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Factions in Miss America split over leadership, direction

Tue, 07/10/2018 - 9:06am

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Former Miss America winners and state pageant officials are split over the leadership and direction of the organization, which was rocked by a 2017 email scandal that led to the resignations of its top leaders.
Representatives from 22 state pageants signed a petition calling for the resignations of the new Miss America board, including Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson and President and CEO Regina Hopper, The Press of Atlantic City reported Saturday.
But in a letter to the newspaper, 30 former Miss Americas said they “fully support” Carlson, Miss America 1989, and the board members “who are and have been working tirelessly to move our program forward.”
The Miss America organization is regrouping after a December scandal in which emails surfaced showing that CEO Sam Haskell and others mocked winners’ intelligence, looks and sex lives. Haskell resigned Dec. 23, followed by board members.
The shake-up at the organization has resulted in the top three positions being held by women, and the new leaders have begun making changes. The swimsuit competition has been dropped and in the evening-wear portion contestants will be allowed to wear something other than a gown if they want. The talent portion of the contest will remain.
The petition from the state pageant officials expressed a vote of “no confidence” in the Miss America Organization’s board of trustees. It cited a lack of transparency and adherence to best practices, The Press said.
“As dedicated members of our state and local communities who lend our reputations, financial support and voluntary efforts to facilitate MAO’s long and powerful mission of empowering women to stand up and speak out, we find ourselves needing to use our own voices of leadership to express our profound disappointment regarding what, in our view, is the failed leadership of the entire MAO Board of Trustees,” the petition said.
The former Miss Americas said in their letter Saturday that “We hope the voices of our majority can and will be heard.”
Hopper told The Press on Friday that “there are always those who disagree with or find it hard to accept change.” She said the organization welcomes “those who want to move forward and be a part of a revitalized program dedicated to providing scholarships and opportunities to all young women.”
Suzette Charles, Miss America 1984, said “things have begun to unravel” in the organization.
“There’s been a lot of dismay with (Carlson’s) leadership,” she said. “We thought she would regard this program with reverence and keep this tradition alive.”
The nationally televised Miss America broadcast is set for Sept. 9 on ABC.

Walmart yodel kid of viral video fame announces debut album

Tue, 07/10/2018 - 9:03am

By KRISTIN HALL, The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It was only a matter of time, just a couple of months actually, before a preteen boy captured in a viral video yodeling in a Walmart put out a record.
Mason Ramsey, the adorable 11-year-old whose version of a Hank Williams classic has been watched more than 50 million times on YouTube and spawned multiple remixes, will put out his first album on July 20.
Titled “Famous,” the EP includes a mix of new songs and country classics, including the song that made Mason an overnight Internet sensation, “Lovesick Blues.”
Raised in the small town of Golconda, Illinois, Ramsey said his grandfather taught him to sing when he was 3 years old and he started performing at nursing homes, restaurants and fairs. “When I started to sing, I guess you could say it was good for a 3-year-old,” Ramsey said in a telephone interview.
But it took him weeks to discover that his impromptu Walmart performance had gone viral because his family didn’t have Internet access at their home. They got a call from producers with “The Ellen Show,” and he was flown to Los Angeles — his first-ever plane ride — to be a guest on the show.
Ramsey signed a record deal with Big Loud Records and Atlantic Records, and he’s been popping up everywhere, from Coachella, Stagecoach and the Grand Ole Opry. He will be opening for Florida Georgia Line at their Las Vegas residency later this year.
His six-song EP includes covers of other Williams tunes including, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and “I Saw the Light,” and his single, “Famous,” which was co-written by Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard. Ramsey said he warned producer Joey Moi not to use any effects on his vocals for the record because he said the effects “make you sound like a robot.”
Throughout all the excitement of the last few months, Ramsey said his main goal is to keep performing until he’s an old man.
“Fame is a good thing, but you have to use it in good ways,” Ramsey said. “Fame is a thing where people can overdo it and get a big head. Most of all family is more important than anything.”
—Online:
http://masonramseyofficial.com

Old friend slow to follow up on reconnect attempt

Tue, 07/10/2018 - 8:59am

DEAR ABBY: I recently reconnected with my best friend from high school. I moved out of state at the age of 30, and we lost touch. Turns out she lives about 70 miles from me. Neither of us married or had children. Someone told me where she works and I called her. She called back the following weekend, and we talked for a couple of hours. It was a good conversation, and it ended with her saying she would be in touch in the next couple of months. We had discussed getting together for lunch. It has been almost four ...

