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As people prepare to celebrate the New Year, officials remind them to be careful when using fireworks.

A St. Mary Parish ordinance allows fireworks to be used from Dec. 22 through Jan. 1 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily in the unincorporated areas of the parish. Additional usage hours are from 10 p.m. Dec. 24 through 1 a.m. Dec. 25 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31 through 1 a.m. Jan. 1.

The ordinance prohibits igniting fireworks within 1,000 feet of a church, hospital, school, public building or fireworks retail locations.

Parish ordinance prohibits use of the following types of fireworks at all times. Those fireworks are cherry bombs, tubular salutes, 2-inch American salutes, firecrackers with casings the external dimensions of which exceed 1½ inches in length or one-fourth of an inch in diameter, repeating bombs, aerial bombs, torpedoes which exceed 3/8 inch in diameter, Roman candles larger than 10 balls and sky rockets larger than 6 ounces.

The fireworks ordinance only applies to unincorporated areas of St. Mary Parish. In the Tri-City area, fireworks aren’t allowed within the municipal limits of Morgan City, Berwick and Patterson.

There is no ordinance regulating use of fireworks in the unincorporated parts of St. Martin Parish, which includes Stephensville. But authorities ask that people be courteous of neighbors, and don’t use fireworks at late hours or in excess.

In Louisiana, more than 350 retail fireworks permits have been issued for the 2018 Christmas/New Year’s season, as it is state law for wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be licensed by the state fire marshal in order to open up shop. Sales extend from Dec. 15 through Jan. 1, a state fire marshal news release said.

“Celebrating what each New Year can bring to us and our families can be a safe experience,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, in a news release.

“But it’s up to each of us to make safety a priority during those celebrations, especially when fireworks are involved,” Browning said.

Officials advise families to be mindful of whether the stand they are purchasing from has been permitted by the fire marshal.

In addition, legal fireworks can be readily identified by a safety warning on the packaging with labeling that includes either “1.4G” and/or “UN 336.” Consumers should refrain from purchasing and report loose or unpackaged fireworks with no label to the state fire marshal, the release said.

The state fire marshal encourages reporting any suspicious or illegal selling of fireworks to 1-800-256-5452 or by visiting our website, lasfm.org.

To those who intend to use fireworks during the upcoming holiday, the state fire marshal offers the following fireworks safety suggestions:

—Always read and follow the label directions carefully.

—Always have a garden hose or water bucket nearby for medical emergencies and/or to douse spent or misfired fireworks.

—Adults should always supervise fireworks activity.

—Fireworks should be placed on a hard, smooth surface prior to ignition. Never light fireworks in your hand.

—Light one firework at a time, and move away quickly after lighting.

—Never point or throw fireworks at people, pets, cars or buildings.

—Keep fireworks away from small children.

—Do not alter or make your own fireworks.

—After displays, never pick up fireworks that may be left over.

