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Patterson will host 5A Terrebonne Friday

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 6:05pm

CORWIN MURRAY

Patterson showed its mettle Friday, storming back to beat Class 5A’s Lafayette High 35-30 on the road.
But it doesn’t get any easier, with unbeaten Terrebonne coming to the Sugardome Friday.
“Our kids fight hard,” Patterson High Coach Ryan Stewart said last week of the win. “They believe in what they got. They believe in us. They believe in themselves. I told somebody this weekend that this team’s fight can’t be matched right now. They’ll fight you all the way to the end.”
Trailing 29-23 early in the fourth quarter and facing a 4-and-15-yard situation from the Patterson 37, Lafayette High got a break when Stewart was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that stemmed from a disagreement over an incomplete pass that he thought was intentional grounding.
The play gave the Lions a first down at the Patterson 21, and four plays later, Lafayette High scored when quarterback Brennon Broussard connected with a receiver for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Jacques Comeaux’s extra point gave Lafayette High a 30-29 lead with 10:17 remaining in the game.
Undaunted, Patterson responded with a seven-play, 67-yard drive that concluded with an 8-yard run by Dontre Nicholas with 7:16 remaining. The Lumberjacks’ two-point conversion failed, but they held a 35-30 lead.
The Lumberjacks held off one late stand by the Lions, who had the ball at the Patterson 45 yard line with 17 seconds left.
While Drew Lucas intercepted a half back pass, the Lumberjacks were flagged for pass interference on the play, giving the ball to the Lions at the Patterson 30 with 8 seconds remaining.
Broussard took the snap and completed downfield to Braylon Willis, who then lateraled to Koi Thomas. Thomas was stopped almost immediately at the Patterson 12, and the Lumberjacks secured the win.
Patterson had 454 yards of offense (248 passing and 206 rushing). Nicholas rushed 28 times for 206 yards and two scores, while Dajon Richard added 75 yards on six carries.
Randy Paul completed 11 of 16 passes for 245 yards with three touchdowns.
Richard led the receivers with three receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Irving Celestine had three catches for 72 yards and one score.
“Every win is big at this level,” Stewart said. “We didn’t play perfect by any means, but the kids are seeing their hard work turning into positive results.”
This season, Nicholas has rushed 87 times for 548 yards and six touchdowns, while Richard has 17 carries for 191 yards and a score.
Paul has completed 30 of 49 passes for 491 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
Richard leads Patterson’s receivers with seven catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
Terrebonne is coming off a 38-33 victory against Assumption.
The Tigers are looking to start a season 4-0 for the first time since they began the 2010 season with an 8-0 mark before finishing the regular season at 9-1.
Assumption, which trailed by 18 at the half, scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to cut Terrebonne’s lead to five points with 1:40 remaining.
However, Terrebonne recovered an onside kick to end Assumption’s comeback bid.
While Assumption held a 337-328 advantage in total offense, the Mustangs turned the ball over four times and had a punt blocked.
Additional reporting by www.bayoupreps.com

Generations meet at Berwick event

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 11:13am

Ivory Bibbins

ibibbins@daily-review.com

BERWICK — Berwick High School’s Interaction Club hosted its first meeting of the Meeting of the Generations fun night of the 2017-18 school year Tuesday night at the Berwick Civic Complex.
Local senior citizens from the Tri-City area met with BHS students, town council members, and members of the Morgan City Rotary Club for a line dancing class.
“I really enjoyed this. I miss getting out,” said Berwick resident Rob-erta Ford.
Ford, 69, said she came to the mixer be-cause she truly loves to dance and get a chance to interact with kids as if they were her grandkids.
“I don’t get to mingle much with my high school grandkids, and they live right there in Morgan City,” said Ford.
Ford, along with several other senior citizens, learned how to Footloose, Wobble and Armadillo along with other dances. The Interaction Club also held a raffle for the seniors in which the winners were given healthy snack baskets, and other BHS students passed out refreshments to the seniors as they intermingled.
“We really enjoy what you guys are doing and we are here to help in any way we can,” said Brian Thorguson, president of the Morgan City Rotary Club.
Meeting of the generations started as a proposed project from Berwick High students for New Generations Conference sponsored by the Morgan City Rotary Club. Berwick’s town council and St. Mary Council on Aging immediately supported the mixer in conjunction with the BHS students.
“There is so much knowledge in this room,” said council member Duval Arthur. “You are only going to learn if you talk to us.”
The next generation mixer will be in November and will be a self-defense class taught by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Berwick Homecoming Week Proclaimed

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:53am

Berwick Mayor Louis Ratcliff with the senior girls that make up Berwick High School homecoming court signed a proclamation deeming Sept. 24-30 BHS 2017 Homecoming Week. The 2017 BHS homecoming queen will be determined Friday, Sept. 29, during halftime of the BHS homecoming football game. Front row from left: Hannah Henry, Mayor Ratcliff, Mary Catherine Reggie, Maddie Osburn. Back row from left: Brittany Roberie, Cate Koen, Anna Armato, Amber Lanclos, Leah Domangue, Rose Sons, Adella Guidroz, and Makayla Melendez. Not pictured: Carlee Landry.

