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Wheel House for Dec. 12

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 11:06am

PO’BOY DINNER
Men department of St. Luke Baptist Church, 1709 Harry D St., Patterson, selling shrimp po’boys with potato salad and a soda from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. Cost $8.

CAKE BINGO
Hosted by Girl Scouts Louisiana East Service Unit 270 from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Bayou Vista Community Center, Belleview Street. All proceeds benefit underprivileged children in the area. Participants that bring an unwrapped toy receive two bingo cards. Extra cards are $5 each. Bingo winners receive a cake. Hot dogs, drinks and other concessions sold. For info call Lena Clements, 985-519-3962.

Chabill's gets new leadership

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 11:03am

On Jan. 1, Elizabeth Gowland Barron will formally assume the position of CEO of Chabill’s Tire and Auto Service. She takes the reins from her father, Charley Gowland,who is retiring after 50 years with the company he co-founded with Billy Parker.
Barron has worked at Chabill’s for the last 26 years in a variety of positions. Most recently she was vice president of operations and sales. During this time, Chabill’s has expanded its services and presence across South Louisiana, the company said.
“I plan to continue the tradition of high quality customer service that has been established under my father’s leadership,” said Barron. “With the ongoing support of the Chabill’s leadership team, we will continue to offer high quality products and superior technical services. We will also continue to look at expansion opportunities.”
Chabill’s Tire and Auto Service was established in 1968 when Charley Gowland and Billy Parker were approached by BF Goodrich about selling tires in the Morgan City area. Gowland and Parker combined their first names to come up with the iconic “Chabill’s” brand.
Chabill’s currently has more than 130 employees at locations in Morgan City, Houma, Thibodaux, Bayou Vista, Broussard, Raceland, Lafayette, Youngsville, Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales and Boutte. Over the last half century, the company has also expanded the brands of tires it sells and the services it provides to customers.

As prices rise, companies target Permian Basin

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:58am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Some of the largest energy companies in the U.S. have already invested billions of dollars on claims up and down the Texas-New Mexico state line, tapping one of the nation’s richest and most prolific oil and natural gas regions.
Now the stakes just got higher, as the U.S. Geological Survey released a new assessment Thursday that shows portions of the Permian Basin could hold even more promise.
With the potential to double the nation’s onshore oil and gas resources, the agency estimates more than 46 billion barrels of oil and some 280 trillion cubic feet of gas are within two formations on the southwestern side of the basin. That’s the largest continuous oil and gas resource potential ever assessed.
While agency geologists caution that more study would be needed to determine the profitability of going after the resources, industry groups and top officials within the Trump administration are encouraged and say the assessment underscores the activity that’s already happening in the basin.
“Before this assessment came down, I was bullish on oil and gas production in the United States,” Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said in a statement. The announcement comes as OPEC countries voted Friday to cut oil production beginning next year as a way to force crude oil prices higher despite political pressure from President Donald Trump.
The group of oil-producing nations was looking to rein in supply as prices had fallen about 25 percent because major producers, including the U.S., have been pumping at high rates.
Stephen Robertson, executive vice president of the Texas-based Permian Basin Petroleum Association, said the signs for the basin’s potential have been there for a long time.
“The fact is that Reeves County, which in the heart of that play, is running more rigs than any other county in the nation and has been doing that for quite a while,” he said. “The people out here know that it’s there and it really is that improvement of the technologies and the increased efficiencies allowing people the ability to actually be able to access it and produce it.”
Still, a main factor is price.
“If the price drops to a point where it’s not economical, then it doesn’t matter if it’s there. It’s not going to be produced,” Robertson said.
New Mexico’s share of the Permian Basin has helped to drive production in the state to record levels in 2017. This year is expected to be another banner year as industry officials say the state is on pace to surpass 200 million barrels.
The flurry of activity in southeastern New Mexico has put pressure on everything from housing and schools to highway infrastructure. Concerns also have been raised by state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn about the environmental impacts as state and federal regulators have had a difficult time keeping up with the pace of development across the region.
Dale Janway, mayor of the southeastern New Mexico city of Carlsbad, told The Associated Press that with the news of more resources in the Permian comes greater responsibility.
“We know that we need to redouble our efforts to improve and develop infrastructure in the area and to work closely with the county, state and our business partners to best prepare for the future. We’re in it for the long haul,” he said.
The boom also has resulted in a significant budget surplus that will give incoming Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Democrat-led Legislature more options as they hash out spending priorities for everything from education and public safety to infrastructure.

