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Closing ceremonies were held for Central Catholic Elementary School’s fifth grade Class of 2019 on Tuesday. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Clyde Mahler of Holy Cross Church, and a reception for parents, grandparents, and friends in the Yvonne Anne Adams Life Center followed. Pictured, front row from left: Bryan Wiggins, Ryan Valentine, Gavin Roy, Zoie Scully, Hannah Dalton, Baylee Smith, Julia Sloane, Emmy Robison, Dominic Lipari, Max Simmons and Wayne Hebert. Middle row: Chaz’ Pickens, Bryce Talbot, Avery Price, Drake Theriot, Cash Baker, Addison Loupe, Jolie Baker, Zowie Minyard and Parris-Nicole Pennison. Back row: Nicholas Sobers, Kollin Nelson, Ashley Denning, Lucy Kincade, Addison Grizzaffi, Emily Pillaro, Sophie Vining, and Cambrey Ruffin.

South Louisiana Community College’s leaders praised the Hugh and Byrnes Young Foundation’s contributions over the last 20 years. But the contributions started before that — half a century before.
The SLCC Foundation recognized the Young Foundation as its Benefactor of the Year on Thursday at Young Memorial, citing $5 million in gifts to the technical college and fledgling community college since 1999. At the lectern, Young Foundation board member Brenda Ayo talked about contributions by the Youngs that go back to 1955, including the land for Morgan City Cemetery.
And in her words there was a challenge.
“I’m asking you to remember your own commitment to Morgan City,” Ayo said.
The contributions to Young Memorial, which officially became part of the SLCC System last year, included the land for the school’s Marine Safety and Training Center.
“It was just a no-brainer to recognize the H&B Young Foundation this way,” SLCC Chancellor Natalie Harder said.
For the larger community, the foundation’s contributions have amounted to $17 million since 1999.
Among them:
—Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said the Young Foundation has contributed $1,475,016 to the city since he took office in 2013.
—Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Director Raymond “Mac” Wade said the foundation’s help made possible a 1990 expansion that in turn allowed the area to keep Intermoor and a U.S. Coast Guard station.
“They do a lot more than just hand out money,” Wade said. “They’ve partnered with us.”
—Morgan City High Principal Mickey Fabre said the foundation was important in the school’s standing from a run-of-the-mill two stars under the old rating system in 2013 to an A school under the new system.
The foundation offers seven scholarships each year, and 24 Morgan City High recipients are currently in college, Fabre said. The foundation has also helped students apply to college or receive industry certification.
—Sandra Nolan said the foundation came up with a 15-passenger van that meant Morgan City Youth Center participants don’t have to walk home in the dark or the rain. When the 4-year-old program grew and the van wasn’t big enough, the foundation helped arrange for a bus.
Each year, the foundation makes sure the participants have a Christmas party and a Christmas present, Nolan said. And Young Memorial provided space for the program’s move from Morgan City High.
“Our children walk through the doors of a college every day,” Nolan said. “They see how and why it works. They see what goes on.”
—Scholarship recipient Hanisha Gabriel thanked the foundation for helping her go to SLCC.
—Brenda Liner of St. Mary Outreach said the foundation helps provide emergency food and other assistance to parish residents in need.
“I know that if someone comes in needing assistance beyond what we can do, I can call one of them,” Liner said.

April marked the third straight month that St. Mary Parish sales and use tax collections have been slightly below the same month of 2018.

But the most recent parish employment statistics were encouraging as St. Mary added about 300 jobs from December 2018 to March, and the jobless rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points from January to March.

Business has been slow at some retail businesses, but there is a lot of new capital investment in the parish, said Parish Economic Development Director Frank Fink.

Fink expects that investment to eventually start showing up in the sales and use tax collections.

“The good news is the jobs are increasing. And as those jobs increase and if they continue to increase, I think we’ll see a turnaround in the sales tax,” Fink said.

Sales and use tax collections totaled $3.22 million in April, a 2.1 percent decrease from the $3.29 million collected during April 2018. Audits brought in $72,378 in collections for April compared to $75,008 for the same month of 2018.

All areas of collections saw small decreases during April, including retail, automobile, drug stores, hotel and all areas of industry are all showing small decreases, said Jeff LaGrange, St. Mary Parish sales and use tax director.

Hotel sales tax collections of $40,661 were down 7 percent from the $43,704 collected in April 2018.

Overall in the first quarter, collections brought in $9.25 million, a 1.4 percent rise from the $9.12 million collected in 2018’s first quarter. Hotel collections of $118,393 were up 3.5% from the $114,364 collected in 2018’s first quarter.

That quarter’s increase in collections was due to a strong January when total collections climbed 15.7 percent and 4.9 percent not counting audits. Officials collected $3.92 million for January compared to $3.39 million for January 2018. Hotel tax collections rose 2.5 percent from $35,422 to $36,295 in January.

However, collections went down in February as officials collected $2.74 million, a 10.5 percent decrease from the $3.06 million collected in February 2018. Excluding collections made as a result of financial audits, collections decreased just 1.2 percent.

March collections totaled $2.59 million, down 3.2 percent from the $2.67 million collected in March 2018. Without collections from audits, collections dropped 1.1 percent.

St. Mary Parish’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.1% in March from 5.7% in February, according to the latest not seasonally adjusted statistics from the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

The number of employed residents rose by 152 people during March, going from 18,668 in February to 18,820. The parish workforce, the sum of employed residents and those looking for work, rose slightly from 19,799 people to 19,825 people.

February’s unemployment rate was 5.7% compared to 6.3% in January. Also in January, 18,529 people were employed compared to 18,518 employed residents in December 2018 when the jobless rate was 5.7%.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.

Wednesday, May 22

4 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Criminal damage to property.

4:14 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.

4:25 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Medical.

4:37 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.

6:00 p.m. 900 block of Ditch Avenue; Medical emergency.

6:34 p.m. Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.

6:53 p.m. 500 block of Barrow Street; Medical emergency.

7:28 p.m. 700 block of Duke Street; Animal complaint.

7:55 p.m. 700 block of General Hodges Street; Theft.

8:56 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.

9:09 p.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Medical emergency.

9:29 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Suspicious people.

9:43 p.m. Brownell Homes; Arrest.

9:55 p.m. 700 block of Franklin Street; Animal complaint.

11:22 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.