Morgan City homecoming week proclaimed

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:42am

The Daily Review/Bill Decker Mayor Frank "Boo" Grizzaffi signs a proclamation Thursday making Sept. 24-30 homecoming week for Morgan City High. The homecoming game will be Sept. 29 against E.D. White. With Grizzaffi for the signing were members of the homecoming court. Front row from left: Kelsey Crochet, Tayla Weary, Mattie Fontenot and Jill McCarty. Back row: Jillian Freia, Scottie Metrejean, Gabby Guarisco, Kennedy Hebert, Allie Vincent, Mallory Fontenot, Amari Martin and Madison Doiron.

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STEPHON BYRD

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:39am

Stephon Byrd, 57, a native of Terrebonne Parish and a resident of Houma, died Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.

Visitation will be from noon until services at 2 p.m. Saturday at New Rising Sun Baptist Church in Houma. Burial will follow in Southdown Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby McGuire Byrd; sons, Johnell Verrett, Zamir, Zarius and Stephon Byrd II, all of Houma; daughter, Jazzmine Byrd of Franklin; four grandchildren; father, James Byrd Jr. (Octavia) of Houma; brother, Fabian Byrd of Morgan City; sisters, Yeka Byrd, Aja Thibodeaux and Kenya Stewart of Houma; mother-in-law; and a host of other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his mother, paternal grandparents, maternal grandparents, and father-in-law.

Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

WANDA ROCK MAYON

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:37am

Wanda Rock Mayon, 93, a native of Berwick and resident of Morgan City, died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, at Terrebonne General Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 29, 1923, in Berwick.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Wheel House for Sept. 22

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:28am

ANNIVERSARY
New Mount Esther Baptist Church, 1211 James St., Siracusa, celebrating its 99-year anniversary at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24. Guest speaker the Rev. Johnny Lawrence, Peaceful Zion Baptist Church, St. James. Public invited.

SOUP KITCHEN
At Bayou Vista Community Fellowship, 1523 Anthony St., open 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Clothing Closet for those in need also open. For info call 985-399-3433.

PRAYER/SUPPORT
Second annual Prayer and Support Rally for police, fire and first responders is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Sponsored by East St. Mary Ministerial Alliance. Public invited.

SUPPORT LUNCH
Second annual Law Enforcement, Fire and First Responders Appreciation Luncheon at noon Thursday, Sept. 28, Bayou Vista Community Center. Free event for police, fire, first responders and elected officials. Sponsored by East St. Mary Ministerial Alliance.

ZION CHAPEL
AME Church, 1511 Cherry St., Patterson, celebrating the Rev. Richelle Castine’s anniversary at 2 p.m. Oct. 8. Guest speaker the Rev. Lee Condole, One Faith Fellowship, Patterson. Public invited.

Police: K-9 Lady sniffs out meth

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:24am

Staff Report
Men from Berwick and Morgan City are locked up after Morgan City’s K-9 Lady used her skills to sniff out suspected narcotics during a traffic stop, Morgan City police said.
According to Morgan City Police Chief James Blair, David Pearce, 41, of River Road in Berwick, and Roger Grow, 49, of Iowa Street in Morgan City, were arrested at 9:54 p.m. Wednesday on counts of possession of methamphetamine. Pearce was also charged with improper lane usage.
Patrol officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 negotiating an improper turn into the wrong lane. Pearce was identified as the operator of the vehicle, and Grow was identified as an occupant.
The Morgan City Police Department K-9 unit arrived and K-9 Lady showed a response to the presence of narcotic odor. A search of the vehicle uncovered evidence of suspected methamphetamine and evidence linking both Pearce and Grow to the drug, Blair said.
Pearce and Grow were jailed.
Blair said his officers responded to 38 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Terrell Irvin, 19, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:27 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer and on warrants for probation violation, two counts of failure to appear to pay a fine Jan. 3, and failure to appear for trial July 18.
Patrol officers responded to a residence in the area of Onstead Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived and Irvin was identified as one of the parties involved.
Blair said reports indicated that Irvin provided officers with a false name upon initial contact and was found to be in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia. Officers found Irvin held active warrants for his arrest through the 6th Ward and 16th Judicial Courts. Irvin was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was jailed with no bail set.
—Kevin Elliott, 57, of Landry Court in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of simple assault. Elliott was located and arrested in the area of David Drive on an active warrant for his arrest through the Morgan City Police.
The warrant stems from an investigation conducted by patrol officers on May 1, 2015, when officers responded to a local business in the area of La. 182 in which Elliott allegedly assaulted a victim and departed the scene.
—Courtney Chenevert, 35, of Keith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of morphine and driving under suspension.
Patrol officers were in the area of Federal Avenue investigating a complaint in which the suspect had fled the area on foot. Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle traveling up and down Marshall Street in a suspicious manner while searching the area for the fleeing suspect, police said.
Chenevert was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Blair said that according to reports, Chenevert’s driver’s license was found to be under suspension. Chenevert also was found to be in possession of suspected morphine without a prescription. Chenevert was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert responded to 28 complaints and reported the following arrest regarding east St. Mary:
—Bryan Gaudet, 44, of Universe Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:03 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Deputies responded to a call regarding a disturbance at a residence in Bayou Vista. While speaking with both parties involved, Deputies gathered evidence that Gaudet pushed a female victim during an argument between the two, Hebert said. Gaudet was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and jailed with no bail set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Michael Teadt Jr., 17, of Leo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 10:24 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of simple burglary. Teadt was arrested at the Patterson Police Department where he was jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Rotary Club official

