RSS Feed

ROBERT LEE ALLEMAN

Thu, 03/06/2025 - 9:00am

Robert “Bob” Lee Alleman, 83, of Sugartown, Louisiana, passed away on February 27, 2025. Born on December 24, 1941, in Westwego, LA, Bob was a dedicated husband to Mayola, with whom he shared an incredible 64 years of marriage. For their 60th anniversary they gathered with family and friends to celebrate their love and renew their wedding vows at DI’s Cajun Restaurant in Basile, La., while listening to their favorite Cajun music.
Bob was a hardworking man who loved his family dearly, always taking the time to visit and share a laugh or a good joke. He found joy in the great outdoors, relishing fishing and hunting whenever he could. A true craftsman, Bob enjoyed woodworking and had a talent for carving pieces from wood that he took great pride in. He had a penchant for drawing and loved to sip coffee on his front porch. Bob was an Army veteran who served his country and was very proud of his time that he spent in the military.
His work ethic was unmatched; Robert retired four times but always found another job to keep busy. He worked 16 years for BE&K at Boise and spent 12 years with the Beauregard Police Jury, where the road patcher machine was even named in his honor — a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Bob will be deeply missed but forever remembered by his beloved wife, Mayola “May” Lee Alleman of Sugartown; daughters, Evelyn Maria Alleman Marcel and Jeffrey of Frisco, TX, Caullet Michell Alleman Trahan and Wayland of Holly Beach, LA; sister, Sylvia Ann Pollet and Wayne of Schriever, LA; grandchildren, Lee Robert Sipe of Sugartown, LA, Ryan Paul Marcel and Katherine of Baton Rouge, LA, Nicole Amie Marcel Walker and Nicholas of Frisco, TX, Molly Michell Gehrig and Nicholas of DeRidder, LA; great-grandchildren, Madison Sipe, Aiden Walker, Ava Walker, Lance Gehrig, Cooper Gehrig, Keller Marcel, Brooks Marcel, Murphy Marcel and a host of family and friends who stood by him. His legacy of hard work, laughter, and love will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Cleveland and Cecilia Alleman; brothers, Cleveland Alleman, Jr. and Bobbie James Alleman.
A graveside service was held for Bob on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Sugartown Cemetery in Sugartown, LA, where family and friends gathered to celebrate a life well-lived and to share memories of his kindness and love. Brother Dalton Isbell officiated the service. Pallbearers were Nick Gehrig, Jeff Marcel, Ryan Marcel, Lee Sipe, Wayland Trahan, Nick Walker.

'Bachelors of Broadway' here Tuesday

Thu, 03/06/2025 - 8:56am

“Bachelors of Broadway” will be the next performance in the 2024-25 Morgan City Live Concert Association series.
The performance will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
Single concert tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for students K-12. Additionally, season tickets are $45 for adults and $10 for students K-12.
Patron Plans (Bronze, Silver and Gold) are also available at varying price levels. All ticket types — single, season, and patron plans — are available online at www.morgancitylive.com or at the door.
Performed by three of New York City’s top theatrical performers, “Bachelors of Broadway” offers soaring and thrilling melodies. This show breathes new life into vintage classics from the Golden Age of Broadway with visually dynamic multimedia elements and lush symphonic arrangements of songs from both contemporary and classic musicals.
cluding “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Hamilton,” “West Side Story” and more.
The Morgan City Live Community Concert Association has provided world-class entertainment since 1947. The concert series is offered at affordable, family-friendly prices. To learn more about Morgan City Live, visit the website or follow @MorganCityLive on both Facebook and Instagram.

