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Lady Eagles place four on All-District 7-1A top squad

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 10:06am

Staff Report

Central Catholic had four representatives on the top squad of the All-District 7-1A softball team.
The Lady Eagles’ freshman Hallie Crappell (pitcher), senior Bailee Lipari (third base), sophomore Haley Fontenot (utility) and eighth-grader Hailey Skiles (utility) each made the team.
Central Catholic had four second-team selections: freshman Olivia Black (pitcher), sophomore Rylie Jeau Theriot (catcher), senior Brooke Lipari (outfield) and eighth-grader Emily Lipari (utility).
The Lady Eagles had two honorable mention selections: Amaya Williams and Alanni Landry.
District champion Lafayette Christian Academy swept the individual awards as Janci Aube was named Most Valuable Player and Taylor Leger, Coach of the Year.
The Lady Eagles also had 19 players earn academic all-district recognition. Those players are: Black, Cameron Breaux, Emily Colgin, Crappell, Fontenot, Landry, Kamille Lightfoot, Bailee Lipari, Brooke Lipari, Emily Lipari, Shelbie Mabile, Caitlyn Picou, Rachel Rogers, Emily Roy, Abbie Scully, Skiles, Theriot, Symone Wiggins and Williams.
Below are the complete all-district and academic all-district lists:
All-District
First-Team
—Pitcher: Kellie Frith, Vermilion Catholic, junior; Janci Aube, Lafayette Christian Academy, freshman; Hallie Crappell, Central Catholic, freshman; and Ava Armentor, Highland Baptist, seventh-grade.
—Catcher: Sadie Boudreaux, Vermilion Catholic, senior.
—First Base: Stevie Credeur, Lafayette Christian Academy, sophomore.
—Second Base: Kendra LaComb, Gueydan, junior.
—Third Base: Bailee Lipari, Central Catholic, senior.
—Shortstop: Sarah Diaz, Lafayette Christian Academy, sophomore.
—Outfield: Chelsea Hebert, Centerville, junior; Marin Barras, Highland Baptist, sophomore; and Emily Boudreaux, Vermilion Catholic, junior.
—Utility: Haley Fontenot, Central Catholic, sophomore; Ainsley Mallet, Vermilion Catholic, senior; Hailey Skiles, Central Catholic, eighth grade; and Alyse Boudreaux, Lafayette Christian Academy, sophomore.
—MVP: Janci Aubé, Lafayette Christian Academy, freshman.
—Coach of the Year: Taylor Leger, Lafayette Christian Academy.
Second Team
—Pitcher: Hilary Pillaro, Hanson Memorial, eighth grade; Emma LeJeune, Gueydan, freshman; and Olivia Black, Central Catholic, freshman.
—Catcher: Rylie Jeau Theriot, Central Catholic, sophomore.
—First Base: Avery Brasseaux, Centerville, freshman.
—Second Base: Blair Abshire, Highland Baptist, senior.
—Third Base: Kameron Borel, Lafayette Christian Academy, sophomore.
—Shortstop: Mia Mitchell, Highland Baptist, sophomore.
