisite written policies of the state’s legislative auditor, and what the port commission needs to do to meet those regulations and standards.
Before adjournment, a resolution of respect was approved for Alden J. Heaphy Jr., father of Drew Heaphy, executive director of the St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District, who recently passed away.

JOSEPH CHAPRON BOUDREAUX

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:40am

February 17, 1946 - June 23, 2019
Joseph Chapron Boudreaux, a native and longtime resident of Baldwin, passed away at the age of 73 at his home on Sunday, June 23, 2019.
Chapron, as he was known by many, was one of the most innovating and successful entrepreneurs of his time. He operated several but different businesses in Massachusetts and Louisiana, and engaged in international business transactions in the Oil Service Industry. Chapron wrote many applications for federal grants, all of which were successful. These grants kept the first ever Drug Court and Treatment Program in Louisiana operating for many years. He had many loyal and faithful friends whom he regaled with his interesting life stories. His family especially loved listening to them.
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his daughters, Dallas Tiffany Koester and Chadon Boudreaux; his grandchildren, Dylan Vilaclara, Landon Vilaclara, Cielo Vilaclara, and Elliot Boudreaux; his sister, Martha D. Battaglio, wife of Randy P. Battaglio, his two brothers, Bernard E. Boudreaux, Jr., husband of Dr. Sally Clausen Boudreaux, and Philip H. Boudreaux, husband of Robyn Haydel Boudreaux; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, B. Edward Boudreaux and Martha Chapron Boudreaux.
The Boudreaux family would like to thank Peggy Tabor for her kindness, friendship, and years of devoted service to Chapron and our entire family.
A private visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date. Following services, Chapron will be laid to rest with his parents in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Bernard Boudreaux, Philip Boudreaux, Randy Battaglio, Bernard Boudreaux III, Philip Boudreaux Jr., and Jeremy Biddick. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Paul Battaglio, Joseph Battaglio, Robert Boudreaux, and Robert Allen.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Chapron’s name to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, PO Box 308, Baldwin, La. 70514.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.
(Paid Notice)

GURTIE STEVENS BOUTON

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:39am

April 15, 1918 - June 30, 2019
Gurtie Stevens Bouton, a 77 year resident of Franklin, passed away at the age of 101 on June 30, 2019, Sunday afternoon at the Franklin Health Care Center.
Gurtie was born Monday, April 15, 1918 in Patoutville, La., the eldest of seven children born to Joseph and Azelie Stevens. Like so many children of her generation she had to quit school at an early age, 13 years old in her case, to help her family. At an early age she was cooking for the farm hands on the Landry Sugarcane Farm in Patoutville and often had to bring meals out in the fields.
She married Robert Bouton on March 2, 1935 and the two were blessed with four children, Earl, Dolores, Drucilla, and Elridge. Although she had very little formal education, Gurtie was very intelligent and worked in the toughest profession known to man, that of a homemaker, which also included taking care of the family finances. In her earlier years with her husband she enjoyed fishing and shrimping. Family gathering and visiting with family and friends were also favorite pastimes for Gurtie, especially family visits during her later years at the Franklin Health Care Center. She was deeply loved and will truly be missed.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her children, Earl J. Bouton Sr. and his wife Cora, Drucilla B. Ratcliff, and Elridge J. Bouton and his wife Dianne; brother, Ira Stevens and his wife Mona; 11 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; as well as numerous relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Bouton; her daughter, Dolores B. Darby; sons-in-law, Melvin Darby and Lloyd Ratcliff; granddaughter, Sundae Ratcliff Tanner; her parents, Joseph Stevens and Azelie Sonnier Stevens; two brothers, Irvin Stevens and Ivy Stevens; and three sisters, Gernice Romero, Gussie Romero, and Adelia Thibodeaux.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Assumption in Franklin with Fr. Joel Faulk and Fr. Billy Ruskoski celebrating the Mass. Following the Mass, Ms. Gurtie was laid to rest with her husband in the Franklin Cemetery Mausoleum.
A gathering of family and friends was held Tuesday at the church from 10 a.m. until Mass time, with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 11:30 a.m.
The Bouton family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Franklin Health Care Center for taking such great care of her for the past seven years, as well as to Dr. Steven McPherson and the staff of Journey Hospice. Your care, compassion, and love will never be forgotten.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.

