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The 55th annual Artists Guild Unlimited Labor Day Art Show and Sale opened Tuesday evening at the AGU Everett Street Gallery in Morgan City. Special hours for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival are from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday. The show will continue through Sept. 21 during regular gallery hours of 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Some of the patrons attending the opening were, from left, Steve Domingue, show chairwoman Diane Martin, Bob Opperman and Ricky Boudreaux.

George Beaugh flew 31 missions over Germany during World War II while serving in the U.S. Army Air Force and later called Morgan City home for six decades.

Beaugh, 96, a longtime Morgan City resident and decorated World War II veteran, died Monday surrounded by family, according to his obituary. Beaugh and his wife, Norma, were married over 73 years, marrying Christmas Eve 1944.

Beaugh served in the Army Air Force as a flight engineer on a B-17 bomber and was based in England, his obituary said.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Air Medal five times and several presidential commendations for his service in World War II, according to a 2013 article written by Harlan Kirgan, former editor of The Daily Review.

Beaugh served on a B-17 Flying Fortress, part of the 384th Bomb Group that attacked the Nazis during World War II.

The Daily Review last published an article on Beaugh in December 2014 when he signed a 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) Commemorative wing panel that was set to be displayed at Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill Air Force Base in Utah with the signatures of those who served in the group.

The “heavy” notation indicated the bombs used were considered big bombs for the time period, Beaugh said in 2014.

As a flight engineer, Beaugh manned the plane’s top turret gun and was the only one of 10 crew members in his bomber unit who was never hospitalized or grounded during combat.

“My guardian angels were with me,” Beaugh said during that 2014 interview.

Beaugh enlisted for the duration of the war in May 1942, just months after the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on the U.S. fleet in Pearl Harbor that plunged the nation into a war that wouldn't end until August 1945, according to Kirgan’s 2013 article.

Beaugh, a Lewisburg native, also lived in Opelousas during his lifetime.

"They had a big drive in Opelousas one day recruiting for the Army Air Corps. I went and signed up. I wasn't going to get drafted,” Beaugh said in that article.

Beaugh and his wife had lived at an assisted living facility in New Iberia for the past year. They had previously lived in Morgan City since 1956 when Beaugh opened The Shoe House, which he operated for 37 years.

He and Norma had five children, four still living, along with eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He also assisted in the founding of the Holy Cross Church Parish, his obituary stated.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Morgan City. A rosary will be prayed at 10 a.m. with a Mass of Christian burial beginning at noon. Following Mass, Beaugh will be laid to rest in Morgan City Cemetery.

A 28-year-old Texas man was charged with DWI in Morgan City after an officer noticed a vehicle swerving in the area of La. 182 and Myrtle Street, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Matthew H. Hebert, 28, of Bryan, Texas, was arrested at 11:31 p.m. Tuesday on charges of DWI first offense, improper lane usage and stop lights and turn signals required.

A patrol officer observed a vehicle in the area of La. 182 and Myrtle Street with improper lighting and noticed that the vehicle was swerving in and out of the lane of travel.

A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Hebert. The officer could smell an odor of alcohol on Hebert’s breath, Blair said. Hebert performed poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.121 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. Hebert was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 62 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Kristie L. Bourg, 41, of Banks Court in Pierre Part, was arrested at 2:44 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with two counts of failure to pay fines.

Bourg was transported from the Assumption Parish Jail to the Morgan City Police Department on a city court warrant. Bourg was jailed.

—Davin B. Sanders, 24, of Dunnellon, Florida, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana.

The narcotics division responded to a motel on La. 182 in regard to possible illegal drug activity. Officers located an individual sitting inside a vehicle identified as Sanders.

Officers could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted and suspected marijuana was located. Sanders was jailed.

—Stafford Robertson, 36, of Adams Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:01 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Officers arrived at a parking lot of a business on La. 182 and could smell an odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle, Blair said. Officers located an individual identified as Robertson inside the vehicle.

Robertson admitted to smoking marijuana and gave officers consent to search the vehicle. Officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Robertson was jailed.

—Jessie Blakeman, 24, of Cypress Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:56 a.m. Wednesday on warrants charging him with possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of contempt of court.

Blakeman was located at his home and arrested on warrants for the Morgan City Police Department and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. Blakeman was jailed.

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:

—Dawn Height, 49, of Carriage Cove in Franklin, was arrested at 1:09 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of stop sign violation and failure to carry registration in vehicle.

Deputies patrolling the Morgan City area responded to a shoplifting complaint at a business. During the investigation, the deputies made contact with Height. The deputies learned of an active warrant for Height’s arrest. Height was booked into parish jail and then transferred to another agency.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Brant Percle, 40, of Elm Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:44 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Percle had a pre-set bail of $1,500.

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

—Jenny Rink, 30, of Onstead Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of simple battery. Rink was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.

A total of 10 teams are preparing to square off in the Second Annual Lady Hornet’s Kick-off Volleyball Class August 30 and September 1 at the Franklin Senior High School Girls’ Gymnasium.
Heading up competition in Pool A is host Franklin along with Patterson, Northwest, Westgate and Opelousas.
Pool B will consist of Abbeville, West St. Mary, Cecilia, Beau Chene and Covenant Christian.
The 2nd Annual Lady Hornet’s Kickoff Classic is set to begin with Franklin battling Westgate on Thursday at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., Abbeville will set its sight on Beau Chene. The 5 p.m. game sends Northwest against Opelousas. At 6 p.m., West St. Mary will battle Cecilia. The 7 p.m. game will pit Opelousas against Westgate before Abbeville and West St. Mary close out action at 8 p.m.
A total of 11 games will be featured on Saturday, including the championship contest which pits the Pool A Winner against the Pool B Winner at p.m.
Saturday’s Championship action opens at 8 a.m. when Patterson takes on Franklin. The 9 a.m. contest will send Beau Chene against Covenant Christian at 10 a.m. Northwest and Patterson will do battle at 10 a.m. prior to Cecilia meeting Covenant Christian at 11 a.m. At noon, Franklin and Northwest will play before Beau Chene and Cecilia playing at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., Patterson and Opelousas will square off before Abbeville battles Cecilia at 3 p.m. The 4 p.m. contest will send Westgate against Northwest before West St. Mary takes on Covenant Christian at 5 p.m.
The Championship game will be played at 6 p.m. with the Pool A Winner taking on the Pool B Winner at 6 p.m.
The Second Annual Lady Hornet’s Kickoff Classic is set for Thursday, August 30 and Saturday, September 1 at the Franklin Senior High School Girls’ Gym.