RSS Feed

Wheel House for May 7

ST. MARY aarp
Dance 7-11 a.m. May 19 at St. Mary Senior Citizens Center, 4014 Chennault St., Morgan City. Music by Bayou Classic Band. Tickets $8. For info call 985-384-2277.

CASINO TRIP
St. Mary Chapter NAACP sponsoring a bus trip to Paragon Casino, Marksville, Saturday, June 16. Bus departs at 9 a.m. from Colonial Plaza Shopping Center, and later at Franklin Walmart. Cost $25. All riders must be 21 or older. Deadline to RSVP, May 28. Call Cornel Keeler, 985-385-1873, or any NAACP member.

AMPLIFIED PHONE
Free amplified telephones available to residents who have moderate to severe hearing loss. Program funded by Louisiana Commission for the Deaf. For info on how to qualify, call Stacy at Affiliated Blind of Louisiana, 337-234-6492.

Record breakers!

Berwick High boys' track and field team is 3A state runner-up

Berwick High School’s Ian Valdez has had his highs and his lows in the Class 3A 3,200-meter run at the state track and field meet during his high school career.
After finishing as state runner-up as a sophomore, he slipped to eighth place a year ago despite entering as the second seed.
Entering his final meet Saturday as the top seed, Valdez finished his prep career on a high note, overtaking the leader in the boys’ 3,200-meter run about a quarter into his final lap on his way to a victory in 10:17.
His state championship clinched a runner-up finish for the Panthers boys’ squad.
Valdez said it felt “amazing” to win the two-mile race but just as quickly noted he was a team player.
“I’m happy that we clinched (second), because everybody wants a medal, and I’m happy that I could help,” he said.
West Feliciana won the 3A boys title with 89 points. The finish for Berwick was their highest in points (56) and placement in school history.
“We hoped about it, but to score 56 points today, just a super effort by all of them,” Gilder said Saturday.
Kenan Jones, who won the long jump and high jump and finished second in the triple jump, was named the Class 3A boys’ Outstanding Athlete.
“It’s just a great blessing,” Jones said of being able to finish his career at the state meet.
Jones jumped 23 feet, 7.5 inches to win the long jump, while he and teammate Josh Carver finished No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the high jump as each jumped 6-feet, 8 inches. Jones won the title because he cleared 6-8 on his second attempt, while Carver was successful on his third attempt.
Jones jumped 47 feet, 2.75 inches in the triple jump, while Crowley’s Chris Lewis won the event in 47 feet, 9.5 inches.
In the high jump, Carver and Jones were the final competitors when the bar was raised to 6-feet, 10-inches. Neither was able to clear the mark, but both already had secured their top-2 finish.
Carver said that the toe-to-toe finish has been how meets have been this season in the high jump.
As for his day, Carver said, “It was a good day overall, a good week of practice. Kenan (is) just a heck of an athlete.”
While West Feliciana already had the 3A title in hand with a 50-plus point lead before the boys’ 3,200-meter run, Berwick still hadn’t sewed up second place yet as it led its closest competition. It led its closest competition, Lusher Charter, by less than 10 points, and both were scheduled to compete in the boys’ 4x400-meter relay where Lusher entered as the top seed.
However, after Valdez and Darby Frickey, who placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run at 10:38.45, secured a combined 11 points in the event, the Panthers couldn’t be caught in team scoring.
Berwick closed the event with a second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay behind Lusher Charter.
Berwick’s 4x400-meter relay also finished as state runner-up with a time of 3:28.90. Team members were Alvin Jones, Keyon Singleton, Barrett Hover and Josh Jones.
Josh Jones also competed in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter run. He finished seventh in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.17 and sixth in the 200-meter run in 22.38.
Valdez also placed eighth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:07.10.
On the girls’ side, Berwick’s Nicole Johnson finished sixth with a throw of 89 feet, 10 inches.
Berwick finished tied for 34th place in girls’ team scoring with Patterson and Port Barre as each scored one point. Academy of Sacred Heart of New Orleans won the girls team title with 90 points.

Rotary Club happenings

Submitted Photo
Morgan City Rotary Club members hosted Morgan City High School students Noah Stephens, Camryn Campbell and Hannis Ugas at a recent luncheon, at which the students spoke about their current school activities and their education plans. From left are Stephens, Campbell, Ugas and student visit director John Landry.

