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Councilman explains charter amendment

Early voting runs through Dec. 1, except for Sunday. Bring a photo ID to the polls.
In addition to runoffs resulting from the Nov. 6 primary, St. Mary voters will decide the fate of a proposed charter amendment setting the salaries of parish council members at $800 per month. The exception would be members elected at large, who would get a salary of $1,200 per month.
If passed, a sitting council can only vote for a salary change that would apply to the next term, and no change of salary can be adopted during the last year of a council’s term.
Councilman Dale Rogers introduced the ordinance with a second from Councilman Gabriel Beadle that was—after several previous attempts—approved by the council. In an interview Tuesday, Rogers said, “The parish council is the lowest paid elected officials in the parish. This compensation has been in place for 35 years; there is no additional pay for mileage, per diem or insurance.”
Rogers said council members represent more people in square miles than most city council members; attend two meetings a month; oversee more boards; and are responsible for at least three times the budget of other governing bodies.
He said the language of the proposition is the same as all five municipal governments in the parish, as well as 90 percent of state governing authorities. “No council member can raise their (own) pay,” he said. “If the council passes an ordinance to raise pay, which takes a majority of six votes, it will be for the next term of elected officials that the people vote for. No council member is guaranteed re-election.”
Rogers said there is talk of “a loophole” in the proposed amendment to the charter. “The language is clear about us setting our pay by ordinance instead of going out to the people to vote. They tried it three times, and it failed every single time.”
He said the proposal would move the parish forward and “be progressive.”
“People seem to believe that every four years the council will raise their pay,” he said, noting that is not the case.

Radio logs for Nov. 28

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.

Tuesday, Nov. 27

7:36 a.m. 3000 block of Roderick Street; Welfare check.

8:21 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.

8:24 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Theft.

11:24 a.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Alarm.

12:06 p.m. Railroad Avenue and Fourth Street; Accident.

2:35 p.m. Federal Avenue and Kidd Street; Complaint.

3:26 p.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.

5:36 p.m. Brashear Avenue and Sixth Street; Vehicle accident.

5:46 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Consumer complaint.

5:55 p.m. 900 block of Cottonwood Street; Alarm.

6:21 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Remove subject.

6:21 p.m. La. 182 and Florence Street; Vehicle accident.

7:31 p.m. La. 182 and Florence Street; Arrest.

8:37 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Vehicle accident.

8:43 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Disturbance.

8:53 p.m. 900 block of Cottonwood Street; Hang up call.

9:41 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Fireworks.

11:51 p.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical.

11:58 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Open door check.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

1:32 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Patrol.

2:08 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Welfare concern.

3:30 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Assistance.

Morgan City stays with Blue Cross

After talk last month that Morgan City government may choose a new health insurer, the city council decided Tuesday to stick with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. The council accepted the city health insurance committee’s recommendation to keep Blue Cross as the provider of health insurance for city employees for the year beginning Jan. 1, 2019. In October, city officials had discussed the possibility of switching to UnitedHealthcare to get a better deal on health insurance. But, ultimately, city officials decided that Blue Cross was probably the best option after Blue Cross came back with lower costs to ...

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Santa's under wraps for now

Installation has begun on the Christmas display that Lee Romaire, a Morgan City man who founded Romaire Studios in Los Angeles, created for the city's Christmas. The display will be unveiled at 6 p.m. Friday at the traditional lighting of the shrimp boat in the median of Brashear Avenue.

The Daily Review/Bill Decker

Minor fire at Bayou Vista Burger King

Bayou Vista firefighters and St. Mary Parish deputies were called late Tuesday morning to a grease fire at the Burger King on U.S. 90 at Delmar Avenue. No injuries were reported, and firefighters were preparing to leave the scene by 11:15 a.m.

The Daily Review/Bill Decker

Employee accused of improperly scanning items

An employee at a Morgan City business admitted to improperly scanning merchandise, allowing customers to pay a lower price, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Morrisuantee V. Charles, 26, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:50 p.m. Monday on a charge of theft less than $1,000.

Officers responded to a business on La. 182 in regard to a theft involving an employee. Police arrived and spoke with management. Charles, an employee at the business, was not properly scanning merchandise, allowing customers to pay a lower price, Blair said.

