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Go With the Flow: Local high school anglers compete at championship level

Competition is where you find it and for the past several months, Tri-City area high school students have found it on the water.
No, not swimming, diving, or playing water polo. These kids compete in the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Trail, where, the competition and challenge can be as tough as any sport and perhaps in some ways more difficult.
The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society program began five years ago with Patterson High School being the first school locally to field a team to participate during its second year of competition. Patterson High School’s fishing coach, Hal Pinho, says the program continues to grow across Louisiana.
Pinho said, “The first year Patterson was in, there was probably 80 boats entered in a tournament, then there was 100, then 200, and now there’s more than 300 statewide. It’s grown so much they had to split it up into east-west divisions, because they had so many kids.”
In 2018 Pinho’s sons Hayden and Hunter qualified for the 2018 B.A.S.S. National High School Championship when they finished seventh out 252 teams in last year’s state tournament. Older brother Hayden now fishes for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s Ragin Cajun Bass Fishing Team.
High school anglers have six tournaments that they can compete in, in the east and west regions in trying to qualify for the state tournament. And, though the number of qualifying tournaments doubled in 2018 from the previous year, it’s still not an easy task.
Morgan City High School’s fishing coach Dean Grizzaffi said, “To qualify for a state championship you have to finish in the top 10 percent of at least one tournament. We average between 150 and 180 boats per tournament, so that means they have to finish in the top 15 or top 18 to qualify.”
Depending on whether it’s being held in the east or west region, tournaments take place in locations like the Atchafalaya Basin, Henderson Lake, Lake Ponchartrain, the Calcasieu River, Henderson Lake, Bayou Segnette and Toledo Bend. Because of such diversity, tournaments include a Friday practice day for the competitors before the Saturday event.
Grizzaffi said, “The enjoyment is just seeing these kids compete. Their day starts out between 4:30 and 5 o’clock in the morning. It takes a special kid to sit out in a boat from 6:30 a.m. till 3 p.m. weigh-in while battling the weather. No matter if it’s 100 degrees or 30-something, 50-something, battling the rain – these kids don’t have dugouts. They don’t have locker rooms. You’re out on the water, where you might get a 10-minute break. And, these kids will probably cast over 2000 times a day.”
The sport itself isn’t cheap. Besides the $40 entry fee per team, quite often, depending on the location of the tournament, there are hotels involved, as well as, boat fuel expense, vehicle fuel, food, drinks, and even boat repairs if a mishap occurs – something Grazzaffi says occurred during an event.
Currently, high school tournament fishing isn’t sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). To help offset some of the cost, Grazzaffi says the Morgan City High School team sold sponsorships with advertisements on the team’s jerseys.
Central Catholic’s coach Beau Theriot says coaches can captain a boat for the students, give pointers, and talk to them, but they can’t tie a knot, tie a bait, cast a line or net a fish. Coaches are only allowed to operate the boat.
“One thing about fishing is, you don’t have to be a certain size, color, weight, girl, boy – it doesn’t matter,” Theriot said. “You can compete on any level with this kind of sport if you want to. The thing I like about it is, it gets these kids outdoors and teaches them responsibility safety-wise while operating a boat and making decisions on their own.”
Tournament bass fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation today. One of the goals of B.A.S.S. is to create and develop the next generation of anglers.
Currently all qualifying tournaments are over for the year. Four teams from Morgan City, one from Patterson, and two teams from Central Catholic qualified for this year’s state tournament, which will be held out of the Berwick Boat Landing May 3-4.
Top finishers from the state tournament will get an opportunity to compete against the nation’s best high school anglers from across the nation on Kentucky Lake this summer.

