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Fri, 12/28/2018 - 9:45am
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Radio logs for Dec. 28
Fri, 12/28/2018 - 9:44am
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Thursday, Dec. 27
6:45 a.m. 400 block of Fourth Street; Battery.
6:54 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Open door.
7:57 a.m. 1000 block of Florence Street; Animal complaint.
8:17 a.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Suspicious vehicle.
8:47 a.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious person.
9:01 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
10:30 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
10:35 a.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street; Burglary.
10:48 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Communication complaint.
11:14 a.m. 300 block of Sixth Street; Animal complaint.
11:18 a.m. 400 block of Fourth Street; Burglary.
11:53 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Medical.
12:29 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
2:01 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
2:03 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:29 p.m. 1100 block of Florence Street; Assistance.
4:08 p.m. La. 70; Disturbance.
4:31 p.m. Sixth Street and Railroad Avenue.; Suspicious person.
5:42 p.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
8:08 p.m. Front and Freret streets; Suspicious vehicle.
11:56 p.m. 400 block of Florida Street; Alarm.
Friday, Dec. 28
12:24 a.m. 3000 block of Diane Drive; Alarm.
1:35 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
2:55 a.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.
2:59 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:50 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; 911 hang up.
Area hospital announce births
Fri, 12/28/2018 - 9:25am
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Medical bills plague millennials; these tips may be the cure
Fri, 12/28/2018 - 9:23am
By SEAN PYLES, NerdWallet
Chrystal McKay knew enough about medical care costs that she skipped the ambulance ride after a car accident. A friend drove her to the emergency room.
That saved her one bill, but she faces another for more than $20,000 after her ER visit. The 29-year-old Stockton, California, woman must balance paying her debt with getting care for a sprained shoulder that may need surgery: “I have to weigh the pros and cons. I’m already $20,000 in debt, and any more treatment will just put me more in debt.”
Uninsured at the time and facing a bill she doesn’t know how to handle, McKay finds herself in a position familiar to many in her generation. If she can’t cover the cost, her bill may wind up in collections.
No matter your age or insurance status, there are ways to make medical debt more manageable, whether you just got the bill or it’s already in collections.
MEDICAL COLLECTIONS PEAK IN LATE 20s
Young adults incur medical collections debt at a higher rate than older age groups, according to a study published in Health Affairs, a health policy journal.
The report looked at 2016 data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Consumer Credit Panel. It found that the frequency of medical debt in collections peaked at 11.3 percent, for people age 27, and stayed near that level until the mid-40s — even though medical spending in general is low for people in their 20s. The median amount in collections also peaked at age 27, at $684. In contrast, people in their 60s had higher rates of medical spending but fewer medical collections.
That puts millennials — those born 1981-96 — in the crosshairs. “There are a number of things that add up that make younger adults more prone to this kind of debt,” said economist Ben Ippolito, one of the study’s authors.
Among them:
—Less earning power: Americans ages 25 to 34 had a median income of $36,664 in 2017, according to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.
—Lack of insurance: Just under 20 percent of millennials in their late 20s and early 30s were uninsured, the highest rate seen in the Health Affairs report.
—Mobility: Younger people tend to move more frequently, increasing the chances for lost bills leading to collections.
McKay’s income took a hit when she had to quit her dog-grooming position as a result of her injuries; she expects to make about $30,000 for the year. And she was recently approved for state-run health insurance. But insurance doesn’t entirely shield people from medical collections. The study found that “most medical debts are relatively modest in size, which means they could be incurred before the insured person meets their deductible.”
UNCERTAIN HOW TO COVER MEDICAL BILLS
McKay made a GoFundMe page to drum up some money but has only about $1,300 so far. However, she has the right idea in trying to take some type of action, even if the bill seems overwhelming.
If your bill isn’t paid for several months, the debt could go into collections, which can drag down your credit score and make you appear riskier to potential creditors.
“I find, by and large, people have no clue about how to handle a bill,” said Adria Gross, a medical bill advocate in New York. In nearly 30 years of experience, working at one point for an insurer and now negotiating bills on behalf of consumers, she’s seen the confusion medical bills can cause.
“First thing people need to do if they can’t afford a bill is call their provider and see if they can negotiate it. And the provider probably can reduce what you owe,” Gross said. She advises having details of your income and how much you can pay at hand, to help you make your case.
Other options for handling your medical debt include:
—Pursue a payment plan: Ask the provider to break up your bill into a number of payments to cover the cost over time. If they refuse, you can create your own by transferring the debt to a 0 percent APR credit card (though you’ll need good credit to qualify for one).
—Hire a professional: Medical bill advocates may be able to negotiate your bill down to a fraction of the original amount.
—Try DIY settlement: You may be able to negotiate a lump sum settlement on your own, especially if the debt is already in collections. The creditor may accept your offer to pay less than you owe rather than risk receiving no payment at all.
Girlfriend irked by unromantic boyfriend
Fri, 12/28/2018 - 9:20am
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Tornado watch in effect until 6 p.m.
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 12:38pm
A tornado watch is in effect for St. Mary Parish until 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.
A line of thunderstorms was just west of Iberia Parish at 12:30 p.m. Thursday was moving east.
A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development, and residents of the affected area should keep an eye on the weather.
Heavy rain is also possible with the approach of the storms.
Woman booked on FTA warrant
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 12:05pm
Staff Report
A 36-year-old Patterson woman was booked Wednesday on a warrant charging her with failure to appear for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.
—Crystal Hartman, 36, of Taft Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle without a license on person and possession of alcoholic beverages in vehicle.
