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SLCC Foundation names H&B Young Foundation as Benefactor of the Year

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 12:06pm

MORGAN CITY – The SLCC Foundation will honor the Hugh & Byrnes Young Foundation as its 2019 Benefactor of the Year during a ceremony at the college’s Young Memorial Campus in Morgan City later this month. Moreover, the college plans to recognize the H & B Young Foundation’s widespread impact throughout the Morgan City and St. Mary Parish communities.

The Young Foundation has disbursed more than $17 million to its local community since 1999, with $5 million in funding and property to the SLCC campus in Morgan City. It is estimated that the Young Foundation has invested another $10 million since its original establishment in 1955.

“I cannot think of a more deserving honoree this year than the Hugh & Byrnes Young Foundation,” said Lana Fontenot, executive director of the SLCC Foundation. “This year’s ceremony is much more than expressing our gratitude for their investment into our College; it is about celebrating their overall investment and decades-long support for this community.”

The Foundation has supported the college for several decades through funding for student scholarships, program equipment and supplies, as well as donations of land and property for SLCC’s expansion. The college’s new Maritime and Petroleum Safety Training Center, which opened in 2017, sits on five acres of waterfront property donated by the Young Foundation.

The Young Foundation has also assisted the city of Morgan City, local schools, St. Mary Outreach, local churches, and the Community Concert Association. Additionally, the foundation has established and operated a Youth Center at SLCC’s Young Memorial Campus to provide educational and fun after-school activities for junior and senior high school students.

“As we continue the example of the Young brothers in giving to Morgan City, we are always seeking to mine the diamonds-in-the rough found among our youth and to offer hope where little has been found,” said Brenda Ayo, chair of the H & B Young Foundation board of directors. “We are passionate about doing real and permanent good throughout our community so that Morgan City can shine as a great place to live, to work, and to grow.”

The ceremony is the third for the SLCC Foundation, where an outstanding partnership is recognized each year. Previous honorees are Lafayette General Health and Elder Outreach. This year’s ceremony honoring the H & B Young Foundation will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 23 at the Young Memorial Campus at 900 Young Road. The public is invited to attend.

Suspect sought for 4th offense drunk driving

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 11:53am

Berwick police are seeking the public's help to find a suspect wanted for a fourth offense drunk driving and other charges.

Arturo Molina Garcia, 37, is wanted on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated fourth offense, careless operation of a motor vehicle with a crash and driving under suspension. His last known address is in the 100 block of Lincoln Drive in Patterson.

Anyone with information on Garcia's whereabouts should contact the Berwick Police Department at 985-384-7710.

Board promotes Bergeron, Fryou

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 11:33am

Staff Report

Suzanne Bergeron and Niki Fryou have been appointed to new positions with the St. Mary Parish School Board.
Bergeron has been appointed human resources director, succeeding Peter Boudreaux.
Boudreaux was appointed assistant superintendent and soon after resigned to become principal for sixth through 12th grade students at Morgan City’s Central Catholic. Joseph Stadalis is the new assistant superintendent.
Bergeron had served as an instructional supervisor and was the former principal of Patterson Junior High School.
A longtime educator in St. Mary Parish, Bergeron has led the district’s instructional division for elementary and middle schools during a time of significant change, the school district said.
She also achieved a leadership certification from the National Institute of School Leaders and was selected as the district’s Middle School Principal of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Her extensive experience at various levels of leadership will be critical as she assumes the role of staffing schools and supporting district employees, the district said..
Fryou, former principal of Hattie Watts Elementary, currently serves as an instructional specialist for English language arts. She’ll succeeded Bergeron as instructional supervisor.
As a highly respected administrator and former Louisiana Principal of the Year, Fryou led Hattie Watts in earning several national and state awards including National Blue Ribbon School and Louisiana High Poverty-High Performing School, the district said.
The two appointments will take effect June 1 as the district’s staff begin to prepare for the opening of the 2019-20 school year.

