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CARLTON 'LEROY' GRAY

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:53am

Carlton “Leroy” Gray, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully at his home on May 21, 2025, at the age of 94. Born on February 20, 1931, in Morgan City, Louisiana, Leroy lived a life defined by faith, tireless dedication to his businesses, and an enduring love for his family.
Leroy’s passion for boating began in the 1970s at IRA’s Outboards in Morgan City and blossomed into a lifelong pursuit when he founded his own shop, Gray Marine. At the same time, he remained steadfastly committed to his family’s legacy, working at their business, LH Printing and also owning King Hannaford Printers and Binders. But his proudest accomplishments were not found in any title or trade. Among them was the home he lovingly built for his family — crafted with salvaged materials from houses that were removed during the construction of Highway 90, a project he took great pride in.
Later in life, Leroy found joy in the simple pleasures of tending his garden, living on the bayou, attending auctions with his sons, and raising chickens behind his beloved Gray Marine shop. He was happiest surrounded by family and cherished his role as grandpa to his nineteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Some of their fondest memories of him were spent on the water helping him feed the catfish, fishing and going for boat rides.
Above all, Leroy deeply loved his wife of 73 years, Mary Catherine Wise Gray. Their enduring partnership was a cornerstone of his life, and he often expressed how grateful he was to walk through life by her side. In the early years of their marriage, Leroy and Mary Catherine enjoyed attending shows at the Saenger and going dancing with friends. Most of their days, however, were spent at various sporting events watching their children.
Leroy is survived by Mary Catherine and their nine children: Mike Gray, Lenny Gray (Marsha), Pat Gray (Julie), Lee Gray, Danny Gray (Karen), David Gray, Tim Gray (Mary Grace), Louise Mayon (Shane), and Catherine Thomas (Lyle). He was preceded in death by his parents, Della and Leonard Gray, his sister Nelwyn Robison (Lige), his daughter-in-law Becky Gray, his grandson, Patrick R. Gray and sister-in-law Adelaide Wise.
The Gray family extends heartfelt gratitude to his caretakers Kayla, Raquel, Sherri, Kim, Barbara, Judy and Gail. Additionally, they would like to thank Crystal, Teracita, and Jennifer from Hope Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion.
A visitation was held at St. Stephen Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, beginning at 8:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Burial took place immediately after at Morgan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Stephen Catholic Church in honor of Leroy.

Colonel Caravan dances into Morgan City

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:48am
BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com

The Colonel Caravan rolled into Morgan City on Tuesday, cementing ties between Nicholls State and St. Mary Parish.
Coaches and faculty members, as they do each year, praised Morgan City for turning out more fans and alumni than other caravan stops, including those in Houma, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. This year, they turned up the energy in a mostly filled meeting room at Clarion Inn.
That was due mostly to head women’s basketball coach Justin Payne. One of seven Nicholls coaches appearing Tuesday in Morgan City, Payne came to the lectern with a hip-hop tune on the speaker, and led the other coaches in a shoulder-to-shoulder dance.
They’re hoping they can make some beautiful music in sports in the coming year.
Tommy Rybecki was there for the first time as Nicholls head football coach after 11 years as an assistant, succeeding longtime coach and caravan member Tim Rebowe. Rybecki coached last year’s defense to a No. 12 national ranking in total defense and No. 4 in rushing defense.
His roster for the coming season includes some familiar names: running back and Berwick High grad Jayden Milton, and from Central Catholic linebacker Andrew Cavalier and Damondrick Blackburn, the running back who transfered to Nicholls from UL Lafayette.
There was more bragging to do.
Payne, whose team went 17-14 last year, talked about two recent wins at Tulane. On the men’s side, coach Tevon Saddler’s team is coming off a 20-win season.
Golf coach James Schilling said his team knocked 10 strokes off its team performance last year while raising its team grade point average to 3.4.
Athletic Director Jonathan Tyrell said the combined GPA for Nicholls athletes is now 3.18.
Tyrell talked about a sometimes troublesome landscape for college athletics, with cuts in sports programs at other institutions and relatively new rules governing transfers and payments for the use of names, images and likenesses.
“I just want you to know we can’t do it without you,” Tyrell told the crowd.
The caravan event wasn’t just about sports. Speakers talked about working with 39 businesses in the school’s Bayou Region Incubator and about possible ties between the maritime programs at Nicholls and Morgan City’s Young Memorial campus.
Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune said St. Mary is an important source of students for the university.
“We’re invested here,” Clune said.

