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Ex-officer sues Patterson, mayor

PATTERSON — A former assistant police chief is suing the city government and Mayor Rodney Grogan, alleging the mayor falsely accused him of sexual misconduct.
Gary Stevenson filed the lawsuit earlier this month in 16th Judicial District Court. Stevenson charges that Grogan told him he was being fired for violating policy and then told the media that Stevenson was involved in sexual misconduct.
On Wednesday, Grogan defended the firing of Stevenson, denied accusing him of sexual misconduct, and said Stevenson’s lawsuit is motivated by personal animus.
The lawsuit centers on an allegation of sexual harassment in November 2016 by another police officer, Kirby Madison, against a Patterson Police Department dispatcher.
Stevenson’s lawsuit says he collected information about the case for then-Chief Patrick LaSalle, only to be fired and to see Grogan publicly link his name to sexual misconduct.
“The mayor was fully aware that plaintiff was not involved in any sexual misconduct,” the lawsuit says.
The city has already reached a settlement with the dispatcher. Madison has also sued the city government and the mayor over his termination. That case is pending.
Grogan said Stevenson’s charges have evolved over time from wrongful termination to discrimination to the allegation about the false public statement.
“I was asked why he was dismissed,” Grogan said. “I said it involved a sexual harassment lawsuit.”
Stevenson was fired because he suspended Madison, a power that the city charter reserves for the mayor, Grogan said. And personnel policies require sexual harassment allegations to be brought to the mayor’s attention, he said.
A year elapsed between the first allegation and Grogan’s firing of Stevenson and Madison. At the December 2017 meeting, LaSalle apologized publicly to the two officers for their termination.

Landry will run for AG, not governor

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said Wednesday that he won’t challenge Gov. John Bel Edwards in next year’s governor’s race, choosing instead to run for re-election as the state’s chief legal officer after significantly raising the profile of the job.
The Republican attorney general ended speculation about his 2019 election plans in an interview with The Associated Press, saying he’ll seek a second term in his current role and removing his name from the list of possible GOP contenders against the Democratic governor.
“There’s just so much more that I would like to do. And I feel like the staff, I owe them and the people of Louisiana an opportunity to finish the job,” Landry said in a phone interview. He added: “It was a tough, tough decision. I am very comfortable right now that I can best serve the people of the state as attorney general.”
Landry’s publicly feuded with Edwards since the two men took office in 2016, raising the possibility of entering the governor’s race himself unless a viable Republican challenger emerged. Since then, wealthy Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone announced his entrance into the governor’s race, while U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said he’ll decide whether to join Rispone in the competition by Dec. 1. U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham is among the other Republicans eyeing the race.
No candidate has come forward so far to announce a campaign against Landry for attorney general, suggesting the outspoken, Cajun-accented official was safer politically by seeking re-election to his current job than entering the crowded fray for governor.
Landry didn’t say which Republican he’ll support against Edwards. He said he decided to run again for attorney general because of the position’s importance in the state. During his tenure, Landry said, the office has worked to combat Medicaid fraud, target opioid abuse, advocate for crime victims and protect consumers.
“Another four years gives us another opportunity to really cement the Department of Justice’s reputation and perception with the average citizen, just bringing it to a whole new level,” Landry said. “I think over the last three years a lot more people know what the attorney general does.”
He’s leveraged the attorney general’s position to become one of Louisiana’s most prominent GOP elected officials since winning the office in 2015, defeating a fellow Republican, two-term incumbent Buddy Caldwell.
On the national scene, Landry is president of the National Association of Attorneys General, he’s been heavily involved in the Republican Attorneys General Association, he’s touted visits with President Donald Trump and he’s waded into legal issues in other states and in Washington.
Back home, Landry’s strengthened his position as one of the main standard-bearers for Republican Party politics in Louisiana, by taking leadership of a PAC started by former U.S. Sen. David Vitter that is aimed at electing more GOP conservatives to state legislative offices.
He’s formed close alliances with a group of conservative House GOP lawmakers. And he’s sparred repeatedly with Edwards over finances, LGBT rights, health care, criminal justice, the death penalty and the broad parameters of their offices’ constitutional authority.
A lawyer and businessman from St. Martin Parish, Landry first drew statewide political attention as a congressman.
He was in the U.S. House for one term and quickly became a tea party favorite. But he lost his re-election bid in 2012 when he was forced into the same district as another GOP incumbent, after Louisiana lost a House seat because of stagnant population.