K of C gift to Center of Hope

Submitted Photo
The St. Mary Center of Hope recently received a check from the Holy Cross Knights of Columbus Council 12179. This donation was half of the funds raised from the council's annual Tootsie Roll drive. Kristal Hebert, executive director of St. Mary Center of Hope, receives the $1,000 check from Holy Cross Council 12179 Tootsie Roll Chairman Kenny Duval.

Two CCHS competitors earn top three finishes

Central Catholic had one girl and one boy competitor reach the podium to highlight its day in Class 1A action Friday during the Allstate Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field State Meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Central Catholic’s Sydney Williams finished as state runner-up in the girls discus, while Tyler O’con finished third in the boys’ javelin. Williams finished as runner-up in the discus with a heave of 104 feet, 4.5 inches. Champion Jessica Sampson of Jonesboro-Hodge passed Williams for the title on her final attempt with a throw of 104 feet, 7.5 inches. The ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Berwick wins series with Eunice, returns to 3A semis

Berwick High School continued its dominate play on the baseball diamond, routing Eunice High in the first two games in Berwick to win its best-of-three series, 2-0, and advance to the Allstate Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Tournament for the second straight year. After winning game one, 12-2 in six innings Friday as the home team, the Panthers took game two, 12-3, Saturday as the away squad. “Eunice is a fantastic club with amazing tradition and a coach that has 560 wins,” Berwick High School coach Brandon Bravata said. “I think that people looked at box score and said, ‘man,

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Patterson's Burke leads school's competitors at Saturday's 3A track and field state meet

Patterson High School’s Zach Burke and Alero Hartman each concluded their high school careers in Class 3A field events Saturday at the Allstate Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field State Meet. Burke finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 134 feet, 8 inches, a new personal record. Lusher Charler’s Tamir Bryant won the event with a throw of 143 feet, 6 inches. Burke had come into state seeded seventh with a then-personal best throw of 129 feet, 9 inches. “He was very proud of hitting his PR and finishing in the top five,” Patterson boys track and ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Police: Two men caught with stolen crawfish

Two men were caught Saturday with 12 sacks of stolen crawfish taken from a Morgan City business, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Carlos Ruiz-Santos, 41, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:39 a.m. Saturday on charges of simple burglary and attempted simple burglary.

—Gerardo Santiago-Garcia, 36, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:39 a.m. Saturday on charges of simple burglary and attempted simple burglary.

A patrol officer working an extra duty detail in the area of La. 182 observed a suspicious vehicle speed off from a home in the area of Everett Street with the trunk of the vehicle still open, Blair said.

The officer relayed the information to patrol officers. Officers arrived in the area when the vehicle in question was located in the area of Duke Street. The trunk was still open when Santiago-Garcia was observed sitting in the truck pulling a city garbage can behind the vehicle, Blair said.

A stop was initiated when Ruiz-Santos was identified as the driver. Officers saw that there were three sacks of live crawfish on the back seat of the vehicle. The crawfish were cold as if they had been in a cooler, Blair said.

Officers proceeded to a business in the area of La. 70 that sells crawfish. Officers noticed that the business had been burglarized, Blair said. The owner of the business verified that 15 total sacks of crawfish had been taken. Officers located 12 sacks in the vehicle, Blair said.

Video surveillance of the business revealed Ruiz-Santos and Santiago-Garcia as the culprits, Blair said. There was another building on the property that the two men attempted to burglarize but never made entry, Blair said. The duo was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 136 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Kyle Tassin, 41, of Clarence Street in New Llano, was arrested at 10:55 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of cocaine, theft less than $1,000 and introduction of contraband into a penal facility.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Seventh Street in regard to a complaint of a shoplifter. Officers arrived when Tassin was identified.

Tassin allegedly took items from the establishment valued at $23.98, Blair said. Tassin was arrested and transported to jail. Once at the jail, Tassin was found in possession of suspected cocaine, Blair said. Tassin was jailed.

—Trinity N. Todd, 23, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:45 p.m. Friday on a warrant for four counts of failure to appear for trial.

Todd was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Todd was jailed.

—Loretta R. Moore, 44, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:51 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Roderick Street in regard to a lost property complaint. Officers arrived when they noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the home.

Moore was identified and in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Moore was jailed.

—Jacob S. Ganaway, 29, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:54 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Levee Road in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived when Ganaway was identified and in an intoxicated state, Blair said. He was jailed.

