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Hannibal, Dionysus crown royalty; Hephaestus, Amani next

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:57am
Staff Report

Staff report
The last big weekend of East St. Mary Mardi Gras balls is ahead after the krewes of Dionysus and Hannibal crowned their kings and queens Saturday.
The Krewe of Hephaestus ball will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at Morgan City Auditorium. There will be public viewing from the balcony. Admission is free.
The Krewe of Amani Ball will be 8 p.m. Saturday at the Patterson Area Civic Center, 116 Cotten Drive, Patterson. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and close at 7:55 p.m.
Tickets are $50 through EZticket.com with a code available through board members.
The theme for the Dionysus ball at Berwick's Civic Center was “Vampire Tour Through Time.” King Dionysus XLVI Larry Hotard represented Vlad Dracul. Queen Dionysus XLVI is Tina LeBlanc, who represented Elizabeth Bathory.
The Krewe of Hannibal ball was at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
This year’s theme was “The Symphony of the Seas.” King Hannibal XLV Marquall Dixon represented King Posiedon and Queen Cleopatra XLV Katasha Willis-Brown represented Queen Amphitrite.
Parades
Adonis
The Krewe of Adonis Parade will begin at 7 p.m. Friday in Morgan City. It begins on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Brashear Avenue onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street
Dionysus
The Krewe of Dionysus Parade will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Berwick.
The procession will line up on Gilmore Drive and turn on John Street, Robicheaux Street, Mount Street, Gilmore Drive, right on La. 182, Tournament Boulevard, Fairview Drive then to Pattie Drive, where it will disband at Berwick Junior High School.
Galatea
The Krewe of Galatea Parade will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Morgan City. It begins on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Brashear Avenue onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Nike
The Krewe of Nike Parade will follow the Galatea Parade at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Hannibal
The Krewe of Hannibal Parade will follow the Galatea and Nike parades in Morgan City about 3 p.m. Sunday.
Amani
The Krewe of Amani Parade will be at 2 p.m. Monday. It begins at Patterson High School on La. 182/Main Street and continues down La. 182/Main Street to Place Norman Shopping Center.
Hera
The Krewe of Hera Parade will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in Morgan City. It begins on Second Street under the La. 182 bridge and proceeds to Onstead Street, continuing down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street/La. 70, Clothilde onto Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Siracusaville
Participants will line up on Siracusa Road at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, and proceed to James Street and Grace Street before ending at the Siracusaville Recreation Center.
Hephaestus
The Krewe of Hephaestus Parade will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Morgan City. It begins on the corner of Sixth and Sycamore Street, proceeds on Sixth Street to Marguerite Street to Ninth Street/La. 70, to Clothilde, to Victor II Boulevard and ending at the Morgan City Auditorium on Myrtle Street.

St. Mary mayors point to progress in infrastructure

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:53am
BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com

