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TIMOTHY GERARD “TIM” THIBODAUX

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:40am

August 15, 1959 - March 31, 2019
Timothy Gerard Thibodaux, a native and resident of Franklin, passed away at Franklin Foundation Hospital at the age of 59 on Sunday, March 31, 2019.
Tim, as he was known by most, was born on Saturday, August 15, 1959, the fifth of six children born to the late Milton J. Thibodaux Sr. and the late Joyce Hebert Thibodaux. Tim was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and uncle who lived his life in service to others. He was a veteran firefighter for 28 years with the Franklin Fire Department, where he also served as Fire Chief for 11 years. Tim also served for many years as a reserve police officer with the Franklin Police Department, and was currently working with the City of Franklin as the Director of Planning and Zoning. Tim enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as NASCAR and Saints Football. But what he enjoyed most in life was time spent with his family, especially his twin grandsons, who filled his heart with joy. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were fortunate to have known him.
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his wife of 31 years, Faith Guillotte Thibodaux; his son, Lucas Matthew Thibodaux and his wife Jennifer; his twin grandsons (also known as Paw Paw’s boys), Logan and Landon Thibodaux; four siblings, Milton “Johnnie” Thibodaux Jr. and his wife Janet, Albert E. Thibodaux and his wife Lorraine, Gregory Thibodaux and his wife Cindy, and Jeannine Thibodaux Bertrand and her husband Alex; his godson, Skyler James Thibodaux; many nieces and nephews who thought the world of their uncle; as well as numerous family members and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Lance Micheal Thibodaux; his brother, Glenn C. Thibodaux; his father and mother-in-law, Horton Guillotte and June Pontiff Guillotte; his paternal grandparents, Emile and Elda Daigle Thibodaux; and maternal grandparents, Albert and Lillian Savoie Hebert.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 5, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin, followed by interment in the Franklin Cemetery. Father Cedric Sonnier will conduct the services.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Ibert’s Mortuary, with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 7:00 in the evening. Visiting hours will resume Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. until time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org, the American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org, or the National Kidney Foundation, https://www.kidney.org.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Conflicts emerge as state budget hearings open

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:38am

Louisiana budget hearings open Monday amid partisan conflict
By MELINDA DESLATTE Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers in the Louisiana House opened their annual budget hearings Monday with a less traditional approach, ignoring the proposal offered by Gov. John Bel Edwards to instead comb through a smaller spending plan filed by House Republi-can leaders.
Typically, the governor’s proposal serves as the start-ing point to hearings in the House Appropriations Com-mittee. But Republican Chairman Cameron Henry is using his own budget proposal for the hearings instead, because of a dispute between the Democratic governor and House GOP leaders over Louisiana’s income forecast.
Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has blocked the recommendations of nonpar-tisan economists to increase the state income forecast and make more money available for the 2019-20 budget that begins July 1.
Edwards, who supported the forecast boost, proposed a spending plan for next year that assumes the money eventually will be recognized. Henry introduced a $30 billion budget proposal that spends billions in fees and other agency-specific income sources that haven’t been recognized, but $134 million less in general tax revenue than the governor proposes.
Henry’s bill forms the basis of the hearings.
“The governor’s proposed budget is based on how much money he wishes the state had. We’re going to start off budget hearings with the state general fund dollars we actually have,” said Henry, a Jefferson Parish Republican. “And should additional revenue be recognized during the session, we’ll amend that back into the budget as members see fit.”
Henry’s proposal contains the $100 million sought by Edwards to pay for a $1,000 K-12 public school teacher raise, along with $500 salary hikes for school support workers. But Henry’s spend-ing plan doesn’t include an extra $39 million for school districts, or increases Ed-wards wants for public col-leges, the corrections department, and the child welfare agency.
New Orleans Rep. Walt Leger, the House’s highest-ranking Democrat, filed legislation containing the governor’s $30 billion budget proposal, but he’ll be unlikely to get that through the majority-GOP Appropriations Committee.
Edwards’ chief budget ad-viser Commissioner of Ad-ministration Jay Dardenne told lawmakers Monday that the governor’s proposal includes money the economists believe will arrive in the state treasury. He said Henry’s approach involves “a cherry-picking” of numbers by using portions of numbers recom-mended by economists, but not others.
“That is a ridiculous inconsistency,” Dardenne said.
Neither budget bill reflects the state’s official income forecast adopted by the Revenue Estimating Conference in June.
A final version of next year’s budget will be crafted in the legislative session that begins next week. The Revenue Estimating Conference is scheduled to meet again April 10. Barras said he’s leaning toward increasing the forecast then, because the state has more solid data.
“Certainly I’m feeling bet-ter than I did in January or February,” Barras said Monday. “By then, we’ll have nine months of (tax) collections.”
Across seven special ses-sions over three years, lawmakers and the governor bickered over how to end years of repeated budget gaps and stabilize state finances. Last year, they agreed on a seven-year package of taxes. But while the majority-Republican Legislature backed the plans, several House GOP leaders opposed the taxes.
The disagreements are heightened by an election year in which Edwards is running for a second term and most lawmakers are either running for re-election or a different seat.

