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(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Morgan City police reported another in a string of recent arrests involving synthetic cannabinoids, this one alleging possession in the presence of a 2-year-old.

St. Mary deputies also arrested a man accused of possessing heroin and methamphetamine in distribution quantities.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Deonte Devon Harris, 29, Saint Gabriel Street, Patterson, was arrested May 20 on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, transactions involving proceeds from drug activity, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and driving on the right side of the road.

On May 20, investigators with the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on La. 182. During the course of the stop, the driver was identified as Harris. Investigators also identified two adult passengers and a 2-year-old toddler who were inside the vehicle at the time of the stop. During the investigation, investigators located a large quantity of suspected marijuana, THC vape cartridges, synthetic cannabinoids and a large amount of U.S. currency believed to be proceeds derived from illegal narcotics sales.

The suspected marijuana weighed approximately 738 grams, or a little more than 1-1/2 pounds. Investigators also recovered approximately 5 fluid ounces of suspected liquid synthetic cannabinoids and 10 THC vape cartridges.

Harris was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking.

Adams has warned in previous Facebook posts about an upswing in the number of cases involving synthetic cannabinoids and the risks posed by their use.

--Curtis Richard, 49, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 11:45 a.m. Thursday on two counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Robert Gould, 27, Frances Drive, Berwick, was arrested at 4:55 p.m. Thursday on a charge of failure to appear proper equipment required (6th Ward Morgan City Court). (Released on summons.)

--Shannon Deal Jr., 26, Reserve Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 12:45 a.m. Friday on three counts of simple battery.

--Kaleb Meadows, 27, Trevino Street, Berwick, was arrested at 7:40 p.m. Friday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Elton Pinn, 42, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:43 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a legend drug without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and transactions involving drug proceeds, and on a Franklin County bench warrant on a charge of speeding.

Bail was set at $412,500.

--Samantha Renee Jones, 42, Gonzales, was arrested at 7:10 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding, failure to use seatbelts, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license and failure to honor a written promised to appear.

--Apollonia Marie Louis, 41, New Iberia, was arrested at 7:13 pm Friday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding, driving under suspension, operating an unregistered vehicle or a vehicle without proper plates, and failure to secure vehicle registration.

Bail was set at $500.

--Jessica Alice Morris, 26, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:46 p.m. Thursday on a Berwick Police Department warrant alleging warrant entry or remaining where forbidden. Morris is being held for another agency.

--Robert Felix Stevens, 55, Monroe, was arrested on May 21, 2026, at 2:49 pm for failure to register as a sex offender. Bail was set at $100,000.

--Kevin Lashawn James Sr., 40, Franklin, was arrested at 7:50 a.m. May 20 on charges of criminal trespass, disturbing the peace (intoxicated), obstruction of justice (tampering) and introduction of contraband into a penal institution.

Bail has not been set at this time.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:

--Andrew A. Luke, 21, La. 662, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 8:57 p.m. May 20 on charges of no driver’s license, two counts of resisting an officer by flight and criminal trespass.

Luke was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,487.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Breyonna Verret, 24, Chitimacha Trail, Charenton, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. May 20 on a warrant dated March 13 alleging theft. Verret was booked, processed and released on a $1,500 bond.

--Joyce Jones, 74, Kerry Street, Baldwin, LA, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. May20 on a charge of criminal trespassing. Jones was booked, processed and released on a $500 bond.

--Shane King, 49, Tyler Lane, Franklin, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. May 20 on charges of speeding, reckless operation and possession of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle. King was booked, processed and released on a $1,072 bond.

