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Water lilies in Bayou Teche will be sprayed with herbicide today, according to St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff.
While many users of social media have laid blame on the parish, the jurisdiction over waterways such as Bayou Teche is with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and fisheries. “The parish is not responsible, it’s the state,” Hanagriff said. “They’ve been having cutbacks throughout all of Louisiana. All we can do is pressure the state to come out and spray.”
Hanagriff said heavy rains have made opening the west gate at the Calumet Cut an unlikely solution. “We’ve looked at options to open and close the gates, but water elevation is higher on the other side and has been for a long time. South winds have also made it difficult, so the lilies stay backed up this side of the (Willow Street) bridge.”
LDW&F contracts with a private company for spraying, and spraying has occurred twice this season. Officials with LDW&F made a site visit Tuesday, and plans are to spray today.
No parish has jurisdiction over its waterways, other than those the state doesn’t lay claim to.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cora Conte was born three months premature, weighing less than 2 pounds.
She couldn’t breathe on her own, so she had a breathing tube. She had jaundice, a condition in which the liver doesn’t function properly. She received tiny amounts of mother Leah’s breast milk through a feeding tube.
Unable to directly breastfeed her daughter, Leah Conte pumped and stored her breast milk. Soon, she had stocked the freezer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where her daughter lived for two months. She bought a deep freezer for her home in East Windsor, New Jersey. That, too, was filled with more breast milk. Soon, Leah realized her daughter, who’s now 3 months old and weighs 6 pounds 5 ounces, would never use all the breast milk she had frozen.
Instead of discarding the unused milk, Conte put it to good use — feeding medically fragile babies like Cora in hospital neonatal intensive care units throughout the country.
Earlier this month, Conte donated approximately 500 ounces of breast milk — enough for up to 166 feedings — to a new milk depot in Bensalem created by home medical supply company Acelleron Medical Products. That milk will go to a milk bank, where it will be pasteurized and then distributed to hospitals to feed babies like Cora.
“After being at HUP, I saw there are so many medically needy and premature babies that really need donor milk,” said Conte. “Breast milk for medically fragile and premature babies is so important.”
Dr. Diane Spatz, director of the lactation program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which has a milk bank, explained: “Human milk can be the difference between life and death. Mom’s own milk is always, always, the best option for an infant. However, pasteurized donor milk is a bridge. Pasteurized is a much better option for a critically ill child than to give that baby formula.”
Sharing breast milk goes back centuries. Wet nurses — women who, after their own pregnancies, breastfed other women’s babies — were common until the 20th century, when concerns about disease transmission, difficulty finding wet nurses and the increased availability of formula led to a decline in the practice, according to the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.
In recent years, however, sharing breast milk is once again on the rise, not only through milk banks and hospitals, but also via informal online networks where women with excess milk supplies connect with moms struggling to breastfeed their own children.
“We have seen an explosion of milk banks in the last few years, and milk sharing in general,” said Ann Marie Lindquist. She’s the director of community relations for the Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast in Massachusetts, the recipient of donations to the Acelleron milk depot. “People weren’t talking about milk sharing five or six years ago, and informal sharing has exploded.”
Banking on milk
The Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, one of two dozen nonprofit milk banks in the United States, provides pasteurized donor milk to 70 hospitals in 12 states, including in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Most of the nation’s milk banks are hospital-based or run by nonprofits such as the Mothers’ Milk Bank. There are also a handful of for-profit milk banks that pay for donor milk, which is mainly used to create milk-based products for feeding infants.
No non-hospital milk banks exist in New Jersey; in Pennsylvania, there is one, the nonprofit Three Rivers Mothers’ Milk Bank in Pittsburgh. And in February, the New Jersey Senate approved legislation that would require milk banks to register with the state Department of Health; a similar bill in the Assembly is in committee. There’s no such regulation in Pennsylvania.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for at least the first six months of a child’s life, and breastfeeding in combination with other forms of nutrition after that, for the first year. Studies show breastfeeding reduces the risks for respiratory infections, allergies, obesity and other medical issues, the academy says.
Donor moms at milk banks certified by the Human Milk Banking Association must go through a strict screening process that mimics guidelines set forth by the American Red Cross for blood donations. They must provide health, lifestyle and medication histories; consent to a blood test; and provide paperwork from their physician and their baby’s pediatrician, among other steps. The milk also must be stored properly, in a deep freezer, before it can be donated.
The screening process can take up to three weeks, said Lindquist, and there is often no cost to the mother who’s donating. Mothers must be screened before they can drop off the milk at the donation depot.
Milk sharing
When Faina Klyuzman gave birth to her son Brandon nearly a year ago, she didn’t want her milk supply to dry up as it did with her now 5-year-old daughter, Juliana, who was breastfed until she was 8½ months old.
“I went a little overboard,” the Northampton resident said. “I knew that was the case when I had my freezer full, my mom’s freezer, and I had to buy a freezer.”
Klyuzman said she considered donating to a milk bank but, as a working mom of two, she found the screening process too cumbersome. So she turned to Human Milk 4 Human Babies, a grassroots, online network for informal milk sharing. She has since donated more than 1,000 ounces to a couple who adopted a baby.
