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Final door decorating contest winners announced
Patterson Garden Club sponsored a Door Decorating Contest at Hattie Watts. Third-grade winners were, top photo from left, Christy Leblanc, first and Sandra Galloway, second. Fourth-grade winners were, middle photo from left, Tiffany Smith, first and Mary Gilmore, second. Special Education winners were, bottom photo from left, Shawnie Romo, first and Lily Rebardi, second.
(UPDATED) MARY LOUISE LANE GROVES
October 14, 1916-December 20, 2017
Mary Louise Lane Groves, 101, a resident of North Richland Hills, Texas, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at Harrison Nursing home and Rehabilitation Center.
Mary was born Oct. 14, 1916, in Clifton, Texas, the daughter of James Grover Lane and Winnie Florence Cooksey.
Mary was very involved in her community; she was on the board of the Hephaestus Mardi Gras Krewe. She was also a part of the Morgan City Garden Club, the Art Guild, and Community Concert. She was also a parishioner and very involved at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mary was very talented, through her life she obtained many jobs and hobbies; she was an artist, a secretary, a great cook, and she also co-owned her own flower shop.
Mary will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by one daughter, Ann Groves Lallande of North Richland Hills, Texas; seven grandchildren, Trisha Ellis, Michael Ellis, James Lallande, Kerry Lallande, Heather Baldwin, Lori Alestock, and husband Shone, John Lallande and spouse Amanda; 13 great-grandchildren; Rafael and Raquel Basas, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and numerous friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, James Patrick Groves; one daughter Mary Michael Bush; three sisters, and two brothers.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at Sacred Heart Church with Father Wilfredo Decal officiating. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services; following the services, Mary will be laid to rest at Morgan City Cemetery.
CECELIA LOMBES LODRIGUE
April 6, 1934-December 20, 2017
Cecelia Lombes Lodrigue, 83, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017.
Cecelia was born April 6, 1934, the daughter of Clamey Lombes and Annie Rink Lombes.
Cecelia was a caregiver for 25 years to many family members. One of her favorite hobbies when she was younger was to hunt and fish.
Cecelia will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by two sons, Charles A. Lodrigue Jr. of Morgan City, and Joey Lodrigue Sr. and wife Rosalinda of Port Barre, Louisiana; one daughter, Deborah Pittman and husband Lloyd Jr. of Bayou Vista; one sister, Mary Dumont of Houma, Louisiana; four grandchildren, Scott Chaisson, Charles A. Lodrigue III, Joey Lodrigue Jr. and Dustin Lodrigue; and five great-grandchildren.
Cecelia was preceded in death by her parents, Clamey and Annie Lombes; her husband, Charles A. Lodrigue Sr.; three brothers, Morris Lombes, Alvin Lombes and Clamey Lombes Jr.; two sisters, Anna Mae Evans and Nathalie Blakeman; and one grandson, Kevin Charles Chaisson.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at Twin City Funeral Home with Father Wilfredo Decal officiating. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service; following services Cecelia will be laid to rest in Morgan City Cemetery.
Wheel House for Dec. 22
THRIFT STORE
At 304 South Railroad, Morgan City, four day after Christmas sale 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Dec. 27 and Jan. 3 and Thursdays, Dec. 28 and Jan 4. All clothing 50 cents. All proceeds benefit Sacred Heart Catholic charities.
Edwards says he asked ex-LSP leader to live onsite
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Despite auditors’ criticism it was improper and possibly illegal, Gov. John Bel Edwards defended the living arrangements of retired Louisiana State Police leader Mike Edmonson, saying he asked Edmonson to live in a state-owned home as agency superintendent.
Edmonson moved into the house at state police headquarters in 2008, after he was named superintendent by then-Gov. Bobby Jindal. Edwards kept Edmonson in the job when he took office in 2016 and said he asked the state police leader to remain in the house, because the governor thought it was the best way for Edmonson to quickly respond to emergencies.
Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office suggested living in the house without paying rent, utilities or taxes could have violated state law.
“I’m less than convinced that the legislative auditor got it right relative to the use of the residence by Col. Edmonson,” Edwards said Wednesday at a wide-ranging news conference.
Edwards didn’t defend Edmonson, however, against other charges raised by auditors that Edmonson misused tax dollars to finance a lavish personal lifestyle. The governor called those allegations “very troubling.”
Edmonson had been the state police’s longest-serving superintendent, holding the job for nine years before retiring in March amid questions about lax spending practices and his leadership style. Edwards tapped Col. Kevin Reeves to fill the position.
“I have 100 percent confidence in Col. Reeves and in his leadership abilities, in the changes that he’s already made in the organization. I think that morale among state troopers has increased, and I believe the professionalism of that agency will be fully restored,” the governor said.
Auditors suggested Edmonson used the Louisiana State Police troopers and equipment for personal gain. They say he put family and friends in New Orleans hotel rooms planned for troopers assisting with Mardi Gras safety, used troopers to run personal errands for him and his family and asked state police staff to perform maintenance on family members’ vehicles.