After an overnight storm that blacked out many electric customers and damaged some homes, Morgan City people awoke Saturday to more rain and more lightning.
The National Weather Service in Lake Charles issued a flash flood warning and a flood watch until 12:45 p.m. Saturday as intermittently heavy rain continued to fall. A flood watch was in effect until 7 p.m. Saturday.
The late Friday-early Saturday severe weather hit Morgan City hardest.
Morgan City Housing Authority Director Clarence Robinson said a Mallard Street resident called at 10:25 p.m. Friday to report that a tree had fallen on the roof of her Brownell Homes residence. The large tree was split by a lightning strike.
“It was torrential, with high winds,” Robinson said.
“Lots of lightning, thunder and rain – a lot,” said Mike Francois, a Housing Authority maintenance and repair man.
The tree fell over the bathroom portion of the home. No one was injured, Robinson said.
Not all the Mallard Street resident’s luck was bad. Although the Housing Authority’s vacancy rate is low, a unit across Mallard from the damaged home was available. Robinson and co-workers were preparing the vacant unit Saturday morning for the woman to move in.
In a Facebook post, Mayor Lee Dragna said a couple of residents had to be taken out of homes damaged by the storm.
Portions of the city were without power during the storm. At one point overnight, Cleco reported 1,083 customers were blacked out.
Dragna reported about 2 a.m. that power had been restored to 90-95% of the city.
As clean-up and repair continued Saturday, Dragna and the Morgan City Police Department urged people to obey street barricades and to stay away from crews responding to transformer malfunctions and downed lines.
“If you slow us down,” Dragna said in a Facebook video, “those people are not getting power until everybody’s out of the way.”
“The Morgan City Police Department would like to remind all citizens to obey all barricades and road closures placed throughout the city," the department said in a Facebook post. "These barricades are in place for the safety of the public as electrical crews work to repair damaged utility poles and restore power to residents still affected by outages.
"Driving around or moving barricades creates a dangerous situation for utility workers, first responders, and the public. These crews are working long hours under hazardous conditions to safely restore services to our community.
"Any person found going around barricades or disregarding posted road closures will be subject to citations and possible further enforcement action.
Dragna also asked residents to help by picking up trash, limbs and leaves from streets to keep the drainage system clear in anticipation of more rain.
The U.S. 90 bridge was closed for more than 2-1/2 hours early Saturday after a barge strike during the storm. Combined with the continuing closure of the La. 182 bridge for repairs and maintenance, the new bridge’s closure cut off access by emergency vehicles from one side of the Atchafalaya to the other.
State inspectors were called in and said the U.S. 90 bridge could be safely reopened by 3 a.m. Saturday.
St. Mary Gravity Drainage District No. 2A is undergoing a $12 million-$14 million upgrade to the pump stations that move floodwater from Morgan City outside the levee system. That system failed to protect hundreds of city homes from flooding during Hurricane Francine in September 2024.
“Everything seems to be OK,” said Michael Brocato, director of the St. Mary Levee District, which is administering the upgrade. “There are always little issues here and there, but they’re taking care of them.”
There were early reports of tornadoes during the overnight storm, but the National Weather Service has not confirmed those reports.
The storm turned Memorial Day Friday into a long night for Morgan City employees. Dragna praised electric and public works employees, who worked until 4 a.m. Saturday and were back on the job by 7:30 a.m. Robinson said the Morgan City Fire Department responded quickly to the lightning strike on Mallard.
Rain is expected to continue until at least Tuesday, with daytime precipitation chances of 80% each day, according to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.

PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE NOT EXCEEDING $3,000,000 OF TAXABLE UTILITIES REVENUE BONDS OF THE CITY OF MORGAN CITY, STATE OF
LOUISIANA
As provided by a resolution adopted by the Morgan City Council (the “Governing Auth- ority”), acting as the governing authority of the City of Morgan City, State of Louisiana (the “City”), on April 28, 2026, the City HEREBY DECLARES ITS INTENTION to issue up to Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) of Taxable Utilities Revenue Bonds (the “Bonds”) for the purpose of paying a portion of the costs of constructing and acquiring improvements, extensions, and replacements to the drinking water component of the City’s combined utility system comprised of the electric light and power plants and systems, the drinking water plants and systems, and the natural gas transmission and distribution plants and systems (collectively, the “System”).
The Bonds shall be limited and special revenue bonds of the City and shall be secured by and payable, equally with the City’s outstanding Utilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2009B and Taxable Utilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2024, solely from the income and revenues derived or to be derived from the operation of the System, after provision has been made for payment therefrom of all reasonable and necessary expenses of operating and maintaining the System. The Bonds will not be a charge on the other income and revenues of the City, nor shall they constitute an indebtedness or pledge of the general credit of the City. The Bonds will be issued pursuant to Part II of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority (the “Act”).
The Bonds will be issued in one or more series as authorized by ordinance(s) adopted by the Governing Authority, will mature not later than 30 years from their date of issuance, will bear interest at rates not more than 2.45% per annum, and will be subject to prepayment anytime without penalty.
As provided by the Act, all of the other details of the Bonds will be set forth in the ordinance(s) authorizing their issuance, including the following: covenants relating to the management and operation of the System, the imposition and collection of rates and charges from the System’s customers, the expenditure of such rates and charges, the issuance of future bonds and the creation of future liens and encumbrances against the System and all other pertinent matters as may be necessary to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds.
The Bonds are expected to be sold at a private sale, as provided for in the Act, to the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund of the State of Louisiana, and the Bonds will also be approved by the State Bond Commission prior to their delivery.
THE PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Governing Authority will meet in open and public session on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at six o’clock (6:00) p.m., at the City Court Building, 7261 Hwy. 182 East, Morgan City, Louisiana 70380, to hear any objections to the proposed issuance of the Bonds. If at such hearing a petition duly signed by electors of the City in a number not less than five percent (5%) of the number of such electors voting in the last election held in the City object to the issuance of the Bonds, then the Bonds shall not be issued until approved at an election held for that purpose. Any such petition must be accompanied by a certificate of the St. Mary Parish Registrar of Voters certifying that the signers of the petition(s) are registered electors of the City and the number of signers amounts to not less than five percent (5%) of the registered voters that voted in the last election held in the City, all as provided by the Act.
CITY OF
MORGAN CITY, STATE OF
LOUISIANA
Adv. May 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gra- vity Drainage District No. 2A
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 14th, 2026
Call to order 6:00 P. M.
Pledge of Allegiance by Mr. Patureau
Roll Call: Paul Rappmundt, Matthew Patureau, Nelda Dural, Don Hicks, and Shannon Boykin(absent)
Public Comment: None.
Guest: None
Ms. Dural made a motion to accept the minutes from the March regular meeting, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor. Motion carried.
The March treasurer’s reports for the Amelia and Morgan City/Siracusaville areas were presented. Mr. Hicks made a motion to approve the treasurer’s reports, second by Ms. Dural. All were in favor, motion carried.
Ms. Dural made a motion to enter into executive session, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor. Motion carried. A motion to come out of executive session was made by Ms. Dural, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor. Motion carried. A motion to move forward with what was discussed in executive session was made by Ms. Dural, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor, motion carried.
New Business: A motion to spend no more than $2000 to spray the retention pond was made Ms. Dural, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor. Motion carried. There was discussion but no action needed re- garding the Ditch/Sump clean out that Mayor Dragna will help out with. Mayor Dragna will be using the long reach at no charge, but the DD2A Board will be financially re- sponsible for the transportation of the equipment.
