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Carrie Stansbury of the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau brought the Eagle Expo to Central Catholic on Feb. 22. Students in grades Pre-K3 through eighth learned about several winged predators that inhabit our area – hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and eagles. Students were able to view the birds and were treated to a “flyover” by vulture Casie.
The Siracusa/Greenwood Parade took place Tuesday afternoon in Siracusa Subdivision.
No. 2 Central Catholic will be making its first state semifinal appearance in boys’ basketball in 18 years Tuesday when it meets No. 3 Hamilton Christian in the Division IV semifinals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
The semifinal appearance comes after falling in the quarterfinals the last two years, including in 2017 to Hamilton Christian.
While the goal for the squad is not just to make the semifinals, rather the first of what the Eagles hope is a two-game process to hoisting a state championship trophy, Friday’s come-from-
behind win against a bigger and athletic No. 10 seed in Southern Lab broke not only a streak for the current group but ended an hard-luck streak for Central Catholic Coach Ree Case.
Since making it to the semifinals in 2001, Case’s squads have had no problems making it to the quarterfinals, reaching the elite eight round eight previous times. However, they could not
get over the hump each time.
The Eagles (22-9) rallied against Southern Lab in this season's quarterfinal for a 65-58 victory to ensure that streak would not continue.
Case said he thought playing at home in the quarterfinals was a difference maker.
“This is the first time we’ve been home in the quarters in a long time,” Case said. “I think that was the difference in the game in the end, but like we talked about, our goal is not to make it to the
semis. Our goal is to win it, so now we got to refocus and get ready for Tuesday. Now it’s Tuesday. The quarterfinals (were) nice, but now we got to try to get ready to win on Tuesday.”
Tuesday, the Eagles will meet a Hamilton Christian squad that qualified for the state tournament this season for the third straight year after advancing to the semifinals in 2017 and 2018.
The Warriors have made it to the quarterfinal round every year since 2014.
The Eagles faced the Warriors twice in the last four years, most recently in 2017, falling 69-47 to Hamilton Christian in the quarterfinals in Lake Charles.
“To be honest, the last couple of times we’ve played them, they had better players than we did,” Case said. “The (Louisiana Ragin Cajun verbal c o m m i t M i c h a e l ) Thomas kid was a
freshman, but they had a couple of really good couple of guards that went to play college basketball. They were really senior-oriented, and we (weren’t). We played them a couple of years ago (and) we had eight guys on the team, so we’re a better basketball team than we were then, and they’re not as talented as they were then. They’re still a good team. I’m not saying that, but they had some really, really good players back then.”
Thomas, a junior point guard who announced his verbal commitment to play college basketball for the Ragin’ Cajuns last week, stands about 6-feet and is athletic, Case said.
Hamilton Christian has won six straight entering Tuesday’s matchup.
Hamilton Christian and Central Catholic have played several common opponents this year with the same results.
They both lost to Dunham, a Division III semifinalist this year, and they both defeated St. Martinville and Vermilion Catholic.
Like Central Catholic, Hamilton Christian received a first-round bye and defeated No. 19 St. Frederick 69-33 in the second round. The Warriors then routed No. 6 Vermilion Catholic in the quarterfinals 73-42.
While the Eagles defeated Vermilion Catholic by just one point in overtime in the final game of the regular season, Central Catholic was missing several key players for that matchup.
“The one thing that we have over them that we didn’t have the other night is we’re actually bigger than them,” Case said of Central Catholic’s advantage against Hamilton Christian, which they didn’t have against Southern Lab. “D.J. (Lewis) and Taylor (Blanchard) will actually have a little size advantage on them, which is kind of unique, especially after the other night.”
Case said the Eagles need to play their style of basketball and not get nervous Tuesday.
Central Catholic has three players averaging double figures in scoring this year. Senior Brooks Thomas leads the squad at 15.8 points per game, while senior Elijah Swan is second at 13.8 points a contest. Lewis, a freshman, is third on the team, averaging 10.5 points a game.
Central Catholic has won three straight entering the semifinals, beginning with their regular- season finale victory against Vermilion Catholic.
After receiving a first-round bye, Central Catholic defeated No. 15 Cedar Creek 87-40 in the second round of the playoffs before taking down Southern Lab Friday.
The winner of Tuesday’s Central C a t h o l i c - H a m i l t o n Christian contest will meet the winner of the other semifinal contest between top-ranked and two-time defending state champion Lafayette Christian Academy (29-4) and No. 4 Opelousas Catholic (24-6). That semifinal will be played at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday at Burton Coliseum.
The Division IV finals are set for Friday at noon in Lake Charles.
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Lauren Ortega, a makeup artist at Merle Norman Cosmetics of Morgan City and Franklin, was guest speaker at the Patterson Garden Club monthly meeting Feb. 19.
Members participated in a workshop on applying eye makeup.