“I know how desperately so many women would love to have, not even an overabundance (of breast milk), but just enough,” said Klyuzman. “It’s not a million dollars, but to some people, it is. If I can help somebody out, why wouldn’t I? It takes nothing away from me. I’ve already done the work for it.”
Medical professionals and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration caution against informal milk sharing, due to health and safety concerns. They say donors might not be adequately screened for infectious diseases and other risks, and milk might not be properly stored.
“We do not recommend the casual sharing of human milk because the milk is not screened,” said Pamela Britland, a registered nurse and lactation consultant at Virtua Health’s neonatal intensive care unit. The South Jersey hospital refers moms interested in donating milk to the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, which supplies donor milk to Virtua’s NICU.
Jenna Tress, administrator of Human Milk 4 Human Babies Pennsylvania, said the group urges moms to make an “informed choice” about breast milk sharing. It doesn’t regulate sharing, but it does provide a lengthy “frequently asked questions” section on its website that talks about things like health screening for donors and at-home pasteurization.
“I know there are families who require a blood test and everything else,” said Tress, of Worcester, Montgomery County. “There are some families who say, you fed your baby with this milk, and you love your baby more than you love my baby, so that’s good enough for me. There’s varying levels of trust. It’s an informed choice each family has to make.”
Emily Green, of Mansfield, New Jersey, said she was ready to provide health information to the three moms, including one who had breast cancer, who accepted her breast milk donation.
“The first two asked nothing,” said Green, mom to 11-month-old Hudson. “Absolutely nothing. I offered the information, but they weren’t concerned. The last woman asked me every question you could think of: what type of food I eat, medication, any medical problems.
“I knew how important (breastfeeding) was to me,” she said. “I can’t even imagine not being able, knowing I don’t want to formula feed my baby. That’s why I chose to privately donate, rather than donate to a hospital. I wouldn’t have had that option (to choose a donor).”
Jenna Schwoyer, of Bristol Township, said she’s grateful to the donor moms who have allowed her to continue breastfeeding her son, Oliver, who was born six months ago following a “traumatic birth experience” involving an emergency cesarean section.
“I felt a sense of loss about everything I had dreamt his birth would look like,” said Schwoyer. “Providing him with breast milk was something I was determined to salvage.”
But that proved to be challenging, Schwoyer said. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to pump milk after she went back to work 12 weeks after Oliver’s birth. She produces enough to breastfeed her son directly, but not enough to feed him when she’s not home.
After speaking with a lactation consultant, Schwoyer said her main concerns were that the donor practiced hygienic pumping, with sterilized breast pump parts and a clean environment; that milk was properly stored, with refrigeration immediately after pumping and storage in a deep freezer for no more than six months; and that the donor was in good health.
So far, a donor has provided more than 500 ounces of milk for Oliver. Not only has that helped supplement her own breast milk, Schwoyer said, but she said it’s helped her heal from the trauma of the birth by removing the stress of not pumping enough milk.
“Being able to provide this for him with her help has been huge for me,” she said. “As much as it benefits him, it benefits me just as much.”

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.
Friday, Sept. 1
8:24 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182 East; Alarm.
9:12 a.m. 800 block of First Street; Assistance.
9:23 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Animal complaint.
10:45 a.m. Arizona Street; Complaint.
10:45 a.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Vehicle accident.
10:53 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Shoplifter.
11:17 a.m. Brashear Avenue; Reckless driver.
11:19 a.m. Glenwood Street; Officer stand by.
1:23 p.m. 100 block of 11th Street; Officer stand by.
1:39 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
2:18 p.m. Maryland Street; Traffic incident.
2:20 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Reckless driver.
2:56 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
3:05 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Stalled vehicle.
3:45 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182 East; Vehicle accident.
4:02 p.m. 400 block of Roderick Street; Assistance.
4:13 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Shoplifter.
6:18 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Traffic complaint.
7:49 p.m. 500 block of First Street; Complaint.
9:13 p.m. 800 block of South Everett Street; Disturbance.
9:36 p.m. General MacArthur Street; Complaint.
9:51 p.m. Front Street; Complaint.
10:08 p.m. Greenwood Street; Juvenile complaint.
10:35 p.m. Freret and Second streets; Complaint.
10:28 p.m. 700 block of Willow Street; Theft.
Saturday, Sept. 2
3:49 a.m. Morgan City; Complaint.
8:23 a.m. 1800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
9:17 a.m. 8200 block of La. 182 East; 911 open line.
10:24 a.m. 7100 block of La. 182 East; Medical emergency.
12:33 p.m. 900 block of Ninth Street; Hit and run.
2:57 p.m. Spruce Street; Suspicious vehicle.
3:24 p.m. 300 block of Freret Street; Suspicious vehicle.
3:29 p.m. 1100 block of Front Street; Reckless driver.
4:17 p.m. 1400 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
5:21 p.m. Greenwood Street; Medical emergency.
6:47 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
7:01 p.m. Front and Greenwood streets; Narcotics complaint.