CHS readies for Cast Iron Cook-off set next Saturday

Steve Nugent, Agriscience instructor at Centerville Senior High School, was a guest of Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard and the Franklin City Council Tuesday at the council meeting at City Hall.
Nugent appeared before the council to discuss the upcoming Centerville Cast-Iron Cook-Off, to be held March 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Centerville High School student drop-off/pick-up area.
“It’s a community-oriented event,” Nugent said of the cook-off. “Too often, communities segregate themselves and isolate themselves. This is a formal invitation for everybody to come to Centerville on March 30th and get some good food.”
He continued, “We have a 5K color fun run going on and the (cook-off) awards this year are trophies based on the theme: Magnolias.”
Nugent also said there would be a Queen contest. “The thing about our Queen contest,” he said, “is that it is based on essay, not popularity. This year’s essay deals with internet addiction amongst the youth and how to curb that.”
The 2019 Cast-Iron Cook-Off is teaming up with Fit, Fun and Fabulous Serving St. Mary Parish; and Nugent brought with him, Rene’ Stansbury, vice president of the Fit, Fun and Fabulous board, to explain the partnership.
“We partnered with the cook-off to hold a mini-session geared toward providing on a miniature scale, what happens here in October (Fit, Fun and Fabulous, in Franklin),” she said.
Stansbury said that in addition to the mini-session, FF&F will have a poster contest in which all parish schools are invited to participate, and which will take place at the cook-off. There will also reportedly be a giant, inflatable colon on-hand to prompt discussion of the parish’s prevalence of high colon cancer rates and how to combat them.
All proceeds from the cook-off will go to benefit CHS student programs.

Franklin receives LGAP funds for fire department gear

Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard announced Franklin’s award of a $25,000 Local Government Assistance Program grant, at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, elaborating that the grant funds are set to be utilized in purchasing equipment for the Franklin Fire Department.
Foulcard also announced that the road repair contract for the work to be done on Chatsworth Road and South Willow Street has been awarded to Diamond B Construction, with a tentative start-date set for April 29.
Further addressed, were current administration efforts in concert with the Parks and Recreation Department to effect a “facelift” for city parks, with Phase 1 having been last summer’s painting of Broussard-Harris Recreation Center, and the next phase consisting of playground repairs reported by Foulcard to begin “within the next week, or so.”
Franklin Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hildreth submitted to the mayor and council his report on the city’s blighted structure mitigation project, saying that of approximately 60 houses assessed, a compliance rate of 60 percent resulted from letters of notice sent to property owners.
Hildreth said, “We met with many of the (property) owners, and they are willing to undertake the (renovation/demolition) processes themselves. So, that will lessen the financial responsibility to the city as well as to the city’s services.”
He went on to say that following the formal notifications, property owners have 60 days to acquire a “no-cost demolition permit” followed by six months to complete the work necessary to bring the property within code specifications.
Hildreth’s mitigation project report concluded with seven properties under condemnation, letters to those property owners having been sent, unless otherwise redeemed, set to be the first mitigation project properties to see city-ordered demolition.
Other departmental reports saw Franklin Police Chief Morris Beverly recommend a stop sign be placed on Ida Street at Thomas Street, in order to mitigate the amount of inordinate speeding he said he noted through his traffic study.
A vote was taken on the matter, and a motion was approved to have the stop sign installed.
Beverly also reported the peaceful success of Franklin’s Mardi Gras parade due to the successful partnerships of the Franklin Police Department, the parish Sheriff’s Office and police departments from surrounding communities. Apart from which, he noted some arrests which had to be made following the parade.
Those arrests, Beverly said stemmed from a fight and the unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits, both of which charges still under investigation, he added, are expected to yield further arrests.
Three ordinances were approved, Tuesday. Two of which, were adoptions of Operating and Capital Outlay Budgets, and the third of which was an amendment to Franklin city code, in order to allow boats to dock on Bayou Teche at Parc sur la Teche for upcoming events in that area.
Mayor Foulcard proclaimed April as Fair Housing Month, the week of April 22-26 as National Community Development Week, and March 20 as Kick Butts Day.
Announcements were as follows:
—April 3, the first Thursday in April, Main Street merchants will stay open until 6 p.m.
—The Bayou to Main Marketplace will be held April 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Center Theater space on Main Street and Parc sur la Teche on Teche Drive.
—Summer Art Program registration will be April 1-12 at City Hall Tax Department. Dance is $20 per person and Art is $20 per course.
—To Kill a Mockingbird will be performed from April 11-14 at Teche Theatre.
—Franklin City-Wide Clean-Up will take place April 13 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Stage parking lot.
—Bear Festival Kick-Off will be April 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the French Door.
—Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival will take place from April 12-13 at Teche Drive.
—Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show will be held April 12-14 starting at the same time as the Black Bear Festival, and ending around noon on Sunday.
—Rotary Black Pot Cook-Off will take place April 13 from 6 a.m. until TBD at Teche Drive.
—Running of the Bears will be April 13 at 8 a.m. at the parish courthouse square.
—Art Stroll will be held May 4 at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Downtown Main Street.