Old Business: Mr. Rappmundt presented the board with operating procedures and processes paperwork for the PO system. No action was taken. Mr. Rappmundt gave an update on the Emerson/SCADA system, no action was taken. An update on the generators for the Amelia area was given. Miller Engineers said that they have gotten approval on some of the land owens to move forward. Mr. Rappmundt presented the board with maintenance issues at stations 1, 6, and 7. Mr. Rappmundt said he’s working on putting emergency operations procedures in place for the pump stations. Mr.Rappmundt also said the audit is almost done,
Mr. Moffett gave his station reports.
Board Member Reports: None
Motion to Ad- journ was made by Ms. Nelda, second by Mr. Hicks. All were in favor. Motion carried. The meeting ended at 7:42 pm
Adv. May 22, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE
PROGRAM
We PUSH WILL ACCEPT BIDS FOR THE SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) BEGINNING MAY 13, 2026 THROUGH MAY 22, 2026. BIDS WILL BE DUE ON MAY 27, 2026 AT 4:00 PM AND WILL BE OPENED ON MAY 27, 2026 AT 6:00 PM IN THE OFFICE AT 514 FIRST STREET FRANKLIN, LA 70538.
EACH BID SUBMITTED MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVELOPE TO DESIGNATE WHICH BID YOU ARE SUBMITTING SEE BELOW:
BID # 26-12 FROZEN FOOD & GROCERY SFSP & CN LABEL ITEMS
BID # 26-13 SUPPLIES - SFSP
BID #26-14 EQUIPMENT SFSP
SPECIFICATIONS MAY BE OBTAINED BY EMAIL REQUEST BY EMAILING WEPUSHTXLA@GMAIL.COM WE PUSH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS AND WAIVE INFORMALITIES INCIDENT THERETO.
CONTACT IN- FORMATION:
DR. LADALE WEBSTER-LAMB
WE PUSH, DIRECTOR
512.765.4837
WEPUSHTXLA@GMAIL.COM
PLEASE READ SOLICITATION CAREFULLY!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Adv. May 15, 20 and 22, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
Invitation to Bid for Food and
Beverage Items
WE PUSH 501 (C))(3)is soliciting bids for the provision of food items: baked goods, canned, staples, frozen, refrigerated, meat, seafood and poultry, spices, paper products, and FROZEN FOOD & GROCERY & CN LABEL ITEMS, SUPPLIES and EQUIPMENT for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for the period of May 25, 2026 through August , 2026.
Sealed bids relative to the above will be received by We PUSH at 514 First Street Franklin, LA 70538 at 4:00 P.M. on May 27, 2026 until 6:00 pm when they will be opened and publicly read.
Specifications and bid documents may be obtained upon request from We PUSH in writing, by email at wepushtxla@gmail .com or by calling 512.765.4837
We PUSH 501 (c)(3)
Dr. LaDale
Webster-Lamb,
Executive Director
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Adv. May 15, 20 and 22, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff will conduct a proposed budget hearing for their upcoming fiscal year on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Office, Parish Courthouse – Fourth Floor, Franklin, LA. The purpose of the hearing is to invite public comment on the expenditure of funds by the Sheriff for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2027. The proposed budget is available for public inspection during regular office hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This notice is prepared and published in compliance with Louisiana Revised Statutes 39:1301-1314. This will be an important meeting and all interested persons are urged to attend.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact our office at (337) 828-1960, describing the assistance that is necessary.
(S) Gary L.
Driskell
Gary L. Driskell,
Sheriff and Chief Executive Officer of the Law Enforcement District and ex-officio Chief Executive Officer of the Law Enforcement District Sub-District No. 1
Adv. May 22, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the St. Mary Parish Board of Adjustments will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Monday, June 1, 2026, AT 5:45 P.M. in the Parish Council Meeting Room, Fifth Floor Courthouse, Franklin, Louisiana, for the following purposes:
Variance Re- quest for Triple S Marine / SDL Investments LLC. represented by Shaun Roberie for a Front Yard Setback Variance to deviate from the required 30 ft. to 15 ft. in a Heavy Industrial (HI) Zoned District located at 1300 Lake Palourde Rd., Amelia, LA 70340 Sec.14 T16S R13E; - Parcel Id# 3524261005.00 - Lot Tract “ABCDEFGHIJKLMA” Per Plat 193 305128 Acq. 205 306724. (Zon-1505)
All persons are invited to this meeting to submit their approval or objections to the above VARIANCE REQUEST.
St. Mary Parish
Board of
Adjustments
John “Booker” Davis,
Chairman
Adv. May 15, 22 and 29, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING – ZONING REQUESTS
Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held to consider the following requests:
1) Variance Re- quest - Property located at 117 Bernard St., Patterson, Louisiana
Request for a zoning variance to allow a C-1 Commercial business (Pet Boarding Facility) on property currently zoned R-2 Mixed Residential
2) Rezoning Re- quest – Property located at 518-522 St. Lucy Street, Patterson, Louisiana
Request to re- zone R-2 Mixed residential to C-1 Commercial for use by Cardinal Lumber.
The Public Hearing will take place on May 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Patterson City Hall.
All interested persons are invited to attend and be heard.
Adv. May 13, 20 and 22, 2026
Cost: $21.00
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Patterson Housing Authority monthly board meeting held on May 26, 2026 at 5:30 pm at 409 Grout st Patterson La. 70392 Public invited.

