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KEVIN CHARLES VERDUN

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:50am

Kevin Charles Verdun, 58, a native and resident of Patterson, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans.
Visitation will be Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until services at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson. Burial will follow in Ibert’s Memorial Park in Patterson.
He is survived by two brothers, Joseph Verdun Jr. and Guy Verdun, both of Patterson; two sisters, Bettye Foulcard of Franklin and Lillian Smith of Lafayette; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JEFFERY DALE FIELDS

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:49am

Jeffery Dale Fields, 51, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Nov. 22, 2018.
He is survived by his wife, Shawna Fields of Pocasset, Oklahoma; a son, Jacob Fields of Norman, Oklahoma; and a brother, John Fields of Gibson.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother.
A celebration of life will be Feb. 23 at Lake End Park in Morgan City. Contact Shawna for details

Wheel House for Feb. 13

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:48am

BLACK HISTORY
Program at New Mt. Esther Baptist Church, 1211 James St., Morgan City, 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. Everyone invited.

FREE MOVIE
Teche Theatre hosting a free showing of the movie, “The Great Debaters” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. There is a pre- and post-commentary of the film. This is a family-oriented event. Concessions sold.

REVIVAL
At Mt. Era Baptist Church on Feb. 20-22. Prayer service at 6 p.m., revival at 7 p.m. Revivalist is the Rev. Shawn Patrick Watson, First Baptist Church, Victorville, California.

Maitland Readers of the Month

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:44am

Submitted Photo
Rylee Michel and Kezirian Singleton were recognized as December Readers of the Month at Julia B. Maitland Elementary School. They are shown with mentors and volunteer reading listeners Herman Hartman, left, and Earl Johnson.

Bank gives to Hearts of Hope

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:38am

Submitted Photo
Patterson State Bank Senior Vice President and CFO Jason Watson presents a donation to Tri-City Helping Hearts Foundation President Herman Hartman. The non-profit organization will host a gospel banquet at 4 p.m. April 27 at the St. Mary Senior Citizens Center, home of St. Mary AARP, in Morgan City. The banquet will help raise funds for the organization to operate throughout the year. Funds raised during the event help provide families through out the area who may need financial assistance with expenses related to burial of a loved one.

New Chamber member

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:37am

Submitted Photo
Brice Civil Constructors with President Jon McVay, PMP, CHMM, is the newest member of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce. Brice Civil Constructors is a construction and dredging company located at 800 Youngs Road, Morgan City. McVay is shown with Chamber President Donna F. Meyer.

Hernandez is hospital's Employee of the Month

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:35am

Terrebonne General Medical Center has named Roxanne Hernandez, emergency department secretary II, as the February Employee of the Month.
The hospital said Hernandiz is truly an asset to the emergency department as the unit secretary. She helped during a crucial transition and continues to keep the department running smoothly with her organization, efficiency, and attention to detail. Her communication skills are significant as she compiles all meeting minutes with accuracy, and communicates them effectively with emergency department staff.
She is approachable and willing to listen, the hospital said.
Hernande has been in her current role for a little over three years, and says that, “these three years have been the best yet. ...”
"My favorite thing about my job is having the opportunity working alongside my co-workers, they inspire me and are like family.”

College seeks bigger role for women in energy

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:34am

NEW IBERIA (AP) — In her pink-and-grey sweatshirt and fuzzy boots, Courtney Long picks a drill bit off a table in her classroom at South Louisiana Community College’s campus in New Iberia.
She points out how it’s much heavier than it looks and much smaller than some bits found on rigs.
Long, 25, recently visited a rig in Morgan City with her classmates. She is one of four women in SLCC’s oil and gas production technology program this semester.
Another woman completed the one-year program last summer, earning a technical diploma in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Women make up about one-fifth (22 percent) of employees in the oil and gas industry, according to a 2017 report from The Boston Consulting Group.
That’s low compared to other major industries like finance (39 percent of emploees are women) and health and social work (60 percent), according to the report. Only construction ranked lower than oil and gas with 11 percent.
The cohort at SLCC falls in line with those figures. Four out of the 19 students that make up Long’s class are women, or 21 percent.
Current student Lacey Graves, 26, said she chose to quit her job and pursue this career full-time for two reasons.
“In this career field, you can make a lot of money, and partially because it’s not a traditional job for females,” Graves said. “I have a 2-year-old daughter. I want to show her she can do whatever she wants. You don’t have to stick to traditionally female jobs.”
She’s from Loreauville and surrounded by the oil and gas industry, a common theme for students in this program.
Long’s father, grandfather, uncles and brother have all worked or still work in the industry. She’s seen them face layoffs and the ups and downs of such a career.
Now, with a semester and a certification under her belt, she enjoys being able to jump into conversations at home she might have been left out of before.
“These are certifications that (some) people in the oil field don’t have,” Long said.
Graves is hoping for that edge in the traditionally male-dominated world of oil and gas.
“I feel like if we would go apply for a job I feel they would be more likely to hire a man,” Graves said. “So I would think we need to have that proof — that proof that I’m worthy.”
As a single parent, Long’s primary motivation was finding a job that would provide for her and her son.
“For me, I have a lot of family members in it,” Long said. “I saw what it did for them. I’m a single parent. ... My perspective was I had to make the money to provide for our lifestyle.”
So she drives 45 minutes from Cecilia to campus every weekday for four hours of class, and she works as a bartender on the weekend.
Darell Lastrapes, 20, also commutes about 45 minutes for classes. She took a version of this class as a high-schooler in Opelousas and decided to buck the family trend and enter this field rather than nondestructive testing (or NDT).
“I was going to do NDT, but I had already started this and thought ‘Why not finish?’” Lastrapes said.
Leanna Simoneaud, 18, came to SLCC straight from high school. Her father, too, worked in the oil field, and the Delcambre native was itching for something hands-on. Plus, she’s willing to travel — anywhere.
These four started the program in August and quickly became like a family, they said.
Simoneaud said it was a nice surprise to find other women in their class. They said it made them more comfortable.
“I’ll ask Lacey for help before one of the guys,” Long said, and all of them laughed. She said the guys answer but don’t always explain it in-depth. “... I’m glad there are four of us.”
The four of them will graduate in July with technical diplomas in oil and gas production technology.
The program is three consecutive semesters and designed to take novices, lead instructor Aaron Ward said, and prepare them for jobs such as production operator, flood hand, basic compliance officer and more.
“Most start out making roughly $50,000 a year,” Ward said, finding jobs on oil rigs or chemical plants.
It’s no secret that the job market for oil and gas ebbs and flows, and right now, Ward admits, is more of an ebb.
“The best time to educate yourself is when the price (of oil) is low,” Ward said. “Companies are investing. ... So when the market and price pick back up, we’re ready.”
If they don’t go straight to work, they could continue at SLCC to get five more general education courses for an associate’s degree in technical studies.