'Diversions' program at Franklin branch library

No area of Louisiana has been more impacted by coastal land loss then Plaquemines Parish which is always one storm away from being wiped off the map. Louisiana’s coast and land loss affects all of those in the state.
Diversions, a short documentary film produced by Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities will be shown at 6 p.m. on March 27 at the Alex P. Allain Memorial Library in Franklin. Special guest Kerry St. Pe’ will be on hand to help discuss some of the film’s subjects.
This program is being held through a partnership between St. Mary Parish Library and the Jeanerette Museum Board of Directors as part of the local Smithsonian exhibit project, Water/Ways.
The film takes the audience on a trip through the greater Plaquemines community as we get a look at the science of diversion and the dilemmas it creates. The need to build sustainable land along the coast is dire. The CPRA is the state’s agency in charge of coastal restoration projects in south Louisiana, which is in the process of creating a sediment diversion to begin replenishing the marshlands. Not all citizens of Plaquemines Parish welcome it. Oyster farmers who make up a significant part of the population are concerned that the diversions will destroy their oyster beds, which is their livelihood. Other lifelong residents welcome this much needed effort to save their home. Many of these issues are also facing St. Mary and Iberia Parish residents.
St. Pe’ recently retired as director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), a nationally recognized effort dedicated to preserving and restoring the 4.2 million-acre area between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in Southeast, Louisiana. He also worked for 25 years as a field biologist for the Water Pollution Control Division of the La. Dept. of Environmental Quality. His wetland restoration work has been featured in the bestselling book Bayou Farewell, the Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast by Mike Tidwell and most recently in the PBS documentary, Washing Away: Losing Louisiana and the LPB documentary Turning the Tide.
Diversions is being held free of charge and is suitable for an adult audience. The local Water/Ways exhibit project is a part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities made possible through funding from the Walton Family Foundation. For more information on this event contact the Franklin Library at 337-828-5364 visit www.jeanerettemuseum.com, email jeanerettemuseum@yahoo.com, like the museum on Facebook or call Gail at 337-380-9057.

Council proclamation

West St. Mary High School Next Era Students Terrell Joseph and Takylan Hamilton posed, Tuesday, with Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard and city councilmembers following the mayor’s proclamation of March 20 as National Kick Butts Day in Franklin.
The Banner-Tribune/CASEY COLLIER