St. Mary students make SoLAcc honors lists

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:38am

St. Mary students are among the more than 1,100 South Louisiana Community College students who earned places on honors lists for the spring 2025 semester.
Each semester, Chancellor’s List recognition goes to students who have attained a 4.00 grade point average for all coursework taken at one of SoLAcc’s campuses or online during a 12-credit-hour or more semester. 
For the spring 2025 semester, 512  made the Chancellor’s List..
SoLAcc also recognizes the 682 students who earned between 2.99– 3.40 grade point average, securing a place on the Dean’s List.

Chancellor’s List

Baldwin
Noah Darce
Kyla Williams

Berwick
Abbigail Comeaux

Charenton
Ally Burgess
Shauna Yelling

Franklin
Ebonique Alexander
Connor Breaux
Madison Dugas
Takylan Hamilton
Shondra Louviere

Jeanerette
Ethan Boudreaux
Carlee Charpentier

Morgan City
Theresa Coleman
Ashley Holmes
Joshua Myers
Chaz Perry
Joy Sanders

Dean’s List

Amelia
Darla Mabile

Baldwin
Taylor Beverly

Berwick
Skylia Concienne
Will Garrett
Esther McCraw

Franklin
Ava Badeaux
Ja’Maris Kennedy
Aidan Lanclos
Kylie Louviere
MaKenna McDaniel
Michelle Mitchell
Chantilly Polidore
Violet Schreiber

Jeanerette
Eric Zabdiel Acosta
Ethan St. Germain
Mercedes Polidore
Brad Tyler

Morgan City
Seth Baham
Brodie Chapman
Heather Grow
Skylar Knight
Rylie Smith

Patterson
Deasia Campbell
Sa’Nyria Grogan
Daniesha Holmes
Akai Keys

Two from St. Mary make McNeese honor roll

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:37am

Two St. Mary students have earned places on the McNeese State University Honor Roll for the 2025 spring semester.
The honor roll lists undergraduate students earning at least a 3.0 or B average while carrying 12 or more semester hours.
The honorees from St. Mary are:
Patterson: Ireyell A. Dugas
Franklin: Irulan J. Toussaint

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers standings, Weeks 6 and 7

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:35am

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Spring League 2025
Week 6
W L
30 Up 41 13
Let’s Geaux 35 19
Poor Us 20 24
Mary’s Team 24 30
50/50 22 32
High scratch point average: (30’) Tim Gilmore 79.5, Tim Hayles 65.6 and Burnie Williams 63.8; and (40’) Dwain Arceneaux 51.5, Randy Giroir 48.8 and Jim Guzdial 43.5. High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 56.8, Hayles 44.9 and Williams 37.2; and (40’) Arceneaux 32.2, Giroir 27.1 and Matthew Strickland 20.3.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 92, Hayles 89 and Williams 82; and (40’) Arceneaux 65, Giroir 62 and Guzdial 52. Most ringers: (one night) Gilmore 73, Hayles 67, Williams 56 and Travis Bourdier 52; and (one game) Gilmore 27, Hayles 26, Caillouet 24, Williams 22 and Pearce 20.
Most points one night: Gilmore 252, Hayles 237, Williams 223, Julius Lovell 181 and Bourdier 181. High handicap game: Hayles 113, Caillouet 110, Lovell 101, Gilmore 99 and Al Graham 98. High game over average: (40’) Tyler Bourdier 12.1 and (30’) Hayles 26.1.
Best won-loss record: Bourdier 15-3, Hayles 14-4, Ricky Pitre 11.5-3.5 and Craig Rink 13.5-4.5. Most points one night – team: 30 Up 591 and Let’s Geaux 507. Most ringers one night – team: 30 Up 154 and 50/50 123.
Week 7
W L
30 Up 44.5 18.5
Let’s Geaux 40.5 22.5
Poor Us 32 31
Mary’s Team 30 33
50/50 29 34
High scratch point average: (30’) Gilmore 80.5, Hayles 64.6 and Williams 63.4; and (40’) Arceneaux 51.5, Giroir 46.2 and Guzdial 42.4. High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 57.6, Hayles 44.2 and Williams 36.9; and (40’) Arceneaux 32.2, Giroir 26.0 and Strickland 19.8.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 92, Hayles 89 and Williams 82; and (40’) Arceneaux 65, Giroir 62 and Guzdial 52. Most ringers: (one night) Gilmore 74, Hayles 67, Williams 56 and Travis Bourdier 52; and (one game) Gilmore 28, Hayles 26, Caillouet 24, Williams 22 and Pearce 20.
Most points one night: Gilmore 252, Hayles 237, Williams 223, Lovell 191 and Bourdier 181. High handicap game: Hayles 113, Caillouet 110, Lovell 101, Gilmore 100 and Graham 98. High game over average: (40’) Tyler Bourdier 12.1 and (30’) Hayles 26.1.
Best won-loss record: Pitre 11.5-3.5, Strickland 9-3, Rink 15.5-5.5, Hayles 15.5-5.5 and Bourdier 15-3. Most points one night – team: 30 Up 592 and Let’s Geaux 507. Most ringers one night – team: 30 Up 154 and 50/50 123.

