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Organizers of the Cypress Sawmill Festival have canceled the festival due to the flooding that occurred Thursday and the more projected rain this weekend.
The festival was scheduled to be held Friday through Sunday at Kemper Williams Park near Patterson. But officials made the call late Thursday afternoon to cancel the festival. The decision was made due to the condition of the festival grounds, residents who experienced flooding and more projected rainfall this weekend, said Jeff LaGrange, festival board chairman. Organizers had to make the best choice under the circumstances, but are extremely disappointed to have to make that decision to cancel the festival given all the time and effort that many people put into the festival, he said.
There are no plans to reschedule this year's festival. The 2019 festival was going to be the festival's 28 edition. Officials first began holding the festival in 1991, but then canceled the 2017 festival due to several years of bad weather and lack of volunteers. However, the festival returned in 2018. The festival raises money for Louisiana State Museum — Patterson, home of the Cypress Sawmill and Wedell-Williams Aviation exhibits.
This photo, submitted by Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan, shows Holden Murray and Angela Shilling-Boyles mopping water that entered Patterson City Hall due to heavy rain. City Hall is temporarily closed to the public, according to the city of Patterson's Facebook page.
As of about 3 p.m. Thursday, the Tri-City area had received roughly 6 inches of total rainfall Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office reported numerous flooded streets, including the pictured Saturn Road near Moon Road, in the Bayou Vista area. (The Daily Review/Diane Miller Fears)
Two men from other states were arrested Thursday morning in Amelia in connection with an incident during which a woman was stabbed, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release. No information was released on the victim’s condition.
—Gilberto Alejandra Serna, 30, of South Redford Road in White Settlement, Texas, was arrested at 6:02 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting.
—Branden Hennessey, 24, Daniel Shays Highway in Orange, Massachusetts, was arrested at 6:26 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting.
Deputies were dispatched to Cajun Way Lane in Amelia in reference to a disturbance and stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with Hennessey and the victim. Police learned that a woman had been stabbed. While speaking with Hennessey, deputies noticed his t-shirt collar was ripped like he had been in an altercation, Smith said.
Hennessey and Serna were identified as suspects in the altercation, the sheriff said.Both were transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. The stabbing remains under investigation. Bail on Serna and Hennessey was set at $1,000.
Smith reported that deputies responded to 19 complaints in the parish.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 33 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Natasha Donshea Garner, 33, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with disturbing the peace fighting and charges of possession of marijuana first offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone.
—Kimberly Cortez Sneeze, 25, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with disturbing the peace fighting.
Police began investigating a complaint of a fight on Morgan City Housing Authority Property that was recorded and posted on social media. Investigators were able to identify Garner and Sneeze as the persons involved and warrants were issued for their arrest.
Officers located Garner at her home on Mallard Street. While at the home, officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her possession. Garner’s home is within the Morgan City Housing Authority property, which is a zoned drug-free zone. Sneeze was located at her Mallard Street home. Garner and Sneeze were jailed.
—Lorelyn Marie Gotcher, 33, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace.
Officers responded to a complaint of a person causing a disturbance at a motel on La. 182. When the officers arrived they were advised by the complainant, Gotcher was walking around the motel screaming profanities causing a disturbance.
Officers on the scene also observed Gotcher causing a disturbance and suspected impairment, Blair said. She was jailed.
—Charles Rich, 73, no address given, was arrested at 3 p.m. Wednesday on warrants charging him with failure to appear to pay a fine and probation violation. Rich was located at St. Mary Parish jail and arrested on city court warrants. He was jailed.
—Oscanique Toups, 22, of Friendship Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 3 p.m. Wednesday on warrants charging him with two counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Toups was located at parish jail and arrested on city court warrants. She was jailed.
—Austin Guarisco, 25, of Arenz Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of speeding.
—Jerald Watson, 33, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of amphetamine, dextroamphetamine and alprazolam.
A patrol officer conducted a traffic stop for speeding in a school zone on Federal Avenue. The driver was identified as Guarisco along with a passenger, Watson. During the traffic stop suspected amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and alprazolam was located in Watson’s possession. Both Guarisco and Watson were jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:
—Niasia S. Jones, 20, of Plum Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:53 p.m. Wednesday on warrants charging her with two counts of no driver’s license and one count of speeding 41 mph in a 35 mph zone. Bail was set at $1,132.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported no arrests.
HOUMA (AP) — Rouses Markets, a grocery store chain with stores across the Gulf Coast, is moving its headquarters.
The Courier reports the chain will move its corporate offices from Thibodaux to Schriever, about 10 miles (16.09 kilometers) down the road.
The company said in a press release this week that they had purchased the 32-acre (12ha 9499.4 hectare) property last week. About 150 jobs will move from the old location to the new one.
The company’s CEO, Donny Rouse, said the supermarket chain is expanding and needed to move.
“This is something that our company needs. We’re continuing to grow. We have 63 stores today with five more under construction. Our current office just couldn’t handle the people that we need to run our business,” Rouse said.
He also said the company will open their first distribution center. That will add 200 to 300 new employees over the next year.
“The location of the distribution center for us is perfect because it’s at our office, so we can keep a close eye on it; we can be in there all day, every day to make sure everything’s going properly,” Rouse said.
Food will first be sent to the distribution center and from there make its way to stores and supermarket shelves.
Rouses employs more than 6,300 people and has locations stretching from Louisiana to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
The company has been headquartered in Thibodaux for several decades. But the move to Terrebonne Parish is in some ways a return to its roots since the company’s first store was in the parish — in Houma.
The move to Terrebonne Parish is the most significant investment outside of the oil industry in recent parish history. Terrebonne Parish President Gordy Dove welcomed the move.
“In the economic times we’re facing, any kind of diversification we welcome, and you know we’re happy to have the oilfield here, but any kind of diversification other than the oilfield is always welcome,” Dove said.
June 29, 1937- April 2, 2019
Diana Rink, 81, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at Teche Regional Medical Center.
Diana was born on June 29, 1937, in Berwick, the daughter of James W. Rink Sr. and Effie Vinning Rink.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by three sons, Danny Frentz, Michael Frentz and Terry Frentz, all of Morgan City; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one brother, James “Jimmy” Rink Jr. of Morgan City.
Diana was preceded in death by her parents, James W. Rink Sr. and Effie Vinning Rink; one brother, Jerry Rink; and one sister, Ruby Rink.
Funeral services will be held at Twin City Funeral Home on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 2 p.m. with Father Toto officiating. Visitation will be held at Twin City Funeral Home on April 5, 2019, from 10 a.m. until the time of services. After services, Diana will be laid to rest in Morgan City Cemetery.
FISH DINNER
Sold by Zion Chapel AME Church, 1511 Cherry St., Patterson, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Donation $7. Orders day of call 985-395-4824.
Submitted Photo
Branson Boudreaux and Gavyn Gorcha were recognized as February Readers of the Month at Julia B. Maitland Elementary School. They are shown with mentors and volunteer reading listeners Herman Hartman, left, and Earl Johnson.
Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255