The half-and-half drawing was won by Thomas. Members planned a March 30 afternoon field trip to Mindi’s Art Shack in Franklin.
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In less than a year since The Brown House, Berwick’s Heritage Museum, officially came into existence, one exhibit is complete and several others are in the works all showcasing St. Mary Parish’s oldest settlement.
During May 2018, the town council gave the Berwick Historical Society full use of The Brown House, located on Third Street, as a museum.
People may visit the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays. Members of the historical society ask that anyone interested in donating items come to the museum during those hours or call town hall at 985-384-8858. Society members also meet the second Tuesday each month at 1:30 p.m. at town hall.
The house, built in 1893, was donated to the town of Berwick by Dewey Brown and his wife, Wilhelmina “Billie” Diboll Brown around 1970 with the intention for Berwick to use the building for part of the lighthouse museum project. However, that plan didn’t materialize, said Gen Thorguson, one of the historical society’s over 20 members.
The area now known as Berwick was originally inhabited by the Native American Atakapa-Ishak Nation and the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. The first white settlers, Thomas Berwick, a surveyor in the Opelousas district, his wife, Eleanor, and eight children, received a Spanish land grant in 1797, making Berwick the first settlement in St. Mary Parish, according to information provided by the Berwick Historical Society.
The community of Berwick, named for Thomas Berwick, was incorporated as a municipality in 1907.
Historical society members officially opened the Berwick Heritage Museum’s first exhibit in October 2018. That exhibit consists of a list of the over 200 oak trees in Berwick and canvas displays of 36 of those trees. The project took about 10 months to complete, and the oldest tree dates to 1790.
Other exhibits in the museum include displays of baskets, handmade wooden bowls, archives and eventually one on the Southwest Reef Lighthouse, Historical Society President Dale Fangue said. Officials are working on a display about children who came to the area on the Orphan Train after accepting a donation of items from the Morgan City Archives.
A sign designating the building as The Brown House Berwick Heritage Museum was recently donated by historical society member Randal Monceaux.
Gunder Thorguson, who operated a saw mill in Berwick, originally built the home for his daughter, Theresa Thorguson Brown.
Thorguson built the house on Second Street, but the structure was later moved to Third Street to allow for construction of the U.S. 90 bridge over Berwick Bay.
In conjunction with Berwick’s annual Lighthouse Festival, historical committee members have produced several programs highlighting different aspects of town history including the fire department, education and the fishing and trapping industries.
That committee decided to go beyond just presenting programs at the Lighthouse Festival and put its efforts toward a more permanent preservation of Berwick’s history in the form of a museum.
Berwick is in the process of applying for a cultural district that would be centered around the museum, lighthouse and riverfront, Fangue said. Officials also hope to get another lighthouse that will serve as a tourist attraction in Berwick and use the museum for school field trips, said Lud Henry, mayor pro tem and historical society chairman.
Society members are in the midst of selling commemorative bricks to raise money for the museum, too.
The long-term goal is for the museum to be open every day, but officials are in the infancy of just getting the museum started right now, Historical Society Treasurer Toni Fangue said.
Berwick’s Heritage Museum is among the nonprofit organizations that people can donate to during the Community Foundation of Acadiana’s South Louisiana Giving Day on May 9. For more, visit southlouisianagivingday.org.
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St. Martin Parish President Chester Cedars has declared a state of emergency for the parish due to the imminent threat of flooding in lower St. Martin Parish, a news release said.
A projected rise on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, along with related bodies of water have the potential to cause flooding and subsequent damage due to flooding in the lower part of the parish.
The Atchafalaya River is expected to crest near 8 feet March 15 in Morgan City. As of Wednesday morning, the Atchafalaya was at about 7.2 feet, according to the National Weather Service.
Beginning Wednesday, sand bags will be available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice at the Stephensville Park on La. 70 in lower St. Martin Parish.
Several preventive measures haven been taken over the last several days to prepare for this event and both St. Martin Parish government along with the St. Martin Parish Office Of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, continue to monitor conditions in St. Martin Parish, a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office news release said.
Officials in Morgan City and Berwick in St. Mary Parish have closed several floodgates along the Atchafalaya due to the rising river.
Morgan City police arrested a man after he committed a battery on his girlfriend, refused to let her leave a motel room, committed a battery on another person and damaged a cell phone, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Ernest Lee Watkins, 26, of Jerome Court in Napoleonville, was arrested at 3:37 a.m. Sunday on charges of battery of a dating partner, simple battery, false imprisonment and criminal damage to property less than $1,000.
Officers were dispatched to a motel in reference to a disturbance. Upon officers arriving, a witness identified Watkins as committing a battery on his girlfriend and was refusing her to leave the room, Blair said.
Officers also learned he had committed another battery on a second person on the scene and damaged a cell phone, Blair said. He was jailed.
