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Terrebonne General Medical Center has named Dana Olivier, RN, the first Leader of the Quarter.
Olivier, informatics manager with the TGMC Information Technology Department, has worked for the hospital for over 32 years.
Recipients demonstrate outstanding and consistent commitment to the well-being of patients, their extended families and staff. They also must fulfill TGMC’s mission of providing exceptional healthcare with compassion while serving as strong role models to their peers.
Olivier oversees several software programs designed to provide efficient and accurate patient care and manages a team of 15. Olivier is credited by her team for her excellent leadership skills and for continuously providing her team with growth opportunities. These educational opportunities allow for the TGMC IT department to remain innovative in the advancing healthcare environment.
“I am completely overwhelmed and honored,” said Olivier. “I have had great mentors and a team of competent and caring staff that have taught me so much about being a leader. This award validates my personal growth and the goals I set along the way.”
TGMC Leader of the Quarter recipients are nominated internally by fellow staff members.

There has been a lot of bad news out of LSU, Louisiana’s flagship university in recent weeks, and not just on the football field where the Tigers have completed a mediocre season, even though they have the highest salaried group of coaches in the nation.
Campus shortcomings have raised a number of troubling questions about poor administrative decisions being made.
Tolerance of fraternity hazing that led to one student’s death received national attention. So did the building of a “floating river” on campus in the shape of the school’s initials. The Wall Street Journal had this to say recently about this boondoggle: “There may be no better symbol of American higher education wasteful indulgence then Louisiana State University’s lazy River.”
The latest hit is a report form Kiplinger’s financial magazine published just last week citing how public universities rank when it comes to academic quality and getting “the best bang for your buck.” LSU ranked at 270th, far behind every other SEC school with the exception of Mississippi State.
So what’s happened to cause such a dramatic demise?
Huey Long was the best friend and supporter LSU ever had as he force-fed LSU with increasing appropriations. The Kingfish made no bones about his long-term goals for the state’s flagship university — “LSU’s going to be the Harvard of the South.”
LSU’s significant relevance as an educational pillar continued into the 1950s. Prominent writers like Robert Penn Warren made the Baton Rouge campus a gathering point for major literary figures. The Southern Historical Association began publishing its Journal of Southern History as well as the long respected Southern Review, all from LSU. And the LSU Press became the publishing beacon for serious fiction and non-fiction, rivaled only by the University of North Carolina Press.
Outstanding young academicians in a variety of fields were attracted to Baton Rouge, and the music department produced grand opera accompanied by its own symphony orchestra under directors of international acclaim. The efflorescence of so much creative and academic talent drew praise for Louisiana nationwide.
But that was then. What happened in recent years that caused Louisiana State University to be an “also ran,” not just nationally, but right here in the Deep South?
The 60s came along and other southern states did not have the huge reservoirs of oil and gas. Education became a key to their survival. But in Louisiana, who cared about having a college degree when an oil field worker with a 10th grade education could make as much or more than many professionals with graduate degrees? A college degree became less relevant. And that’s when politics came into the mix.
With the economy running on auto pilot in Louisiana and unemployment running way behind other southern states, the cry for “keeping the flagship university strong” fell on deaf legislative ears. Rural legislators were more concerned about beefing local colleges up to LSU status, and even building unneeded new colleges and trade schools. And LSU became its own worst enemy by not aggressively making their case of why a flagship university was, and is today, critical to the economic well-being and future of the state.
UNC is listed as the number one college in the new Kiplinger report. In North Carolina, there is one board for higher education. The centergy is around the flagship, my alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
When Louisiana’s constitutional convention was held in 1973, LSU was nowhere to be found, as it should have been, to lobby for a single college board. So now we have every college in the current four board system pushing to be a little LSU.
James Carville dismissed many of the state’s problems by saying that Louisiana is not just a way of life, “It’s a culture all its own.” But every state has its own special ambiance, or way of life that is unique. Maybe the others don’t throw Mardi Gras beads and use Tabasco sauce but saying Louisiana is “special in its own way” is a cop out if its leadership has not made the commitment to accentuate its best and brightest.
Louisiana is at a crossroads. If the state’s leadership does not work to protect and promote a high degree of excellent achievement at LSU, the best and the brightest students will leave the state or settle for a less challenging education offering them few opportunities in the future. The whole state will suffer from such a loss.
“Half the crowd in Tiger Stadium on a Saturday night can’t even spell LSU.”
— James Carville
Peace and Justice
Jim Brown
Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all of his columns at www.jimbrownusa.com.

Two suspects were arrested Tuesday on drug charges after Morgan City police stopped a vehicle with improper lighting, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Tyler M. Kapp, 26, of Crenshaw Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension, improper lighting and on a warrant charging him with failure to appear for drug court.

—Brandy L. Fields, 37, of Florence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and on warrants charging her with possession of methamphetamine, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone and disregard of traffic controls.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Halsey Street with improper lighting. A stop was initiated, and Kapp was identified as the driver. Fields was identified as an occupant.