Three area schools, Berwick High, Patterson High and Central Catholic, saw basketball action Dec. 27. The only home game was the 8-3A Patterson Lumberjills being victorious in a close win against 7-2A Catholic High – New Iberia. The ’Jills’ 29-28 non-district win brought their record to 7-6 overall and they remain 1-0 in district action. Their next game is at home against crosstown rival and District 8-3A opponent the Berwick Lady Panthers on Wednesday in a 6 p.m. contest. Following their game, the Lumberjacks and Panthers will also play a district contest.
Individual statistics from the Lumberjills’ Thursday game were unavailable at press time.
CCHS 63-58 over H.L. Bourgeois
The 7-1A Central Catholic Eagles are now 8-5 thanks to an exciting come-from-behind win over 7-5A H.L. Bourgeois Braves, 7-5, during the E.D. White tournament in Thibodaux.
Central Catholic was behind by two, 16-14, after the first quarter of play and cut that deficit to one by the half, 28-27. The Braves gained back that point by the end of the third quarter of play for a 47-45 lead.
The Eagles persevered in the fourth by going on an 18-11 run for the 63-58 win.
Helping the birds soar to victory were Elijah Swan who contributed 17 points including seven free throws and Brooks Thomas with 16 points with three 3-pointers and three free throws.
Also helping in the Eagles’ win were D.J. Lewis with 13 points with a free throw, Davidyione Bias with eight with four free throws, and Taylor Blanchard putting up five points including a 3-pointer. Adding two points each were Demonrick Blackburn and Tyler Smith.
Tournament play continues Friday and Saturday for the Eagles.
BHS drops game
The 8-3A Berwick Panthers barely lost a close game to the 7-2A Delcambre Panthers, 44-41, in the North Vermilion tournament Thursday in Maurice.
Tournament play is scheduled through Saturday. Berwick is now 0-13 overall and Delcambre is 6-7.
Berwick individual stats were not available at press time.
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The Morgan City Tigers’ game against Westgate that was set for Friday has been canceled. Their next game on the schedule is at home against White Castle at 7 p.m. Jan. 3.
On the girls’ side, the Lady Eagles will be in action at 6 p.m. Friday at home against Hanson Memorial, and the Lady Tigers will be at home against Destrehan at 5 p.m. Jan. 4.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints coach Sean Payton wants to make history this weekend.
How badly remains to be seen. That will be judged in part by the players he tries to win with when the playoff-bound Saints (13-2) host the reeling Carolina Panthers (6-9) on Sunday.
With the Saints having clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and Carolina out of the playoffs, this matchup has “low stakes” written all over it — except for one thing Payton made a point of mentioning.
“We have a chance to win more games in the regular season than any team in Saints history,” said Payton, who has now coached New Orleans to 13 wins in three seasons since taking over in 2006. “There’s a lot at stake relative to some individuals, but also the evaluation process and then also as a team being able to hit that 14th win. I think that that’s a lot.”
Payton declined to get specific about who he meant by “some individuals,” but odds are he was talking about reserves who’ve been competing all season for snaps — not players like record-setting quarterback Drew Brees, dynamic running back Alvin Kamara or leading receiver Michael Thomas.
Although Payton has resisted divulging personnel plans, it hardly seems worth the risk to subject the club’s most productive players to possible injury, considering a trip to the Super Bowl is two home victories away after this final regular-season obligation has been dispensed with.
If Brees doesn’t play, second-sting QB Teddy Bridgewater likely will start. Panthers coach Ron Rivera said he sees little point in preparing his team to face someone who had appeared in only four games in purely mop-up duty and has attempted one pass (an incompletion).
“We’re preparing for Drew,” Rivera said. “We’re preparing for Kamara, we’re preparing for (Mark) Ingram, and we’re preparing for their best shot.”
If anything, Rivera is more concerned with keeping his own players sharp. As a former player himself, Rivera appreciates the challenge of getting emotionally and mentally ready for a game that — at least for established players whose futures are secure — won’t have much riding on it.
“It’s a challenge. At the end of the day, it really comes down to the players controlling it themselves,” Rivera said. “I can say what I want to say and try and do things the way I want to do them, but it really does come down to the guys stepping up. It’s difficult. I get it. I have been there. This is my 30th year in the league, so I’ve seen all kinds of things.”
Some other story lines surrounding Panthers-Saints:
MAIDEN START
Panthers undrafted free agent Kyle Allen will make his first career start at quarterback.
The 6-foot-3, 211-pound Allen replaces Taylor Heinicke, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after injuring his elbow in his first career start last week, a 24-10 loss to the Falcons.
The team signed Garrett Gilbert on Wednesday to back up Allen. Both were in Panthers training camp.
Cam Newton remains on the team’s active 53-man roster, but the team does not want to activate him for the game because he’s dealing with a nagging shoulder injury that limits velocity on longer throws.
TEDDY’S BALLGAME?
It’s fair to say the 26-year-old Bridgewater has unfinished business in the NFL. The former first-round draft choice by Minnesota had practically all of his previous two seasons wiped out by a career-threatening knee injury. The Saints, who’ve had their sights set on the Super Bowl since coming a play away from advancing to last season’s NFC championship game, traded for Bridgewater late in preseason as insurance. Brees is fine, but if the Saints want to make sure he stays that way for the playoff opener, Bridgewater could see his first sustained action in a game since the 2015 season.
“Just thinking about the road I’ve had to take to get to this point, I’m excited,” Bridgewater said, adding that he expects to be ready if called upon. “Being in the position I’m in, you always have to stay ready and that’s been my mindset since I arrived here. ... Your opportunity can come within the blink of an eye.”
Payton said Bridgewater “has a live arm” and “very quickly picked up our system.”
McCAFFREY MILESTONE
Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey needs 155 yards receiving against the Saints to join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
However, it’s unclear if the Panthers will go for that record or not. Rivera has said the team needs to be careful with some of its stars and use this opportunity to look at some younger players.
McCaffrey eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing last week and also set an NFL record for receptions by a running back in a season with 106.
LAST HURRAH?
This could be the final game for several long-time Panthers. Center Ryan Kalil already has said he’ll retire after the season. Defensive end Julius Peppers and linebacker Thomas Davis have expiring contracts.
Peppers, 37, has not said if he plans to play next season. The 35-year-old Davis, who served a four-game, league-imposed suspension to start the season, said recently he wants to play next season.