Blair reported that officers responded to 147 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Two juveniles, both 14, were arrested at 11:47 a.m. Friday on each a charge of disturbing the peace fighting.
—A juvenile, 12, was arrested at 11:47 a.m. Friday on a charge of simple battery.
Officers were dispatched to Morgan City Junior High School in reference to two students fighting. Officers arrested both juveniles, who were later released pending juvenile court action.
Police also learned that a 12-year-old juvenile at the school committed a battery on another student, Blair said. The juvenile was arrested and later released pending juvenile court action.
—Kelly Joseph Hukill II, 30, of Saturn Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:10 p.m. Friday on a charge of resisting an officer and Berwick police warrants charging him with domestic abuse battery and false imprisonment.
Officers received information Hukill was in the area of Federal Avenue and Brashear Avenue and was wanted by Berwick Police Department. Officers arrived in the area and located him walking in the area. He fled on foot from the officer when they attempted to stop him, Blair said. He was later located and jailed.
—Russell Quentin Francis Jr., 34, of Francis Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:37 p.m. Friday on charges of resisting an officer, disturbing the peace, criminal mischief-false use of 911 and a warrant charging him with probation violation.
Officers were dispatched to a business on La. 70 in reference to a subject later identified as Francis making multiple calls through 911. When officers arrived, he caused a disturbance fled on foot to a second nearby business causing a disturbance, Blair said. While officers placed him under arrest he began to physically resist, Blair said. He was handcuffed and jailed.
—Justin Vosburg, 27, of Susan Court in Stephensville, was arrested at 2:37 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana third offense and a warrant charging him with probation violation.
Officers came into contact with Vosburg on Federal Avenue and Brashear Avenue and learned of a warrant for his arrest through city court. He was arrested, and police found suspected marijuana in his possession, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Tammy Lynn Wilson, 47, of Willard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:05 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging her with criminal damage to property less than $1,000.
Officers came into contact with Wilson on Willard Street. Officers learned of a warrant through city court. She was jailed.
—Esdras De Leon Hernandez, 31, of South Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8:07 p.m. Friday on charges of careless operation, no driver’s license and DWI first offense.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on La. 182. Hernandez, the driver, didn’t have a valid driver’s license, Blair said. Hernandez did poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.175 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Lennis J. Fryou, 62, of Onstead Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:28 p.m. Friday on charges of reckless operation and DWI.
Officers were dispatched to 1st Street in reference to a disturbance. Officers arrived on scene and learned a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle, Blair said. The pedestrian refused medical assistance on scene, Blair said.
Police learned Fryou was the driver of the vehicle and suspected driver impairment, Blair said. He later registered 0.122 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said.
—Terry Wilson Garrett, 63, of Bowman Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:24 a.m. Saturday on charges of careless operation, illuminating devices required and DWI first offense.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on La. 182 for a traffic violation. The driver was identified as Garrett, who did poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. He later registered 0.108 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Alyssa Louise Ashmore, 29, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:04 a.m. Saturday on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear for arraignment.
Officers located Ashmore on Front Street in Morgan City on active warrants through 16th District Court. She was jailed.
—Racquel Delaune Barber, 43, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:11 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging her with failure to appear in court. Officers located Barber on Roderick Street on a city court warrant. She was jailed.
—Donte Jovan Harris, 23, of Mount Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:59 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana third offense, possession of methamphetamine and possession of MDMA.
Officers come into contact with Harris in the area of Fifth and Greenwood streets. Harris was in possession of illegal narcotics, Blair said.
Officers attempted to arrest Harris but began to pull away and resist officers, Blair said. He was placed in handcuffs and jailed.
—Brandi Durkins, 26, of Allison Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:48 a.m. Saturday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging her with theft.
Officers came into contact with Durkins on Allison Street and learned of the active warrant for her arrest through the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office. She was jailed.
—Richard Kight II, 36, of Mill Street in Lake Charles, was arrested at 7:42 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving on divided highways, no driver’s license, possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, possession of buprenorphine hydrochloride, possession of alprazolam with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers were dispatched to La. 70 in reference to a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Officers located the vehicle and identified the driver as Knight, who didn’t have a valid driver’s license, Blair said.
Police located suspected marijuana, buprenorphine hydrochloride and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Officers also located suspected oxycodone and alprazolam that was suspected for the intent to distribute, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Bradley Griffin, 39, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Officers were dispatched to a business on Federal Avenue in reference to Griffin causing a disturbance. Upon officers’ arrival, they located him walking away from the area in an intoxicated condition, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Brian Mark Metrejean Jr., 29, of Stafford Court in Pierre Part, was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Saturday on charges of improper lane usage and DWI second offense.
Officers conducted a traffic stop on Brashear Avenue and identified as Metrejean, who did poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. He registered 0.182 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Ernest N. Mingo, 35, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Saturday on warrants charging him with contempt of court and two counts of failure to appear in court.