When St. Mary mayors met the public Feb. 19, the magic word was “infrastructure.”
The event was a St. Mary Chamber Business Breakfast at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Even by the standards of the annual get-together featuring the mayors, when developments like the new public safety taxes in Baldwin and Franklin might have loomed larger, this breakfast was all about pipes, cement and the grants that are paying for them both.
“Someone told me years ago,” said Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan, “that if you put up flags around Patterson and flowers and this, that and the other, people will love and respect you. But they can’t see the infrastructure and things that are underground that need to be taken care of.”
“We need to build infrastructure,” said Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna, “so we can build betterment for the community.”
Here’s what they talked about.
Berwick
Mayor Duval Arthur pointed to grants totaling $8.2 million. The money is funding or will fund drainage work in a flood-prone area of Country Club Estates; $580,000 from the Legislature for an upgrade to automated water meters; an $800,000 street program that will include paving Sixth Street; $600,000 for sewer rehabilitation; and $4 million for replacing natural gas lines.
The town government recently decided to buy gas from Patterson when demand from generators lowers the pressure in the system
The Lighthouse Festival drew 15,000 people in 2024, Arthur said. And he said the town soccer program drew 350 children. Berwick also offers softball, baseball, flag and tackle football, and coed basketball for children, and coed volleyball and pickle ball for adults on 13 pickle ball courts.
The Brown House town history museum is adding an exhibition hall.
Chitimacha
Reservation
The Chitimacha Tribe is receiving a Housing and Urban Development grant for eight new homes on the reservation; a $5 million grant to extend water service in the West St. Mary area served by Water Works District No. 4; and $3 million for coastal protection along Cote Blanche Bay, Tribal Chairman Melissa Darden said.
A new market in Jeanerette is underway, and the tribe is looking at an expansion of the reservation school now serving 125 students. The tribe is also working with a state on a bridge that will help emergency services move get into Charenton, and a bid has been let for a public boat launch.
Improvements are being considered for reservation roads and an upgrade of the health clinic.
Darden pointed to the new sports complex with 78 new parking spaces. The reservation offers T-ball, softball and flag football.
Morgan City
The key, Dragna said, is to plan not for now, but for two, three or four years from now.
“If you build for now, you’re already behind,” Dragna said.
One example: business facades and home improvements taking place in the city come from a grant applied for three or four years ago.
A grant of $11 million-$12 million is building a new water plant modeled after Patterson’s new plant, which processes water more efficiently than conventional plants.
Morgan City has two new parks and is working on a third, and the city is investing in miles of walking trails.
The youth sports programs have grown because the administration emphasized that growth, Dragna said, and the Christmas Festival has seen a rapid rise in popularity in its three years of existence.
Franklin
“We have an aging infrastructure,” Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard said. “It didn’t get that way overnight. We won’t fix it overnight. I just want to leave it a little better than I found it.”
Toward that effort, Franklin has completed a $2.5 million street, drainage and sewer rehabilitation project on Cayce Street and a Yokely Canal widening project. Also done or in the works are new air conditioning at both recreation centers and $400,000 in new playground equipment, both through Community Development Block Grant funds.
The Franklin Fire Department has a new $500,000 training facility in Landry Park, and a new Economic Vitality Committee in the Main Street Program. Cajun Coast helped develop a QR code map in Franklin, and the Robert Dafford mural is complete in the pocket park.
Soon, the city will embark on a $2.5 million water distribution system upgrade; $536,000 targets sidewalk improvements to make them Americans with Disabilities Act-complaint; and $100,000 in state money will go toward an upgrade of the Teche Theatre for Performing Arts.
After demolishing 60 blighted properties, Franklin hopes to bring down 37 more in phase 2 of the program.
Patterson
Grogan quoted Ecclesiastes, the part about a season for everything. And this is infrastructure season, he said.
The Patterson work includes $2.3 million worth of upgrades to nine sewer lift stations.
“There’s no more sewer smell in Patterson,” Grogan said.
Another $5 million is going toward the new water plant, $1.5 million is earmarked for rehabilitating gas lines, and $700,000 will fund new gas meters.
Grogan touted Patterson emergency text system; the Chamber Leadership and Louisiana Municipal Association awards won this year by Community and Economic Development Director Holden Murray; the city’s health data dashboard; and the work of nurse practitioner Mary LeBlanc at the Patterson Total Care Clinic.
He also praised the work of city accountant Monica Mabile and longtime city employee Pam Washington for their work on a difficult budget situation for Patterson last year.
“Patterson is back,” Grogan said.
Baldwin
Mayor Clarence Vappie’s town is the smallest municipality in St. Mary, but Baldwin also was able to acquire some grant funding.
The big items was $2.6 million in federal funds that will go to railroad crossing rehabilitation and elimination. The grant requires a town match, but Vappie said he was able to negotiate the match down to $900.
“We can handle that,” he said.
Design work is underway on a sidewalk and bike trail to be funded with a $400,000 Safe Streets grant, and the state is putting up another $200,000 for a new basketball court.
The town is using $250,000 in federal money to rehabilitate sewer system lift stations. The Port of West St. Mary has new sugar storage structures.

