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School board Students of the Month

The Daily Review/Bill Decker
The St. Mary Parish School Board recognized its Students of the Month at Thursday's meeting in Centerville. They are Ryly Aucoin, left, a fifth-grader at J.B. Maitland Elementary, and Da'Jha Boutte, a fifth-grader at W.P. Foster Elementary.

Police will check car seats Saturday

The Morgan City Police Department in conjunction with Walgreens on Brashear Avenue will host a Child Safety Seat Inspection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The free event provides the public with information to help contribute to children’s safety in the event of a car crash.
Participants of the event are only required to bring in their car seat. Officers will make sure that the car seats are the proper type for your vehicle and if the car seat is secured in the proper position. Each inspection will last approximately 15 minutes. For more information, contact Lt. John Schaff at 985-380-4605.

Body discovered at Lake End Park

Police are investigating the circumstance surrounding a body found Thursday at Lake End Park.
A 36-year-old white man, described by police as a short-time resident of the Tri-City area, was found unresponsive in his tent when Morgan City Police Department responded.
Lt. John Schaff, public information officer for MCPD, said that no foul play is suspected.
An autopsy is being performed. The identity of the victim is currently being withheld to allow for family notification.
Schaff said more information will be released later.

Saturday is Election Day

Voting for the next state treasurer and District 2 public service commissioner is Saturday. District 2 includes St. Mary and 12 other parishes.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters in Amelia will be able to vote on a proposition that would allow Gravity Drainage District 6 to levy a special tax of 7.83 mills on all the property subject to taxation in the district to raise a projected $530,240 annually for a period of 10 years, beginning in 2018 and ending in 2027, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, maintaining and operating gravity drainage works.
Three state constitutional amendments will also be on voters’ ballots.
Proposed Amendment No. 1 would exempt from property taxes materials and other property delivered to a construction site to be made part of a building or other construction.
Proposed Amendment No. 2 would authorize an exemption from ad valorem property tax for the total assessed value of the homestead exemption of an unmarried surviving spouse of a person who died while performing their duties as an emergency medical responder, technician, paramedic, volunteer firefighter, or a law enforcement or fire protection officer.
Proposed Amendment No. 3 would dedicate any new tax levied on gasoline, diesel, and special fuels into the Construction Subfund, which would be used solely for project delivery, construction, and maintenance of transportation and capital transit infra-structure projects and not for paying employee wages and related benefits or employee retirement benefits.
A total of 1,100 absentee and early St. Mary Parish voters had cast ballots by the end of Tuesday, according to St. Mary Parish Registrar of Voters Jolene Holcombe. Early voting was from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7.
Patterson residents will have another election for special charter amendments on Nov. 18 to determine the separation of powers between the mayor and police chief. The proposed amendments, if passed, will allow the mayor to hire and discipline all city employees except those in the police department. The power over city employees within the police department will be given to the police chief.

Radio Logs for October 13

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.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
6:55 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.
8:10 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Arrest.
10:33 a.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Complaint.
10:54 a.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Arrest.
10:58 a.m. 1700 block of Dale Street; Theft.
11:26 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:31 a.m. 1500 block of Front Street; Assistance.
11:59 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.
12:21 p.m. 1900 block of Victor II Boulevard; Juvenile problem.
1:39 p.m. 1200 block of Railroad Avenue; Medical.
1:44 p.m. 8000 block of La. 182; Arrest.
1:57 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Theft.
2:26 p.m. 1800 block of Maple street; Complaint.
2:27 p.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Crash.
2:42 p.m. 2200 block of Federal Avenue; Medical.
3:07 p.m. Onstead Street and Federal Avenue; Animal complaint.
3:51 p.m. 500 block of Barrow Street; Medical.
4:10 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
4:18 p.m. 300 block of Greenwood Street; Alarm.
5:11 p.m. 300 block of Oriole Street; Disturbance.
5:12 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Theft.
5:12 p.m. 500 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical.
5:50 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Lost and found.
6:28 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Medical.
7:43 p.m. Victor II Boulevard and Myrtle Street; Traffic incident.
8:30 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Assistance.
8:41 p.m. 1000 block of Belanger Street; Assistance.
9:09 p.m. Louisiana and Fifth streets; Frequent patrol.
9:21 p.m. 100 block of Canary Street; Theft.
10:46 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Traffic incident.
Thursday, Oct. 12
7:55 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Traffic incident.
8:42 a.m. 300 block of Grizzaffi Street; Juvenile problems.
9:43 a.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Crash.
10:04 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Complaint.
10:45 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:49 a.m. 1200 block of Keith Street; Fire.
11:57 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Medical.
12:20 p.m. 1300 block of Chestnut Drive; Theft.
12:23 p.m. 2400 block of Hemlock Street; Juvenile problems.
2:26 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Disturbance.
3:03 p.m. 1100 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
3:11 p.m. 100 block of Eleventh Street; Arrest.
3:18 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Juvenile problems.
4:01 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
4:06 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
4:56 p.m. 700 block of Bush Street; Complaint.
6:43 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Assistance.
8:24 p.m. 1300 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
9:45 p.m. 200 block of Leona Street; Suspicious person.
11:09 p.m. 200 block of Arkansas Street; Medical.
Friday, Oct. 13
12:02 a.m. 500 block of General MacArthur Street; Animal.
12:15 a.m. Sixth and Marguerite streets; Traffic incident.
12:22 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Disturbance.