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PUBLIC NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Sixteenth
Judicial District Court
——
PARISH OF
ST. MARY
——
STATE OF
LOUISIANA
Nationstar Mortgage, LLC
Vs. No. 139319 Div “E”
Henry P. Tabor, Jr.
TAKE NOTICE, that by virtue of Order of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable 16th Judicial District Court, in and for the Parish of St. Mary, and to me directed, in the above numbered and entitled suit, I have seized the following mentioned and described property, to wit:
That certain lot or parcel of land together with all buildings and im- provements thereon situated and the component parts thereof, and all rights, ways, privileges, servitudes and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining lying and being situated in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, being known designated and described as LOT NO. 9 IN SQUARE NO. 3 OF ARENZ ANNEX to the City of Morgan City, as per the map or plan of land of said subdivision recorded under St. Mary Parish COB Entry No. 30410; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property.
to satisfy the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND EIGHTY SIX AND 88/100 ($155,086.88) DOLLARS with interest thereon at 4.875% per annum from July 01, 2023, until paid; all ex- penses incurred in enforcing the note and mortgage in- cluding reasonable attorney’s fees; if/as applicable, such other or additional amounts incurred or advanced for taxes, insurance premiums, special assessments, re- pairs to and/or maintenance of the property, for the protection, preservation, repair and recovery of the property, for the protection and preservation of the lien of the mortgage, for the protection and preservation of the mortgagee’s interest thereunder, and other amounts provided by the mortgage and ap- plicable law, such as late charges, escrow advances, for the payment of taxes and insurance, corporate advances, property appraisals, inspection fees, prior attorney fees and expenses, abstract and title charges, NSF charges, attorney fees and expenses, and other charges which plaintiff is permitted to prove by verified petition, verified supplemental petition, or affidavit filed or submitted before distribution by the sheriff of the proceeds of the judicial sale herein; and all law charges, fees and expenses incurred in connection or relating to this proceeding including without limitation sheriff’s commission, sheriff’s costs, court costs all as permitted by the note or mortgage being en- forced by this proceeding; and all costs of this proceedings, as well as all sheriff’s costs and commission
All successful bidders must have cash, cashier’s check or a verifiable letter of credit in favor of said bidder from a solvent bank, savings and loan association or other such financial institution authorized to do business in the state of Louisiana and full payment must be made on the date of sale. Letter must state that money is available on the date of sale.
I shall expose the same at public sale, for Cash, according to law WITH appraisement to the last and highest bidder, at the principal front door of the 1st floor lobby area of the Court House in the Parish of St. Mary, Town of Franklin, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 24th day of June A.D., 2026, be- tween the legal hours commencing at 10 O’Clock A.M.
Sheriff’s Office
Parish of St. Mary, La.
Thursday, the 11th day of May A.D., 2026
GARY L.
DRISKELL,
SHERIFF
By: Heidi Rineholt
Deputy Sheriff
Adv. May 22 and June 19, 2026