Officers came into contact with Mingo on Federal Avenue. Officers learned of active warrants for his arrest through city court. He was jailed.
—Hector Iven Martinez, 28, of Murray Street in Mount Morris, New York, was arrested at 2:45 a.m. Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace and entering or remaining where forbidden.
Officers were dispatched to a business on La. 182 in reference to a subject causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the property. Officers arrived and identified Martinez as the subject refusing to leave, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Tyler Joseph Davidson, 25, of Pharr Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:45 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging him with failure to appear for trial.
Officers came into contact with Davidson on La. 182 and learned of an active warrant for his arrest through 16th Judicial District Court. He was arrested and suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located in his possession, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Trinity Harris, 19, of 11th Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:23 p.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of marijuana first offense and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear for arraignment.
Officers came into contact the Harris on La. 182 and learned of an active warrant for 16th Judicial District Court. She was arrested and suspected marijuana was located in her possession, Blair said. She was jailed.
—Joshua Markee Williams Jr., 21, of Ponderosa Drive in Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested at 3 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Officers conducting an investigation at a motel came into contact with Williams. Police learned that he was in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. He was jailed.
—Andrea Elizabeth Bellard, 29, of Rizzo Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:44 p.m. Sunday on charges of reckless operation of a vehicle, hit-and-run and DWI.
Officers were dispatched to hit-and-run crash on Levee Road. Police located the vehicle on Willard Street and identified the driver as Bellard, who did poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. She later registered 0.128 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said.. She was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 128 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Ralph Patterson, 62, of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:14 a.m. Saturday on charges of three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer.
A deputy was dispatched to the 1100 block of Marguerite Street in Morgan City reference to a subject with an active warrant for his arrest. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the subject, Patterson, and advised him of the active warrant. Patterson was transported to parish jail with no bail set.
—Spencer Bourda, 28, of Joseph Street in Siracusa, was arrested at 1:31 p.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
A deputy was dispatched to a disturbance at a home in the Siracusa area. Upon investigation, the deputy learned that there had been a physical altercation before the deputy arrived. Visible signs of abuse were present on the victim, Smith said. Bourda was jailed with bail set at $10,000.
—Luc Van Nguyen, 51, of Odile Street in Amelia, was arrested at 7:26 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with aggravated battery.
A deputy was conducted a follow up investigation in the Amelia area when he located Nguyen. Nguyen was jailed with bail set at $20,000.
—Mark Eric Felterman, 31, of Woodburn Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Sunday on a charge of littering.
A deputy was dispatched to the Hayes Memorial Boat Launch in Bayou Vista in response to a report of trash being dumped into the bayou. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the complainant who stated that a man had dumped something into the bayou.
The deputy was provided with a license plate number of the vehicle. The deputy proceeded to Woodburn Street and made contact with Felterman, who admitted to dumping crawfish heads into the bayou, Smith said. Felterman was released on a summons to appear in court June 19.
—Gilbert Christopher Howard, 48, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:36 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and theft less than $1,000.
Howard was located on a warrant at parish jail as part of an arrest warrant round up. No bail was set.
—Jarvis D. Granger, 32, of Joseph Street in Siracusa, was arrested at 6:40 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Granger was located on a warrant at parish jail as part of an arrest warrant round up. No bail was set.
—Floyd Malveaux, 37, of Trevino Street in Berwick, was arrested at 6:49 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with principal to distribute cocaine.
Malveaux was located on a warrant on Trevino Street in Berwick as part of an arrest warrant round up. He was jailed with bail set at $5,000.
—Lisa D. Jones, 56, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:34 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging her with soliciting for prostitution.
Jones was located on a warrant at Solar Apartments in Morgan City as part of an arrest warrant round up. She was jailed with bail set at $500.
—Eric Spencer Gaskins, 48, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with distribution of crack cocaine.
Gaskins was located on a warrant at a business on La. 182 in Amelia as part of an arrest warrant round up. He was jailed with bail set at $2,500.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Joseph Darby Jr., 18, of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 8:38 a.m. Friday on charges of domestic abuse by strangulation, disturbing the peace, simple criminal damage to property and a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with theft. No bail was set.
—Frederick B. Johnson, 35, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 7:17 a.m. Saturday on four counts of theft by shoplifting. No bail was set.
—Charles Mathis, 74, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 3:23 p.m. Saturday on a charge of soliciting for prostitutes. Mathis posted $500 bail.
—Reinerio Guillen-Gavarrette, 30, of Keith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:38 a.m. Sunday on charges of speeding 16-19 mph over the speed limit and no driver’s license. Guillen-Gavarrette posted $565 bail.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:
—Lacey Foret, 25, of St. Peter Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lane usage. Foret posted $252 bail.
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Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255