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A 35-year-old man is wanted on several drug charges stemming from an incident at the Morgan City Housing Authority during which investigators determined he planned to sell cocaine and ecstasy pills, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum said in a news release.
Kevin Lee Clark is wanted on charges of possession of cocaine and crack cocaine over 28 grams with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug free zone-housing authority and remaining where forbidden.
Detectives suspect that Clark frequents the Houma and Morgan City areas. His last known address is Third Street in Morgan City. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to please contact the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-384-1622 or local law enforcement.
On Oct. 26, 2017, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics section conducted an investigation into a complaint of illegal drug activity in Morgan City and observed several subjects, including Clark with an SUV on Mallard Street parked within the Morgan City Housing Authority.
Upon seeing narcotics detectives, Clark exited the vehicle and walked into a home. A detective developed information that illegal drugs were being concealed inside the vehicle and contacted the sheriff’s office K-9 Unit to assist with the investigation. K-9 Buddy showed a response to the odor of illegal drugs on the vehicle, Anslum said.
Narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant for the SUV and found two bags of cocaine, several smaller bags of cocaine and crack cocaine and over 160 pills of MDMA, known as ecstasy pills, Anslum said.
Detectives arrested one suspect in connection with the drug case. Detectives also found evidence that Clark planned to sell the cocaine, crack cocaine and MDMA, Anslum said.
With the assistance of Morgan City police, a search was conducted of the home that Clark was seen entering. Clark was not located at that time. Detectives suspect that he fled through the back door, Anslum said. With the assistance of the Morgan City Housing Authority, detectives also learned that Clark had previously been barred from entering housing authority property.
August 11, 1941 March 12, 2018
Wayne Allen Rink Sr., 76, a resident of Stephensville, passed away Monday, March 12, 2018, at Teche Regional Medical Center.
Wayne was born on August 11, 1941, in Morgan City, the son of Alcide Rink and Maryess Moore Rink.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Ellen DeHart Rink of Morgan City; six children, Tamara Jones and husband Gordon of Patterson, Spring Rink of Stephensville, Wayne A. Rink Jr. and Tracy Moore of Stephensville, Autumn Rink and Keith Gros of Stephensville, Destiny Griffin and husband Heath of Leslie, Arkansas, and Mariah DeHart of Stephensville; nine grandchildren, Joshua Jones, Alanna Rink, Kristen LeBlanc and husband Zachary, Barry Johnson, Trevor Johnson, Virginia Rink, Hayden Rink, Isabella DeHart and Landon Breaux; three great-grandchildren, Addison Rink, Kinley LeBlanc and Kayden LeBlanc; two sisters, Betty Rink Romaire and husband Donald of Baton Rouge, and Helen Rink Toups of Stephensville; and one brother, Warren Rink and wife Kaye of Kokomo, Indiana.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Alcide and Maryess Moore Rink; one granddaughter, Ali Aucoin; and one brother, James Rink.
Memorial services will be held at a later date at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Ira Joseph Bourgeois Jr., known to family as “Boo”, a native of Morgan City and a longtime resident of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2018, in Atlanta, at the age of 50.
Ira was born on August 7, 1967, in Morgan City, to Ira Joseph Bourgeois Sr. and Margaret Chaisson Bourgeois.
Ira is sadly missed by his sisters, Linda Ferritti, Tana Bouton, Mary Kober, Bonita Fender, Rosanna Broussard, Patricia Robisheaux and Bernadine Duval; his brothers, Danny Alpha, Gary Alpha, Michael Alpha, Warren Alpha, Anthony Alpha, Ronnie Alpha, Vincent Bourgeois, Michael Bourgeois, Francis Bourgeois and Patrick Bourgeois; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his partner, Anthony “Tony” Bailey of Atlanta.
Ira was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Ira “Joe” Bourgeois Sr.; an infant brother; nephew, Cleveland Fryou Jr.; niece, Casie Alpha; and his paternal and maternal grandparents.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Morgan City.
HEALING MASS
Lenten Mission Healing Mass 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Amelia. Confessions at 6 p.m. and rosary at 6:30 p.m. Everyone invited. For info call Monica, 985-631-2333.
The Daily Review/Bill Decker
Berwick Mayor Pro-Tem Jacki Ackel gives Natalie Voisin a Beacon Shines On certificate at Tuesday's town council meeting. Ackel praised Natalie for promoting Berwick by using a Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service demonstration station to contact the USS Lexington in August.
The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival’s Miss and Master Sawblade Pageant will be held April 8 at the Patterson Area Civic Center. The event is part of the Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival being held April 6-8 at Kemper Williams Park near Patterson.