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:22am

Submitted Photo
Morgan City Rotary Club members heard from Rotary District 6200 District Gov. Martha Collins at a recent luncheon. From left are Collins and Brian Thorguson,
Morgan City Rotary Club president.

Jim Brown: Florida finds a better solution for flood insurance

Fri, 09/22/2017 - 10:18am

By JIM BROWN

With major hurricanes recently hitting Florida and Texas, and since some parts of Louisiana are still cleaning up after last year’s torrential rains, many property owners in the Bayou State are asking if insurance rates will go up.

Will rates go up? Is the Pope Catholic? Does Grizzly Adams have a beard? Of course we all will be paying more.

That’s not how the system is supposed to work. The Legislature and the Insurance Department ballyhooed a concept called “modeling,” supposedly to require proper savings that would be available when a major storm hit the state. Kind of like putting aside money on a regular basis for your kid’s college fund.

But many insurance companies operating in Louisiana always invoke the old adage: “Never let a crisis go to waste.” You can take it to the books that a number of insurance companies will raise their rates on property owners in the months to come.

Louisiana could take a page of advice from Florida insurance officials. And for good reason. Florida has significantly more hurricane exposure than does Louisiana. Ninety percent of all homeowners live within a few miles of the Gulf or the Atlantic Ocean. A hurricane crossing the
Florida peninsula slows down, at best, only 15 miles per hour. Yet in spite of all this exposure, property insurance rates are cheaper in Florida than in Louisiana.

In Perdido Key, on the Florida-Alabama border, many Louisianans have beach homes or condos. On average, they pay significantly less on these properties than they do on their homes in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other Louisiana cities. Property insurance rates for commercial real estate have gone down, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40 percent, according realtor Steve Ekovich of the Tampa office of Marcus & Millichap.
Florida officials, from the governor on down, have made insurance affordability a front burner issue. In Louisiana, it has been little more than a blip on the radar. Like Louisiana, Florida has a Citizens Property Insurance Co. that is state-created and sells to those homeowners who cannot find insurance anywhere else.

The difference is in legislative support. From day one, the Florida Co. has received state funds on a regular basis to build up reserves. By properly managing the company, Florida Citizens has almost $ 7.4 billion in cash in the bank to pay claims according to this week’s Wall Street Journal. There is also in place a bank line of credit and proceeds from municipal bonds that put total available funds at close to $10 billion.
Florida has also created a Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to back up and reinsurance losses for both Citizens and other private insurance companies operating in the state.

So how does Louisiana stack up? Well, for starters, due to inept and corrupt management before Hurricne Katrina hit, no back up funds were arranged, and Katrina and Rita claims now exceed well over $1 billion. Look up at the right hand corner of your insurace policy and you will see a surcharge all property owners pay because of the state’s mismanagement. No other state pays such a surcharge.

There was only minor reinsurance in place when the two major storms hit in 2005. Then the state run company was tagged with a $95 million legal judgment for failing to pay claims on time, and the former CEO for misappropriating for his personal use hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is no wonder why the company, created by the legislature and overseen by the Insurance Department, has been called the biggest financial disaster in Louisiana history.

Has Florida solved its property insurance problems? Hardly. Increasing costs and continuing hurricane exposure make any effort to control insurance rates all the more challenging. The difference between Florida and Louisiana is one of effort and priorities. The Florida insurance commissioner is lobbying hard for a national catastrophic program for gulf coast states. Florida congressmen are pushing a number of programs in Washington.

It won’t be easy, but there seems to be a major good faith effort by Florida officials to keep affordable insurance front and center. In Louisiana, property insurance issues have faded away and are barely a blip on the perennial screen, with little comment or concern expressed by any
public official. So is it any wonder why Louisiana property owners continue to pay the highest rates in the nation?

“It’s not hurricanes that are causing high insurance rates, but bad government policy,”
Policy analyst Michelle Minton

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 his past columns and at http://www.jimbrownusa.com.