It's graduation week for Tri-City seniors

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 11:28am

Staff Report
The school year will go on for a couple of weeks, but St. Mary Parish seniors will don their caps and gowns this week.
Final report cards for public schools will be issued May 27, Memorial Day, which is the official last day of school for 2018-19.
Students will begin the 2019-20 year Aug. 8.
First, the 2018-19 graduating seniors will get their diplomas:
—Berwick High, 7 p.m. Thursday at the high school stadium.
—Morgan City High, 6 p.m. Friday, Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
—Patterson High, 7 p.m. Friday, high school gym.
—Central Catholic High, 1 p.m. Saturday, Holy Cross Catholic Church.
The first of our special graduation pages is published in this edition on Pages 6-7.

Sheriff: Man charged with battery of dating partner

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 11:27am

Staff Report

An 18-year-old Patterson man was charged with battery of a dating partner after authorities responded to a report of a possible stolen vehicle in Amelia, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.

—Jaden Gregory, 18, of Catherine Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:04 p.m. Monday on a charge of battery of a dating partner.

Deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of Lake Palourde Road in Amelia in reference to a possible stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with Gregory and several witnesses.

After further investigation, authorities learned Gregory was involved in an altercation with a person he was dating, Smith said. Gregory was jailed with bail set at $2,500.

Smith reported that deputies responded to 33 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Blake Jacoby Smith, 28, of Cherry Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:53 p.m. Monday on warrants charging him with three counts of failure to appear in court. Smith was located at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse on the active warrants. He was jailed with no bail set.

—Shalonda S. Smith, 34, of Martin Luther King Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 11:55 p.m. Monday on charges of no license plate light and driving under suspension.

A deputy was stationary in the area of U.S. 90 west near La. 182 junction when he observed a vehicle without any license plate lights. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and contact was made with the driver, identified as Smith. A background check on Smith revealed she was driving under suspension. Smith was issued a summons to appear in court Aug. 28.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:

—Ethlin Joy Ann Simmons, 36, of Williams Street in Patterson, was arrested at 12:31 p.m. Monday on charges of stop sign violation, no insurance, suspended driver’s license and failure to yield with an accident. Cash bail was set at $1,070.

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

—Scotty Miller, 28, of Elaine Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 7:18 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Bail was set at $2,000.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported no arrests.

Radio logs for May 14

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 11:09am

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, May 13

7:39 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Accident.

7:47 a.m. 300 block of Greenwood Street; Complaint.

8:24 a.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Stand by.

8:33 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.

9:06 a.m. First Street and Railroad Avenue; Hit and run.

9:26 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.

9:41 a.m. 3200 block of Tammy Drive; Theft.

11:48 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

12:14 p.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; Accident.

3:01 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Accident.

5:30 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Reckless driver.

6:24 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.

6:52 p.m. 500 block of Fourth Street; Theft.

10:15 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Disturbance.

10:53 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.

11:56 p.m. 1000 block of Dawn Drive, Stephensville; Stand by.

Tuesday, May 14

1:22 a.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Alarm.

3:59 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Disturbance.

5:17 a.m. 100 block of Third Street; Medical emergency.

JOSEPH EMILE BARBIER

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 10:34am

Joseph Emile Barbier, 85, a native of Morgan City and resident of Lake Charles, died Friday, May 10, 2019 at Harbor Hospice Facility in Lake Charles.
He is survived by two sons, Stephen Barbier and Kirk Barbier; a daughter, Valerie Blanchard; 11 grandchil-dren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, a daughter, a son, parents, a brother and a grandson.
Services were held Saturday.

High water worsens shoaling headache

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 10:06am

The several months of high water in the Morgan City area is only worsening the sediment accumulation issues that already existed in the area’s waterways. Plans to dredge Bayou Chene have been put on hold due to the Atchafalaya River dredging project needing funds that would’ve been spent on Bayou Chene, said Tim Connell, Atchafalaya region manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, during Monday’s Morgan City Harbor and Terminal District Commission meeting. Bayou Chene hasn’t been dredged in about a decade. Officials say sediment buildup has necessitated dredging in that area. But the Corps is proposing delaying that ...