GILBERT STOVES

Gilbert Stoves, 75, a native of Terrebonne Parish and a resident of Houma, died Friday, Nov. 9, 2018.
Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at New Zorah Baptist Church in Morgan City. Burial will follow in Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalinda Santos Stoves; son, Jerry Stoves; brothers, James Williams and Elward Stoves of Houma; sisters, Clara Howard, Melvina Smith, Irma Craft, Jackulin Gauno, Margurite Stoves and Rosemary Richard of Houma and Thelma Thomas of Morgan City; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, brothers and sisters.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

MALAYSIA RUFFIN

Malaysia Ruffin, 25, a native of Patterson and resident of Lafayette, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018.
Visitation will be Saturday from 8 a.m. until services at 10 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church in Patterson. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lafayette.
She is survived by her parents, Dion Cage of Patterson and Tiffany L. Ruffin of Lafayette; her siblings, Brittany Smith of Hampton, Virginia, Kobe Gray and Skye Gray, both of Lafayette, and Daijon Turner Sr. of Dallas; her grandparents, Evelyn Cage of Patterson, Cheryl Vilo of Lafayette and Irvin Ruffin of New Iberia; and a host of other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LATHANIEL WASHINGTON

Lathaniel Washington, 65, a native of Amite and resident of Morgan City, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, at his residence.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Washington of Morgan City; children, Nathaniel Butler of Amite, Nancy Jones of Baton Rouge, Judyckie Lewis of Morgan City and Clarence Francois of Lafayette; two brothers, James Washington of Amite and Jimmy Washington of Baton Rouge; one sister, Elmarie Washington of Amite; and a host of grandchildren and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LUELLA MAE SMITH

Luella Mae Smith, a lifelong resident of Berwick, passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the age of 87. Luella was a lifelong parishioner of St. Stephen Catholic Church, a past member of the Ladies Altar Society of St. Stephen, and a group member of a dedicated prayer circle who prayed the rosary every Thursday evening.
Luella leaves to cherish her memory, her sister, Margaret Romaire and her husband, Ferris, of Morgan City; eight nieces and nephews, Dianne, Robert, Kim, David, Carol, Blaine, Wade and Brent; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Emily Smith; siblings, Baby William Smith, Sadie Smith Adams, Odery Smith and Betty Smith Boudreaux; her brother-in-law, Roy Adams; and one niece, Cathy (mother of Ann-Marie and Jacque).
The family requests that a time of visitation be observed on Saturday, November 17, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church of Berwick. Following Mass, Luella will be laid to rest in the Berwick Cemetery.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude and deep appreciation to Wesley Clay Burnham for his care, assistance and companionship to Ms. Luella during the past many years.

RUBY COONER CLARK

Ruby Cooner Clark, a longtime resident of Bayou Vista, was born on March 23, 1927, on her aunt’s yacht in Miami, Florida. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who dedicated her life to caring for and providing for her family. In her later years, Ruby resided at the Morgan City Health Care Center, where she enjoyed socializing with the other residents and staff members as well as participating in various activities there. But her favorite pastime at MCHCC was definitely playing Bingo.
Ruby passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at Teche Regional Medical Center and was blessed with 91 years on this side of eternity. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Those she leaves to cherish her memory include her two children, Barbara Ann Clark of Patterson and James Gerald “Jimmy” Clark and his wife Lora of Kingsland, Georgia; two brothers, Carl E. Cooner and his wife Sandra of St. Maarten, The Netherlands Antilles and Gerald I. Cooner and his wife Polly of Kingsland, Georgia; sister-in-law, Charolette Cooner of Cullum, Alabama; as well as three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Thomas Clark; her parents, Gerald Cooner and Essie Lee Brazell Cooner; and one brother, Lee Cooner.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 16, 2018, at noon at Ibert’s Mortuary in Patterson with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. Following the service she will be laid to rest in Ibert’s Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Mark Norwood will conduct the services.
The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the staff of the Morgan City Health Care Center for the loving and compassionate care given to their mother.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Ruby’s name to a favorite charity of choice.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1111 Lia Street, Patterson, LA 70392, (985) 395-7873.

Wheel House for Nov. 15

TOOTSIE ROLL
Holy Cross Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll drive Friday-Saturday at the intersection of La. 70 and U.S. 90. Times: 1-5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Funds raised shared between St. Mary Parish Center of Hope and St. Mary Parish Special Olympics.

GRANT FUNDS
St. Mary Parish has been awarded $37,148 in Emergency Food and Shelter Grant funds. Eligibility: must be private voluntary non-profits or units of government, have an accounting system, practice non-discrimination and have shown the capability to deliver emergency food or shelter programs. If a group is a private voluntary organization, it must have a voluntary board. Application deadline Nov. 23. Send a letter of application to: Clarence Robinson Jr. at P.O. Box 43, Morgan City, LA, 70381.