Senator: Taxpayers foot the bill for shrimp imports

Thu, 03/06/2025 - 8:55am
NOLAN McKENDRY, The Center Square

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is calling on the Department of the Treasury to crack down on international financing that he says is actively harming the domestic shrimp industry.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Cassidy warned that U.S. taxpayer dollars are indirectly funding foreign shrimp aquaculture expansion, putting American shrimpers at a severe disadvantage.
Cassidy’s letter, dated Feb. 20, outlines the stark financial struggles of U.S. shrimpers.
In 2021, domestic shrimpers landed 227 million pounds of shrimp worth $522 million, but by 2023, despite landing nearly the same volume — 211 million pounds — the value of their catch had plummeted to just $269 million.
According to Cassidy, the price per pound dropped from $2.30 to $1.27, a devastating blow for shrimping communities dependent on stable prices to stay afloat.
The senator points to a major cause: an influx of foreign shrimp flooding the U.S. market. In 2021, imported shrimp reached a record 1.8 billion pounds, and by 2023, Ecuador alone had nearly doubled its exports to the U.S., climbing from 178 million pounds in 2019 to 443 million pounds.
This surge has left domestic shrimpers struggling to compete, docking vessels because they cannot afford rising operating costs.
What makes the issue particularly frustrating for Cassidy is that U.S. taxpayer dollars are, in part, funding this competition. He highlighted how international financial institutions, which receive billions in funding from Congress, have invested heavily in Ecuadorian shrimp farms.
The Inter-American Development Bank Invest has pumped over $100 million into Ecuador’s shrimp sector, while the International Finance Corporation has invested another $93 million since 2015.
“These funds have directly contributed to the growth of Ecuador’s shrimp industry, which has seen its exports to the U.S. increase dramatically,” Cassidy wrote. “This is a direct contradiction to the spirit and letter of U.S. law.”
Cassidy is demanding that the Treasury Department take action to prevent further IFI-backed financing of shrimp aquaculture projects that undermine American industries.
He has asked for a full accounting of all U.S.-supported projects over the past decade that contributed to foreign shrimp expansion and wants assurance that future funding will not support competitors to the domestic shrimp industry.
Cassidy’s concerns come amid growing evidence of misrepresentation in the U.S. seafood industry.
A recent investigation in Savannah, Georgia, found that 77% of the shrimp advertised as “local” in restaurants were actually imported. The study, conducted by SEAD Consulting on behalf of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, used genetic testing to analyze shrimp origins and exposed widespread deception.
Similar findings emerged in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. One investigation by SeaD in Tampa and St. Petersburg revealed that only two out of 44 sampled restaurants were serving authentic, wild-caught Gulf shrimp. The fraud rate — 96% — fueled outrage among Gulf Coast shrimpers who say they are being squeezed out of the market by mislabeled foreign imports.
“If restaurants wish to serve shrimp from countries associated with labor abuses, environmental harms, and banned antibiotics, that is their choice,” said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “But be honest and let consumers decide.”
In response to the crisis, Georgia lawmakers have introduced House Bill 117, which would require restaurants to disclose when they serve imported shrimp. “Consumers have a right to know what they are eating and feeding their families,” said State Rep. Jesse Petrea, the bill’s sponsor.
Other shrimping states are moving in the same direction. Louisiana recently passed Act 372, mandating clear labeling for imported shrimp and crawfish. Enforcement of seafood mislabeling laws, however, remains inconsistent at the federal level, leaving gaps that can harm domestic shrimpers.
As the pressure mounts, Cassidy is pushing for the Treasury Department to take a stronger stance.
“This must no longer be tolerated,” he wrote. “We need to ensure that American industries, not foreign competitors, benefit from U.S. taxpayer dollars.”
With domestic shrimpers facing record-low prices and increasing competition, the fight for transparency and fair trade policies is heating up. Cassidy’s letter signals that Gulf Coast lawmakers are prepared to escalate the battle to protect one of the region’s most vital industries.