Debate focuses on parishes' share of severance taxes

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:34am
NOLAN McKENDRY, The Center Square

The Senate Revenue and Fiscal affairs committee considered various bills that would restructure Louisiana’s severance tax.
Each bill did pass without objection, but they all saw healthy debate.
Rep. Lawrence Bagley’s House Bill 294 would allow for parishes to see a greater share of the severance revenue for wells producing in their parish. 
Current law caps a parishes share of the state severance tax at $850,000, though law also allows accounts for inflation. With the cap and the inflation provision, parishes are remitted about $1.3 million for their share of severance taxes. The Stonewall Republican’s bill would remove the cap, allowing parishes to collect 20% of all production in the parish.
DeSoto Parish Administrator Michael Norton worried that the current status quo stiffs locals. Sen. Adam Bass, R-Bossier City, agreed that locals ought to receive a more equitable share.
“There’s no other way to put it: We’ve been given the short end of the stick since 2002,” Norton said. “We’ve received back for approximately $17 million out of nearly $1 billion that has been sent to the state since 2002.”  
There was $890 million in severance taxes collected for the 2022 fiscal year, according to the Louisiana Department of Revenue. 
Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, introduced two bills which would trade a decrease in the severance tax rate on oil for a limit on tax exemptions for the severance of natural gas.
“The motivation is to get the oil and gas industry booming again,” said Geymann, adding that currently Louisiana’s severance tax structure is uncompetitive and keeps industry away from the state.
HB600 would reduce the severance tax on oil from 12.5% to 6.5%. Currently, Louisiana has the highest rate in the nation, according to Geymann. 
One other bill, bill, HB495 would limit an exemption for newly completed natural gas wells. Geymann agreed to combine the two.
“In the end its not going to effect the gas much at all, but will incentivize the oil side,” said Geymann. 
Geymann is moving to shorten the duration of a key severance tax exemption for natural gas produced from newly completed horizontal wells.
Under current law, gas producers receive a tax break lasting up to 24 months, or until they recover their drilling costs, whichever comes first.
Starting July 1, that window will shrink to 18 months for new wells, under a proposed change that leaves all other aspects of the exemption intact. The adjustment will not affect oil or gas wells completed before that date.
The horizontal well exemption, introduced to incentivize high-cost horizontal drilling, has been a longstanding feature of Louisiana’s severance tax policy. The proposed change applies to taxable periods beginning on or after July 1.
“The exemption for gas is typically paid out in 18 months, especially if the price of gas goes up,” Geymann said.
“We are using that exemption to scale it back in order to make our fiscal revenues neutral.”
 
 

University's response to DEI changes draws scrutiny

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:33am
NOLAN McKENDRY, The Center Square