JACKSON, Miss. — Damaging winds were followed by drenching rains across much of Louisiana and Mississippi on Thursday, prompting flooding concerns that threatened to move east along with a storm front.
A Louisiana woman died when a tree fell through her camper late Wednesday, and nightfall Thursday brought calls in southern Mississippi to flee rising creeks.
The National Weather Service confirmed one tornado in southwest Louisiana, and is investigating two other possible twisters. Wind damage was reported in seven Louisiana parishes and seven Mississippi counties
In the Tri-City area, 1.97 inches of rain fell between 3 p.m. and midnight at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport in Patterson. Just less than an inch fell between 8 p.m. and midnight.
The wind, which gusted to 31-32 mph earlier in the day, peaked at 23 mph during the storm.
Across the region, officials blocked off numerous roads, including some major highways, and rescued motorists who got stalled in deep water.
Weather Service radar estimated that more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain fell in parts of Louisiana’s Washington Parish, north of New Orleans, while a broad swath of both states got more than 5 inches (13 centimeters). Local governments handed out sandbags in the Baton Rouge area. Forecasters declared a flash flood emergency in parts of southern Mississippi, including Hattiesburg, Thursday evening, saying waters were life-threatening and that people should leave low-lying areas and avoid non-emergency travel.
Flash flooding also became a concern in southwest Alabama as rain moved eastward.
A number of rivers in the region are predicted to rise above flood stage in the coming days.
Tangipahoa Parish sheriff’s deputies found 58-year-old Roxanne Kliebert dead when they arrived Wednesday night after a pine tree fell through the roof of her camper in the Louisiana town of Ponchatoula.
The Weather Service confirmed that a tornado with top winds of 105 mph (169 kph) briefly touched down south of Crowley in Acadia Parish. Possible tornadoes hit Franklin Parish in northeast Louisiana and Yazoo County in central Mississippi.
Mercill Linder, a resident of the Franklin Parish town of Crowville, told KNOE-TV that a tree fell on her porch and roof around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
“I could tell that this was not a normal wind,” Linder said. “It was coming from one direction and then another direction and I felt like I was in a washing machine.”
In the Mississippi city of Vicksburg, heavy winds damaged the roof on the city’s water treatment plant. There were also reports of damage to a number of other buildings in Vicksburg and nearby areas.
There’s a marginal chance of tornadoes Friday in a band stretching from the central Gulf Coast to southeast Virginia, forecasters said.
High winds were predicted Thursday evening and Friday morning across parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and West Virginia.
The same system produced numerous reports of trees down and power outages across Texas and Arkansas late Wednesday and early Thursday.