Huge rally lifts MCHS past E.D. White 11-10 in district play

Morgan City staged a huge rally in the final two innings to overcome an 9-0 deficit en route to an 11-10 win against E.D. White in Thibodaux in District 7-4A action Thursday.
While Morgan City fell behind 9-0 after five innings and was just a run away from the game ending via the mercy rule, the Lady Tigers erupted for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut their deficit to 9-8. Morgan City scored three more runs in the top of the seventh for an 11-9 lead. The Lady Tigers held on for the victory in the bottom of the seventh, holding E.D. White to just one run.
First-year Morgan City Coach Lacy LaGrange said she is proud of the hard work her team has been putting in this season.
“This win and the win against Loreauville shows that we can beat anyone,” LaGrange said.
In Thursday’s contest, Morgan City had runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles by Gracie Verrett and Brynn Stephens. Verrett came home on a groundball by Nia Lightfoot to make the score 9-1.
Morgan City added seven more runs on four hits while E.D. White committed one error and walked one Morgan City batter in the inning.
Highlights included a two-run single by Hannah Prado and a run-scoring double by Dru Gros.
With the Lady Tigers down just 9-8 after their at bat, Morgan City added three more runs in the top of the seventh.
Haylie Crappell tied the game at 9 on a line drive solo home run over the right field fence, while Hallie Blanchard followed with a triple to right field. She came home on a Prado single to give Morgan City a 10-9 lead before Gros’ groundout to third base scored Prado for another Morgan City run.
Blanchard earned the win as she surrendered 10 runs (five earned) on 10 hits with four walks, two hit batters and two strikeouts.
Crappell and Prado led Morgan City’s offense. Crappell was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs, while Prado was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs. Other top Morgan City offensive contributors were Blanchard, 1-for-4, a triple and two runs; Verrett, 2-for-5, an RBI and a run; Stephens, 2-for-3, a run; Gros, 1-for-4, a double, two RBIs and a run; Gros, 1-for-4, a double, two RBIs and a run; Lightfoot, an RBI and a run; and Kamryn Olivier, an RBI.
Morgan City (3-8 overall, 1-1 in district) will return to action Friday when it hosts Centerville in nondistrict action before traveling Saturday to participate in Port Allen’s Lady Pelican Classic Softball Tournament. Morgan City will meet Runnels at 9 a.m. and Lakeshore at 11 a.m.
CCHS routs Gueydan
The Central Catholic Lady Eagles routed Gueydan 15-1 in District 7-1A action on the road Thursday.
No individual stats were available.
Tuesday, Central Catholic rallied from a 4-1 deficit for an eventual 6-5 victory against Vermilion Catholic in District 7-1A action in Abbeville.
While Vermilion Catholic and Central Catholic had scored single runs in the bottom of the first and top of the third, respectively, Vermilion Catholic took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
However, Central Catholic responded with a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and another in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.
Vermilion Catholic scored a run in the bottom of the seventh but could get no closer.
Olivia Black earned the win. In seven innings, she surrendered five runs (two earned) on eight hits.
Haley Fontenot and Emily Lipari led Central Catholic’s offense. Fontenot finished 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, two stolen bases and two runs, while Lipari was 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run. Other top Central Catholic offensive contributors were Amaya Williams, 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Bailee Lipari, 1-for-3, two RBIs and a run; Shelbie Mabile, 1-for-3, an RBI; and Rylie Jeau Theriot, 1-for-4, a double.
Central Catholic (14-3, 6-1) will return to action Tuesday when it continues District 7-1A action at Highland Baptist. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.
Berwick falls to Erath
The Berwick Lady Panthers fell to Erath 13-2 in District 8-3A action in Berwick Thursday.
While Erath led just 1-0 after an inning and 4-0 after three complete, the Lady Bobcats erupted for six runs in the fourth for a 10-0 advantage.
Berwick scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and Erath scored three runs in the top of the seventh.
Bronwyn Colbert suffered the loss. In three innings, she surrendered seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with one strikeout.
Berwick collected eight hits.
Anna Vaccarella led the squad with a 2-for-3 performance with a double, while Micah Ortiz was 2-for-4.
Berwick (7-11, 2-3) will return to action this weekend when it competes in the portion of the Tiger-Cardinal Softball Classic that will be played at Thibodaux High School. Berwick will face H.L. Bourgeois Friday at 6 p.m. and South Lafourche and South Terrebonne Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

Berwick sweeps Patterson in district play with 12-1 win

The Berwick Panthers run-ruled Patterson 12-1 in five innings in District 8-3A action in Berwick Thursday. Berwick took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and added five runs in the bottom of the second for a 6-0 lead. After Patterson scored a run in the top of the fifth, Berwick scored six runs in the bottom of the frame to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule. Seth Canty earned the win. In five innings, he surrendered one earned run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Chad LaGrange led Berwick with a 3-for-3 performance with two doubles,

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Central Catholic recognizes 1999 Class 1A state championship baseball team

Central Catholic High School recognized its 1999 Class 1A state championship baseball team during the Eagles' annual baseball tournament earlier this month. Team members present were, from left, Greg Baker, James Irwin, Eric Patureau, Corey Sauce, Jeremy Whipple, Brandt Sanders, Tim Daigle, Chadd Dubois, Jon Meyer, Grant Autrey, Scott Richoux, Andy Gros, Assistant Coach Dan Irwin and Head Coach Aaron Bodin.

Melvin Relays are Friday at Berwick

The annual John Melvin Relays will be held Friday at Berwick High School. Field events will begin at 3:30 p.m., and running events are set for a 6:30 p.m. start. In addition to host Berwick, other participants will be Patterson, Morgan City, Central Catholic, Centerville, Hanson, West St. Mary, Franklin, Highland Baptist and South Terrebonne. ...

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Teen charged with terrorizing

A 17-year-old in St. Mary Parish has been charged with terrorizing after making threats to others, Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.

—A male juvenile, 17, was arrested at 8:35 p.m. Thursday on a charge of terrorizing.

Deputies responded to a location on La. 182, in reference to a person making threats to others. After further investigation, the male juvenile was arrested and charged with terrorizing. The juvenile was released to his parents pending juvenile court proceedings.