Wednesday is voter sign-up deadline for March 29 election

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:51am

Wednesday is the last day to register to vote in time for the March 29 elections in St. Mary Parish.
Residents have until March 8 to register using the Geaux Vote online system, which can be reached through the Louisiana secretary of state’s website or the Geaux Vote app
Voters in School Board District VII will pick a successor for board member Murphy Pontiff, who resigned last year. The candidates are Lawrence Guillory, who was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Carla B. Pellerin, administrator of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Assisi Bridge House.
Voters will also see four proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution.
Amendment 1 would allow the Louisiana Supreme Court to sanction out-of-state lawyers for unethical conduct.
Amendment 2 would make a series of tax and revenue changes, including a lower top income tax rate and larger deductions for taxpayers over 65.
Amendment 3 would allow the Legislature to decide for which crimes juveniles may be tried as adults.
Amendment 4 would allow the use of the earliest possible election date to fill judicial vacancies.
Early voting will be March 15-22, excluding Sunday, March 16.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. March 25. The deadline for returning an absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. March 28.

Shrimp Louey: Cajun Coast wins tourism award

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:48am

The Cajun Coast Convention and Tourism Commission has won an award for its Shrimply Delicious Food Trail campaign.
The Louey award was presented last week at the Louisiana Travel Association annual meeting in Monroe.
“These awards honor the exceptional contributions of individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted Louisiana’s tourism industry,” the association said in a press release.
“We are thrilled to highlight the outstanding work of the 2025 Louey Award Winners,” said Chris Landry, LTA President and CEO. “Through their initiatives, our visitors leave not as tourists but as newfound advocates for the state.”
The Shrimply Delicious Trail promoted nearly 40 restaurants from the Jeanerette area to Amelia. Diners were urged to collect receipts, and five receipts could be redeemed for a promotional T-shirt.
Also receiving 2025 Louey Awards were:
•Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget up to $29,999) Platinum, Cajun Coast Tourism, Shrimply Delicious Food Trail.
•Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year (budget up to $499,999), Avoyelles Commission of Tourism.
•Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year (budget from $500,000-$999,999), Sabine Parish Tourist and Recreation Commission.
•Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year (budget from $1 million and above), Discover Monroe-West Monroe.
•Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget up to $29,999) Gold, Visit the Northshore-All the Waves Podcast.
•Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget of $30,000 and above) Platinum: Visit Baton Rouge: with a Capital.
•Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget of $30,000 and above) Gold, Ascension Parish Tourism Commission, Louisiana’s Sweet Spot.
•Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget of $30,000 and above) Silver, Visit Lake Charles – As Much as You Can Pack In.
•Attraction of Year: Shreveport Aquarium.
•Accommodation of the Year: Golden Nugget Lake Charles
•Festival of the Year: 74th Annual Peach Festival.
•Event of the Year: The Maw Maw Walker.
•Restaurateur of the Year: Tracy Carter.
•Restaurateur of the Year: Horst Pfeifer.
•Major Event of the Year: Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, 2024 USA National Karate Championship and U.S. Junior Team Trials.
•Rising Star of the Year: Devan Corbello.
•Will Mangham Tourism Lifetime Achievement: Mark Romig.
•Victor Profis Travel Media: Vito Zuppardo, Miles Partnership.
•Marion “Butch” Fox Advocacy Award: Vimal “Ricky” Patel.
•Louisiana Spirit Award: Tico Soto.

Panel hears about plans for state budget

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:45am
By QUINN MARCEAUX And AVERY SAMS, LSU Manship School News Service.