Louisiana Politics: After brief flirtation, treasurer turns efforts toward re-election

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:45am
By JEREMY ALFORD and MITCH RABALAIS

Treasurer John Schroder turned the heads of donors, journalists and others recently when he said he would be open to running for governor next year. But the Republican spoke more definitively on the issue recently and he will be seeking re-election in 2019.
Politically, it’s in keeping with other moves made lately by Schroder’s administration. For instance, roughly a month after her surprising third-place finish in the special election for secretary of state, Renée Fontenot-Free has joined the treasurer’s staff as executive counsel.
Free comes from Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office, where she was previously director of the Public Protection Division. She has spent the vast majority of her career in state government, working under five different attorneys general and three secretaries of state.
Free’s new gig in the Treasury likely means that she won’t be returning to the political arena as a candidate in 2019 — even after capturing 16 percent of the vote in a crowded nine-candidate field.
Like other statewide elected officials, Schroder will be up for re-election as treasurer next year, having won a special election in 2017 to succeed U.S. Sen. John Kennedy. Schroder currently has about $18,000 in his campaign kitty, but that’s likely to increase quickly as election season approaches.

More on the insurance front
Former Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley’s name won’t appear on a ballot again any time soon, but he will be a factor during the 2019 election season.
Wooley, the Democratic commissioner from 2000 to 2006, has accepted a position as the general consultant to the still-developing campaign of Tim Temple of DeRidder, the president of Temptan. Temple, whose father was a founder of Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation, has quietly been building a challenge to Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon for months.
Donelon, with $204,000 in the bank and national industry connections, is expected to seek re-election. He has run statewide five times since 1998 and has never been in a runoff during that timeframe, although former Sen. James David Cain came awfully close to forcing one back in 2006.
On the statewide ballot, Donelon’s record is 4-1, having only lost in 1998 to former U.S. Sen. John Breaux.
Here’s a rundown of the incumbent’s last five statewide races:
— 1998 U.S. Senate Race: John Breaux, 64 percent; Jim Donelon, 32 percent; Others, 3 percent
— 2006 Special Election to Succeed Wooley: Jim Donelon, 50 percent; James David Cain, 39 percent; S.B.A. Zaitoon, 11 percent
— 2007 Statewide Elections: Jim Donelon, 51 percent; Jim Crowley, 36 percent; Robert Landsen, 9 percent; Jerilyn Schneider-Kneale, 5 percent
— 2011 Statewide Elections: Jim Donelon, 67 percent; Donald C. Hodge, 33 percent
— 2015 Statewide Elections: Jim Donelon, 54 percent; Charlotte C. McDaniel-McGehee, 19 percent; Matt Parker, 14 percent; Donald Hodge, 13 percent

Political History: When
Coozan Dud met the Pope
In the wild world of Looziana politics, there has never been, and probably never will be, a character quite like Dudley Joseph LeBlanc, Sr., who late Gov. Earl K. Long claimed could never be bought — only rented.
Vermilion Parish’s favorite son, or rather cousin, was known back home as “Coozan Dud.” But across the country in the 1940s and 1950s, he was pop-culture famous for his supposedly magical medical elixir, Hadacol, which was promised to cure any and all ailments. Hadacol’s alcohol content, however, was the real selling point.
LeBlanc also had a political life. He served in both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature, was a member of the Public Service Commission and ran for governor three times.
If you wanted to run for statewide office in Louisiana in the middle of the 20th century, you had to go through LeBlanc to buy into the Acadiana region.
It was during the 1960s that LeBlanc, then a state senator, decided to run again for his old seat on the PSC. While fundraising was not a problem, Coozan Dud desperately needed fresh endorsements and new support behind his campaign.
Hat in hand, he went to the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge to ask then-Gov. John McKeithen for an endorsement. “Big John,” however, found his hands politically tied in the race. Both LeBlanc and his opponent, incumbent Ernest Clements, had been major supporters of McKeithen. The governor didn’t want to take a chance on making an enemy out of either one.
LeBlanc, after being told that an endorsement was impossible, instead asked McKeithen for a favor. Could the governor arrange for him to have an audience with Pope Paul VI in Rome?
McKeithen tasked his top aide, Gus Weill, with the job of getting Coozan Dud a meeting with the pope. In his book, The Weill Side of Louisiana Politics, Weill recalls McKeithen telling him, “I can’t do it, I’m a Methodist.”
Flipping though the governor’s rolodex, Weill put in a call to Cardinal John Cody in Chicago. The cardinal, who had perviously been archbishop of New Orleans, was familiar with LeBlanc and his huge personality. Eager to help out Louisiana’s governor, Cody put in a request at the Vatican.
“The next thing we knew there was a press association photo of the Holy Father meeting with Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc,” Weill wrote.
Whether or not Coozan Dud left behind any Hadacol in St. Peter’s Basilica remains a mystery.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPolitics

