RSS Feed

JOHN J. LAJAUNIE JR.

Mon, 04/09/2018 - 7:44am

June 20, 1934 – April 3, 2018
John Joseph Lajaunie Jr. (83) a native and life-long resident of Centerville, La. peacefully died on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 surrounded by family.
Family was everything to Johnny, and while he never had any children of his own, he loved each of his nieces and nephews as if they were his own. He was a life-long parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Centerville, where he devoted his life to serving God and those around him. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Mary Parish Water District 5. He was dedicated to Knights of Columbus Bingo, where he was an avid facilitator of weekly bingo.
Johnny was preceded in death by his loving parents John Joseph Lajaunie Sr. and Effie Robichaux Lajaunie, sisters Juanita Lajaunie Boudreaux, Marie Lajaunie Walker, and Kathryn Lajaunie Hefner, brother Joseph Lajaunie Sr., niece Kim Hefner and nephew Paul Boudreaux. Johnny will be greatly missed, but his memories will be carried on by his twenty nieces and nephews and countless great-nieces and great-nephews, whom he loved dearly.
The visitation will be on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Centerville from 9-11 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff of Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center for their loving care of Johnny during his final days.
“Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.”
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Rotary Club jumps in: Cook-Off set during Bear Fest

Mon, 04/09/2018 - 7:43am

By CASEY COLLIER
Franklin Rotary Club will host its First Annual Gumbo and Jambalaya Black Pot Cook-Off April 21.
The cook-off will take place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., behind the Blevins Building, at the corner of Willow Street and Teche Drive. It is being billed as a fun filled, family friendly outdoor event held in conjunction with the Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival and the Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show.
The day is set to feature an outdoor cooking contest in gumbo and jambalaya, along with classic carnival games, fun-jumps, arts and crafts, vendors, and live music.
Rotary Club says the mission of the event is to share southern hospitality and expand the reach of Rotary, making its purpose known throughout the community.
The funds raised are set to go toward Rotary’s annual scholarship program, through which, three seniors from local high schools will receive scholarship awards, to defray the cost of college.
Rotary President Iris Sharpe said the cook-off came about as an opportunity for Rotary to pick up where Hanson Memorial High School left off.
“Hanson usually handled the cook-off,” Sharpe said, “and they weren’t doing it this year. So, we jumped on it.”
She said that Rotary sees the cook-off as a good opportunity to work on a public profile, as well as to educate others as to the club’s function and benefit.
“This is our inaugural,” she said, “but hopefully we can do it each year, along with the festival.”
Sponsors are invited to participate, and can do so in several levelled increments, up to $300.
The cook-off competition is comprised of four food categories seafood gumbo, chicken and sausage gumbo, seafood jambalaya, chicken and sausage jambalaya.
The Cook-Off rules define “gumbo” as a Cajun soup containing roux. It may contain a variety of meats and/or seafood, vegetables and seasonings, and is served over rice.
The rules also require that the competition gumbo be made from scratch as an original recipe, and it will be judged categorically as seafood, or non-seafood.
As for jambalaya, the Cook-Off defines “jambalaya” as a highly seasoned mixture of pork, poultry, seafood or vegetables with rice.
The rules here require that the competition jambalaya be made from scratch as an original recipe, as well.
So far, Rotary expects around 12 teams to compete, but has their fingers crossed for an excess of 12.
Judging will commence on event day, around 11:30 a.m., and teams are to be comprised of three to five members.
Each team is encouraged to bring a 10 by 10-foot tent to the event, and the best decorated tents will receive prizes. The tent theme is: Black Bear.
For copies of official rules, entry forms and sponsor forms, contact Iris Sharpe by email at iris@stmarychamber.com or by phone at 337-578-9078.

'It takes you outside of yourself...'