Gov. Jeff Landry’s top budget and tax officials presented a plan for the coming fiscal year to a joint committee of the Legislature on Thursday, despite growing uncertainty over how potential federal funding cuts could affect the state’s finances.
With more than 50% of Louisiana’s budget relying on federal funds, potential cuts by the federal government to higher education, health care and infrastructure funding could create significant financial gaps for the state. Lawmakers also remain uncertain about budget items tied to the outcome of a state-wide vote in March over Constitutional Amendment 2, which was approved by the Legislature last November.
If voters pass the amendment on March 29, it would free up additional funding, allowing lawmakers to continue funding the $2,000 teacher stipend, which is currently not accounted for in the 2025-2026 budget.
Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, questioned Landry officials about their commitment to securing the teacher pay raise should Amendment 2 fail to pass.
“I think it would be the governor’s intent to fully fund those parishes that are coming up short based on that calculation, and certainty work with the parishes to figure that out,” said Taylor Barras, Landry’s commissioner of administration, “It is hard to go to the public and ask for a teacher pay raise if, indeed, not everyone is getting one,” Barras said.
Alongside the uncertainty of federal funding cuts and Amendment 2, Barras briefly acknowledged a potential $196 million deficit for fiscal year 2028-2029. However, with ongoing fiscal challenges dominating the budget discussion for fiscal 2025-2026, lawmakers showed little concern over the long-term shortfall.
Despite these uncertainties, the budget includes key allocations for Medicaid reimbursement rate increases and education funding. This includes support for the Minimum Foundation Program, which provides block grants to school districts based on need, and the LA Gator Scholarship Program, which funds education accounts for K-12 students to access tutoring, tuition assistance and online learning.
The budget also allocates funding to the Office of Juvenile Justice to cover costs at the Jetson Center for Youth, located near Baton Rouge, including the addition of 44 beds and associated medical expenses. Additionally, $4.1 million is earmarked to address overtime costs within the office.
Landry’s budget plan sets aside possible excess funding to be allocated to shortfalls in juvenile justice and corrections, continuing the Legislature’s commitment to juvenile justice reform.
“I just want to make sure everyone understands what the Jetson facility is and how important it is,” Sen. Heather Cloud (R-Turkey Creek), said. “A key part of the tiered system is an intake facility. Prior to that legislation, we were just taking juveniles in after they were adjudicated from court, and they were just going to wherever and whatever facility had open bed space, Cloud said.
“That meant we had some low-level juveniles that maybe hadn’t committed a series of crimes and maybe had different needs. And so the intake facility is the best part of what we are doing. We’ll take them in, get a good understanding of their situation, and then put them in the proper facility,” Cloud said.
This budget proposal follows a major overhaul of Louisiana’s tax system in 2024, that included significant tax cuts. The changes include a 3% flat personal income tax in 2025, reductions in corporate taxes and a temporary sales tax hike to 5% to offset revenue losses. As a result, Louisiana now has the highest combined state and local sales tax rate in the nation at 10.6%. Additionally, the corporate franchise tax will be fully eliminated by 2026, with some business tax credits set to expire in 2025.
To secure support for these changes, lawmakers combined the income tax rate cut with the sales tax increase to prevent a projected billion-dollar revenue shortfall.

La. role in American Revolution on display at museum

Tue, 02/25/2025 - 10:41am
SPEC. DUNCAN FOOTE, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

NEW ORLEANS – As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, the Louisiana National Guard’s Jackson Barracks Museum in New Orleans (The Ansel M. Stroud Jr. Military History and Weapons Museum) offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the state’s contributions to the nation’s founding.
The museum’s exhibits showcase Louisiana’s military history, including an often-overlooked role in the American Revolution.
A standout exhibit explores Louisiana’s impact on the fight for independence, highlighting key figures such as Gen. Bernardo de Gálvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, whose support for the American cause proved critical.
Gálvez’s victories in the Battle of Baton Rouge and subsequent campaigns in Mobile and Pensacola diverted British resources from other key engagements. Artifacts, including military uniforms, weapons, and historical documents, provide insight into his leadership and Louisiana’s strategic importance.
The museum enhances the visitor experience with interactive displays, educational panels, and multimedia presentations designed to engage audiences of all ages.
Located in New Orleans, the Jackson Barracks Museum offers a unique perspective on this pivotal chapter in American history.
By highlighting Louisiana’s contributions to the Revolutionary War, the exhibit ensures these stories are remembered and appreciated—especially as the nation prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial.