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Mancuso, Gros named MCHS Prom King and Queen

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 9:49am

Mitchell Mancuso and Dru Gros were named Morgan City High School Prom King and Queen during the school’s recent prom. Gros is the daughter of Andy Gros and Kristie Caruso. Mancuso is the son of Michael and Shelia Mancuso. Selected to the prom court were Willer Guardado and Mackenzie Amador, first duke and maid; Garrett Deshotel and Karmen Peterson, second; Mckenzi Smith, third maid; and Alexandria Acosta, fourth.

Weston: Life-changing magic of working a bit longer

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 9:46am

By LIZ WESTON, NerdWallet

Retirement experts frequently recommend working longer if you haven’t saved enough. But you may not realize just how powerful a little extra work can be.
Researchers who compared the relative returns of working longer versus saving more last year reached some startling findings. Among them:
—Working three to six months longer was the equivalent of saving an additional 1% for 30 years.
—Working just one extra month was similar to saving an additional 1% for 10 years before retirement.
—Delaying the start of retirement from age 62 to age 66 could raise someone’s annual, sustainable standard of living by 33%.
This is potentially great news for people in their 50s and 60s who are able and willing to stay on the job. But younger people shouldn’t use the findings as an excuse to ignore their 401(k)s, since many people retire earlier than they planned.
“I would see this as a positive message for people who maybe didn’t save as much as they could have and they’re wondering what to do,” said researcher Sita Slavov, a professor of public policy at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia, and a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. “I would not use this to advise younger people not to save.”
POTENTIALLY HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING
The study, which Slavov co-authored with her former Stanford University professor John Shoven and two of his other students, Gila Bronshtein and Jason Scott, first compared the effects of saving more, working longer or trimming investment expenses. They used theoretical households who save 9% of their salary over 30 years starting at age 36. Then they looked at actual households from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, which tracks thousands of people 50 and over. The trends were the same: Working longer had the biggest impact on the household’s standard of living in retirement.
That makes sense. When you’re young, your savings have decades for compounded returns to grow. Likewise, keeping investment fees low means more of your money is available to compound. So an increase in savings or decrease in expenses can have an outsized impact.
When you’re older, your savings have less time left to grow: The runway ahead of you is shorter, so working longer starts to have the biggest effect.
Most of the benefit comes from delaying the start of Social Security checks, the researchers found, but continued contribution to retirement accounts and delayed withdrawal from those accounts are also factors. You’re not required to start Social Security when you retire, or vice versa, but most people do, Slavov notes, so the study was structured to reflect that.
WHAT CLAIMING AT 62 CAN COST YOU
Starting Social Security at 62, the earliest age you can claim retirement benefits, means locking in a permanently smaller check. Your check could be as much as 76% larger if you waited until age 70, when your monthly benefit maxes out. Delaying increases your checks by about 7% each year between age 62 and what’s known as your full retirement age: currently 66, but rising to 67 for people born in 1960 and later. After full retirement age, your benefit rises by 8% each year you delay.
The advantages of delaying Social Security typically are so great that many financial planners now recommend clients tap other resources, including retirement funds, if that allows them to put off claiming.
Thanks to current low interest rates, there’s no other investment that gives such a high, guaranteed return. And while the larger checks are designed to compensate for the fact that people who claim later will receive fewer payments over their lifetimes, longer life expectancies mean that most people will see more money overall by waiting. Delaying is particularly advantageous for the higher earner in a married couple and for single people, Slavov’s previous research with Shoven found.
Their latest research shows that, overall, lower earners benefit even more from delay than higher earners. Again, that makes sense, because Social Security is progressive. It’s designed to replace a larger proportion of lower income people’s earnings. The more you rely on Social Security, the more it can pay to wait — if you can.
Slavov acknowledges that job loss, bad health or the need to care for a loved one often can push people into retirement earlier than they planned. (A 2018 TransAmerica study found 56% of the retirees surveyed retired earlier than expected.)
“These results really apply to people who have the option of working longer,” Slavov said. “Obviously, that’s not going to be an option for everyone.”