Jim Brown: Garth Brooks knows how to woo a Louisiana crowd

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:39am
By JIM BROWN

Did you see the Garth Brooks televised concert at Notre Dame Stadium last week?
Over 85,000 country music fans packed the South Bend football field for one of largest concerts ever viewed. And the crowd’s biggest re-sponse, hands down, was when Brooks roamed the huge stage singing: “I spent last night in the arms of a girl in Louisiana.” It was his signature song titled "Callin’ Baton Rouge."
The crowd went nuts.
If you come from Louisiana, it’s almost a congenital requirement that you are born with a love for music. Particularly string music, from country, zydeco, blues, rock and even an abundance of classical aficionados. I’m certainly in that number.
Two of my first legal clients as a practicing lawyer in Ferriday were Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. I paid my way through law school by playing my banjo on Bourbon Street at a place called Your Father’s Mustache. Yep, music is in our DNA down here in the Bayou State.
Garth Brooks is a megastar when it comes to selling albums. Fourteen have debuted as No. 1, and he’s sold over 135 million albums. I attended his opening Friday night concert, where the entire crowd stood up the entire evening and sang along with the crooner. Even younger kids in their late teens and early 20s seemed to know the words to every song. He ran and jumped across the stage, while singing, during the entire performance. I was exhausted myself just watching him perform.
A few years back, I attended one of his concerts here in the state capitol. The crowd went into a tizzy when he sang “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” a song Brooks told the crowd was his all-time favorite. After he finished, the swarm of fans burst out chanting “LSU, LSU.”
He had the whole stadium in the palm of his hands, and would have re-ceived a unanimous vote for mayor, governor, president or anything else. He was the Man and certainly the king of country music.
It was different the first time I heard Garth Brooks sing. Back in 1980, I had just been elected as Louisiana Secretary of State. On a Saturday night, I had spoken to a civic club in Kentwood, right on the Louisiana-Mississippi line in the southeastern part of the state.
To get back to the state capitol in Baton Rouge, I followed the back roads that took me through Greensburg on down highway 16 into the small community of Montpelier. As was my custom when I would travel that route, I stopped off at the Bear Creek Restaurant and Saloon for a bite to eat and a cold beer.
A full house and a rowdy crowd on a Louisiana Saturday night, as I visited with the bartender, a guy named Jesse.
A young singer and guitar player was on the stage, and a net had been put up in front of the platform to inhibit beer bottles from being thrown by any disorderly patrons. Few listened to the young fellow, but being a frustrated strummer myself, I paid attention to his forlorn country songs that he told the indifferent crowd he had written himself.
“Gotta nice sound,” I shared with Jesse. "Who is he?”
“From Oklahoma. Comes over every now and then to perform. Let’s see. His name is Brooks. Garth Brooks.”
As I got up to leave, I paid my tab, dropped a few bucks in the tip jar, and shared my opinion with Jesse. “He’s got a pretty good mellow voice. Who knows? He might make it big one day.”
I headed off into the night towards the city whose name would become one of Garth Brooks all-time hits.
When I wrote my first book about my time in Louisiana politics, I raised the question about whether all I went through in my 28 years as a public official was worth it.
I answered by quoting from my favorite Garth Brooks song. “Our lives are better left to chance. I could’ve missed the pain, but I’da had to miss the dance.”
From singing in a Louisiana country saloon to becoming a country music mega-star.
At 56, he can’t do much better. Here’s hoping Garth Brooks will keep on performing and keep on singing about that gal in Louisiana for many years to come.
“It’s funny how a chubby kid can just be having fun, and people call it entertainment!”
--Garth Brooks
Peace and Justice
Jim Brown
Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all of his columns at www.jimbrownusa.com.

