PATTERSON
Housing Authority taking application for all units from 8:15-11 a.m. and 1:15-3 p.m. May 15-17 and 22-24. Must bring birth certificates and Social Security cards for all members of household, picture ID for all members over 18 and current proof of all income. For more info call 985-395-3736.
Jordan Richardson, son of Marvin Dewey and Judy Richardson of Amelia, is the Department of History, Geography and Philosophy’s Outstanding Master’s Graduate at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Each of the university’s four graduate programs named an Outstanding Graduate, one of whom – Jesse DelGizzi of Springfield, Virginia, of the School of Music and Performing Arts – was named the Outstanding Master's Graduate.
Commencement was to be held Friday morning.
Richardson has a 3.82 GPA. As a graduate assistant at UL Lafayette’s Edith Garland Dupré Library, he taught library instruction classes, created lesson plans and activities, and developed three virtual tours for patrons. He received the library’s 2017 Outstanding Educator Award.
Richardson twice served as editor of “Clio’s Quill,” the history department’s research journal. His public history projects included examinations of Louisiana Mardi Gras celebrations and the desegregation of UL Lafayette.
He also worked with History Harvest, which collects, catalogues and returns artifacts from residents. The items contribute to a wider understanding of the region’s past.
Richardson earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 2014 from LSU in Baton Rouge.
The other Outstanding Master’s Graduates are Elizabeth Larmann of Covington in the Criminal Justice Department and Jennifer van Alstyne of the English Department.
Morgan City native Justin Crochet has been selected as the Capital District regional Paramedic of the Year by employer Acadian Ambulance, and was a finalist for the overall Louisiana/Mississippi honor.
The region spans West and East Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, Iberville, East Feliciana, Ascension and Livingston parishes. Crochet has been with Acadian for six years years. He is a graduate of Morgan City High School.
Crochet works out of Port Allen, Louisiana, as a Critical Care Paramedic, is a preceptor to new hires and serves an Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor.
Nicholls State University’s College of Business Administration has named Morgan City native Collin Paul Conner as its Outstanding Graduate for 2018.
Conner has maintained a 3.69 grade point average throughout four years of college and will graduate this month. He is a member of Beta Gamma Signma International Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Conner has served on the Student Advisory Board for the Office of Student Access and Disability Services.
Conner has worked part-time for his family’s business for the last four years. Upon his graduation, he will be involved in the business on a full-time basis.
I’ll bet you didn’t even notice the earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico last Sunday. Don’t feel bad about it, not many people did.
According to the folks who measure such things, there was a 4.6 magnitude tremor centered about six miles deep about 160 miles southeast of New Orleans and 120 miles from Grand Isle about noon May 6.
It might have been noticed by sensitive souls as far away as New Orleans and Houma, but no there was no damage, nobody hurt and no tsunami came roaring inland. According to the Richter Scale, a quake of that size can cause “noticeable shaking of indoor objects and rattling noises in the affected area,” so it might have rattled the china on an offshore platform or two, but that’s about it.
And that’s been about the size of it for practically all of the handful of little tremors that have affected Louisiana. According to a “Seismicity Map of the State of Louisiana” produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, “Louisiana residents have generally experienced low to moderate seismicity with more significant earthquakes occurring in the southeast corner and west central portion of the state.” Geophysicists at the National Earthquake Information Center say most of Louisiana’s tremors have been less than 75 miles from Baton Rouge.
It is interesting, to me at least, that there was another tremor of about the same size in almost exactly the same spot in the Gulf in 1986. Are two shakes in 32 years a pattern?
What is regarded as Louisiana’s biggest earthquake was felt midway between Baton Rouge and Houma shortly before noon on Oct. 19, 1930. It damaged chimneys and broke windows at Napoleonville and cracked plaster at White Castle, northwest of Napoleonville. One in January 1870 was felt in St. Landry Parish and north to Alexandria. According to a Franklin Planter’s Banner report: “Houses trembled, lamps shook on the table so that they nearly upset, families were alarmed, and it produced a decided sensation. It was a genuine, outspoken earthquake; no shoddy about it.”