7:02 p.m. 1600 block of Cottonwood Street; Disturbance.
8:03 p.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Theft.
8:27 p.m. 800 block of South Everett Street; Disturbance.
9:03 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Remove subject.
9:19 p.m. 800 block of Fourth Street; Medical.
9:21 p.m. Front Street; Disturbance.
9:43 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Disturbance.
9:49 p.m. Greenwood Street; Complaint..
10:03 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Juvenile complaint
10:07 p.m. Second Street; Disturbance.
10:19 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:25 p.m. Federal Avenue; Complaint.
11:12 p.m. 500 block of Leona Street; Disturbance.
11:23 p.m. Greenwood and Arizona streets; Disturbance.
11:29 p.m. Bowman and Front streets; Com-plaint.
11:48 p.m. Greenwood and Freret streets; Disturbance.
11:56 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Intoxicated subject.
Sunday, Sept. 3
12:12 a.m. 600 block of Third Street; Disturbance.
12:28 a.m. 400 block of Greenwood Street; Disturbance.
1:26 a.m. Fourth and Greenwood streets; Complaint.
1:39 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
2:03 a.m. Third Street; Disturbance.
2:09 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
2:21 a.m. Fifth Street; Complaint.
3:16 a.m. 1600 block of Elm Street; Disturbance.
3:33 a.m. Berwick; Assistance.
6:28 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Complaint.
6:38 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
8:35 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Medical emergency.
9:33 a.m. 300 block of Julia Street; Alarm.
11:01 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182 East; Theft.
11:44 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.
12:41 p.m. 1300 block of Sixth Street; Stolen vehicle.
1:01 p.m. Greenwood and Arkansas streets; Medical emergency.
1:11 p.m. Federal Avenue and Greenwood Street; Medical emergency.
2:35 p.m. Third and Everett streets; Stalled vehicle.
3:24 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
4:10 p.m. 300 block of Grove Street; Medical emergency.
4:22 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
4:24 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Alarm.
4:37 p.m. 600 block of Greenwood Street; Theft.
5:20 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Suspicious vehicle.
5:25 p.m. 200 block of Railroad Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.
5:53 p.m. 6500 block of La. 182 East; Animal complaint.
5:58 p.m. 1100 block of Fourth Street; Disturbance.
7:08 p.m. 1000 block of Seventh Street; Disturbance.
7:17 p.m. North First and Onstead streets; Animal complaint.
7:49 p.m. Third and Everett streets; Arrest.
7:56 p.m. Greenwood Street; Medical.
7:58 p.m. Front and Freret streets; Juvenile complaint.
8:05 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Narcotics complaint.
8:10 p.m. Greenwood Street; Complaint.
8:43 p.m. 1000 block of Front Street; Disturbance.
8:45 p.m. Greenwood Street; Theft.
9:08 p.m. 1400 block of Chatsworth Drive; Alarm.
9:11 p.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
9:13 p.m. 300 block of Third Street; Remove subject.
9:43 p.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Narcotics complaint.
10:33 p.m. First and Greenwood streets; Narcotics complaint.
10:46 p.m. Greenwood Street; Disturbance.
11:24 p.m. 200 block of Railroad Avenue; Intoxicated subject.
Monday, Sept. 4
12:03 a.m. Second and St. Claire streets; Intoxicated subject.
12:10 a.m. Federal Avenue; Hit and run.
12:15 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Crash.
12:41 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
12:44 a.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
12:49 a.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Disturbance.
1:05 a.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Disturbance.
1:12 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
3:39 a.m. La. 182; Warrant arrest.
5:43 a.m. La. 70; Ar-rest.
6:08 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
6:42 a.m. La. 182; Reckless driver.
7:07 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
10:14 a.m. Fourth and Everett streets; Disturbance.
10:18 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Traffic incident.
10:56 a.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Com-plaint.
11:06 a.m. 300 block of Everett Street; Com-plaint.
11:06 a.m. 1500 block of Sixth Street; Crash.
11:17 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Crash.
11:52 a.m. Front Street; Arrest.
12:22 p.m. Florida Street; Crash.
12:28 p.m. 600 block of Onstead Street; Disturbance.
12:49 p.m. 3200 block of Karen Drive; Animal complaint.
12:58 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Disturbance.
1:49 p.m. Second Street; Complaint.
1:57 p.m. La. 182; Traffic incident.
2:13 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
2:36 p.m. 1000 block of Hickory Street; Medical.
3:49 p.m. 300 block of Federal Avenue; Welfare concern.
4:01 p.m. 3000 block of Lesley Drive; Disturbance.
4:02 p.m. 1100 block of Fourth Street; Arrest.
4:16 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Telephone harassment.
4:20 p.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Complaint.
4:39 p.m. Second Street; Complaint.
5:03 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
8:30 p.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; Suspicious vehicle.
8:45 p.m. Louisiana and Fourth streets; Frequent patrols.
9:17 p.m. 400 block of Bush Street; Complaint.
10:55 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
11:52 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Suspicious person.
11:57 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
Tuesday, Sept. 5
2:51 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Juvenile problem.