Mon, 04/09/2018 - 7:42am

Instructors in city program gratified teaching their passions

By CASEY COLLIER
“Well, I just think this is the best thing the city has ever done for Franklin,” says Laura Zuniga, Beginner and Intermediate Acrylic instructor at the Bayou Beaux Arts and Dance Program, “because I consider art something that improves your life, improves your outlook on life and gives you pleasure for the rest of your life… if you learn how to make art.”
The rest of the instructors nod in tacit agreement as Zuniga continues, “And the best thing about it is—it takes you outside of yourself. You can’t worry about last week, and you can’t worry about next week. You have to be focused on what you’re doing, and you are enjoying what you are doing.”
All four instructors look at home in the city council chamber, comfortably seated in front of the empty council bench. However, they are not politicians, all are veteran art and dance instructors, so their comfortability in focal situations isn’t altogether surprising—coupled with the fact that City Hall’s second floor is the location for three of the four courses that compile the city’s summer arts program, (dance is offered at the Franklin Senior High auditorium) now it’s clear that what you have, is four relaxed and confident educators, talking about what they love—teaching the Arts.
Seated next to Zuniga, is Jeanne Wattigny, instructor of the Beginner and Intermediate Drawing course.
“Where else can you go for three days, for three hours, and have lessons, all for $20?” Wattigny asks, also a private lesson tutor. “You cannot,” she answers rhetorically. “To not take advantage of this program would be terrible.
“So, I think that’s why we are all here. This is amazing. I think New Iberia should have this. I think Jeanerette should have this. We are the only place that has this!”
The Bayou Arts and Dance Program is supported by grants from Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Louisiana State Arts Council and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation.
This year will be BBADPA’s ninth iteration, and it will also be the ninth year of its locally particular recherché.
According to Arlana Shields, Franklin’s community development director, there are local summer programs available all around our parish, but BBADPA is “unique to Franklin” as it is the parish’s solitary summer arts program.
Supplies are donated, and the students are only asked to bring snacks, if they want them.
The art classes are available to 13-year-olds, and older, and the dance classes are available to five-year-olds, and older.
After familiarly chuckling at the apparent similarities between them, professing the same views as Wattigny and Zuniga, Marissa Verrette, Beginner and Intermediate Portrait instructor, adds that her motivation is the “wow” moment experienced by her students.
“All my students, the ones that take the summer courses here, and the ones I teach at the high school,” she says, “they all start the year off saying, ‘Miss Marissa, I can’t draw anything but stick people.’ And then, by the end of that lesson, they are amazed at what they’ve just done.
“That is what I live off of.”
BBADA’s Dance Instructor LaDaisha Bowles-Webber concurs, “I get to see that progress every summer. I especially want my first-timers to understand that I’m not here to intimidate them, but to encourage them. I want to push them in a way that’s not too forward, but that is going to prepare them for what’s to come in the future.”
Zuniga says it is most rewarding for her to see her summer students come away from her course having finished with pride, two or three paintings each, which they take home, and in some instances, give away to friends and family.
Wattigny says she likes to see the self-confidence that her students develop from learning they can produce something, with technical proficiency. She says it is most evident that this is the case when a student asks her advice on where to procure a specific art supply, after the last class has concluded. “That tells me that they fell in love with something, and they are going to continue,” says Wattigny.
Bowles-Webber offers, “It is courage. Sometimes I’ll get a phone call in the middle of the night asking if it’s ok ‘if we use one of your routines?’ to perform at a pep rally or community event. So, to me, that’s the cherry on top.”
Yet, there are things the instructors would like to see come to pass in future course iterations, maybe even this year’s.
For Bowles-Webber, whose class theme changes every year, structured around the mastery of both provisional and creative choreography, the future would be more complete with summer courses extended to year-round availability.
Verrette joins hands with Bowles-Webber in solidarity and says with zeal, “Yes!”
Verrette’s class focuses on portrait artistry in pencils and ebony. Portrait I deals with proportion, shading, blending and features, while Portrait II brings the students through the recreation of a photograph of their choice.
As for Zuniga, she would simply like to see bigger classes born from increased community participation. Her Beginners Acrylic class introduces materials and color theory, with demonstrations on utility. The intermediate class works with elements and design, also with demonstrations. This year’s theme is rumored to be: fish.
Wattigny’s wish list for the future includes elementally broader access to the program. “I would like to tap into part of the community that might not be able to have this type of exposure to the Arts. There are kids who might not have ever touched a paint brush or a blending stone. There are kids that I think would benefit from having the Arts in their lives, to make their days better,” she says.
Her beginners class works through the basic elements of drawing with focuses on principals, observation and drawing from memory.
The intermediate class works with lighting, perspective and drawing what you see, i.e. still life.
Registration for the summer arts program is taking place during normal business hours in the Tax Department of the City Hall, on the first floor. Dance classes are $20 per person, and art classes are $20 per course. Registration ends Friday, April 13.