The Opelousas Journal described it as “a very decided oscillation of the earth … powerful enough to startle many of our citizens from their morning nap.”
Dr. C.D. Tatman, who lived at Chicot, 28 miles north of Opelousas, wrote to a friend that “the shock was sufficient to shake our house, heavy and substantially built as it is.”
He said, “The poultry was all frightened from the roost. Some dogs howled and others barked lustily, as if about to attack something. The horses ran and snorted and the cattle were disturbed in their lairs and appeared terribly alarmed.”
Tatman said a friend of his “remembered … a much heavier shock … in St. Landry in the year 1823. Dishes danced on the table, houses rocked, and the inhabitants were much alarmed.”
The quake in May 1842 startled some people in south Louisiana but was not destructive. The St. Martinville Creole reported that “a respectable inhabitant of Catahoula who was angling at the time, in company with some ladies, on the banks of the lake, told us that as soon as the shock was felt they were all struck by a kind of giddiness, and that one of the ladies fell down in a swoon.”
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.
A 57-year-old Larose man was booked into Morgan City jail Thursday stemming from an August 2017 incident when he damaged property valued at $1,200, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Jerry A. Savoie Jr., 57, of Oak Street in Larose, was arrested at 8:50 a.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal damage to property $1,000 to $5,000.
Savoie was located and arrested at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on a Morgan City police warrant. The warrant stems from an Aug. 11, 2017, investigation when officers responded to a business in the area of Brashear Avenue in regard to property that was damage, Blair said.
Savoie was identified as a suspect in the investigation. Savoie allegedly damaged property belonging to the business in the amount of $1,200, Blair said.
The investigation continued when a warrant was prepared for Savoie’s arrest. Savoie was jailed.
Blair reported that officers responded to 54 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Thomas C. Thompson, 44, of First Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:26 a.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with two counts of failure to comply with terms of drug court and failure to appear for revocation hearing and on a charge of driving under suspension.
Patrol officers initiated a stop on a vehicle due to an improper lane change. Thompson, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Thompson also had active arrest warrants through 16th Judicial District Court. Thompson was jailed.
—Sterling Smith, 26, of Solar Trailer Park in Thibodaux, was arrested at 2:10 p.m. Thursday on charges of three counts of failure to appear for court for 501 notice.
Smith was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Smith was jailed.
—John K. Buck Jr., 31, of Ricohoc Drive in Ricohoc, was arrested at 3:03 p.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with hit and run, careless operation, improper equipment and two counts of failure to appear for contempt hearing.
Buck was located and arrested at the police department on warrants for Morgan City police and the 16th Judicial District Court. The warrants from Morgan City police stem from a March 11 investigation when officers responded to the area of La. 70 in regard to a crash.
Buck was identified during the investigation. Buck allegedly struck a fence in the area of La. 70 and fled the scene, Blair said. The vehicle’s tires were deemed to be in poor condition and unsafe for travel, Blair said.
The investigation continued when warrants were prepared for Buck’s arrest. Buck was jailed.
—Tony Harris, 56, of Orange Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:24 p.m. Thursday on charges of domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace.
Patrol officers responded to the area of Orange Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived when Harris was identified. Harris allegedly struck the victim during a verbal altercation and caused a disturbance, Blair said. Harris was jailed.
—Jonathan C. Murray, 33, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:36 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear for revocation and on a charge of disturbing the peace.
Patrol officers responded to the area of South Railroad Avenue in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived when Murray was identified. Murray caused a disturbance in the presence of the officer, Blair said. Murray also had an active arrest warrant through 16th Judicial District Court. Murray was jailed.
—Elton J. Pinn, 34, of St. Clair Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:41 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with four counts of failure to appear for arraignment and on a charge of resisting an officer.
Patrol officers observed Pinn in the area of Railroad Avenue. The officer had knowledge that Pinn had an active warrant through city court, Blair said.