Kapp and Fields were in possession of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Police found evidence that the suspected methamphetamine, which Kapp possessed, was destined to be sold in illicit sales, Blair said.

Kapp also had a suspended driver’s license and an arrest warrant through 16th Judicial District Court.

Fields was warrants through Morgan City police. Those warrants stem from a March 21, 2017, investigation when officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Seventh Street disregard a traffic control, Blair said.

A stop was initiated, and Fields was identified as the driver. Fields was in possession of suspected methamphetamine, Blair said. The incident took place in a drug-free zone. The investigation continued and warrants were filed for Field’s arrest. Kapp and Fields were jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 39 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Ryan J. Bowman, 22, of Jupiter Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with probation violation Bowman was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Bowman was jailed.

—Johnathon Priestley, 24, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:07 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with five counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Priestley was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Priestley was jailed.

—Edwin Herrera, 39, of Leona Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of no driver’s license, improper lighting and resisting an officer by giving false information.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 with improper lighting. A stop was initiated, and Herrera was eventually identified.

Herrera had provided officers with a false name during the initial contact, Blair said. Herrera also didn’t have a valid driver’s license, Blair said. Herrera was jailed.

—Trey M. Simoneaux, 34, of Red Cypress Road in Patterson, was arrested at 10:42 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear for a contempt of court hearing.

Simoneaux was located and arrested in the area of Justa Street on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant. Simoneaux was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

While it seems like white, gray and other cool neutrals have taken over many shelter magazines and blogs in the past few seasons, there’s starting to be little rise in temperature.
Here and there, dollops of hothouse pink, sultry red and sunset orange are showing up in decorative accessories, rugs and upholstery.
Misty Yeomans, PPG’s color marketing manager for Glidden paint, said a recent company survey found that red is one of the most popular paint colors. That may be because of its range.
“Each red can give off different impressions,” she said. “A dark red implies sophistication, whereas bright red can be considered more powerful and romantic.”
Designers like Amanda Nisbet, Mark D. Sikes and Jessica McClendon have called Benjamin Moore’s Exotic Red, Sherwin-Williams’ Heartthrob, and Farrow and Ball’s Rectory Red among their favorite versions.
“Lighter reds — like pinks — are often thought of as more youthful,” said Yeomans.
That may partly explain the ubiquity of millennial pink, which has shown a lot of stamina over several decor cycles. But there are some new kids on the block.
“Looking ahead to 2018, we’re seeing a shift toward burgundy, and oranges are becoming brighter,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG’s senior color marketing manager.
Orange hues like Olympic Paints’ Orange Poppy and PPG Paints’ Caramelized Orange are cheerful and contemporary, she said.
Corals are also starting to emerge as a transition from the pinks, reports Yeomans, noting Glidden’s Coral Beach and Roseland as examples.
Color specialist Leatrice Eiseman, the author of “The Complete Color Harmony: Pantone Edition” (Rockport, October 2017), said decor trends are often an outgrowth of a desire for change. “And color can certainly provide the spark, specifically in the more vivid tones.”
A few of her favorites in the “hot” spectrum? “Pantone’s Cayenne, Molten Lava, Fuchsia Purple and Mimosa are all exuberant, dynamic and energizing hues,” she said. For those who want some heat, but not too much, she recommends peachy tones like Pantone’s Canyon Sunset or Coral Sands.
Benjamin-Moore just named Caliente, a rich spitfire of a red, as its 2018 Color of the Year.
There are lots of ways to bring these energetic colors into a room.
“You can easily tap into the trend by adding an accent wall,” Yeomans suggests. “If you’re not ready to add these bold tones to walls, the back of bookshelves, interior and exterior doors and accent furnishings provide great alternative spaces.”
Temper the heat with black, navy, gray, cream or green.
Not ready to paint? Consider a lamp. Lamps Plus’ Gillan glass base comes in lipstick-rich pinks and reds like Vivacious, Ribbon and Samba.
Sleek aluminum is given a coat of juicy orange paint to make a fresh and fun pendant lamp at Houzz. There are some smart little side tables in the hue here, too, in wood, glass or metal.
Add spice to the kitchen with red countertop appliances, canisters, bowls or linens. Or wade in deep with Kitchenaid’s or Smeg’s candy-apple-red ranges; Smeg and Viking also have red fridges.
Home Decorators’ Monte Carlo club chair comes in rich burnt orange or burgundy recycled leather.
At World Market , a traditional wing chair gets fuchsia velvet upholstery, and there’s a Persian-inspired area rug decked out in a vibrant geranium, poppy, tangerine and navy palette.
AllModern has a wide array of cotton, velvet and metallic throw pillows in solids and patterns that pick up hot pinks, tangerines and reds. Here too, a squooshy deep pink shag rug that’s got a warm, happy vibe.