Boys and girls divisions are available. Entry fee is $40 payable in cash or money order only.
Girls division includes Tiny Miss, 0-23 months; Petite Miss, 2-4 years; Little Miss, 5-7 years; Deb Miss, 8-10 years and Junior Miss, 11-13 years. Boys division includes Tiny Master, 0-23 months and Master Saw Blade, 2-4 years.
Registration times are 8:30-9:30 a.m. ages 0-4 years with the pageant for that age starting at 10 a.m. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for older groups with the pageant for that age starting at 1 p.m.
Attire for participants is Sunday best with age appropriate hair and light makeup (not glitz).
Division winners receive a crown and banner, and are presented at the festival. Alternates receive a placement gift. Fashion and photogenic winners will be presented with a gift. A 4-by-6 headshot may be presented the day of the pageant.
The entry form is available via a Google Form link provided by emailing pcsfpageants@gmail.com or a completed form may be printed and turned in during registration time on April 8. Forms will appear periodically in The Daily Review.
For more information contact Rachel Lemoine or Carley Canty at pcsfpageants@gmail.com.
This year’s festival will also feature amusement rides, The All American Lumber Jack Show, an arts and crafts show, Classic Car Show, White Tiger Discovery, softball tournament, an old engine display, Cypress Sawmill Festival Shuttle Tours with guest music hosts, live bands and more.
The Cypress Sawmill Festival has also partnered with the Road To 3rd Street — Songs on the Bayou Festival this year for a variety of musical events and guests.
Proceeds from the festival go to the building fund for the Louisiana State Museum—Patterson. The museum features the Wendell-Williams Aviation Collection and the Cypress Sawmill Collection.
Church of the Assumption in Franklin will host their St. Joseph Alter Friday.
Mass is at 8:10 a.m., with Tupa Tupa Rite at 9 a.m. followed by the Rosary in English and Blessing of the Tables at 10:30 a.m. followed by the meatless spaghetti lunch from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Doors will close at 2 p.m.
All are invited to attend.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported the following arrests:
Shelton Phillips, 22, of 145 Georgetown Road, Franklin, was arrested Tuesday at 1:04 p.m. on charges of careless operation and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
Deputies investigated a crash involving two vehicles at the intersection of La. 182 and Desonier Road in the Jeanerette area. Deputies found that the driver of one of the vehicles, identified as Shelton, failed to brake as another vehicle ahead of him slowed down. Phillips then drove off the roadway and struck a vehicle. Phillips was also found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended license. Phillips was released on a summons.
Jacob Alcina, 30, of 706 Martin Luther King St., Patterson, was arrested Tuesday at 4:21 p.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of Schedule II methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule III Subutex, possession of Schedule IV Xanax, possession of Legend Drug Cialis without a prescription, possession of Legend Drug quetiapine without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
John Alcina, 33, of 706 Martin Luther King St., Patterson, was arrested Tuesday at 4:21 p.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Narcotics detectives developed information regarding illegal drug activity at a residence on Martin Luther King Street in Patterson and obtained a search warrant for the location. Detectives found a bag of methamphetamine, pills, a marijuana cigarette, and items of drug paraphernalia in Jacob Alcina’s room. Detectives also located a bag of marijuana, a marijuana cigarette, and drug paraphernalia in John Alcina’s room. Through investigation, detectives collected evidence that Jacob Alcina sold methamphetamine. Jacob Alcina was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set. John Alcina was released on a summons.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrests:
David Hayes, 32, of La. 182, Franklin, was arrested Tuesday at 12:35 p.m. on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of Schedule I narcotics heroin. Hayes was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at the time of press release.
Ingrid Jack, 27, of La. 83, Franklin, was arrested Tuesday at 10:43 p.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17 years of age.
Jack was additionally charged on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court for failure to appear on charges of illegal possession of stolen things and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license. Jack was booked, processed, and released on a $4,500 bond.
Raymond Comeaux, 47, of Third Street, Franklin, was arrested Thursday at 2:56 a.m. on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia—six counts and possession of Schedule II narcotics. Comeaux was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at time of press release.
Chitimacha Police Chief Hal Hutchinson reported the following arrests:
James Deshotel, 39, of Antigua Drive, Lafayette, was arrested Sunday on charges of theft, criminal damage to property, possession of a legend drug without a prescription, possession of Schedule V narcotic, public intimidation and retaliation and resisting an officer with force or violence. He was transported to the parish jail.
Officers responded to a tribal business in reference to a theft. During the investigation, it was learned that Deshotel allegedly committed the theft and was arrested for the theft along with the additional charges.