MCRD opening ceremonies rained out

Sat, 04/07/2018 - 7:39am

Staff Report

Morgan City Recreation Department youth baseball and softball opening ceremonies set for Saturday morning have been rained out, Youth Recreation Director Seth Thomas said Saturday morning.
Team will proceed with regular-season play, which begins Monday, Thomas said

Cypress Sawmill Festival gets underway Friday

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 1:18pm

The Cypress Sawmill Festival kicks off Friday morning with a demonstration by the All-American Lumberjack Competition. The festival continues through Sunday at Patterson's Kemper Williams Park. Admission is $5 per carload Friday, $10 Saturday and $5 Sunday.

Police: Driver booked on list of charges after chase

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 10:26am

Staff Report

A 30-year-old Siracusaville man was booked into jail on a list of charges after allegedly fleeing from Morgan City police in a vehicle at speeds over 90 mph, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Jonathan J. Ruffin, 30, of James Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 1:58 a.m. Friday on charges of DWI first offense, aggravated obstruction of a highway, improper lane usage, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, failure to secure registration, no driver’s license, resisting an officer by giving false information and on a warrant charging him with two counts of failure to appear for a hearing and a warrant charging him with failure to appear for arraignment.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 in an erratic manner, swerving from lane to lane. The officer attempted to initiate a stop when the vehicle fled.

The driver fled on La. 182 traveling at high rates of speeds before entering upon U.S. 90. The vehicle traveled at speeds in excess of 90 mph, and the driver was operating the vehicle in an erratic manner, showing no regard to other motorists, Blair said.

The driver pulled over onto the shoulder of U.S. 90 and then fled on foot. After a short chase, Ruffin was apprehended and eventually identified. Ruffin allegedly provided officers with a false name upon initial contact, Blair said.

Ruffin did not have a valid driver’s license, and the vehicle he was operating did not have proper registration. Ruffin was in an intoxicated state. Police found a firearm in the vehicle, which Ruffin is prohibited from possessing as a convicted felon, Blair said.

Ruffin also had several active arrest warrants through 16th Judicial District Court. At the jail, Ruffin performed poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.111 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. Ruffin was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 44 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Marco T. Rivas, 38, of Addis, was arrested at 3:52 p.m. Thursday on a charge of unlawful production of fraudulent documents.

Patrol officers responded to the Department of Motor Vehicles in regard to a person producing fraudulent documents in order to obtain a driver’s license. Officers arrived when Rivas was identified.

Rivas allegedly admitted to the fraudulent documents, Blair said. Rivas was jailed.

—Chantal T. Burke, 24, of Tiffany Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple battery.

Correctional officers responded to the cell block due to a disturbance. Burke was identified as striking another inmate during a verbal altercation, Blair said. Burke was booked on the simple battery charge.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 38 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrest in east St. Mary Parish:

—Kenneth Allridge, 53, of Oil Tank Alley in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of issuing worthless checks. While being booked at parish jail on other charges, a booking deputy located an active warrant for Allridge’s arrest. Allridge was released on $5,000 bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson police reported no arrests.

From the editor: The prediction is for active hurricane season — or is it?