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Police warn public to be alert of alligators

Tue, 07/10/2018 - 8:01am

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair and the police department want to remind everyone it is that time of year alligators leaving their natural habitat and often come into the city limits. Remember these are wild animals and if provoked or stumbled upon they will attack. Do not feed the alligators in these areas. This alligator was located in the Walnut Drive Canal and killed by the nuisance alligator hunter, police said. These reptiles can pose a danger to small children and pets. If they encounter these reptiles, they may be attacked. Anyone who encounters an alligator should not antagonize it. Instead, contact the Morgan City Police Department at 985-380-4605. (Submitted)

Stolen truck found in Maine, two from Tri-City area arrested

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 2:55pm

By ZACHARY FITZGERALD

zfitzgerald@daily-review.com

A pickup truck reported stolen from Berwick, Louisiana, in June was located nearly 1,700 miles away in Maine on Saturday, along with two people from the Tri-City area who were in possession of the vehicle.

On June 24, Berwick police had received a report that a Ford F-150 pickup truck had been stolen from the area of Belleview Front Street near a job site, Police Chief James Richard said. Berwick police entered the report of the stolen truck into a computer system. Then, on Saturday, Berwick police got a call from police in Ogunquit, Maine, stating that the vehicle had been located there and that two individuals were arrested for being in possession of it, Richard said.

Chad Williams, 29, of Morgan City, Louisiana, and Melissa Williams, 29, of Patterson, Louisiana, were both arrested Saturday by the Ogunquit, Maine, Police Department each on a charge of theft by receiving stolen property, Ogunquit Police Lt. Matt Buttrick said. They were both booked into York County, Maine, Jail on $5,000 bail.

Buttrick said Ogunquit police aren’t “allowed to give out any pre-conviction details beyond the charge and identifying information.”

However, Richard said Berwick police learned that Ogunquit police received a report of a vehicle in a parking lot with some people sleeping inside of it. Ogunquit police located both Chad Williams and Melissa Williams in the vehicle. Melissa Williams was taken into custody, but Chad Williams allegedly fled the scene, Richard said.

Ogunquit police later called Berwick police to say that officers had located Chad Williams in a different area, Richard said.

As of Monday afternoon, Berwick police didn’t have evidence to prove whether Chad Williams and Melissa Williams actually stole the vehicle from Berwick, Richard said.

Richard pointed out that Ogunquit, Maine, which is located in the southern part of the state, is near North Berwick, Maine, and South Berwick, Maine.

Radio logs for July 9

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 11:45am

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.

Friday, July 6

8:41 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Theft.

9:44 a.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Building check.

11:04 a.m. 800 block of Onstead Street; Animal complaint.

11:20 a.m. La. 70; Reckless driver.

11:42 a.m. General Patton Street; Loud music.

11:50 a.m. 7100 block of Park Road; Officer stand by.

12:29 p.m. 400 block of Kidd Street; Harassment.

12:48 p.m. Terrebonne Street; Complaint.

1:30 p.m. 7800 block of La. 182 East; Accident.

1:35 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.

1:57 p.m. 200 block of Wren Street; Complaint.

2:38 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.

2:41 p.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.

3:39 p.m. Brashear Avenue and Seventh Street; Accident.

4:30 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Criminal damage to property.

6:11 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Juvenile problems.

6:20 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Juvenile problems.

7:17 p.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Disturbance.