Nicole Thibodeaux, 40, of Fontelieu Drive, New Iberia, was arrested Tuesday on charges of domestic abuse battery. She was transported to the parish jail.
Robbie Johnson, 49, of Ann Street, New Iberia, was arrested Tuesday for a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery. He was transported to the parish jail.
On Tuesday, an officer was flagged down by the two subjects in a vehicle. During the investigation, they were arrested.
Bailey Romero, 40, of Carla Court, New Iberia, was arrested Wednesday for a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear on the charge of issuing worthless checks. He was transported to the parish jail.
An officer responded to a tribal business in reference to an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. During the investigation, it was learned that Romero had an active warrant, and was arrested.
Tony Caro, 20, of Chitimacha Trail, Charenton, was arrested Wednesday on a Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for the charge of molestation of a juvenile. He was transported to the parish jail. An officer was aware of the active warrant on Caro and he located Caro at a residence on the tribal reservation. Caro was arrested on the warrant.
A second charter review session of the St. Mary Parish Council held Wednesday brought some semblance of closure to a possible proposal to go before voters.
Some of the details remain in the air, but the council agreed to move ahead.
Councilman Dale Rogers continued presentation of an amendment that would raise the parish president’s salary from $12,000 to $78,000, and making the president the head of economic development for the parish. The president would have the option of hiring a director if required.
Councilman Patrick Hebert had presented an option to make the salary $40,000, and said he agreed that “something needs to be done.”
Hebert said he wanted to make the issue “very simple. The simpler it is, the better it will be, and if we want to change things later on, we always have that option. But we don’t want to confuse people on what needs to be done.”
He said the parish president’s job is “a heckuva lot of work…we shouldn’t always have to have a criteria that it has to be a wealthy man to be our parish president. No common man I know that has a job is going to be able to run for parish president.”
Rogers said $40,000 was not enough to “get somebody with the knowledge and experience” to fill the position of parish president.
“It’s not incentive to get the average man to run for parish president,” he said.
Councilman Gabe Beadle said that there is a provision in Rogers’ proposal that may prohibit a parish president from operating a personal business while in office. That section reads, “The president shall not engage in any activity unrelated to Parish government business that would interfere with or detract from the performance of duties as president.”
Rogers said he was open to removing that language.
Councilman James Bennett said he was against raises for any member of parish government. “We could be spending money on roads,” he said. “Internet on the west end, drainages that are stopped up, infrastructure we don’t have. That’s part of being a public servant.”
Bennett said because of the economic condition of the parish at present he doesn’t want to be associated with giving any raises.
Councilman J Ina said he would not support consolidating the parish president’s salary with that of the chief administrative officer.
Rogers pointed out that his ordinance would not consolidate those positions.
Councilman Paul Naquin said other parishes do have parish presidents also serve as CAO, and he would support that, but not until the current CAO, Henry “Bo” LaGrange has retired. He also said parish presidents must “take money out of their own pockets” to pay for many expenses incurred in their duties.
Legal counsel Eric Duplantis said it’s not proper to use public funds for things like chamber memberships, etc. but it can be used for governmental-related associations and such.
Councilman Glenn Hidalgo said he preferred a raise for the parish president should be accompanied by specified duties. “It’s been tried before, and it didn’t happen,” he said of previous efforts to raise the salary. “The parish president shouldn’t be running day-to-day operations, but I think he could be in charge of economic development.”
Councilman Craig Mathews said that while he respects the original home rule charter committee members and their intents, the document is more than 35 years old now. “Here we are having this discussion today and we’re finding it extremely challenging to adjust it because we have locked our citizens into a mindset that this is what it should be,” he said. “That mindset is based on 35 years ago…even we have adopted a concept that we don’t deserve a raise, the parish president doesn’t deserve a raise, even though the salaries were set for the economy 35 years ago.”
Mathews said there is no economic boost evident in the near future. “That is a devastating reality for this parish, to be locked in relentlessly to the mindset that we cannot give ourselves a raise or the parish president a raise because people are hurting…that is where we are, we are locked into an impoverished mindset in St. Mary Parish.”
Mathews also proposed adding to the ballot item, if presented to the voters, a provision that the parish council could allow for periodic pay increases “so you don’t have to go to the voters to approve it 45 years for now…because there would be incremental increases like any other job.”
Rogers said he’d be willing to add that to his proposed ordinance, for the next term of office. Beadle added there are council members around the state that make more than the St. Mary parish president.
Bennett’s motion to leave all salaries as they are failed, 3-8.
Rogers’ motion on the proposed ordinance, deleting the “other business” language regarding the parish president, passed 9-2, without the provision allowing for incremental pay raises. The full council will vote on the ordinance in regular session.
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