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PUBLIC NOTICE
AGENDA
ST. MARY PARISH 911 COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT
1200 David Dr. Building B
Morgan City, LA 70380
Thursday, May 28, 2026
1:00 P.M.
1. Meeting Called to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Guests(s): Kristin Holcombe of Kolder, Slaven, & Co.
4. Public Comment
5. Minutes: April 23, 2026
6. Income Statement: April 2026
7. Expense Statement: April 2026
8. Old Business: Tech Pro Quote for 5 replacement computers
9. New Business: 2025 Audit Report by Kolder Slaven & Co; VFIS Insurance Renewal; 2026-2027 FA Intergovernmental Agreement
10. Director Updates
11. General Discussion
12. Adjournment
Adv. May 22, 2026

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The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s first and most successful relief programs during the Great Depression, flourished in Louisiana between 1933 and 1942, even though Huey Long vehemently opposed it.
Roosevelt proposed its creation in March 1933. The idea was to place able-bodied young men in camps across the country to do the manual labor needed for development of natural resources. It sailed through Congress, and the first camps were formed in April 1933.
The first projects were aimed mostly at planting saplings on public land, but Long, then a U.S. Senator and a staunch Roosevelt foe, wanted nothing to do with them. He was afraid the work program would give FDR too much political clout and cut into the Long machine’s hold over Louisiana. Long said  he would personally “eat every one of them that comes up in my state.”
\He would have had to do a lot of eating. The camps came to Louisiana despite his tirade, and workers planted thousands of trees in Kisatchie National Forest, which spreads over much of central and north Louisiana.
Workers on south Louisiana’s prairie lands tackled other jobs. Several hundred men worked from late 1933 into the middle of 1934 to build the Longfellow-Evangeline State Park at St. Martinville, and those based in Ville Platte helped create Chicot State Park.
Other South Louisiana camps were set up at Lafayette, Abbeville, Jeanerette, Krotz Springs, Church Point, Hackberry, Iowa and Bunkie. Most of them lasted only for months, not years. They moved elsewhere when their projects were done. According to an Abbeville Meridional story, CCC workers in Vermilion Parish worked to “clear and grub rights-of-way for large ditches, remove vegetation from existing ditches … and clean, straighten and deepen old ditches.”
The program gave work and money to men who had few other options. They were fed and housed at government expense and paid $30 a month, $22 of which was sent home to help support their families. That $30 would be the equivalent of about $350 today.
The camps were also a boon to the communities where they were located. The Meridional said in December 1939 that the one there, “with its approximately 200 enrollees and officers” was an “important asset” to the town and parish. During five months of operation, the CCC spent $2,000 repairing buildings and nearly $1,700 for general expenses, most of that going into the local economy, according to the story.
“The electric costs average $75 per month, the ice bill averages $45 a month, shoe repair about $35 per month, gasoline and oil for the company truck … totals about 250 gallons of gasoline and three gallons of oil a month,” the newspaper said. Gasoline cost less than 20 cents a gallon back then, oil even less.
The camps included housing, a recreation hall, an infirmary and other facilities (usually in large tents), but one young worker from Crowley said in a letter home that the “most welcome spot” in his camp was the mess hall.  “The gain of weight by the majority of the members” attested to “the quality and quantity of the food served,” he said. That appeared to be just as true in Abbeville.
The Meridional itemized $9,800 spent by the CCC on food for just five months. The list included 15,000 packages of cereal, 16,700 pints of milk, 10,000 pounds of potatoes, 10,000 pounds of rice, 1,000 pounds of chicken, 700 pounds of beef, 500 pounds of bacon, 10,000 pounds of flour, 3,000 pounds of lard and 700 of butter, 1,000 pounds of frankfurters, and 800 gallons of ice cream, as well as coffee, sugar and other staples.
Some of the enrollees were trained as cooks and bakers to handle all of that food, and the camps also taught job skills the workers could use after leaving the program.
Besides cooking and baking, the Abbeville camp offered basic courses in reading and writing, as well as things as varied as stenography, dynamiting, auto mechanics, radio repairs, surveying, mechanical drawing, woodworking, and a list of construction skills.
A. E. Johnson, the state coordinator for the CCC,  said in 1939 that besides giving them immediate financial relief, the camps were “teaching young American men useful trades, building their health and character and capacity for civilian leadership,” in contrast to  programs in an increasingly troubled Europe, where “young men … are being taught the latest methods of legalized, scientific murder.”
Unfortunately, that would not last. We were dragged into those faraway troubles in 1941, and Congress did away with the CCC just months later because the camps were empty.  Most of those healthy, hardworking, trained young men were using their skills doing much more disagreeable and dangerous work.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589