Public can comment on plans for Francine recovery funds

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 3:27pm

The Louisiana Office of Community Development is accepting public comments on an Action Plan to spend $117,946,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for recovery from Hurricane Francine.
The formal 30-day public comment period began Wednesday and ends at 5 p.m. April 4.
In addition, the department will hold two virtual public hearings on the plan, where residents may learn more, ask questions and provide comments. Register for these events at restore.la.gov/events.
--3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18: Public hearing 1
--6 p.m. Monday, March 24: Public hearing 2
SUMMARY The Hurricane Francine Action Plan proposes to expend $95,309,914 on housing unmet needs and $15,384,000 on mitigation unmet needs in the most distressed and impacted areas. The funds address recovery needs not covered by other eligible sources, primarily for low- to moderate-income individuals located in the MID areas.
The following parishes are identified as Francine’s MID areas: Ascension; Assumption; Jefferson; Lafourche; St. Charles; St. James; St. John the Baptist; St. Mary; and Terrebonne.
In 2024, Hurricane Francine struck the state of Louisiana, causing widespread devastation. This powerful storm brought flooding, damaging winds and storm surges that overwhelmed infrastructure, caused multiple power outages and left lasting impacts on housing, public facilities and local economies.
The disaster compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities in many communities, particularly those with limited resources and access to recovery support. This Action Plan outlines Louisiana’s proposed recovery and mitigation efforts, using Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds to recover from the disaster’s impacts and build resilience to future events.
The recovery programs described in this Action Plan prioritize resilience, focusing on addressing the unmet needs of vulnerable populations and implementing mitigation measures to reduce risk. By integrating long-term planning and innovative approaches into the recovery process, Louisiana aims to ensure a more sustainable and resilient recovery for all affected communities, the department said.
A copy of the plan is available at doa.la.gov/doa/ocd/policy-and-reports/apa/ or by calling 225-219-9600.
Members of the public can submit comments by:
--Emailing them to ocd@la.gov;
--Mailing them to Disaster Recovery Unit, P.O. Box 94095, Baton Rouge LA 70804-9095, Attn: Janice Lovett.
--Faxing them to the attention of Janice Lovett at 225-219-9605
At the end of the official public comment period, the state will submit the action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval.

Morgan City police radio logs for March 3-5

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 2:17pm

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.
Monday, March 3
5:20 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.
6:11 a.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Residential burglary.
6:31 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
7:39 a.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Alarm.
9:00 a.m. Federal Avenue/Onstead Street; Medical emergency.
9:52 a.m. 1400 block of North First Street; Animal complaint.
10:20 a.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Animal complaint.
10:55 a.m. 900 block of Short Street; Noise complaint.
11:04 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Theft.
11:25 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Hit and run.
12:36 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Hit and run.
12:55 p.m. 800 block of Alabama Street; Officer stand by.
3:20 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
3:28 p.m. 1300 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
3:39 p.m. 1300 block of Youngs Road; Frequent patrols.
3:45 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
4:02 p.m. 100 block of Headland Street; Noise complaint.
4:13 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Lost and found.
5:25 p.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Animal complaint.
6:40 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
6:49 p.m. North Third/Onstead streets; Complaint.
6:51 p.m. 200 block of Fourth Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
7:32 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
7:51 p.m. 1000 block of Spruce Street; Medical.
8:08 p.m. Martin Luther King/Victor II boulevards; Complaint.
8:32 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
9:09 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
9:59 p.m. 1500 block of North Third Street; Assistance.
10:30 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Reckless driver.
Tuesday, March 4
12:21 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Fight.
1:50 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Hit and run.
6:27 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Alarm.
7:41 a.m. 800 block of Florence Street; Animal complaint.
8:59 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Stand by.
9:13 a.m. 700 block of Duke Street; Remove subject.
9:25 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Assistance.
10:05 a.m. Parade route; Frequent patrols.
11:06 a.m. 800 block of North Everett Street; Alarm.
11:34 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
11:51 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Simple battery.
12:34 p.m. 900 block of Eighth Street; Utilities.
2 p.m. Victor II Boulevard/David Drive; Lost and found property.
2:16 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Stolen vehicle.
2:28 p.m. 1100 block of Dora Street; Building check/open door.
2:58 p.m. 200 block of Ann Street; Complaint.
4:45 p.m. Morgan City area; Weather complaints.
5:07 p.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
5:18 p.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
6:43 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Medical.
7:01 p.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
9:56 p.m. 500 block of Marshall Street; Medical.
Wednesday, March 5
2:26 a.m. Marguerite/Seventh streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
5:06 a.m. 800 block of Willard Street; Complaint.

Meth possession, aggravated battery arrests reported

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 1:46pm
Staff Report

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Arrest reports from St. Mary Parish reflect the level of Mardi Gras mayhem. But deputies also made an arrest on a possession with intent to distribute meth charge, and Patterson officers made an aggravated battery arrest.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 144-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 232 complaints and made these arrests:

--Harold Francois, 45, Morgan City, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 28 on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Bail was set at $201,500.

--Tirquener Franscois, 49, Morgan City, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 11:45 a.m. Feb. 28 in charges of possession of a legend drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Francois was released on a $2,500 bond.