Committee ponders M.D. Shannon's fate

CENTERVILLE — The fate of M.D. Shannon Elementary is up in the air after the St. Mary School Board’s District III Maintenance Committee discussed possible renovation and demolition of the school.
Merlin Lirette, architect of The Merlin Group, presented the renovation analysis of the school to the District III Maintenance Committee during a special meeting held Wednesday at the St. Mary School Board Office.
The school’s projected renovation cost is $7.9 million, but the value of the property was only appraised for $875,000 with the land costing $575,000 and the building costing $300,000. Proposed renovations include replacing the interior and exterior stairs, making the building handicap-accessible, updating electrical systems, adding a sprinkler system, updating hurricane-rated doors, and improving windows, plumbing, and roofing.
The building was first appraised when Shannon first closed its door in 2016 due to a decrease in enrollment. The school board still remains responsible for the upkeep of the building.
“We still perform safety checks, maintain the electricity, gas, air conditioning, yard work,” said Leonard Armato, superintendent of St. Mary Parish School Board.
The gymnasium of the building is still being utilized for the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, other community events and the Morgan City Recreation Department’s summer camp.
The Cook, Moore, Davenport & Associates firm said in the appraisal report for Shannon Elementary that “it is not financially feasible to renovate the subject property at this time. The subject (property) could be converted for alternate usage such as a community facility, church, office, assisted living, and others.”
Lirette said, “I could not stand here and recommend you use that building knowing what I know about it. “If it goes up, it’s going to go up quick in fire. This building is wood so if it catches on …,” said Lirette.
Lirette estimated that to demolish the school would cost between $350,000 and $500,000.
Committee Chairman Roland Verret said the committee will have a lot of discussion before it presents recommendations to the board.
“The board has to continue to maintain the school until the board makes a decision in which we are nowhere near any time soon,” said Armato.
M.D. Shannon Elementary was built in 1906. Additional buildings were added in the 1940s.

Lombardo receives St. Mary AARP service award

Ann Etta Lombardo was presented the St. Mary AARP Chapter 4435 Community Service Award during the St. Mary AARP monthly meeting on Oct. 2 at the St. Mary Senior Citizens Center, home of St. Mary AARP, in Morgan City. Lombardo, chapter treasurer, was recognized for her outstanding service to AARP and the community.
Prior to the meeting, members and guests were entertained with dance music that began 4 p.m. at followed by bingo until 6:15 p.m.
The meeting and meal sponsor for October was Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City. Candace Dinger, Hargrave manager/funeral director, spoke to the membership. Attendees were served a meal of chicken and sausage gumbo, rice and potato salad and birthday cake. The meal was prepared by Mac and Myrt McNemar, Pat Fryer, Peggy Verret and Reed Gros.
Birthday and anniversary celebrants were recognized. The cake was donated by M C Bank.

Equifax takes down customer service page after new hack

NEW YORK (AP) — Equifax has taken down one of its web pages after reports that another part of its web site had been hacked as well.
The news comes as Equifax Inc. continues to deal with the aftermath of hackers breaking into its system earlier this year which allowed the personal information of 145.5 million Americans to be accessed or stolen.
Hackers reportedly altered Equifax’s credit report assistance page that would send users malicious software pretending to be Adobe Flash.
Equifax said that, out of an abundance of caution, the Atlanta company has taken the affected page offline, and it’s looking into the matter.

Clerk gets privacy lesson from service dog owner

DEAR ABBY: Yesterday I was in a retail store with my service dog. The clerk asked me what kind of service dog she was and I replied, “She’s my service dog.” She kept pressing me as to exactly why I have one, so I asked her if she was inquiring about my disability. When she said, “Yes,” I politely informed her that federal HIPAA laws protect my right to privacy. She then said — loud enough for everyone in the store to hear — “I don’t know what the big deal is. I just want to know what the dog ...

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Berwick to travel to Kaplan Friday

The Berwick High School Panthers will continue District 8-3A action Friday when they travel to face Kaplan High School. Berwick (5-1 overall, 1-0 in district) enters the contest ranked No. 9 in the latest Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3A poll. A week ago, Berwick routed Erath High School 55-19 in both teams’ District 8-3A opener. Junior quarterback Mitchell Sanford tossed six touchdown passes and threw for 321 yards. Sanford also rushed for 78 yards and another score. His top receivers were junior running back Josh Jones with three catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Joshua Carver ...

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