8:06 p.m. 300 block of Bush Street; Animal.

8:13 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Medical.

8:29 p.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Animal.

8:54 p.m. Front Street and Levee Road; Fireworks.

9:12 p.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Harassment.

9:16 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Medical.

10:30 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

10:30 p.m. Garber Street/Federal Avenue/Levee Road; Frequent patrols.

Saturday, July 7

12:16 a.m. 400 block of Everett Street; Medical.

2:02 a.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Theft.

3:25 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious person.

3:28 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless driving.

4:27 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.

4:40 a.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Alarm.

6:23 a.m. Union Street; Traffic incident.

6:29 a.m. 600 block of General MacArthur Street; Vehicle burglary.

7:38 a.m. 1600 block of Elm Street; Alarm.

8:47 a.m. Glenwood Street; Suspicious person.

9:58 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.

10:42 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Complaint.

10:44 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Lost and found.

11:05 a.m. 300 block of Louisa Street; Complaint.

12:03 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.

12:55 p.m. U.S. 90; Suspicious person.

1:01 p.m. 900 block of South Railroad Avenue; Medical.

1:12 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Crash.

1:44 p.m. 1300 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.

2:59 p.m. Youngs Road; Animal complaint.

3 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.

3:25 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Animal complaint.

3:55 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.

4:23 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.

4:47 p.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.

4:49 p.m. U.S. 90; Reckless driver.

9:01 p.m. 900 block of Cottonwood Street; 911 hang up.

9:10 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.

9:40 p.m. 1200 block of Fig Street; Frequent patrols.

10:52 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Theft.

11:51 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Removal of subject.

Sunday, July 8

12:22 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Reckless driving.

1:28 a.m. 1200 block of Front Street; Medical.

1:34 a.m. 1100 block of Federal Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.

2:41 a.m. 1100 block of Railroad Avenue; Suspicious activity.

3:09 a.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Loud music.

8:03 a.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.

9:26 a.m. La. 182 and Roderick Street; Complaint.

9:27 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Medical emergency.

9:58 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

9:59 a.m. 200 block of Chennault Street; Complaint.

11:53 a.m. Wise Street and Federal Avenue; Traffic.

1:52 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.

2:30 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.

9:03 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

11:32 p.m. 200 block of Robin Street; Medical.

Monday, July 9

1:36 a.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.

From the Editor: Groups sue to keep bears on endangered list

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 10:36am

A fight is shaping up over Louisiana black bears. It’s not a battle over the bears wandering through yards in Patterson, where residents are required by city ordinance to have and use bear-proof trash cans. It’s not a battle over how best to corral wayward juvenile males who sometimes wander out of the Atchafalaya Basin and into urban areas as big as Lafayette in search of their own territories. It’s not a battle in criminal court, like the one that recently levied a $2,500 fine against an Iberia Parish man after his son shot a black bear. It’s a battle that one of ...

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Louisiana Spotlight: La. auditor digs into Medicaid