--Brandon Robinson, 43, Patterson, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 8:22 p.m. Monday on charges of failure to signal, license plate lights required, resisting an officer, possession of marijuana, possession of firearm or carrying a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of an unregistered or illegally transferred firearm, driving under suspension, stop signs and yield signs, and open container.

Bail was set at $150,000.

--Kimberli Uloa, 18, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:22 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Uloa was released on a $250 bond.

--D'Juanielle Deandre Diggs, 39, Franklin, was arrested at 9:47 p.m. Feb. 28 on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and resisting arrest or officer. Diggs was released on his own recognizance.

--Dicie Elizabeth Gutierrez, 40, Patterson, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 28 on a charge of resisting arrest or officer and on a warrant alleging failure to appear as a witness. Gutierrez was released on a $1,500 bond.

--Mia Michelle Blair, 28, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:07 a.m. Sunday on charges of hit and run and driving while intoxicated. Blair was released on a $3,500 bond.

--Scottie C. Gray Jr., 25, Charenton, was arrested at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 on a charge of disturbing (peace by fighting). Gray was released on a $535 bond.

--Anthony Ray Stevenson Jr., 20, Charenton, was arrested at 2:26 p.m. Feb. 27 on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Stevenson was released on a $535 bond.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 22 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Shantel Soileau, 42, Patty, Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday on charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and remaining where forbidden.

--Najee Skipper, 31, Dora Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:08 a.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jeremy Blackburn, 46, Franklin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4 p.m. Monday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Oscar Eduardo Amador Suazo, Lake Palourde, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:19 p.m. Monday on charges of resisting an officer, failure to signal, no driver’s license and no registration.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Larry J. Guillory, 54, Shady Grove Drive, Patterson, was arrested 6:49 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of aggravated battery. Guillory was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $2,000.

--Louis W. Jones Jr., 23, Camille Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 3:37 p.m. Monday on a charge of disturbing the peace. Jones was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $505.

--Lysa M. Fabre, 38, Murial Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Tuesday on charges of hit and run, careless operation and failure to report an accident. Fabre was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,050.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 15 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made the following arrests:

--Cheddrick Roberson, 45, Bigler Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:28 a.m. Tuesday on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace. Roberson was booked, processed and held on a $3,500 bond.

--Harold Lovely Jr., 38, Guidroz Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:53 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of resisting an officer. Lovely was booked, processed and released on a $2,500 bond.

--Alicia Sereal, 41, Adams Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office alleging illegal possession of stolen things and access device fraud. Sereal was booked, processed and held on a $2,000 bond.

BERTRAND JAMES BENNETT SR.

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 10:12am

Bertrand James Bennett Sr., 81, a native and resident of Patterson, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at New Salem Baptist Church in Patterson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
He is survived by sons, Bertrand Bennett Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, Texas and Tivan Bennett of Perrysburg, Ohio; daughters, Eugena Livas of Patterson and Courtney Bennett of Lafayette; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, five brothers and four sisters.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jim Bradshaw: Will eggs be as good as money again?