Officers spoke to Charles, who admitted to the theft, Blair said. Charles was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 52 calls and reported the following arrest:

—Acklin S. Crochet, 18, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Tuesday on charges of criminal trespass and remaining after being forbidden.

Officers responded to a home on South Railroad Avenue in regard to an individual trespassing on the property. Police arrived and spoke with the homeowner who stated that Crochet had come to his home knocking on the door and he was not allowed on the property.

Officers spoke to Crochet and told him to leave the area. A short time later, officers returned to the home regarding Crochet being back on the property, Blair said. Officers located Crochet outside the home and arrested him. Crochet was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 47 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Tiven Butler, 29, of Tall Timbers Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:58 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana.

Narcotics detectives were conducting a search warrant at a home on Tall Timbers Street when they made contact with Butler. Detectives found marijuana belonging to Butler, Anslum said. Butler was released on a summons to appear in court Jan. 30, 2019.

—Betty Jo Butler, 52, of Tall Timbers Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:58 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana and on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting.

—Rhondalyn Butler, 32, of Tall Timbers Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:58 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft.

Deputies patrolling the area of Patterson were dispatched to assist detectives in conducting a search warrant at a home on Tall Timbers Street. The deputies made contact with Betty Butler and Rhondalyn Butler at the home.

Both had active warrants for their arrest. Deputies also found marijuana belonging to Betty Butler, the sheriff said. Betty Butler and Rhondalyn Butler were booked into jail. Rhondalyn Butler was released on $1,250 bail. Betty Butler was released on $1,000 bail.

—A juvenile male, 16, of Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:54 p.m. Monday on a charge of theft.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista was dispatched to a business in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with store personnel who stated that two males had come into the store and left without paying for merchandise, Anslum said.

Sometime later, the deputy was informed by dispatch that the two males had come back to the business. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the two males.

One of the juveniles admitted to the theft, the sheriff said. The juvenile was transported to the Morgan City office for booking. The juvenile was released to his parent pending juvenile court proceedings.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Radio logs for Nov. 27

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.

Monday, Nov. 26

8:05 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Theft.

8:41 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.

9:38 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Business burglary.

9:44 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

12:13 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.

1:13 p.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Complaint.

1:19 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

2:19 p.m. 500 block of Hilda Street; Medical emergency.

3:15 p.m. 8200 block of La. 182 East; Theft.

5:54 p.m. 800 block of Sacred Heart Drive; Theft.

5:56 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Traffic incident.

6:05 p.m. Freret Street and Federal Avenue; Fire incident.

6:51 p.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Private property accident.

7 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.

8:12 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Alarm.

8:24 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Theft.

9:36 p.m. 1200 block of Clothilde Street; Alarm.

11:26 p.m. 200 block of South Railroad Avenue; Arrest.

Bricks make history

Submitted Photo
The Berwick Historical Society is selling commemorative bricks for $100 each to help kick off the opening of the Berwick Heritage Museum in the Brown House on Third Street. They bricks are shown by, from left, Lud Henry, Gen Thorguson, Janie Brashear and Patsy Thomas. For more information, call 985-384-8858.

Wheel House for Nov. 28

COATS FOR KIDS
Campaign hosted by Patterson Community Center on Thursday, Nov. 29. Donations of new or gently used coats and jackets accepted. Donations can be dropped off at the community center located at 203 Park St. For more info, call 985-395-4422.

Oil and gas flow in mile-deep field

NEW ORLEANS — Chevron Corp. says it is now getting oil and natural gas from a floating platform tethered in nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) of water off of New Orleans.
The company says the tension-leg drilling and production platform is in the deepest water of any such facility. The well is in the Big Foot field about 225 miles (360 kilometers) south of New Orleans.
Chevron estimates that it can get the equivalent of more than 8.4 billion gallons (31.8 billion liters) of oil from the field over 35 years.
It announced last week that production had begun at the platform, which is designed to extract up to 3.1 million gallons (11.7 million liters) of oil and 25 million cubic feet 25 (708,000 cubic meters) of natural gas a day.

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