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 9:53am

In our world of polarized government and polarized media, where everything is just a matter of somebody’s opinion, we can at least count on the annual hurricane forecasts, can’t we? Maybe not. The predictions are blowing hot and cold. The widely quoted annual forecast from Colorado State University, released Thursday, says we can expect an above-average number of hurricanes in 2018. A relatively new player on the scene predicts a below-average amount of tropical activity. Let’s go first to the Rocky Mountains, where the late meteorologist William Gray turned Colorado State University into a center of tropical cyclone research. Colorado State predicts 14 named ...

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!

Radio logs for April 6

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 9:52am

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, April 5

9:12 a.m. Allison Street; Complaint.

10:17 a.m. 1200 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.

11:22 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Theft.

12:26 p.m. 400 block of Sixth Street; Juvenile problem.

12:33 p.m. Chennault and Roderick streets; Complaint.

12:43 p.m. 400 block of Duke Street; 911 open line.

12:52 p.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Complaint.

2:32 p.m. 300 block of Garber Street; Theft.

3:05 p.m. Fourth and Everett streets; Narcotics complaint.

3:09 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.

4:31 p.m. Patterson; Search warrant.

5:22 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Battery.

6:05 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.

6:09 p.m. 1500 block of Walnut Drive; Suspicious person.

6:29 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Civil complaint.

6:50 p.m. 200 block of Wren Street; Civil complaint.

7:44 p.m. 600 block of Marshall Street; Suspicious activity.

7:47 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Alarm.

8:34 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Complaint.

9:13 p.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Complaint.

9:25 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.

9:40 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182 East; Building check.

9:42 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Officer stand by.

11:04 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Removal of subject.

Friday, April 6

2:19 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.

WILLIAM GOBER SR.

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 9:50am

William Gober Sr., 85, a native of Carroll County, Mississippi and resident of Patterson, died Thursday, April 5, 2018, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Walls Gober; six children, William Gober Jr., Davey Gober, Greg Gober, Barry Gober, Lisa Wilson and Tim Gober; one sister, Edna Salmon; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and four sisters.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Monday at Ibert’s Mortuary in Patterson. Burial will follow in Patterson Protestant Cemetery with military honors.
Ibert’s Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

(UPDATED) MICKEY EARL CUBBEDGE

Fri, 04/06/2018 - 9:48am

Mickey Earl Cubbedge passed away on Easter Sunday, April 1st, 2018 at the University Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana, after complications from his battle with cancer. He was 61.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the TWIN CITY GOSPEL TEMPLE, 215 Canton St., in Berwick, Louisiana. The Rev. Charley F. Driskill will officiate. Following the Memorial Service, family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life event at Lake End Park – North Pavilion, 2300 LA-70 in Morgan City. All are welcome.
A native of Berwick, Mickey grew up in and around the bayous. He was an avid sportsman who loved to fish, crab and crawfish every chance he had. When he wasn’t out working as an expertly skilled sandblaster and painter, he could be found out on the water or at home with his children and grandchildren, boiling crawfish and enjoying a cold one. He could also be found shaking the sawdust out his hair after a day of milling slabs with his lifelong friend, Donnie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Marguerite Cubbedge; and three sisters, Martha, Diane and Brenda Cubbedge.
Mickey is survived by his beloved children, daughter Hope and her husband, Adner Laboy, son Mickey Earl Cubbedge Jr., and daughter Kristin Cubbedge, and their mother, Linda. He is also survived by three brothers, Wallace “Bubsy” Cubbedge and his wife Sharon, Gale Cubbedge and his wife Angela, and Jody Cubbedge; five sisters, Deborah Morrison and her husband, Freddie, Lena Manley and her husband Cy, Pamela Reed, Sue Cubbedge and Wanda Cubbedge; four grandchildren, Kayla, Adner Jr., Angelo and Julian; as well as many, many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to help with final expenses. A fund has been set up via https://www.youcaring.com/mickeycubbedge-1153616.