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 6:00am
JIM BRADSHAW

The children’s celebration of Mardi Gras in Church Point in the 1920s and 1930s seemed more like Halloween than the rowdy courir we know today, according to the memory of Marie Louise LaCaze. She put down her reminiscences in 1998 as part of a “life and letters” program at UL. In the course, persons of a certain vintage were encouraged to record their memories and life experiences.
“As I was growing up in Church Point,” Marie wrote, “we little girls who lived in the area between Main Street, Eby Street, and the street that bordered the school, had our own unique way of celebrating Mardi Gras.
“On the Saturday preceding Mardi Gras, we would mask and dress up in whatever our mothers could rig up. After gathering at one of the homes, we would go house to house, knocking on doors demanding ‘cinq sous! cinq sous!’
“Neighbors always greeted us pleasantly. ... The person ... answering the door would invariably attempt to identify each one of us. Our group would lapse into giggles. Those ... who answered the door would give us either a nickel or an egg (which could be turned into cash).”
The girls took their treasure to Alsace Sonnier’s store on Main Street “to invest our treasury of nickels and eggs in cookies and treats.” Mr. Sonnier — as did practically every merchant in those days, threw in a little “lagniappe” to complete the day’s haul.
“Following the tradeoff, we would gather in one of our homes for a party or to enjoy our treats with hot chocolate,” Marie recalled.
The eggs Marie and her friends brought to the store were a staple of barter in Church Point and around the area. I presume that the value of eggs changed from time to time and from store to store, depending on how many chickens there were in the neighborhood and who was doing the bartering, but if old tales can be believed it seems like some merchants took in more eggs than they did cash — at least in those long, lean months between harvests.
A lot of the eggs bartered in these parts eventually ended up in the hands of O.J. LeBlanc, an egg wholesaler whose business was at the corner of Garfield and Johnston streets in Lafayette. He sent his trucks out to the country stores to buy the bartered eggs and distributed them to grocery stores in town.
When John Horecky started what became Church Point Wholesale Grocery in the early 1900s, the firm began buying chickens and eggs on a regular basis and at one point shipped a rail car load of eggs to New Orleans every two or three days. Like amounts of eggs were shipped from other places on the rail line, and even by other means before there were railroads.
In 1869 the New Orleans Picayune reported, “We know several persons who have made fortunes from the traffic in the small matter of poultry and eggs. We have generally two steamboats and sometimes three plying between Washington [in St. Landry Parish] and New Orleans … during the business season [carrying] as many as a thousand dozen eggs … per week.”
A 1904 newspaper account reported that  some 18,000 cases of eggs (at 50 pounds of eggs per case) were shipped from the railroad depot in Rayne alone. Emile Daboval Jr. of Rayne invented a special container made of straw and wood pulp to ship them in.   That was a much-needed device. A study by federal farm authorities about that time found that poor packaging was as much a cause as rickety rails for broken eggs.
Besides being an innovator, Daboval was a civic and business leader in Rayne. The Opelousas Courier reported a visit to that town in 1897 by, “Hon. Emile Daboval, Jr., the mayor of the thriving town of Rayne and proprietor of the big Rayne Rice Mill,” and in 1908, when he and his wife,  the former Lydia Rose Deynoodi of St. Charles Parish, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, the news paper recorded that their 14 children gathered “at their beautiful home on Louisiana Avenue” to toast “the prominent couple.”
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Debunking crawfish myths: Don't believe everything you hear about health risks

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 6:00am
Staff Report

As Mardi Gras gives way to Lent, so the South Louisiana culinary calendar turns to crawfish.
But, as we look forward to the flavor and the fellowship of a crawfish boil, we may have nagging concerns over what we've heard about the impact on our dietary health. After all, South Louisiana cooking isn't exactly at the top of the heart-healthy recipe list.
Fear not, says the LSU AgCenter. Some of the things you've heard about our favorite Louisiana dish is wrong, or at least overstated.
Here are some of the AgCenter's debunked myths about crawfish.
1. Crawfish is high in fat and cholesterol.
Crawfish actually is low in fat, saturated fat and trans fat. Three ounces of cooked crawfish contain 116 milligrams cholesterol, about a third of the maximum daily amount recommended by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and the American Heart Association.
The bright yellow to orange crawfish “fat” that is squeezed from the heads and that also sticks to the tail meat is not fat in the usual sense. It actually is an organ in the head called the hepatopancreas that functions much like the liver in higher animals.
The actual pure fat content of this material is probably 30%, but as packaged for use in cooking, it may be closer to 10%, according to a recent study. On the other hand, cholesterol content of the pure head “fat” is high – more than 500 milligrams per 100 grams (3.5 ounces).
2. Crawfish don’t fit in a heart healthy eating plan.
High intakes of saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol may raise unhealthy blood lipids and increase heart disease risk. Since crawfish are low in fat, saturated fat, trans fat and calories, and high in protein and minerals, they can be included in the diet of anyone who is concerned about cholesterol, fat or calories.
Although shellfish (shrimp and crawfish) tend to be higher in cholesterol than fish, poultry and meat, a 3-ounce serving of crawfish provides 116 milligrams cholesterol. Crawfish fat is mostly unsaturated and contains a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids that seem to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
It’s important to remember that frying or preparing crawfish in rich sauces adds extra calories and fat, however.
3. If I find a crawfish with a straight tail on my plate of cooked crawfish, this means it was dead before cooking.
Studies by the LSU AgCenter have shown that a crawfish with straight tail after boiling may or may not have been dead prior to cooking. A cooked crawfish with a straight tail does not necessary mean the crawfish is spoiled.
Sometimes crowded conditions in the boiling pot will prevent the tail of a live crawfish from properly curling. So the bottom line on straight and curled tails is that a straight tail doesn’t mean the crawfish was dead when it went into the pot and a curled tail doesn’t mean it was alive.
It’s important to following recommended food safety guidelines to keep food safe to eat.
4. Eating boiled crawfish makes me feel bloated (have too much fluid).
Crawfish are good for you – just don’t make them too salty!
As with everything, too much of a good thing is not good. Too much spicy, salted, boiled crawfish and all the accompaniments – corn, potatoes and onions – can lead to sodium overload and edema (excess body fluid).
Crawfish, corn, potatoes and onions are naturally low in sodium, but their sodium content increases after boiling in salted water. Crawfish that are boiled for meat production at peeling plants do not use salt or spices in the cooking water.
Salt, which is sodium chloride and therefore contains sodium, is important in helping the body maintain normal cell function and a proper fluid balance. Too much salt, though, can lead to too much sodium in the blood, causing water retention and uncomfortable swelling of the hands and feet and sometimes the abdomen.
For healthy people, this is a temporary condition, and the fluid will be excreted. In addition, any weight gain associated with the excess fluid accumulation – water weight – will disappear with fluid loss. A serious problem related to too much salt is high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and strokes.
Approximately one-third of people with high blood pressure in the United States are especially salt-sensitive. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the most recent, recommend eating no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, about the amount in a teaspoon of table salt. The average American adult consumes between 4,000 and 9,000 milligrams of sodium daily.
While enjoying crawfish, be sure to munch on the fresh vegetable appetizers and follow it with fruit for dessert. Fruits and veggies are high in potassium and help blunt the effects of salt on blood pressure and may reduce the risk of kidney stones.