—Outfield: Dusti Abshire, Highland Baptist, sophomore; Brooke Lipari, Central Catholic, senior; and Gwendolyn Hebert, Gueydan, junior.
—Utility: Jillian Gesch, Lafayette Christian Academy, junior; Cady Roberts, Vermilion Catholic, senior; Jennifer Ipson, Lafayette Christian Academy, sophomore; Emily Lipari, Central Catholic, eighth grade; and Camille Baker, Hanson Memorial, junior.
Honorable Mention
—Centerville: Dymond Darden, Nevaeh McDaniel, Nina Darden, Islee Finley and Aalian Lombas.
—Central Catholic: Amaya Williams and Alanni Landry.
—Gueydan: Grace LeJeune, Gracie Simon and Sydnie Simon.
—Hanson Memorial: A’myrie Foulcard, Addie Lovell and Miya Hidalgo.
—Highland Baptist: Rylee Guthrie, Maggie Mitchell, Mindy Charpentier, Isabelle Breaux, Isabella Breaux and Jessica Suire.
—Lafayette Christian Academy: Alison Begnaud, Janaé Duffy and Abigayle Credeur.
—Vermilion Catholic: Rosie Hagle, Ava Hebert and Anne-Catherine Gallet.
Academic All-District
—Centerville: Nevaeh McDaniel, Nina Darden, Islee Finley, Aaliah Lombas, Chelsi Hebert, Nicole Hopkins, Kyleigh Doiron, Marisol Barnes, Sydni Collins, Mariah Querrard, Angelina Stoltz, Angelina Buck, Kayla Businelle, Avery Brasseaux, Kaeleigh Frederick, Alexis Estay, Makenna McDaniel, Russia Romero and Ava Calais.
—Central Catholic: Olivia Black, Cameron Breaux, Emily Colgin, Hallie Crappell, Haley Fontenot, Alanni Landry, Kamille Lightfoot, Bailee Lipari, Brooke Lipari, Emily Lipari, Shelbie Mabile, Caitlyn Picou, Rachel Rogers, Emily Roy, Abbie Scully, Hailey Skiles, Rylie Jeau Theriot, Symone Wiggins and Amaya Williams.
—Gueydan: Gwendolyn Hebert, Kendra LaComb, Rebekah Lepretre, Gracie Simon, Sydnie Simon, Sumer Bonvillion, Gracie Broussard, Baylie Istre, Raegan Istre, Grace LeJeune, Asia Martin, Kaelyn Bertrand, Claire Broussard, Emma LeJeune and Raegan Mouton.
—Hanson: Camille Baker, A’myrie Foulcard, Taylor Day, Rachel Trammell, Maikaila Hebert , Miya Hidalgo, Riley Trahan, Madison Parro, Celia Bishop, Hilary Pillaro, Addie Lovell and Madison St. Blanc.
—Highland Baptist: Zoe Smith, Brianna Sensley, Rory Ronsonet, Baili Sanders, Mia Mitchell, Maggie Mitchell, Kennedy Jumonville, Rylee Guthrie, Jessica Suire, Mindy Charpentier, Isabella Breaux, Cassidy Boudreaux, Marin Barras, Drue Armentor, Dusti Abshire and Blair Abshire.
—Lafayette Christian Academy: Alyse Boudreaux, Abigayle Credeur, Alison Beganud, Janaé Duffy, Jillian Gesch, Sarah Diaz, Stevie Credeur, Kameron Borel, Blair Gesch, Calbey Parker, Janci Aubé and Jennifer Ipson.
—Vermilion Catholic: Emily Boudreaux, Rosie Hagle, Ava Hebert, Emma Griffin, Mackay Suire, Sadie Boudreaux, Emily Derouen, Ainsley Mallet, Kelli Frith, Cady Roberts, Samantha Dupree, Karli Frith, Emily Bertrand and Anne-Catherine Gallet.