Domestic abuse, theft charges in weekend arrests

Mon, 02/24/2025 - 4:46pm
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.)

St. Mary parish deputies reported arrests on sex crime, battery, theft and domestic abuse charges over the weekend.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 86 complaints and made these arrests:

--Josue Ruiz-Rodriguez, 22, Amelia, was arrested at at 11:47 a.m. Saturday on a charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Bail was set at $10,000.

--Jasmine Joy Jann, 32, Slidell, was arrested at 4:33 p.m. Saturday on a charge of simple battery. Bail was set at $2,000.

--Whitney Ann Klein, 60, Patterson, was arrested at 3:55 p.m. Sunday on charges of criminal trespass and theft. Klein was released on a $2,500 bond.

--Randy Ellis Tisdale Jr., 40, Amelia, was arrested at 1:14 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse (child endangerment law). Bail was set at $7,500.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 75 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Krista Thompson, 31, Oakville Street, Bell Rose, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. Friday on charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and criminal damage to property ($1,000-$5,000).

--Na'Tyia Henry, 22, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:21 p.m. Friday on a charge of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Shane Valladares, 40, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 5 p.m. Friday on a charge of simple battery.

--Mychal Ruffin, 32, North Bayou Black Drive, Gibson, was arrested at 2:24 p.m. Saturday as a fugitive from the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Jamie s. Butler, 43, Willow Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7:08 p.m. Sunday a warrant alleging failure to yield (with accident), failure to appear for court, failure to signal, driver’s license suspended or revoked, and no insurance.

Butler was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,375.

--German Coe Calix Rosales, 40, Carol Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Sunday on charges of improper lane usage and no driver’s license. Rosales was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $521.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 31 calls for service over the weekend and made these arrests:

--Tate Foco, 19, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 4:03 a.m. Saturday on a charge of hit-and-run driving. Foco was booked, processed and released on a $313 bond.

--Edith Bonilla-Ramos, 44, Cayce Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:31 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of speeding. Bonilla-Ramos was booked, processed and released on a $338 bond.

Morgan City police radio logs for Feb. 20-24

Mon, 02/24/2025 - 2:22pm

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, Feb. 20
5:17 a.m. 800 block of Clothilde Street; Medical.
6:26 a.m. Chestnut/Jennie drives; Animal complaint.
7:29 a.m. La. 70; Road blockage.
7:50 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Theft.
8:17 a.m. 500 block of Barrow Street; Animal complaint.
9:24 a.m. 1100 block of Ditch Avenue; Animal complaint.
9:52 a.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Civil matter.
10:23 a.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Welfare check.
10:37 a.m. 300 block of Laurel Street; Medical.
10:57 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
12:04 p.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Officer stand by.
12:42 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Vehicle accident.
2:41 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Welfare check.
3:58 p.m. 1000 block of Hilda Street; Complaint.
4:38 p.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.
Friday, Feb. 21
8:05 a.m. 1000 block of Second Street; Complaint.
10:52 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
1:10 p.m. 300 Terrebonne Street; Animal complaint.
1:16 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Arrest.
3:10 p.m. Middle Road ; Agency assist.
3:15 p.m. 1000 Block McDermott Drive; Complaint.
4:29 p.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
4:31 p.m. 2000 block of Cypress Street; Animal complaint.
5:05 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Animal complaint.
5:13 p.m. Walmart; Altercation.
5:46 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
6:43 p.m. 300 block of Bush Street; Stand by.
6:49 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
6:58 p.m. 3000 block of Lake Palourde Drive; Medical.
7:33 p.m. 700 block of Egle Street; Utilities.
8:56 p.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Medical.
10:25 p.m. 1600 block of Chestnut Drive; Loud music.
10:49 p.m. 20 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
10:53 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Patrol request.
Saturday, Feb. 22
12:05 a.m. 800 block of Ninth Street; Suspicious subject.
1:59 a.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.
2:23 a.m. Seawall area; Patrol request.
2:45 a.m. Greenwood/Fifth streets; Suspicious subject.
3:12 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
4:56 a.m. 600 block of Willow Street; Medical.
8:05 a.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
8:21 a.m. 300 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
11 a.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
11:12 a.m. 900 block of Palm Street; Medical.
11:15 a.m. Onstead Street; Animal.
11:59 a.m. 6000 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
2:21 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Arrest.
4:19 p.m. 3000 block of Roderick Street; Animal complaint.
5:55 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Patrol request.
6:09 p.m. 10 block of Chennault Street; Patrol request.
6:23 p.m. 2000 block of Keith Street; Medical.
8:33 p.m. U.S. 90 West/La. 182 Ramp; Stalled vehicle.
8:35 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Telephone harassment.
10:37 p.m. La. 182/Amelia; Assistance.
Sunday, Feb. 23
1:32 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Assistance.
9:21 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Complaint.
10:19 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
12:24 p.m. 4000 block of Lake Palourde Road; Agency assist.
1:29 p.m. 400 block of Laurel Street; Alarm.
5:48 p.m. Iowa Street; Complaint.
6:21 p.m. 700 block of Florence Street; Welfare concern.
7:33 p.m. 500 block of Third Street; Suspicious subject.
7:39 p.m. 400 block of Belanger Street; Simple battery.
9:23 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Patrol request.
Monday, Feb. 24
12:01 a.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Medical.
2:08 a.m. Federal Avenue/Greenwood Street; Suspicious subject.
5:19 a.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Vehicle accident.