Dear Abby: New neighbor gets more than the usual ‘welcome wagon’

Wed, 03/05/2025 - 6:00am

DEAR ABBY: I’m a gay man living in a predominantly straight community. About a year ago, a married couple moved in. One day, the husband asked me to come over and help him put a table together, which I did. He thanked me by opening a bottle of wine. Then he asked me what turns me on. I thought the question was unusual, but I didn’t hold back — I showed him.
We’ve had more encounters since then, and now I’m feeling used and thinking about telling his wife. I think she deserves to know her husband might be gay and sleeping with other men. He used some “gay lingo” that makes me think I may not be the only one.
I heard there were some other neighbors talking badly about gays, and he didn’t defend or take up for us. That upsets me, too. What do I do? They live a few doors down, and it’s uncomfortable when I see him and his wife. She’s always waving and is a sweet lady.
RETHINKING
IN FLORIDA

DEAR RETHINKING: Your mistake was becoming involved with a married man. You may feel “used,” but remember, you went into that affair enthusiastically. I do not think you should be the person to tell his wife her husband might be gay. (He could be bisexual.) The person who delivers that tidbit should be her husband, if she doesn’t already know. As for you, it’s time to step out of the picture, don’t you think?

DEAR ABBY: I am a 47-year-old woman who passes for early 30s. I understand that most women would pay money to look 15 years younger than their age, but people often make and voice assumptions about me that are annoying.
I have never felt that people take me seriously despite my two master’s degrees and the business I started with three locations. For years, I have suffered a constant and insensitive barrage of questions and assumptions about my reproductive status. I have gotten pretty adept at countering “When are you going to have kids?” with “God didn’t grant me that superpower, so my husband and I are dog parents who enjoy going on adventures.”
I am now going through menopause. Despite being on medications to control the symptoms, I often suffer a hot flash at work while meeting with customers. I keep a paper fan at my desk, but I get funny looks from customers when I grab it and start fanning away at my suddenly red and sweaty face.
I’ll usually smile and ask for a minute to recover from the hot flash, but I am inevitably told that I am “too young” to be experiencing hot flashes. If only that were true. My instinct is to snarkily counter, “Well, my doctor would disagree,” but that doesn’t sound friendly. What would you recommend as an appropriate response?
YOUNG-ISH
IN MISSOURI

DEAR YOUNG-ISH: When you are told you are “too young to be going through menopause,” rather than snarl, try SMILING and saying, “Tell that to my doctor!” It will get the message across without being confrontational.
P.S. People may not be aware that menopause has been known to strike women who are younger than you.

***

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

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

St Mary Now Copyright  © 2026