CLARENCE JOSEPH POOLE SR.

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:32am

Clarence Joseph Poole Sr., 71, a resident of Bayou Vista, La. and native of Morgan City, La., passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Terrebonne General Medical Center.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the Siracusaville Recreation Center, 1110 Grace St., Morgan City, La. from 11 a.m. until funeral services at 1 p.m. Reverend Ron Bias will officiate the services
Memories of Clarence Sr. will forever remain in the hearts of his companion, Anna Sipe of Morgan City, La.; his children, Clarence J. Poole, Jr. of Kinder, La., Theresa Poole of Morgan City, La., Mrs. James (Joyce Poole) Lumpkins, Debra De’Clouet, Mrs. Spencer (Rhonda Poole) Lawrence and Joycelyn Banks all of Lafayette, La.; twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren; one brother, Darrell G. Poole of Baton Rouge, La.; one sister, Linda Poole of Morgan City, La.; his extended family by his companion, thirteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Clarence Sr., was preceded in death by his daughter, his parents and his siblings.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

CLINTON BERNARD “FUZZY” NOEL

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:31am

Clinton Bernard “Fuzzy” Noel, 82, a resident of Morgan City, La. passed away at 3:20 am on Friday, May 10, 2019 at his residence.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, May 25, 2019 from 9 A.M. until funeral services at 11 A.M. at the Railroad Avenue Church of Christ 1105 Railroad Avenue Morgan City, La., with Brother Stanley Rankins, officiating the services. Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery.
Memories of Clinton, or “Fuzzy,” as he was known to many, will forever remain in the hearts of his six sons, Clinton E. (Shonda) Noel of the Woodlands, TX, Clinton “Buddy” of Washington, DC, Clyde Allen of Katy, TX, Curtis Druilhet of Cameron, La. and Harry Lee Turner and Michael A. Noel both of Morgan City, La.; his seven daughters, Shelia Noel, Mrs. Patrick (Kathy) Landry, Verda Allen and Yvette Turner all of Morgan City, La., Margaret Ann Webster of Cameron, La., Belinda Espree of Beaumont, TX and June Thompson of MD; one brother, Otis Carter and a sister, Shirley Butts both of VA and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Clinton was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, five brothers, and both his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

WASH HAMILTON “W.H.” BENNETT, III

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:30am

Wash Hamilton “W.H.” Bennett, III, 77, a resident of Jeanerette, La. and a native of Beaumont, TX, passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 14, 2019 at 12:31 a.m. at the Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, La.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, May 25, 2019 from 9 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m. at the St. Paul United Methodist Church 1405 Annie Moore Drive Jeanerette, Louisiana 70544. A Celebration of Life, celebrating the life of Mr. Wash Hamilton Bennett, III will begin at 11 a.m. with Pastor Darrell W Briggs Sr., officiating the services. Burial will follow funeral services in the Heavenly Rest Cemetery in Jeanerette, La.
“W.H.,” as he was known to many, leaves to cherish his memories three daughters, Mrs. Emmanuel (Natalie Bennett) Butts Sr., and Michelle Bennett both of Jeanerette, La. and Monique Bennett Burrell of Cypress, TX; one son, Leman Bennett of Jeanerette, La.; two granddaughters, three grandsons, one special grandson, five great-grandsons, one great-granddaughter, one brother, Claude Bennett of Chula Vista, CA; two sisters, Norma Thibodaux of Houston, TX and Mrs. Clarence (Shelia) Johnson of New Iberia, La. and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Wash was preceded in death by his parents.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

Catholic Foundation endowment named in honor of city resident

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:29am

The Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana announced the first endowment to provide Catholic elementary school tuition assistance to its families.
Named in memory of Nell Talbot Legendre, Catholic elementary school principals can request grant funds for tuition assistance for students starting in the spring of 2020.
A native of Franklin, Nell’s family moved to Houma when she was in fifth grade. Preparing to attend St. Francis, a kind storekeeper noticed her outside his closed store on a Sunday. He not only allowed her in the closed store, but also generously extended a discount to her family for her full set of uniforms.
Nell fondly recalled that act the rest of her life, and now her family wants to reciprocate to help other families requiring assistance. Nell graduated from St. Francis and Vandebilt Catholic, and then sent her own children to St. Genevieve and E.D. White. Through her nursery school Building Blocks, she nurtured hundreds of children over the years.
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux educate over 5,000 students each year, making it the largest evangelization ministry in the diocese. Those interested in contributing to the elementary school assistance fund, please contact Amy Ponson at 985-850-3116, or aponson@htdiocese.org.

Stiel reports on efforts to reduce auto insurance cost

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:28am

Auto insurance costs in the state were a topic of one Franklin Rotary Club member Tuesday.
Rotarian Don Stiel passed out a push card by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana to members regarding Louisiana auto insurance costs.
Stiel said the state House introduced a bill to reduce automobile rates. Louisiana ranks second-highest.
The card outlines four problem areas: Seatbelt gag rule, medical billing secrecy, jury trial threshold and direct action.
The gag rule means, Stiel said, “People cannot say whether they did or did not have a seatbelt on in court. That’s a bad thing. If they didn’t have a seatbelt on they’re breaking the law.”
The secrecy law forbids judges and juries from knowing what an insurance company actually paid for medical bills, meaning cases are valued higher than what it actually cost to treat the victim.
Stiel said the jury trial threshold is the highest in the nation at $50,000, while most states are $15,000 and some have none. That means that a vehicle valued that amount or more will be decided by a judge rather than a jury.
A bill to change that was killed in the Senate judiciary committee, Stiel said, and there was one positive vote, one walk-out and “the rest were trial lawyers. It wouldn’t have got past the governor because he’s a trial lawyer too.”
Direct action is a method where a plaintiff can sue both the driver and the insurance company. He said juries often just say “let the insurance company pay it.”
Ed “Tiger” Verdin reported that upcoming events at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts include a summer entertainment series that will include magicians, illusionists, bands, comedy shows and the summer stage production of “The Jungle Book.”
Senior Olympics will held May 29 at the Bayou Vista Community Center, a member noted.
Diane Wiltz said the theatre’s “Silver Screen Classics” will begin in July and continue through December, then in February for African American Month.
Wiltz said she is asking for local residents to volunteer to sponsor rental of the movies to be shown this year; the cost is roughly $250-300.
She also reported that the Art Stroll was a great success in Franklin, despite early-in-the-day rain.