Second suspect arrested in armed robbery

Fri, 02/21/2025 - 7:35pm
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.)

Assumption Parish authorities have booked a second suspect in a May armed robbery at a Plattenville business. The first suspect had been named in a St. Mary Parish fugitive warrant.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

--Deiondra Joseph, 29, Owens Street, Napoleonville, was booked Thursday on charges of armed robbery, failure to appear on a charge of simple battery and failure to appear on charges of simple battery and disturbing the peace, and on a probation and patrol violation.

On May 24, deputies were dispatched to a business on the La. 70 Spur after an armed robbery was reported.

Detectives identified two suspects. The first, Divone Davis, 34, Pecan Street, Napoleonville, was arrested June 26 on charges of armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and the St. Mary Parish fugitive warrant.

Joseph was arrested Feb. 13 in Ascension Parish and transferred Thursday to Assumption Parish.

Joseph remains incarcerated with bond set at $100,000 on the armed robbery charge. She was ordered held without bond on the failure to appear and probation and parole violation charges.

Davis remains in custody with bond set at $100,000.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 73 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Darren Droddy, 47, Sycamore Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:57 a.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal mischief.

--Johnny Hart, 67, Sixth Street, Berwick, was arrested at 8:32 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage and expired driver's license.

--Chelsea Francois, 31, Rousso Milazzo Road, St. Martinville, was arrested at 9:53 a.m. Feb. 19 on three counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Keith Singleton, 54, 11th Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:41 p.m. Feb. 19 on a charge of obstruction of a public passage. (Released on a summons.)

--Frank Johnson, 58, Maine Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:46 p.m. Feb. 19 on a charge of obstruction of a public passage. (Released on a summons.)

--Carmel Triggs, 43, Tall Timbers, Patterson, was arrested at 9:45 p.m. Feb. 19 on a charge of failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court.)

St Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 48-hour reporting period, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office responded to 83 complaints and made these arrest:

--Destiny James Landry, 49, Sulphur, was arrested at 4:24 p.m. Feb.19 on a probation violation and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $8,129.

--Latoya Latraille White, 39, New Iberia, was arrested at 5:03 p.m. Feb. 19 on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $2,000.

--Derrick Matthews Turner, 44, Franklin, was arrested at 6:34 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging aggravated battery and aggravated assault. Bail has not been set at this time.

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