—Raymond O. Williams, 43, of Rubaiyat Street in Thibodaux, was arrested at 2:52 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with probation violation.

Williams was located and arrested in the area of Florence Street on a city court warrant. Williams was jailed.

—Sherbronkery D. Richard, 60, of Pugh Street in Paincourtville, was arrested at 1:24 p.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under suspension.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Freret Street negotiate an improper turn. A stop was initiated. Richard, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Richard was jailed.

—Leroy Dardar, 45, of Texas Gulf Road in Bourg, was arrested at 3:06 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with two counts of theft.

Dardar was located and arrested in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant. Dardar was jailed.

—Phil K. Lodrigue Jr., 38, of Two Sisters Court in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:01 p.m. Saturday on warrants charging him with simple burglary and theft.

Lodrigue was located and arrested in the area of Louisa Street on St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants. Lodrigue was jailed.

—Francisco J. Gonzales, 43, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 1 p.m. Sunday on charges of improper turning and no driver’s license.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Terrebonne Street negotiate an improper turn. A stop was initiated when Gonzales was identified as the driver. Gonzales did not have a valid driver’s license, Blair said. Gonzales was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 109 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Erykah Singleton, 29, of Tall Timbers Road in Patterson, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of speeding.

Singleton turned herself in at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City. A deputy transported Singleton to parish jail for booking. Singleton was released on $300 bail.

—Dicie Fulks, 33, of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 2:27 p.m. Sunday on a charge of battery of a dating partner.

A deputy responded to a call for service about a possible battery at a home in the Patterson area. During the investigation, the deputy collected evidence that Fulks struck a man during an argument, Anslum said. Fulks was booked into parish jail and then released on $2,500 bail.

—Alejandro Gutierrez, 31, of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. Sunday on an October 2017 warrant charging him with domestic abuse battery.

The warrant was issued following an investigation into a reported battery that occurred at a home in the Patterson area.

The deputy found evidence that Gutierrez pushed and struck a woman during an argument, Anslum said. While responding to a call for service in the Patterson area, a deputy came into contact with Gutierrez and located the active warrant for his arrest.

Gutierrez was jailed with bail set at $2,500.

—Nicole Hampton, 30, of La. 182 East in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 p.m. Sunday on charges of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and expired motor vehicle inspection sticker.

A deputy observed a vehicle traveling on Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista with an expired inspection sticker. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Hampton.

While speaking with Hampton, the deputy found that she was driving with a suspended license, Anslum said. Hampton was released on a summons to appear in court Aug. 15.

—Arnold Mosely, 57, of Joseph Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 8:26 p.m. Sunday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

A deputy observed the driver of a vehicle nearly strike a parked police unit in the parking lot of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City, Anslum said. The driver then exited the vehicle, approached the deputy, and announced that he had been drinking.

The deputy identified the driver as Mosely. While speaking with him, the deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Mosely’s breath, Anslum said.

Mosely performed poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.221 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a breath test, Anslum said. Mosely was booked into jail and then released on $2,500 bail.

—Shelby Thibodeaux, 23, of West Gloria Switch Road in Lafayette, was arrested at 2:08 a.m. Monday on charges of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and careless operation.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle in a ditch off of U.S. 90. The deputy identified the driver as Thibodeaux. The deputy found that Thibodeaux missed her turn, drove off the roadway and into the ditch, Anslum said.

No injuries were reported. The deputy also found that Thibodeaux was driving with a suspended license. Thibodeaux was released on a summons to appear in court Aug. 15.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:

—James Thoune, 25, of Sebby’s Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:12 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule IV drugs, possession of Schedule II drugs, transactions involving drug proceeds, hit and run, driver must be licensed and passing in a marked or no passing zone. Thoune was awaiting bail to be set.

—Jerome Williams, 40, of Second Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace by alarming the public, resisting an officer and open container on school grounds. Williams posted $975 cash bail.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.

MCHS' Grogan places 6th in the 4A 400-meter run

Morgan City High School’s Deondre Grogan recorded a personal-best en route to a sixth-place finish in the Class 4A boys’ 400-meter run at Saturday’s Allstate Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field State Meet at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Grogan ran 50.29 for his finish, besting his regional performance of 50.61. The Morgan City junior came into Saturday’s race seeded sixth and finished in the sixth position. While Morgan City track and field coach Duriel Singleton said he thought Grogan could have run faster than his new PR, he said he didn’t want to standout to “beat himself ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Pages

ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255