Circle Drive area residents raise many concerns

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:27am

(NOTE: Stephanie Calhoun was misidentified in the original version. We apologize for the error.)
Circle Drive and Hospital Avenue residents complained of noise, litter, trespassing and drainage issues in their residential area Tuesday at the Franklin City Council meeting.
Residents said functions at the Franklin Recreation Center have been extremely noisy. Complaints to police were made. There were also complaints of activities in City Park that were loud.
Mayor Eugene Foulcard said there are city ordinances on loud music.
“We definitely plan on addressing your concerns,” Foulcard said. He said he and Police Chief Morris Beverly has met with residents in the area about their concerns. “We plan to be aggressive with addressing them.”
Robin Boudreaux said that decibel meters don’t measure the low-end bass sounds, which travel across distances.
Stephanie Calhoun filed a litany of complaints, including loud music until 2 a.m.
“We have to listen to that from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock,” she said.
She also spoke on litter that she said comes from Hospital Avenue, down Circle Drive and to the recreation center. Neighbors try to pick up the trash, but she noted there is a dumpster right in the area that violators could be using.
Also, Calhoun said individuals are trespassing on private yards to cross to Chauvin Drive.
And drainage problems are yet another issue in the neighborhood. Calhoun said she believes the system is need of cleaning to help drainage and prevent flooding of yards.
The old Franklin Foundation Hospital is becoming decrepit, Calhoun said. Foulcard said he has been in contact with the owners of the building and that they plan on addressing its condition.
Other street issues were discussed as well.
A couple who moved to Circle Drive last September said they were told it was a quiet area. But traffic going to the recreation center, loud music, flashing lights and other nuisances have proven otherwise.
Glenn Carr reported multiple drainage issues as well, citing water in yards that had never been there before, until about four years ago. The sheer amount of water has caused his fence to lean and has broken concrete sections and a built-in barbecue pit.
Stephen Hale said he believes the water is coming from Chauvin Drive, and presented photos and maps from the area to support his belief. He said water is “shooting out of the drains” indicating blockages.
There were also reports of shots being fired in the neighborhood on more than one occasion, and suspicious activity in the area.
Foulcard promised to address all concerns.

Home seized, other property sought from Duhon

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:14am

Officials with Morgan City-based investment holdings company Capital Management Consultants have seized a home and other property from ex-bookkeeper Karen Duhon to satisfy a civil judgment in a multimillion dollar theft case. A company spokesman says officials are looking for more items of which Duhon or other people may be in possession. Capital Management was founded by the late Peter V. Guarisco in 1982. Guarisco died in 2005. The Guarisco family and company officials alleged in a December 2014 lawsuit that former company CPA James Scott Tucker was the mastermind behind a scheme to steal up to $30 million from ...

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Radio logs for May 22

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 9:06am

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, May 21

4:34 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.

7:50 p.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Battery.

11:33 p.m. 800 block of Front Street; Alarm.

Wednesday, May 22

12:24 a.m. 800 block of Front Street; Alarm.

12:49 a.m. Youngs Road; Suspicious people.

1:36 a.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Suspicious people.

1:58 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Medical emergency.