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 10:31am

By MELINDA DESLATTE
Associated Press
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana’s chief auditor has locked his sights on Medicaid, bolstering his office’s review of the billions of dollars spent by the health program and rolling out report after report identifying problems with oversight of that spending.
Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera doesn’t like what his staff has found as it combs through reams of Medicaid data. He says the more than $12 billion annual program “is being run kind of willy-nilly, loosey-goosey” without tightened controls by the Louisiana Department of Health.
“I think they struggle with trying to run the program properly. It’s a big program, it’s a complex program and it’s got a lot of moving parts. And it’s pretty broken right now,” Purpera said in an interview.
That increased scrutiny has placed the health department in the awkward position of defending its management of a program that accounts for about 40 percent of the state operating budget as it touts its Medicaid expansion and increased spending on services.
The auditor’s office and health department officials say they are working together to improve Medicaid spending practices and make sure the dollars pay for the patient health care intended.
Jeff Reynolds, the health department’s chief financial officer, said he views the audit team as a “tool to help us make overall improvements to the program.”
But friction is starting to show amid disagreements about how to interpret audit findings and the use of specific data types for review.
Purpera and the health department disagreed about the auditor’s request to use state income tax returns to check people’s eligibility in the Medicaid program. Purpera told lawmakers the data would be helpful, but Reynolds said eligibility workers determined several years ago that the data wasn’t valuable to conclude whether a person met Medicaid requirements. State senators killed the legislation that would have granted Purpera’s request.
The latest audit from Purpera’s office, released two weeks ago, drew conflicting views as well. Health department leaders suggested the findings were misleading, while Purpera said the report shows taxpayers are paying for billions in services the department can’t verify were performed or should have been covered.
Auditors reviewed payments from 2012 through 2017 to the five private companies that manage care for 1.5 million Medicaid patients. The report says the health department isn’t properly checking the reliability of the claims paid to health care providers by those managed-care organizations.
“What’s most important to me is there isn’t any questioned cost there,” Reynolds said. “The data was simply not there.”
Purpera goes further, though, saying sloppy oversight makes it impossible to know if Medicaid is paying for things it shouldn’t be.
Many problems identified by auditors stretch back to former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration but have extended into Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration. The Jindal administration eliminated the entire internal audit section at the health department. Reynolds said the agency has started to rebuild that.
The legislative auditor’s office regularly had a few auditors working out of the health department year-round to review financial data, but Purpera beefed up that presence about two years ago. Reynolds said the legislative auditor’s team has grown to about a dozen people, four times the health department’s internal auditing staff.
In the audits that followed, Purpera’s office said managed-care companies were paid for people who had moved away from Louisiana or had died. Auditors found duplicate payments for services and payments for services and tests that shouldn’t have been covered. Auditors said the health department doesn’t properly monitor the companies to ensure they provide enough specialists to treat Medicaid patients’ mental health and substance abuse problems.
Health department officials say they’ve made improvements in response, pointing to more recent findings that credit some of the changes with decreasing improper Medicaid payments.
“Absolutely there are areas we can improve,” Reynolds said. “Our goal is to run a perfect program and eliminate all waste, fraud and abuse, and that’s what we’re working toward.”
Purpera, however, sees fundamental problems with the determination of whether a person is eligible for Medicaid and the tracking of dollars sent to the managed-care companies.
“We’ve got a mess right now,” he said.
Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

Bikers on the Bayou marks anniversary of 'Easy Rider'