The 17-year-old’s name wasn’t released because of a new law, which went into effect March 1, that prohibits law enforcement authorities from releasing the name of 17-year-old suspects, Smith said. The sheriff’s office also didn’t release any information on what community the incident occurred in or what types of threats were made.

Smith reported that deputies responded to 29 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Ryan Edward Theriot, 36, of Hebert Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:04 a.m. Thursday on a charge of expired or no inspection sticker and a warrant charging him with driving under suspension.

A deputy was patrolling the area of La. 182 near Renwick Boulevard in Berwick when a vehicle was observed with an expired inspection sticker. A traffic stop was conducted and Theriot was identified as the driver. A background check on Theriot revealed his license was suspended, Smith said. Theriot was issued a summons to appear in court June 19.

—Verelyn B. Cannon, 60, of Ciro Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 8:40 p.m. Thursday on charges of no turn signal, general speed law, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, transactions involving drug proceeds, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free zone (church).

—Conley Jones, 69, of Joseph Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 8:40 p.m. Thursday on charges of conspiracy possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A K-9 unit patrolling the Siracusa area observed a vehicle speeding and fail to use a turn signal. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Cannon, and the passenger, identified as Jones. Both subjects appeared very nervous.

Narcotics detectives were contacted to assist with the stop. K9 Buddy was deployed to conduct an open-air sniff. K9 Buddy alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Crack cocaine was located in the vehicle as well as drug paraphernalia, Smith said.

Detectives also located $1,134 in cash on Cannon, the sheriff said. The location of the stop was within 2,000 feet of a church. Both Cannon and Jones were jailed. No bail was set for Cannon. Bond on Jones was set at $1,500.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 42 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Jerry L. Livingston, 55, of Cotton Street in New Iberia, was arrested at 3:09 a.m. Thursday on charges of two head lights required, driving under suspension and possession of crack cocaine.

—Jessica J. Gollmer, 38, of Oregon Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:09 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of crack cocaine and a fugitive warrant for the state of Texas.

Officers observed a vehicle traveling on La. 182 near Roderick Street with only one headlight. Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Livingston and the passenger as Gollmer.

Officers ran a computer check on Livingston’s driver’s license and found it was under suspension. During the stop, officers found Livingston and Gollmer in possession of crack cocaine, Blair said. Both Livingston and Gollmer were jailed.

—Elizabeth Cefalu Leonard, 29, of Guidry Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:16 a.m. Thursday on a charge of speeding and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear for arraignment.

Officers conducted a traffic stop in a posted school zone on Sixth Street. The driver was identified as Leonard. During the traffic stop, officers learned of a 16th District Court warrant for her arrest. She was jailed.

—Theodore Francis, 34, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:05 p.m. Thursday on a charge of bank fraud.

Francis filed a police report alleging someone had fraudulently removed money off his debit card. The investigating officer learned through surveillance footage the transactions were conducted by the complainant, Francis, Blair said. He was jailed.

—Courtland Javaud Fullwood, 31, of Park Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with five counts of failure to appear for trial, three counts of failure to appear for arraignment, one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle.

Fullwood was located at the police department and arrested on city court warrants. He was jailed.

—Dequante Wesley, 25, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:54 p.m. Thursday on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging him with failure to appear for arraignment. Wesley was located at the police department, arrested and jailed.

—Brandon Michael Collier, 23, of Orange Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:18 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with four counts of failure to appear to pay a fine.

Collier was located at the police department and arrested on a city court warrant. He was jailed.

—Crystal Bailey Duhon, 46, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:48 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with failure to appear to pay a fine.

Officers came into contact with Duhon on La. 182 and learned of a city court warrant for her arrest. She was jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:

—Brian Jerome Wesley, 43, of Gabriel Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:55 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of Schedule I drugs with intent to distribute and possession of prescription drugs without a prescription. No bail was set yet.

Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported the following arrest relating to the area:

—Jacob Allen Geisler, 26, of Andras Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Thursday on charges of speeding, no seat belt and possession of methamphetamine.

Early Thursday morning, a uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation on La. 398 west of Labadieville and the deputy proceeded to stop the vehicle.

Upon contacting the driver, the deputy noted an odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle, Falcon said.

The driver, identified as Geisler, acknowledged that there was a quantity of methamphetamine in the vehicle. The substance was located and seized, Falcon said. Geisler remains in jail pending a bail hearing.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported no arrests.

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Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
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