La. pharmacies create association for suppliers of medical marijuana

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 10:13am

By JEREMY ALFORD & MITCH RABALAIS, LaPolitics.com

A new trade association has been established in Baton Rouge to “advocate and support Louisiana’s new medical marijuana and plant-based industry.”
The Louisiana Association of Therapeutic Alternatives , or LATA, was formed by the nine marijuana pharmacies that are licensed to do business in Louisiana.
“We needed to speak with one voice and work to educate doctors, patients, lawmakers, and regulators about this industry”, said LATA President Doug Boudreaux. “We have seen the need to educate all the players in this new world of alternative treatments. Doctors and patients need to be educated on the process and how this new delivery system will work.”
He added that the association will conduct outreach to physicians, patients, growers and pharmacies.
“This is a new industry in Louisiana with a lot of regulation and moving parts, we still have some kinks to work out as with any new industry that is arriving in the state,” said LATA Executive Director Jesse McCormick. “LSU and Southern University are the only two licensed growers in the state and it makes sense to have constant dialog with the growers on product amounts and different strains of product. It also is in our best interest to share results and data between doctors and pharmacist to help with dosing and delivery methods to the patients and this new association will accomplish that.”

No stopping for Scalise
With the shift in power on Capitol Hill, Congressman Steve Scalise has gone from being the majority whip to the minority whip, but the aggressive politico from Jefferson Parish hasn’t missed a step.
In an interview with LaPolitics during Washington Mardi Gras two weeks ago, Scalise said his team has already targeted at least 18 U.S. House districts they believe can be recaptured by the Republicans during the 2020 congressional elections.
For his part, Scalise, a master recruiter and fundraiser, is already hitting the road to lay the groundwork. It’s the same kind of approach to policy and politics that landed Scalise in the leadership, and it could catapult him even higher should his party win back the majority next year.
While is mapping out a path to victory for national Republicans, Scalise still will be helping elect conservative members to the Louisiana Legislature.
While Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading the Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority, attempting get more like-minded legislators elected, Scalise said he’s interested in offering assistance wherever possible.
“I’m looking to get more involved, and want to assist Jeff wherever I can,” said Scalise. “I think there are a lot of great-looking opportunities out there when it comes to the Legislature.”

Landry hosts Trump hotel event
With much of Louisiana’s political class in there Beltway for the recent Washington Mardi Gras, Attorney General Jeff Landry took advantage of the opportunity and hosted a well-attended fundraiser at President Donald Trump’s downtown hotel that bears his name.
U.S. Sens. Mike Lee and John Kennedy, along with Minority Whip Steve Scalise, praised Landry in remarks to the crowd, with more than one speaker using the word “fearless.” For his part, Lee said he wished Landry “could be cloned, so he could be here in DC and in Louisiana at the same time.”
Landry was not the only Bayou State elected official to hold an event at the Trump Hotel. House Speaker Taylor Barras, House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto hosted a joint fundraiser there as well.

They said it
“I don’t think so.” —Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, on running for president, on CNN
“If we don’t do something about the cost of health insurance in this country, the voters are gonna go medieval on us, and they should.” —U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, on rising healthcare costs, on CNN
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Alford and Rabalais on Twitter via @LaPoliticsNow.

Scholarship signing

Wed, 02/13/2019 - 9:54am

Jarius Boyd, senior and running back at Franklin Senior High School, signed Friday to attend Louisiana College next year with an academic scholarship. Boyd is pictured with, from left; his father, John Boyd, his aunt, Vivian Matthews, his sister, Anastasia Boyd, his girlfriend, La’Kia Robinson, his mother Lori Boyd holding his niece, Rhylee Boyd and his cousin, Kerry Lee Davis.