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 10:29am

The St Mary Chamber of Commerce and Cajun Coast Visitors Bureau will host a new event, “Bikers on the Bayou," Sunday at Teche Drive on the Bayou in Franklin.
This event celebrates the upcoming 50th year anniversary of the filming of the iconic movie, "Easy Rider©," that starred Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson. The movie includes many scenes throughout St. Mary Parish. This low-budget counterculture smash hit follows the main characters on a journey from California to Louisiana. The movie was released July 14, 1969.
Many activities are planned throughout the day for visitors and motorcyclists to St. Mary Parish. They include:
--Music, food, beverages and Fun noon-4 p.m. behind the courthouse featuring the local band, Low Down.
—Teche Theatre will offer a viewing of the local scenes from the "Easy Rider" noon-4 p.m. with Teche Theatre showing the entire movie at 4 p.m. for interested guests.
—Car, Motorcycle and Rat Rod Show noon-2:30 p.m. behind the Blevins Building. Registration begins at 11 a.m.
—Belles on the Bayou is sponsored by Arlington Plantation House and Gardens 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit one of the iconic plantation homes featured in the movie.
The Cajun Coast Visitors Bureau has created an "Easy Riding on the Bayou" brochure that offers a map of the route and details of the area locations and cenes that were featured in the movie. The brochure will be available online at their website, www.cajuncoast.com for visitors to download. "he Easy Riding on the Bayou? brochure will also be sent to surrounding welcome centers.
“We are fortunate that many of the locations in St. Mary Parish from the iconic movie, "Easy Rider," have been preserved after almost 50 years,’ said Patrice Williams, Chamber board member and event chairman. “Franklin is a beautiful small town and we want to invite visitors to enjoy a leisurely ride through St. Mary Parish not only for this event but throughout the year.
"We know they will want to stay a while to enjoy our shops, restaurants, motels and all that we have to offer visitors.”
“There is a large weekend warrior motorcycle target audience and we are optimistic that this event will continue to grow," said Jo Anne Bergeron, chairman of the St Mary Chamber of Commerce Board.
"The response has been great. We are marketing the event via all media sources and social media through-out Louisiana and beyond. Tune in for more details as the date gets closer."
"I’m looking forward to a great day in downtown Franklin by the Bayou. Come out and mingle with our visitors and local leadership,” said Donna Meyers, president, St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.
There are opportunities for local businesses and organizations to support this event and get involved. Sponsorships are welcomed and available in many levels.
Volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to help with all the activities on July 15th. For more information, please call the Chamber office at 337-384-3830.
Also taking place that same weekend is the Annual Bayou Bar B Que Bash also sponsored by St. Mary Chamber of Commerce. The Bayou Bar B Que Bash is located in Morgan City under the overpass. This three-day event kicks off with a “Kick Off” party at The Hampton Inn & Suites in Morgan City at 6:00pm on Thursday, July 12th; followed by Music, Food Booths, Arts & Crafts Booths and much more featured on Friday, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th. Music will be provided Friday evening by Ruff n Ready from 6:00 – 10:00pm and De Ja Vu on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00pm. The Bayou Bar B Que Bash winners will be announced at 5:00pm on Saturday. Also at this time Klutts Jewelers, located in Morgan City will present the 10K gold custom ring to the winner.

Head Start sign-up scheduled for July 12-19

Mon, 07/09/2018 - 10:27am

St. Mary Community Action Agency Head Start is providing several Head Start recruitment activities during the week of July 12-19 in an effort to sign up children for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.
Family Engagement Partnership staff members will host special Fun Registration days at three recruitment sites where parents will be able to register their children for Head Start. This Recruitment Fest will be Thursday through July 17, and these days will be filled with information, music, refreshments, games, and fun for the whole family.
Parents unable to attend the registration events can call St. Mary CAA’s Central Office any day during the week at 337-828-5703 for an appointment, or a Head Start center in their area during the three recruitment days 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Recruitment events will be held at the following locations for the specifically named Head Start centers.
—Thursday, July 12, at Mickey Mouse and Bambi Head Start Centers, 105 TJ Hatcherson St., Baldwin, 337-828-5703, for parents with children who will be attending Mickey Mouse and Bambi Head Start Centers.
—Tuesday, July 17, at Baby Bear Head Start Center, 710 Greenwood St., Morgan City, 337-828-5703, for parents with children who will be attending Baby Bear, Cinderella, Yogi Bear, Winnie the Pooh, and Tweet Bird Head Start centers.
—Thursday, July 19, at the Central Office/ Peter Pan Head Start Center, 1407 Barrow St., Franklin, for parents with children who will be attending either Peter or Snow White Head Start Centers.
Parents must bring the following documents:
—Birth certificate (child must be 3 on or before Sept. 30, 2018).
—Social Security card
—Up to date immunization record
—Proof of income (i.e., food stamp change or closure sheets. TANF printout, W-2 form, 1040/1040A)
—Medicaid card (if applicable) should be provided and a copy of child’s physical (preferably Kid Med) if one was taken within the last year or health insurance card (if applicable)
—Documentation of disability and an IEP (if applicable)
—Proof of guardianship (if applicable)
For more information, contact the Family Engagement Partnership Department at 337- 828-5703.
St. Mary CAA is an equal opportunity agency, which does not does discriminate on the basis of race, age, income, religious denomination, sexual orientation or disability.