House Bill 105: www.legis.la.gov

Wheel House for April 2

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:35am

EPHESIAN BAPTIST
Church, 527 Bowman St., Morgan City, celebrating its 64th anniversary and the 34th pastoral anniversary of its pastor, the Rev. Ezekiel Simmons III, at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 7, Public invited.

PILGRIMAGE
St. Joseph Church, 1011 First St., Patterson, Spring Pilgrimage to the Mississippi River Road area on Saturday, May 11. Includes visits to the National Hansen’s Dis-ease Museum in Carville and area churches. Cost: $95, covers transportation, guided tours and supper. Registration deadline April 8. For info call Angela, 985-759-3154.

SENIOR DINNERS
Sponsored by St. Mary Parish Council and St. Mary Community Action Agency at 11 a.m. Tues-day, April 9, at St. Mary Senior Citizens Center, home of St. Mary AARP, Chennault Street, Morgan City. Door prizes and bingo at 10 a.m. for early birds. For info call Carla Dartez or Ruth Naverre, 985-384-7446.

BERWICK
Housing Authority taking applications for all units from 8:15-11 a.m. and 1:15-3 p.m. Thursday, April 11 and 18. Must bring birth certificates and Social Security cards for all members of the household, picture ID for all members over 18 and current proof of income. For info call 985-385-1546.

Radio logs for April 2

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:30am

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, April 1

5:59 a.m. Federal Avenue; Crash.

6:33 a.m. Freret Street; Suspicious subject.

8:02 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.

8:21 a.m. Fourth Street; Traffic incident.

9:51 a.m. Clements Street; Complaint.

12:22 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Theft.

12:54 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.

1:49 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Welfare concern.

2:43 p.m. 200 block of Bowman Street; Arrest.

4:12 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.

5:57 p.m. 600 block of Bowman Street; Criminal damage to property.

6:34 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Arrest.

8:33 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.

9:04 p.m. Marshall and Mayon streets; Loud noise.

10:29 p.m. 600 block of General MacArthur Street; Complaint.

11:49 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.

Tuesday, April 2

12:36 a.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.

12:41 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.

1:25 a.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Patrol request.

4:15 a.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.

Donation made to veterans shelter

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:25am

Each year, local, selects a giving project in keeping with its commitment to the motto of “Unity and Charity.”
Court members collected and donated needed household supplies, linens and personal care items for the Tri-Parish Veterans Shelter in Houma. VFW Post 4222 Commander Sherman Whiting and Quart-ermaster Raymond Rutledge accepted the donations on behalf of the shelter.
CDA’s mission is to strive to embrace the principle of faith working through love in the promotion of justice, equality and the advancement of human rights and human dignity for all.
Court Massabielle meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month (except July) at Sacred Heart cafeteria in Morgan City.

Berwick High goes to Washington

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:24am

Submitted Photo
Members of Berwick High's Close Up program spent last week in Washington, D.C., to get a firsthand look at democracy in action. Among the stops was a visit with U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge. Shown from left are Emily Lousteau, teacher and social studies content leader Tina Babin, Jaci Lynch, Mikayla Hardaway, Christina Aman, Mia Hernandez, Dylan Lambert, Kathryn Guillory, Cassidy, Abbie Cantrelle, Christian Eastin, Caleb Perry, Briana Roberts, Madison Billiot, Paige Steely and Josh Sanford.