Pinn fled on foot while being taken into custody and was apprehended a short time later, Blair said. Pinn was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 36 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrest in east St. Mary Parish:
—Sasha Mayon, 31, of Canal Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. Thursday on charges of obstruction of justice, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor.
Narcotics detectives executing an arrest warrant at a home on Canal Road spoke with Mayon and received consent to search the location. Detectives found three bags of methamphetamine, two glass pipes and a Xanax pill, Anslum said.
A juvenile was present at the home at the time of the investigation. Also, the residence is within 2,000 feet of a park, church and school. Mayon was booked into parish jail and then released on $2,000 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.
Chicken Little made famous the phrase “the sky is falling,” but Gov. John Bel Edwards has made that his battle cry in the race to the bottom. We need not look any further than his latest political stunt.
This week, at the instruction of the governor, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals sent out notifications to nearly 40,000 Medicaid enrollees to inform these folks that the state may no longer be able to cover their costs at senior care facilities. This act is a shameful use of scare tactics.
No one at the Capitol really believes these cuts will actually come to fruition. This is more of the same “sky is falling” tactics that the people of Louisiana have come to expect from their governor; remember “No LSU Football” and “No TOPS Funding”? The governor has consistently taken political hostages to advance his liberal agenda.
While the focus in the mainstream media is on the number 40,000; the real focus should be on the number 83,000. That is the amount of people in Louisiana receiving Medicaid welfare whose tax returns do not come close to jiving with their Medicaid applications. That’s right: The legislative auditor testified that 83,000 welfare recipients showed $20,000 or more in annual income on their tax returns than they listed on their Medicaid applications.
This is not surprising; it is further evidence of the massive amount of fraud in our taxpayer-funded Medicaid system. These 83,000 individuals are costing the Medicaid program roughly $500 a month per person or $498 million annually. Clearly, this is not a drop in the bucket for a State in such a supposed dire fiscal mess.
But while the governor was preparing for his obvious attempt to play politics at the expense of Louisiana’s seniors – his Senate leadership was rejecting common-sense legislation that would have would have not only helped our State’s budget, but also helped continue to provide a safety net for Louisiana’s most vulnerable. HB 163 would have authorized the investigation and purging of recipient fraudsters from the Medicaid Program; but because of the governor and his legislative allies, this bill died in the Senate.
All of this begs the question: Why did the governor choose to send out 40,000 notifications to the vulnerable elderly and not 83,000 notifications to the welfare fraudsters?
The answer is simple: it is easier for the governor to play political games than it is for him to address the real problem.
In light of this week’s revealing Senate hearing, the actions of the governor are extremely disingenuous. And, more frustrating, they will bring panic and worry to the State’s most needy.
This entire debacle highlights just how much the governor is not interested in running an effective Medicaid program that ensures every dollar is being used efficiently for the people actually in need. Instead, he is more interested in receiving the votes of 83,000 citizens who have blatantly falsified their eligibility for welfare benefits. Evictions of 40,000 seniors are a means to that end.
The governor simply wants more of your money so he can give more government handouts. For political gain, he wants to be the Chief Wealth Redistributionist. If you ever wondered why Louisiana’s Medicaid program produces some of the worst health care outcomes in the nation, you need to look no further.
For decades, Louisiana politicians have used demagoguery to keep their hands in our pocketbooks. This week, Gov. Edwards demonstrated he is just more of the same. It is no wonder Louisiana just posted the worst economic performance in the country.
Jeff Landry is Louisiana's attorney general.
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.
Thursday, May 10
7:43 a.m. Orange Street and Federal Avenue; Fight.
8:53 a.m. 700 block of General Patton Street; Complaint.
9:07 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Vehicle theft.
10:14 a.m. 500 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
10:46 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Complaint.
1:05 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Fight.
1:09 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Officer stand by.
1:46 p.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious person.
2:11 p.m. La. 182 and Roderick Street; Stalled vehicle.
3 p.m. Federal and Railroad avenues; Patrol request.
3:40 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182 East; Vehicle accident.