Audit: State may have spent $85M on people not eligible for Medicaid

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana’s health department may have spent as much as $85 million over 20 months for people enrolled in the Medicaid expansion program who didn’t qualify for the government-financed coverage, according to an audit released Tuesday.
Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office found problems with the agency’s infrequent use of wage data from the state labor department to determine eligibility.
The report says since Gov. John Bel Edwards expanded the state’s Medicaid program in July 2016, the department has relied on Medicaid recipients to self-report changes in their paychecks in the 12-month period between the initial application for Medicaid and coverage renewal.
Auditors suggested more frequent checks using available state wage data should be used to ensure Medicaid recipients aren’t earning more than allowed to qualify. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states do quarterly reviews to check eligibility against income data, the report says.
The report also found errors in the work done by health department caseworkers. In addition, auditors said the agency didn’t double-check income information when federal officials determined people who applied for individual marketplace insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act were instead deemed eligible for the Medicaid expansion program. Those federal officials don’t have access to state wage data, the report says.
“Without a sufficient process to determine recipient eligibility, LDH cannot ensure that Medicaid dollars are spent appropriately,” Purpera wrote to legislative leaders in the audit.
The health department said it follows a federally approved verification plan for checking Medicaid recipients’ income when a person applies for the program and renews coverage yearly. It didn’t outline plans to try to recoup money spent for people ineligible during their coverage.
But Health Secretary Rebekah Gee said the agency was upgrading its system to improve eligibility reviews.
“After more than three years of development, the department has launched a new automated system for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment that will improve customer service, boost efficiency and increase the accuracy of eligibility decisions,” Gee said in a statement.
Purpera’s office used a random sample of 100 Medicaid recipients in the expansion program, to check if their income exceeded the threshold for eligibility. Auditors found 82 didn’t qualify for 47 percent of the monthly payments the health department made to Medicaid managed-care companies for their health care coverage from July 1, 2016, through March 31, 2018.
The monthly fee paid per ineligible recipient averaged $3,824, the report says.
Projecting those results across the entire Medicaid expansion population, auditors wrote, suggests the health department spent anywhere between $61.6 million and $85.5 million on people who weren’t eligible for Medicaid coverage.
More than 480,000 working poor and other nonelderly adults in Louisiana are enrolled in Medicaid through the expansion program. Adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level — about $16,750 for a single adult or $28,680 for a family of three — are eligible for the coverage.
The federal government is paying most of the Medicaid expansion cost. Louisiana is paying a share that eventually increases to 10 percent. Lawmakers passed financing tools to help cover the state’s costs, including a tax hike charged on health maintenance organizations.
Gee said her department’s new computer system to double-check eligibility will connect with state and federal databases to have real-time verification of citizenship, income and disability information.
If anyone is found to have intentionally misrepresented income levels, that information will be sent to law enforcement agencies for possible prosecution, the health department said.

Police: DWI suspect was sleeping in vehicle

A Houston man was arrested in Morgan City after police found the man asleep at the wheel of a vehicle stopped at an intersection, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—David Alcazar, 36, of Houston, was arrested at 10:58 p.m. Wednesday on charges of DWI first offense and simple obstruction of a highway.

An officer in the area of Railroad Avenue and Myrtle Street observed a vehicle stopped at the intersection, and the driver appeared to be asleep. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and was able to awaken the driver identified as Alcazar, Blair said.

Alcazar appeared intoxicated and performed poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. Alcazar refused the chemical test for intoxication at the police department. A warrant was obtained to withdraw a blood sample from Alcazar. Alcazar was transported to a medical facility for the retrieval of the blood sample. The results of the sample are pending. Alcazar was transported back to the police department and jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 46 calls and reported the following arrest:

—Ly J. Mencia-Ponce, 33, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:26 p.m. Wednesday on charges of improper lane usage, driving under suspension and no child restraint.

An officer patrolling the area of Egle Street observed a vehicle cross the center line of the roadway. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, Mencia-Ponce, had a suspended driver’s license. The officer also observed a small child unrestrained inside the vehicle, Blair said. Mencia-Ponce was jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported the following arrests:

—Trent Anthony Dehart, 20, of Jake Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. Wednesday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant. No bail was set.

—Cameron Aucoin, 20, of Burney Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 11:07 p.m. Wednesday on a Lafourche Parish warrant for failure to appear in court. No bail was set yet.

—Ko’moni Hurts, 19, of Tiffany Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:49 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana. No bail was set yet.

—Joseph Singleton, 19, of Jason Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and stop sign violation. Singleton posted $3,750 bail.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 38 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrest in east St. Mary Parish:

—Francisco Garces IV, 29, of Catherine Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday on five warrants for failure to appear on charges of expired motor vehicle inspection, possession of cocaine, no tail lights, driving under suspension and switched license plate.

A deputy assisting with a traffic stop came into contact with a passenger in the vehicle, Garces. The deputy learned of active warrants for Garces. Garces was jailed with no bail set.

Franklin Police Chief Tina Thibodeaux reported the following arrest relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Markima White, 24, of Vaughn Alley in Patterson, was arrested at 10:39 p.m. Wednesday on a Patterson police warrant for simple battery. White was jailed with no bail set yet.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

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Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
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Morgan City Review
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Phone: 985-384-8370
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