Edmonson left the agency after criticism erupted about troopers billing thousands of dollars to taxpayers for overtime and expenses on a 2016 trip to a law enforcement conference in San Diego, during which they took sightseeing trips to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Edmonson said he hadn’t approved the side trips, but a state police review found he knew about the excursions, was in contact with the troopers throughout the trip and deleted text messages during the investigation. The legislative audit backed up the state police review.
In a written letter to Purpera’s office, the ex-state police leader said he will respond to the audit by Jan. 15. Meanwhile, the state police said it is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in reviewing Edmonson’s activities.
Beacon Award for Berwick Elementary
Submitted Photo
Berwick Elementary received the Imagine Learning Beacon School Award for the 2016-2017 school year. Beacon School Awards are given to schools that have excellent and innovative implementation and usage of the Imagine Learning program. Imagine Learning is an individualized computer program that teaches language and literacy to students who are learning English. This year, 63 Beacon Schools across the nation were chosen for this honor. Shown, front row from left: Berwick Elementary students Emily Martinez, Paris Plata and Ayleen Pineda. Standing: Debbie Tompkins, Berwick Elementary principal; Karen Marin, Title I liaison for English learners; Stephanie Wiggins, Imagine Learning para translator; Laine Mayon, curriculum facilitator; and Missy Hebert, assistant principal.
Police: Suspect’s blood alcohol content nearly triple legal limit
A 57-year-old Houma man was arrested in Morgan City on a DWI second offense charge after registering a blood alcohol content of nearly three times the legal limit, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Todd J. Gautreaux, 57, of Vicari Street in Houma, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Thursday on charges of DWI second offense and possession of open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
Patrol officers responded to the area of U.S. 90 in regard to a vehicle being operated in a reckless manner. A description of the vehicle was obtained and officers located the vehicle in question in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Gautreaux, the driver, was in an intoxicated state, Blair said. Gautreaux performed poorly on a field sobriety test and also had an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle, Blair said.
Gautreaux was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for chemical testing. Gautreaux submitted to a chemical test which resulted in 0.224 grams-percent blood alcohol content, Blair said. Gautreaux was jailed.
Blair reported officers responded to 35 calls and made the following arrests:
—Tommy L. Harding, 26, of Friendship Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of tobacco on jail premises.
Officers with the Morgan City jail conducted an investigation into the use of tobacco in the jail, which is prohibited. Officers searched a cell belonging to Harding and found him in possession of tobacco, Blair said. Harding was jailed.
—Bridget Brown, 46, of Aristile Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with simple battery.
Brown was located and arrested in the area of Maple Street on a warrant. The warrant stems from a Sept. 10, 2015, investigation when officers responded to the area of Chennault Street in regard to a complaint of a battery that had been committed.
Officers arrived and learned that Brown allegedly committed a battery on the victim, Blair said. The investigation continued and warrants were prepared for Brown’s arrest. Brown was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported that deputies responded to 36 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Darnell Ayro Sr., 34, of Edward Lane in Jeanerette, was arrested at 1:34 p.m. Thursday on charges of careless operation, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and a warrant for failure to register as a sex offender or child predator.
A detective with the St. Mary Parish Sex Offender Compliance Section conducted a follow-up investigation into a complaint worked by patrol deputies in Berwick involving Ayro, Hebert said. The detective found that Ayro was living in St. Mary Parish but failed to register with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office as a convicted sex offender.
In 2001, Ayro was convicted in Iberia Parish of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile-sexually immoral acts. The detective obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On Thursday, a patrol deputy responded to a two-vehicle crash on La. 83 in Ashton and identified Ayro as one of the drivers involved, Hebert said.
The deputy located the active warrant for his arrest. The deputy also found that he had a suspended license and that he was operating the vehicle in a careless manner when he struck the back of another vehicle, the sheriff said. Ayro was jailed with no bail set.
—Nathan Mclain Jr., 36, of Palmer Lane in Centerville, was arrested at 9:11 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on charges of speeding and operating a vehicle without a driver’s license.
—Belinda Cox, 46, of Palmer Lane in Centerville, was arrested at 10:16 a.m. Thursday on charges of criminal trespass and criminal damage to property.
A deputy responded to a call for service regarding trespassers on the Verdunville levee. Upon arrival, the deputy observed an unoccupied pick-up truck stuck in the mud on the levee.
The deputy identified the owner of the vehicle as Cox and found that she and Mclain were driving on the levee when the truck got stuck. During the investigation, Mclain returned to the truck to remove it from the mud.
While speaking with Mclain, the deputy located the active warrant for his arrest. The deputy located Cox at her home, Hebert said. Cox was released on a summons to appear in court March 7. Mclain was jailed and then released on $500 bail.
—Alan Granger, 27, of Lee Street in Franklin, was arrested at 11:08 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane usage, possession of marijuana and a warrant for criminal damage to property.
A deputy observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. 90 in Berwick. The deputy also observed the driver swerving onto the shoulder of the roadway and over the centerline multiple times, Hebert said.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Granger. While speaking with him, the deputy observed marijuana inside the vehicle, Hebert said.
The deputy also located the active warrant for Granger’s arrest. The warrant was issued in July 2014 after a correctional deputy at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center observed Granger damage a window at the facility during a previous incarceration, the sheriff said. Following the traffic stop investigation, Granger was jailed with bail set at $2,750.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