3:45 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Theft.
5:10 p.m. 1000 block of Ditch Avenue; Civil complaint.
5:39 p.m. Railroad and Federal avenues; Reckless driver.
5:53 p.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
5:59 p.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Suspicious vehicle.
6:12 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Complaint.
7:10 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Complaint.
7:14 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Shoplifter.
7:44 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.
8:03 p.m. 200 block of Robin Street; Complaint.
8:24 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Arrest.
9 p.m. 600 block of Willard Street; Animal complaint.
9:54 p.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Arrest.
9:58 p.m. 300 block of Third Street; Complaint.
10:38 p.m. Third Street and Railroad Avenue; Arrest.
11:17 p.m. 1500 block of Walnut Street; Complaint.
Friday, May 11
2:07 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Open door.
Berwick High School seniors, top photo, walk on the track at Geisler Stadium at the beginning of graduation Thursday. In the bottom photo, seniors celebrate at the end of ceremonies at which 22 seniors with 4.0 grade point averages led the way. Morgan City High's commencement is at 6 p.m. Friday at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Patterson High seniors graduate at 7 p.m. Friday at PHS. (The Daily Review/Zachary Fitzgerald)
News from state leaders that thousands of senior citizens in Louisiana could lose Medicaid benefits that pay for nursing home care is of great concern to seniors in St. Mary Parish, area officials said.
Louisiana’s Department of Health and Hospitals began sending notices Thursday to 37,000 elderly and disabled people, many of them in nursing homes, that the money paying for their care may go away in July.
As of about noon Thursday, Beverly Domengeaux, executive director of St. Mary Council on Aging, said she hadn’t received word that any local seniors had officially received the letters.
But many of them and their family members have heard and read about the possible cuts to Medicaid, including nursing home services.
“We’ve had quite a few phone calls,” Domengeaux said.
St. Mary Parish doesn’t have any public housing that’s specifically designated for senior citizens.
“There’s no place for these people to go in order to receive care,” Domengeaux said. “(The) nursing home is the only place, really and truly, that they can go with their Medicaid card.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration announced the letters would be sent out after the House approved the 2018-19 fiscal year budget that cut Medicaid spending. The Senate hasn’t approved the budget.
Republicans slammed the move as fear-mongering by the state's Democratic governor amid ongoing budget and tax negotiations.
Edwards’ administration has said for months the notices would be sent because lawmakers haven’t replaced temporary taxes that expire July 1. Edwards intends to call a special session later this month, hoping lawmakers will agree to pass replacement taxes to prevent the cuts.
The St. Mary Council on Aging would have a difficult time trying to help everyone who could be affected by the cuts. Domengeaux figured the cuts would increase the need for the Council on Aging’s services by 7 percent, and the organization already has limited funding.
“I’m not even able to take care of all the people that want the services now,” Domengeaux said.
But the Council on Aging will do what it can to serve the seniors of St. Mary Parish, she said.
“We’re going to do the best we can with what we’ve got, and we’re going to try to take care of as many as we can,” Domengeaux said.
Morgan City Health Care Center hadn’t received any of the notices as of mid-morning Thursday, Business Office Manager Tiffany Rodrigue said.
“We’re definitely waiting to see if we get anything,” Rodrigue said.
A few residents at the center have expressed concerns over what may happen to their Medicaid benefits.
“They’re not really talking about it a whole lot. But a couple of them, they do have concerns of what’s going to happen,” Rodrigue said.
“What’s really sad is that some individuals here, they don’t have family,” Rodrigue said. “You worry about what’s going to happen if (state officials) come back, and they say that (residents) don’t qualify for Medicaid.”
Rodrigue and other staff members have watched the news closely in regard to how potential Medicaid cuts could affect residents.
“I just don’t see how they can do this,” Rodrigue said. “Our older population, they’re the ones that have us where we are today, so how can you do something like that?”
The potential cuts don’t affect Maison Jardin Senior Living Community in Morgan City, according to staff members at that facility.
Melinda Deslatte of the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
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1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255