A Louisiana university updated a required diversity, equity and inclusion course after a revealing report from a litigation organization, but the revised syllabus for the course still contains DEI material.
The University of Louisiana Monroe changed the description of its course entitled “CURR 2001: Educational Foundations for Diverse Learning Environments” that is mandatory for Elementary Education majors after a Goldwater Institute report showing several Louisiana schools that required DEI courses was published, as The Center Square previously reported.
The Goldwater Institute is a “free-market public policy research and litigation organization,” according to its website.
University of Louisiana Monroe officials verified to The Center Square that the syllabus and reading list for CURR 2001 have likewise been changed.
“The course still focuses on preparing future teachers to work with students from varied backgrounds and with varied learning styles,” ULM officials told The Center Square.
“Those who are teachers and who train teachers understand that the gaps in a learning environment are some of the most challenging aspects of classroom management and teaching,” the officials told The Center Square.
A review of a sample of the revised syllabus shared with The Center Square by ULM officials, as requested, shows some DEI material still remains present in CURR 2001.
One topic on the course schedule in the new syllabus is called “Understanding Equity: Bias vs. Equity, Maslow and Bloom’s, Differentiation.”
The assignment for this topic is “Equity Vocab Map” and the SA Connections are “Academic Environment: Diversity and Inclusivity Factors; Curriculum Planning: Differentiation.”
Additionally, two key research journals in the course’s bibliography are “About Making Connections: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Cultural Diversity” and “Journal of Cultural Diversity.”
The bibliography is “the knowledge base that supports course content and procedures,” according to the syllabus.
CURR 2001’s original course description ran: “this course provides an orientation to teaching that includes legal and organizational aspects of public education; history and philosophy of education; and provides multicultural insight to support the educational needs of diverse students in their learning environment,” according to a screenshot from the Goldwater Institute.
The new description reads relatively the same except for the last phrase which now says the course: “provides the knowledge and understanding of different values and insights to support the educational needs of all students.”
When reached for comment on the change in CURR 2001’s description, the Goldwater Institute’s senior constitutionalism fellow and author of the report Tim Minella told The Center Square that “helping ‘all students’ should have been the goal all along.”
“The new course description suddenly claims that students will gain ‘insights to support the educational needs of all students,’” Minella said.
“This stealth revision indicates that officials at ULM are unable to justify a mandatory DEI course that focuses on ‘multicultural insight,’” Minella said.
Minella additionally told The Center Square that “this revision is yet another example of universities attempting to avoid scrutiny by changing the names of DEI programs and continuing to engage in unjustifiable DEI practices.”
“These diversionary tactics make it all the more vital for states to pass policies that precisely target wasteful and discriminatory DEI programs at public universities,” Minella said.

Gen pop: Do districts get a break from prisons?

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 9:31am
NOLAN McKENDRY, The Center Square

A report from the Prison Policy Initiative says Louisiana’s political map gives unfair influence to residents in districts with large prison populations because of a Census Bureau policy the state continues to follow.
Because the Census counts incarcerated people as residents of the prison where they’re held, not their home communities, the districts where there are large prisons have more census-designated population.
Accordingly, political power in Louisiana is distorted, with legislative districts drawn in 2022 overrepresenting areas that host correctional facilities − even when those facilities are filled with people from elsewhere.
“This is about equal representation,” the report says. “Everyone in Louisiana is supposed to have an equal voice in their government’s decisions, but an outdated and misguided Census Bureau policy gives a few residents of the state a megaphone.”
The analysis spotlights three House districts – Districts 22, 18, and 32 – as the most distorted. In District 22, for example, roughly 12% of the counted population is behind bars. That means 88 residents there wield as much political power as 100 people in an average district.
Even more striking: two of the largest federal prisons in Districts 22 and 32 mostly house people from out of state. Of the thousands incarcerated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in those areas, only about 1% are from Louisiana.
That means communities surrounding the facilities gain political weight based on people who neither live there nor vote there, and who are often transferred in and out regularly.
The distortion also impacts representation for immigrant populations. Louisiana hosts five of the 20 largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, and detainees are often held for only short periods. Yet they’re still counted in local populations on Census Day, potentially skewing representation further.
“Being incarcerated in a specific facility doesn’t make someone a resident of the surrounding district,” the report says. 
Though courts ruled in 2024 that Louisiana’s current maps unconstitutionally dilute Black representation, lawmakers have not adopted a new redistricting plan – raising concerns that the problem will persist into the next cycle, and possibly beyond 2030.
Being disproportionately incarcerated, Black Louisianans are more likely to be counted in the wrong place during redistricting, according to the report. In just three districts, about 7,000 Black people were miscounted this way – reducing their political influence and reinforcing racial inequalities in representation.
Louisiana law explicitly defines residency as a place where a person intends to stay indefinitely, and by that standard, prison cells do not qualify, the report says.
“The Census Bureau’s policy doesn’t even comply with state law,” the report says.
Over 200 local jurisdictions and more than a dozen states have moved to fix the issue. Louisiana has not. 
“Louisianans are falling behind,” the report says, “letting the state’s democracy continue to be skewed by an outdated federal system.”