Deputies were handling a complaint of a reckless driver when they made contact with Hartman on U.S. 90 near Railroad Avenue in Patterson. The deputies learned of an active warrant for Hartman. Hartman was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Hartman was released on $7,500 bail.
Smith reported that deputies responded to 45 complaints in the parish.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported no arrests.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.
Radio logs for Dec. 27
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 12:03pm
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, Dec. 26
7:04 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
8:39 a.m. 2700 block of Shaw Drive; Assistance.
10:02 a.m. 3200 block of Tammy Drive; Complaint.
10:03 a.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Complaint.
11:01 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:09 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Theft.
1:17 p.m. 300 block of Union Street; Warrant.
1:30 p.m. 800 block of Second Street; Juvenile problem.
1:40 p.m. 1400 block of Lakewood Drive; Lost and found.
1:48 p.m. Amber Street and Victor II Boulevard; Crash.
1:56 p.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Theft.
1:58 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:28 p.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Complaint.
3:43 p.m. La. 70 and Veterans Boulevard; Animal Complaint.
4:02 p.m. 3000 block of Karen Drive; Complaint.
4:11 p.m. 700 block of Louisiana Street; Removal of subject.
4:52 p.m. 1400 block of Ellzey Street; Complaint.
5:46 p.m. 100 block of Canary Street; Harassment.
5:57 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Medical.
6:45 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Forgery.
8:15 p.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
8:39 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Utilities.
8:55 p.m. 100 block of Terrebonne Street; Juvenile problems.
9:18 p.m. Fourth and Everett streets; Criminal damage to property.
9:39 p.m. Bush Street and Federal Avenue; Loud music.
9:49 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Suspicious vehicle.
11:03 p.m. 500 block of Franklin Street; Removal of subject.
11:40 p.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Loud music.
Thursday, Dec. 27
12:05 a.m. 3200 block of Tammy Drive; Medical.
1:31 a.m. 200 block of Pecos Street; Suspicious vehicle.
2:01 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
3:07 a.m. 1200 block of South Prescott Street; Medical.
4:01 a.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Disturbance.
Holiday closings listed
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 11:26am
Morgan City, Berwick and St. Mary Parish government offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday for the New Year’s holiday.
Patterson City Hall will close Tuesday and Wednesday, and also close from 9:45 a.m. to noon Monday for the inauguration of city officials at 10 a.m. at Patterson Area Civic Center.
Republic Services and Pelican Waste & Debris will not run routes Tuesday.
The Daily Review offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday. There will be no paper Tuesday. The Monday edition will be delivered earlier than usual.
News and advertising deadlines for the Monday edition will also be earlier than usual to accommodate the press run.
From the Editor: Superintendent must manage decline in enrollment, funding
Thu, 12/27/2018 - 10:32am
By BILL DECKER
Forty years ago, a young comedian named Steve Martin poked fun at the Seventies drug culture by saying, “Let’s get small.”
Martin said he once got so small he could sit on a piece of paper and dangle his feet over the edge.
The next superintendent of St. Mary Parish public schools may see more challenge than humor in getting small. Without some drastic economic or demographic change, the most important job for the successor to Superintendent Leonard Armato will be to manage the schools in a time when enrollment and funding are getting smaller.
Armato announced his retirement last week after more than three years on the job. His tenure has coincided with the development that cast a cloud over south Louisiana governments and the economy: the fall in oil prices that began in late 2014. Just as important as the price of oil, the industry continued to look at shale deposit production in places like Texas and the Dakotas rather than investing in the offshore and deepwater production that benefits St. Mary most.
We saw the results when unemployment spiked, but we’re also seeing them in public school enrollment.
In 2011-12, about 9,400 students were enrolled here. This year, if you count pre-K students, the district serves about 8,600 students.
Federal and state funding are based in part on enrollment. So when the number of students comes down, so does the revenue.
One of the biggest choices of Armato’s tenure involved the decision to close two elementary schools: including M.D. Shannon in Morgan City. More recently, the board eliminated block scheduling in favor of a traditional seven-hour school day. The move saved $1 million at about the time property tax revenue decreased by roughly that amount. But it also means students aren’t exposed to as many different classes and disciplines as they have been.
The sad part of the equation is that when St. Mary attempts to stabilize its economy by diversifying, one of the key attractions for prospective employers will be the quality of the local schools, public and private. So if economic conditions hurt local schools, they’ll also hurt our attempts to put the parish on a better footing.
St. Mary’s quest to become a school district worthy of an A grade from the state almost succeeded last year. The parish’s school performance score came within a fraction of a point of earning an A grade under the state’s accountability system. But the Department of Education is raising the standard, so St. Mary will stay at B for at least another year.
St. Mary got where it is even though 70 percent of its students are from homes categorized as low-income. As a group, kids from less affluent homes face educational challenges. Maybe they don’t have exposure to books or travel. Maybe they’re not as healthy. Maybe they’re more likely to come from homes where substance abuse or divorce make life difficult. They’re less likely to have parents who went a long way in school.
You don’t have to come from a well-off home to do well in school. But it can help. St. Mary appears to be doing well at providing education to the kids who count on it most.
The three east end high schools are all A schools. Speaking as someone who helped shepherd three kids through their teenage years, I’m in awe.
We ran pictures Monday of administrators at schools that won recognition under the state accountability system. Nine schools earned B grades. Eleven were recognized as Top Growth schools for raising their performance scores. Six schools were Equity Honorees for their work with groups facing educational challenges. M.E. Norman and Julia B. Maitland were recognized for excellence in their pre-K programs.
Protecting that progress is the job that awaits the next superintendent.
Bill Decker is managing editor of The Daily Review.