CORY CHAPMAN

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:39am

Cory Chapman, 54, a resident of Verdunville, La., and native of Morgan City, La., passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 2:54 a.m. at the University Medical Center in New Orleans, La.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, July 6, 2019 from 11 a.m. until funeral services at 12 Noon at Jones Funeral Home 715 Sixth Street Morgan City, La. Reverend Ron Bias will officiate the services.
Memories of Cory will forever remain in the hearts of his children, Courtney Webb of Patterson, La., and Cory Webb of Verdunville; five grandchildren: one sister, Gina Chapman of Dallas, TX; a brother, Denver (Tonia) Chapman of Morgan City, La. and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Cory was preceded in death by his parents, his maternal and paternal grandparents; one uncle, and three aunts.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

SONJA LENITA O’PRIEN GARRETT

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:38am

Sonja Lenita O’Prien Garrett, 56, a native and resident of Morgan City, La., passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 11:15 a.m. at her residence.
A visitation and musical tribute will be observed on Friday July 5, 2019 at the New Zorah Baptist Church 604 Julia Street Morgan City, La., from 10 a.m. until funeral services at 12 Noon. The Reverend Norman A Stovall. will officiate the services. Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery in Morgan City.
Memories of Sonja will forever remain the hearts of her husband, Terry W. Garrett; her three children, LaSonja S. Prince and Geralyn R. Garrett all of Morgan City, and Jeffrey J. Prince of Franklin; four grandchildren, two sisters, Dr. Regina Patterson and Mrs. Earl ( Natalie) Johnson; one uncle, Arthur (Juantia) Lagard; three sisters-in-law, and a host nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and other relatives and dear friends.
Sonja was preceded in death by her parents, and a stepson.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

‘Golden Girls’ gets better with pop culture age

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 9:23am

By TERRY TANG, The Associated Press

Alexandra Wilkinson was only 2 months old when “The Golden Girls” ended its television run in 1992.
But she became a fan last year while taking a course called “Women and Aging: Lessons from the Golden Girls” at California State University, Long Beach. Now she streams episodes on Hulu. She owns a “Golden Girls” T-shirt. And when she graduated recently with a master’s degree in gerontology, she decorated her cap with a picture of “Golden Girl” Sophia along with the sardonic Sicilian’s trademark phrase, “Picture it.”
“I was amazed at how this TV show from before I was born really related to so many topics I’m learning about right now,” said Wilkinson, 27. “It doesn’t even matter what they’re talking about, whether it’s a serious concept or not. Their personalities just have a way of bringing humor into everything.”
The class, which finished its second year in May, is the latest example of the surprising pop culture longevity of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia.
The Emmy-winning series revolved around four older women living together in Miami. It starred Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty and Betty White, who is the only living cast member at age 97 (White, through her agent, declined an interview request). The show aired on NBC from 1985-1992.
Just in the last few years, however, there’s been a wave of merchandising, from a trivia game to Chia pets. Funko, known for its Pop dolls of sci-fi and fantasy characters, created “Golden Girls” figures, a limited-edition cereal and, most recently, PEZ dispensers. In 2015, a fan built an unofficial Lego set of the women in their home. Next February, a “Golden Girls” theme cruise will launch from — where else? — Miami.
Marsha Posner Williams, a co-producer on the series’ first three seasons, said the creators simply set out to tell stories about an often-overlooked segment of the population.
“This was a way of showing that even though you might be of a certain age, you’re not dead,” Williams said. “You’re full of life, full of laughter, full of sarcasm and it can be quite joyful.”
Unlike the ‘80s fashions worn in the show, the dialogue still holds up, Williams said, resonating with many people, from the gay community to millennials.
“All the issues are so real that they talk about, even though it was 35 years ago,” she said.
H. Alan Scott of Los Angeles has co-hosted a “Golden Girls” podcast for four years called “Out On the Lanai,” a reference to the patio where the women would often talk. He also stages drag shows as Sadie Pines, a riff on the fictitious Shady Pines retirement home where Sophia used to live.
He calls the show “timeless in a lot of ways because they weren’t necessarily topical in the jokes they did.”
Maria Claver, a gerontology professor who created the CSU Long Beach class with colleague Long Wang in spring 2018, thinks nostalgia is one reason “The Golden Girls” endures. Many fans who watched when it originally aired are now in or facing their golden years. And the episodes have been helpful illustrations for her students.
“I think one of the strengths of using a show like ‘Golden Girls’ is that you can address sometimes uncomfortable or difficult topics with humor,” Claver said. “I think that makes students comfortable to talk about things like sexuality among older women.”
The weekly class touched on subjects like menopause, addiction, sexuality, dementia and caregiving. Claver and Wang would screen a relevant episode and then lead a discussion. There were guest speakers, including Williams.
As a super-fan, Claver also can’t help but delight in turning students on to the show’s entertainment value.
“It is a thrill to introduce it to some of the younger students and by the end of the semester, they’re like ‘Omigosh, I’m totally a Dorothy,’” Claver said.
Wilkinson, the recent grad, said she can laugh along even when she has no idea who a guest star like Burt Reynolds is.
“Of course there are references I don’t quite understand. Like they’ll mention a musician or they’ll mention an actor I’ve never heard of,” Wilkinson said. “But for some reason, the way they deliver it is hilarious.”
Williams loves that “Golden Girls” keeps finding a new audience.
“We all do projects that we wish our names were not on,” she said. “But, if you’re lucky, you have one in your career that you’re so fricking proud to be associated with.”