Enguarit named bishop for Houma-Thibodaux Diocese

Thu, 06/05/2025 - 7:42am

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Simon Peter Engurait to be the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. The announcement was made this morning in Rome by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, the diocese said in a press release.

An announcement was scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday in Schriever.

Bishop-elect Engurait has served as the diocesan administrator in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since January 2024, when Bishop Mario Dorsonville died. Engurait previously served as the vicar general since 2017 and has also served as the pastor of St. Bridget Parish since that time as well.

“I did not expect this — I am humbled beyond words that the Holy Father has chosen me, not from outside, but from among the ranks of the priests of this beloved Diocese,” Engurait said.

“I give thanks to God for the gift of life, for the call to the priesthood, and now, for this new and sacred calling to the apostolic ministry. Everything I am, and all that I hope to be, is by His grace,” he said.

Born in Ngora, Uganda in 1971, Engurait is one of 14 children. His early education led him through Catholic seminaries in Uganda before a career in public service, including roles in Uganda’s government and a Master of Business Administration from the Netherlands. During his career, he rose from entry level positions to senior management. While at Katigondo Seminary in Uganda, he had a profound encounter with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal that shaped his spiritual path and ultimately led him back to discern a priestly vocation.

In 2007, he was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux and entered Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans where he graduated with a Master of Divinity. He was ordained a deacon on May 12, 2012, at St. Bernadette Church in Houma, and on May 25, 2013, he was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma — both ordinations by Bishop Sam Jacobs.

He served as associate pastor at the Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales, St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Thibodaux and Christ the Redeemer in Thibodaux. In January 2017, he was appointed as administrator and later pastor of St. Bridget Church in Schriever where he has been to date. He has held multiple diocesan leadership positions including moderator of the curia, coordinator of Christian formation, and most recently vicar general. He also served as interim executive director of Catholic Charities, and as a member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors.

“While I am still shocked by the news that the Lord has asked me to be a bishop, I must admit that knowing the people of this diocese brings me great comfort in saying yes,” said Engurait. “South Louisiana is home, and I love the people here. It is a privilege to say yes to you as much as I am saying yes to God. I love you, and I consider it a great honor to serve you as your bishop.”

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux was established by Pope Paul VI on March 2, 1977, and officially founded on June 5, 1977. Covering 3,440 square miles, it includes the civil parishes of Terrebonne and Lafourche, along with portions of St. Mary and Jefferson parishes.

Serving approximately 90,000 Catholics — about 40% of the region’s population — the diocese comprises 39 parishes, nearly 60 priests, and 10 Catholic schools. Its faithful reflect a vibrant cultural tapestry, including Native American, French, German, African American, Vietnamese, Spanish and Italian communities.

Drug, weapon arrests made by Morgan City police

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 2:18pm
Staff Report

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Morgan City police reported arrests Monday on drug and weapon charges.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Chandler Williams, 34, L Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7:56 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, resisting by flight, proper equipment required, possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and driving under suspension.

--Dympha Perrin, 34, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:27 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of lorazepam, possession of drug paraphernalia, disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and violation of a drug-free zone.

--James Rowell, 31, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:52 a.m. Monday on a charge of disturbing the peace.

--Markam Derouen, 43, Jupiter Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:03 p.m. Monday on a charge of violation of a protective order.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Sherrica Lynn Theriot, 44, Pierre Part, was arrested at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of theft. Bail was set at $2,000.

--Miguel T. Sanchez, 24, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:15 p.m. Monday on charges of stop signs and yield signs, no driver’s license, and resisting an officer. Sanchez was released on a $3,000 bond.

--Oscar Banegas, 25, Bayou Vista, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of running a stop sign and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled. Banegas was released on a $1,000 bond.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Lovana Lively, 37, West Ibert Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:33 p.m. Monday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of stop signs and yield signs. Lively was booked, processed and released on a $275 bond.

--Gerian Lightfoot, 33, Robertson Street, Franklin, was arrested 10:06 p.m. Monday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of speeding. Lightfoot was booked, processed and released on a $353 bond.

--Henry Dennis, 41, Curtis Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 10:24 p.m. Monday on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of criminal neglect of family. Dennis was booked, processed and held on a $1,836.67 bond.

--Shane Sophus, 51, Chadwick Street, Franklin, was arrested at 1:32 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery (second offense). Sophus was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

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