Residents question decision not to sink Bayou Chene barge

Wed, 05/22/2019 - 8:51am

By ZACHARY FITZGERALD

zfitzgerald@daily-review.com

The big question posed by people who attended a Tuesday public meeting to discuss flooding in lower St. Martin Parish is: Why didn’t authorities sink the barge on Bayou Chene to prevent this flood?

On Wednesday morning, St. Mary Levee District Executive Director Tim Matte said sinking the temporary barge cost about $7 million in 2016. However, the district was reimbursed by the federal government for all but $1.8 million of the cost, he said.

Though sinking the barge this year would’ve cost less than $7 million due to keeping some of the structure in place from 2016, doing so would still cost significantly more than the work the district has done this year to address flooding in St. Mary Parish, Matte said.

Without a commitment to get reimbursement for much of the cost, the St. Mary Levee District couldn’t justify that closure this year, Matte said.

The St. Martin Parish Council held a public works committee meeting Tuesday at the Belle River Recreation Center. During that meeting, officials discussed flooding in the Stephensville and Belle River areas, along with the Bayou Estates Floodproofing Project.

KQKI radio station provided live video of the meeting on its Facebook page.

St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars issued a voluntary evacuation order Monday for lower St. Martin residents due to sewer issues caused by flooding that posed a potential health hazard. Leaders learned that about 95 percent of the sewers in Bayou Estates Subdivision weren’t functioning properly, he said. Parish government will have places available for anyone who needs to evacuate from their homes.

Crews have been in the area round the clock to handle any flooding issues, Cedars said.

Multiple attendees to Tuesday’s meeting asked why authorities didn’t sink the barge in Bayou Chene as they did in 1973, 2011 and 2016 to prevent regional flooding. St. Martin Parish government doesn’t have the authority to make that call, but Cedars said he’d look into the criteria used to determine whether to sink the barge.

The permanent Bayou Chene floodgate project should begin work this fall and could be operational by the summer of 2021. The state has committed to fully funding the $80 million project that will protect parts of six parishes from backwater flooding along the Atchafalaya River.

To authorities’ relief, at this point, there are no plans to open the Morganza Floodway, which would send even more water south to the Stephensville area. But despite a break in the rain, the high water isn’t going anywhere with a south wind and more water expected from the Ohio River Valley, Cedars said.

The difference between the 2011 and 2016 Bayou Chene closures and this year’s flood is that the Atchafalaya has never been projected to go above about 8.3 feet this year at Morgan City. In 2011, with the operation of Morganza, the river projections showed the river could hit 12 feet or 13 feet. And in 2016, though Morganza wasn’t operated, there were projections that it could have been operated, putting the river over 10 feet, Matte said.

Another long-term solution to flooding in the Stephensville area is the $3.7 million Bayou Estates Floodproofing Project, for which St. Martin Parish officials are awaiting a permit approval, Cedars said. He hopes that Community Development Block Grant funded project will be able to start in the summer.

Opposition has slowed getting that project to construction, Cedars said.

Among other concerns expressed at the Tuesday meeting were the effects to elderly and disabled residents in the area, flooding along La. 70 and boats causing wakes speeding through the waterways.

DOTD spokeswoman Brandie Richardson said in a Tuesday email that DOTD is working to keep La. 70 open and coordinating with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to provide law enforcement in the area in order to keep traffic moving slowly and to keep motorists in their respective lanes.

St. Martin leaders have had multiple discussions with state officials about issues facing lower St. Martin, including getting the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to enforce the no-wake zone that’s been in effect since Feb. 23.

Cedars also said that he’s discussed potential health hazards with state Department of Health and Hospitals officials.

Parish officials first began addressing high water issues in January and established protocol for what to do, Cedars said. In early March, Cedars declared a state of emergency for the parish because of flooding in lower St. Martin, and officials started distributing sand bags around that time.

In mid-March, officials learned that the high water would stay in the area for an extended period of time. The situation stayed under control until an April 4 storm, followed by a significant drop in the water levels about a week later. But heavy rain May 12 and May 19 helped raise the water levels in the bayous and canals to essentially equal with the roadways, Cedars said. Therefore, pumping water from streets is futile now, Cedars said.

Officials have also addressed concerns about flooding along La. 70.

Anyone with concerns related to the high water in lower St. Martin Parish may contact the St. Martin Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 337-394-2800.