Three area Girl Scouts make Hall of Fame

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:19am

BATON ROUGE — Girl Scouts sold more than 1.1 million boxes of cookies in Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s 23-parish jurisdiction, which includes St. Mary Parish.
Three area Girl Scouts made the GSLE Cookie Hall of Fame by selling 500 or more packages of cookies. They are Abigail Clements, 1014 boxes and Peyton Walter, 501 boxes, both of Berwick, and Kylie Watson, 526 boxes, of Morgan City.
The Girl Scouts used goal setting, decision-making, money management, business ethics and people skills to lead their troop and the council to another sweet victory.
“The 2019 cookie sale was better than ever and we could not be more proud of our Girl Scouts, volunteer and parents” said Alisha Moore, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “Setting and achieving goals, along with combining learned skills with modern technology allowed our cookie sellers to run their business with confidence and take the lead.”
A total of 346 girls entered Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s Cookie Hall of Fame for selling 500 or more packages of cookies, including 33 girls who sold more than 1,000 boxes, and one “Cookie Mogul” — Girl Scout Junior Brooklyn Bossom of Denham Springs who sold 2,519 boxes, becoming this year’s top seller.
Participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program provides troops with funding for troop activities, trips and community service projects. Girls also receive individual recognitions such as patches, T-shirts, and sports bottles with some top awards including electronics, cookie dough, inflatable kayaks, and a “Diva Event,” for girls who sold 500 + boxes. This year, all “Cookie Divas” were invited to a special Girl Scout Night with the New Orleans Pelicans.
For information, call the council offices at 800-644-7571, or visit its website at www.gsle.org.

Mom objects to unsolicited advice about breastfeeding

Tue, 04/02/2019 - 9:05am

DEAR ABBY: I am a new mother to a perfect baby boy. Everywhere I go — the grocery store, my front yard, my daughter’s school — people ask, “You are breastfeeding, right?” Why should it matter to strangers whether or not I’m breastfeeding my baby? It has no effect on them whatsoever. It’s a personal decision. What’s worse is when I have formula in my shopping cart and someone stops to lecture me about breastfeeding. People need to stop shaming mothers for using formula and quit asking questions that are none of their business. It’s a personal choice and not ...

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CCHS' Terre'yan Johnson earns 2nd-team LSWA Class 1A All-State Girls Basketball honors

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 6:54pm

Staff Report

Central Catholic High School’s Terre’yan Johnson earned second-team honors on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A All-State Girls Basketball Team.
Johnson had per-game averages of 20.02 points, 14 rebounds, 5.6 blocks and 3 assists.
Central Catholic Assistant Coach Joe Jones said Johnson had a great season.
“She could have been selected first team also with her numbers and what she did on defense and her block shots,” he said. “She did really, really good, and she helped the team out a lot by being a leader, so that was good.”
Jones said that he thinks Johnson is looking forward to her senior season and making not just first team but also Most Valuable Player in Class 1A.
Bre’ Porter of state champion Lafayette Christian Academy earned Outstanding Player honors on this year’s all-state team, while Roland LaComb of Class 1A state champion Elton was named Coach of the Year.
Other representatives from District 7-1A, which Central Catholic competes in, on the all-state squad were: JaChristany Demouchet of Vermilion Catholic (first team), Tamera Johnson of Lafayette Christian Academy (second team), Ainsley Mallet of Vermilion Catholic (second team), Carlie Pellerin of Hanson Memorial (honorable mention) and A’myrie Foulcard of Hanson Memorial (honorable mention).
Additional reporting by www.bayoupreps.com.

Three Eagles earn honorable mention LSWA Class 1A All-State honors

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 6:39pm

The Central Catholic Eagles had three honorable mention Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A All-State Boys Basketball Team selections. Central Catholic seniors Brooks Thomas and Elijah Swan and freshman D.J. Lewis were chosen. Thomas had district per-game averages of 17.8 points and 3.5 assists. “Brooks was our leading scorer, made first-team all-district,” Central Catholic Coach Ree Case said. “Just had a great senior year. Really improved from last year.” Swan averaged 15.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in league play. “Elijah had a great season, made first-team all-district, was our second-leading scorer,” Case said. “(He) did a great job the whole year.” Lewis ...