Area prep players earn volleyball all-state honors

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:33am
GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com

Morgan City High School’s Sh’Diamond Holly and Cen-tral Catholic High School’s Terre’Yan “Yani” Johnson each were named to the Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association All-State Team in their respective classes.
Holly was a Division III selection, while Johnson was a Division V pick.
Holly, who signed with the University of New Orleans last month, finished her senior season with 58 aces, 489 kills, 100 total blocks, 49 assists and 275 digs.
“She put in the work, and I think hard work pays off,” Morgan City High School Coach Christy Theriot said.
Holly played a big role in the Lady Tigers’ offense, Theriot said.
In addition to earning first-team All-District 8-III honors, Holly participated in the Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association All-Star Game as a member of the West squad.
As a senior, she helped lead Morgan City to the Division III quarterfinals. It was Morgan City’s first state tournament appearance in 10 years.
Johnson finished her season with 566 kills.
She is a member of the all-state team for the second straight season after earning the honors as a sophomore.
“What I saw from her this year is a little bit more sense of urgency from her,” Central Catholic Coach Latashia Wise said. “She’s grown in that area with her killer instinct ability. She’s a big kid with a big wingspan, and she improved a lot this year on her first-ball kill and actually putting the ball down when needed and not just sometimes.”
She helped the Lady Eagles advance to the Division V semifinals as a junior.
Johnson was named All-District 6-V Offensive Most Valuable Player this season.
Other Division V picks were: Addie Vidrine and Hannah Mattke, both of Ascension Episcopal; Myca Broussard of Lafayette Christian Academy; Jaida Felix of Louise S. McGehee; Alex Smith, Kate Launey, Kelsey Dinvaut and Mary Tebbe, each of Metairie Park Country Day; Ruby Reeves of St. Martin’s Episcopal School; and Hannah Pixley of The Dunham School.
Other Division III selec-tions were: Jewell Johnson of De La Salle; Lila Bordis of E.D. White; Amber Igiede of St. Michael; Brittney Theriot, Angelle Buquet and Annelise Henry, all of Vandebilt Catholic; and Jena Johnson of Westlake.

Morgan City Lady Tigers defeat Westgate 46-40

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:25am

Morgan City High School defeated Westgate High School 46-40 in girls’ basketball action in New Iberia Tuesday. While Morgan City led 14-10 after a quarter, Westgate outscored the visitors 17-11 in the second period for a 27-25 halftime advantage. Morgan City retook the lead after three quarters, outscoring Westgate 9-4 in the period for a 34-31 lead, while in the fourth, Morgan City held a 12-9 scoring advantage. Sh’Diamond Holly led Morgan City with 23 points, while Haylie Crappell also reached double figures with 10. Other Morgan City scorers were Nikeisha Paddio and Deryon Johnson, four each; India Richardson and Iesha Huntley, two;

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Berwick girls basketball is under new leadership in 2018

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:22am
GEOFF STOUTE
gstoute@daily-review.com

Berwick High School head coach Josh Montgomery and assistant coach Derek Ribardi may be in their first year leading the Berwick girls basketball program, but the duo have relatively high goals for a program that has struggled.
This season, the duo hopes to win 10 games and finish .500 in district.
Ribardi said the school hasn’t won 10 games in six years leading the program.
“We’re just trying to get double digits in wins and .500 in district and see what happens,” Ribardi said.
So far, Berwick is almost halfway there as the squad has a 3-4 record and will continue its season Tuesday when it hosts St. John in varsity, set for approximately 6:45 p.m. following the 5:30 p.m. junior varsity contest.
This season, Berwick is running a motion offense, while defensively, the squad hopes to press teams and force easy, transition baskets.
Senior guard Madison Carline, who has played for four years and was a first-team All-District 8-3A selection a year ago, leads the squad.
Maci Broussard, who Ribardi said is out injured but will be back shortly, also is a guard on this year’s squad along with Ariana Jones and Maddie Billiot.
In the post, Berwick features first-year basketball player Lauren Skinner, who has played volleyball during her time at Berwick, as well as Sam Kinchen and Tia and Tamara Whitehead. Other post players are Lily Eues and Sheldriana Clark.
Berwick will compete in Hanson Memorial’s tournament later this week.
The squad begins District 8-3A action next week when it travels to face North Vermilion. Other teams in District 8-3A are Kaplan, Erath, Abbeville, Patterson and David Thibodaux.

Williams is CCHS' nominee for Wendy's High School Heisman Award

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 10:19am

Central Catholic High School senior Sydney Williams recently was named the school winner for the prestigious Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Williams was chosen for her outstanding excellence in academics, athletics and community/school leadership. The Wendy’s High School Heisman celebrates the achievements of the nation’s top high school seniors in and out of the classroom. Just as the collegiate Heisman is known as the highest award in college football, the Wendy’s High School Heisman award is recognized as the most esteemed award at the high school level as it encourages future leadership by acknowledging well-rounded students.

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