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Two people were arrested on drug charges Wednesday after Morgan City police stopped a vehicle on Roderick Street, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Angela S. Adams, 45, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of Lyrica, possession of tizanidine, possession of trazodone and expired license plate.

—Dan T. Mouzakis, 55, of Pharr Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of gabapentin, possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and on a warrant charging him with probation violation.

Patrol officers initiated a stop on a vehicle in the area of Roderick Street with an expired license plate. Adams was identified as the driver, and Mouzakis was an occupant. Adams was in possession of suspected Lyrica, tizanidine and trazodone, Blair said.

Mouzakis was in possession of gabapentin and an open alcoholic beverage, Blair said. Neither was able to provide valid prescriptions for the medication located. Mouzakis also had an active arrest warrant through city court. The duo was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 45 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Aketa R. Francis, 25, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with access device fraud.

Francis was located and arrested at the police department on a warrant. The warrant stems from a March 8 investigation when officers responded to the front lobby of the police department in regard to a theft. Francis was developed as a suspect in the investigation.

Francis allegedly used the victims’ debit card to purchase items without authorization, Blair said. The investigation continued when a warrant was prepared for Francis’ arrest. Francis was jailed.

—Ashley T. Francois, 31, of Lauraline Street in New Orleans, was arrested at 1:49 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, no driver’s license and improper turning.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Federal Avenue negotiate an improper turn. A stop was initiated when Francois was identified. Francois was in possession of suspected marijuana and did not possess a valid driver’s license, Blair said. Francois was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 39 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—James Bailey Jr., 24, of Railroad Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 7:25 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of marijuana. Bailey turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Bailey was released on $750 bail.

—Garrett Oubre, 45, of Stephensville Road in Stephensville, was arrested at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of oxycodone. During booking at parish jail, a correctional deputy located an active warrant for Oubre’s arrest. Bail on the warrant was set at $1,500.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.

Four valedictorians have been named to lead the Patterson High Class of 2018 at commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday at PHS.
No one will be admitted after 6:50 p.m.
This year’s valedictorians are:

Jonathan Alain Acosta
Jonathan is the son of Alain and Lien Acosta.
He plans to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and major in civil engineering.

Kathryn Isabel Craddock
Kathryn is the daughter of Lee and Tammy Craddock.
She plans to attend LSU and major in environmental engineering.

Maya Lee Madise
Maya is the daughter of Barry and Neva Madise.
She will attend Xavier University in New Orleans.
She will major in biology and pre-med as she studies to become a neurosurgeon.

Colby Lorenzia Pogue
Colby is the son of Curtis and Yvette Pogue.
He will go to the University of Louisiana at Monroe and major in pre-pharmacy.

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana’s health department is notifying 37,000 elderly and disabled people, many of them in nursing homes, that the money paying for their care could dry up in July. Republicans slammed the move as fear-mongering by the state’s Democratic governor amid ongoing budget and tax negotiations.
The notices, going out Thursday, are Louisiana’s first official warning to residents of nursing homes and group homes that they could face eviction in less than two months because of proposed Medicaid spending cuts included in the House-backed version of next year’s budget.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration has said for months the notices would be sent because lawmakers haven’t replaced temporary taxes that expire July 1. Administration officials said they need to send the letters so people have time to make alternative plans for family members’ care. The regulatory process to make the cuts began this week.
“Our hearts are breaking over the need to do this,” Health Secretary Rebekah Gee said Wednesday. “However, we cannot provide services with no money to pay for them. We simply cannot.”
More than 80 percent of the state’s nursing home residents, nearly 19,000 people, are at risk of displacement, according to the health department.
Republican lawmakers panned the letters as a premature move, creating unnecessary anxiety for Louisiana’s most fragile residents, while budget and tax talks continue and the cuts are uncertain.
“The decision by the governor and this administration to give eviction notices to the elderly population of Louisiana, without question, is a political move. It’s egregious in my personal opinion,” said House GOP leader Lance Harris, of Alexandria. “We don’t even know what the Senate is going to do yet.”
Harris called the letters “an unnecessary, political scare tactic.”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, the governor’s chief budget adviser, said of the criticism: “This letter is scary, but it’s not a tactic.”
The House-backed version of next year’s budget would close a gap caused by expiring taxes by cutting $431 million in general state tax dollars from the health department. The cut would grow to an estimated $1.6 billion or more with the loss of federal matching dollars.
The Senate is crafting its version of a spending plan for next year, but senators have said their choices are grim. The state is expected to bring in $648 million less in general state tax dollars next year, and health care and education programs are the most vulnerable to cuts.
Edwards intends to call a special session later this month, hoping lawmakers will agree to pass replacement taxes to fill budget gaps and stave off the health cuts. But a prior special session in February ended with no tax deal amid partisan disputes in the House, creating uncertainty about whether tax measures will pass before the new budget year begins.
Lawmakers said news of the letters is prompting phone calls, emails and social media messages from people worried about their loved ones.
“I do think it’s a pressure tactic. I think it does raise a sense of urgency,” said Rep. Jack McFarland, a Winnfield Republican who called release of the letters premature. “I am confident that in the end we will sufficiently fund the health care needs of our elderly, the indigent and the infirm.”
The programs targeted for cuts are among the Medicaid spending areas considered “optional.” A state doesn’t have to maintain those programs to continue participating in and receiving federal financing for Medicaid. Federal approval is needed to cut the spending.
The letter says the health department will determine if the recipients qualify for services under another portion of the Medicaid program. But health officials said Wednesday they weren’t optimistic a majority of the thousands receiving letters will be eligible for other assistance.
The Department of Health has extended its call center hours to respond to questions and concerns.

Brian Territo, 54, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at his residence.
He is survived by two brothers, Bart Territo of Sanford, North Carolina and Bret Territo of Baton Rouge; and two sisters, Brigitte Nieland of Baton Rouge and Barri Comer of Hohenwald, Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Twin City Funeral Home.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.