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Rayford Eugene Gassiott, 78, a resident of Franklin, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Friday, July 28, 2017 at Franklin Foundation Hospital.
Rayford was born on May 25, 1939 in Glenmora, Louisiana the son of Joseph and Arcenthy Peters Gassiott.
Rayford was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather; but above all else he was a wonderful man of faith. He loved music and some would say that singing gospel music was his life, but those who really knew him, knew his life was his family. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting with his family. He worked for 34 years for former Governor Mike Foster at Bayou Sale Construction working his way up from a dozer operator to Vice President of the company in just two weeks and serving as Vice President for 18+ before retiring.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Gayle Clause Gassiott of Franklin; two sons, Rory Gassiott and wife Linda of Franklin, Trent Gassiott of Baton Rouge; one daughter, Gina Rae Gassiott of Franklin; seven grandchildren, Matthew Charles Gassiott, Logan Reed Gassiott, Joshua David Gassiott, Annalise Faith Gassiott, Carson Lee Gassiott, Peyton Eleise Gassiott, Ana Grace Gassiott; two great grandchildren, Zachary Kaydon Gassiott and Madison Michelle Gassiott.
Rayford was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Arcenthy Peters Gassiott; three brothers, Charles, Huey and J.C.; four sisters, Mabel Goldie Mae, Florine and Nell.
Active Pallbearers will be Rory Gassiott, Trent Gassiott, Matthew Gassiott, Joshua Gassiott, Logan Gassiott and Christian Conner. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kenneth Jackson, Justin Couvillier, Darrel Dugas, Cecil Gassiott.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at Twin City Funeral Home with Pastors Barry Guidry and Kenneth Jackson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at Twin City Funeral Home with the visitation resuming from 8 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday at the funeral home. Rayford will be laid to rest next to his parents in the Amiable Baptist Church Cemetery in Glenmora, Louisiana.
(Paid Notice)

St. Mary Sheriff reported the following arrests:
Joseph Green, 30, of 1111 Roper Road #69, Scott, was arrested on Friday at 3:46 p.m. on a warrant for the charge of failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation. Green was transported by Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on the warrant. Green was released on a $750 bond.
Allen Hebert Jr., 26, of 911 Anderson Street Apt 3, Franklin, was arrested Friday at 6:45 p.m. on two Iberia Parish warrants for charges of failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery strangulation and for failure to appear on the charge of failure to register as a sex offender. A deputy located Hebert at his residence and transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Hebert was transferred to the Iberia Parish jail.
Yuni Rayes, 26, of 307 Eighth Street, Morgan City, was arrested Friday at 5:47 p.m. on the charge of unlawful possession of fraudulent documents. A deputy investigating a separate complaint, received consent to search Rayes’ residence and located a fraudulent social security card, driver’s license and birth certificate. Rayes was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
Brian Turner Jr., 29, of 118 Easy St. Franklin, was arrested Saturday at 5:12 a.m. on the charge of resisting an officer. A deputy assisting Baldwin police in locating Turner observed a subject matching his description walking on Kemper Road and made contact with him. When the deputy asked him for identification, the subject fled on foot. The deputy followed and, with the assistance of by-standers in the area, detained the subject. The subject was identified as Turner. Turner was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
Shayna Muffoletto, 21, of 814 Anderson St., Franklin, was arrested Saturday at 10:07 a.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids, misuse of toxic vapors, possession of drug paraphernalia and littering.
Ross Benoit, 18, of 342 Queen Row, Lafayette, was arrested Saturday at 10:07 a.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids, misuse of toxic vapors and littering.
Larry Billiot, 17, of 104 Cherry St., Franklin, was arrested Saturday at 10:07 a.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids and misuse of toxic vapors.
After receiving a complaint of a suspicious vehicle and suspicious subjects, deputies were dispatched to Yokley Canal Road beneath the US 90 overpass. Deputies located the suspect vehicle and spoke with the three occupants inside. Deputies received consent to search the vehicle and located synthetic marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia in the car. Deputies also observed trash on the ground around the vehicle belonging to Muffoletto. Muffoletto, Benoit, and Billiot were released on summons.
Gene Wells Jr., 48, of 838 Irish Bend Road, Franklin, was arrested Saturday at 3:42 p.m. on the charge of animal cruelty. A deputy investigating a report of animal cruelty found an emaciated horse with no access to food or water at a property on Bray Drive in Franklin. The deputy also observed a wound on the horse’s muzzle. The deputy identified Wells as the owner of the animal. Following the investigation, the deputy transported Wells to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Wells was released on a $3,000 bond.
Deric Wilcox, 35, of 1381 Pitkin Highway 10 East, Leesville, was arrested Saturday at 6 p.m. on the charge of domestic abuse battery. A deputy responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a business off US 90 in Patterson. Through investigation, the deputy found evidence that Wilcox pulled on a female victim’s arm during an argument at the location. The deputy transported Wilcox to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Wilcox was released on a $2,500 bond.
Leonard Ceasar, 32, of 205 Martin Luther King St., Baldwin, was arrested Saturday at 9:15 p.m. on the charge of illegal possession of stolen firearms. A deputy assisting Baldwin Police with locating a reckless driver, observed a vehicle matching the description on Martin Luther King Drive. The deputy observed the driver stop the vehicle, exit the car, and walk to another vehicle while concealing an item. The driver, identified as Ceasar, then walked back to speak with the deputy. During the subsequent investigation, the deputy located a handgun where Ceasar had been and found that the gun was reported stolen. Ceasar was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Ceasar was released on a $3,000 bond.
Terrell Tripeaux, 47, of 102 East Long St., Baldwin, was arrested Saturday at 2:10 a.m. on charges of domestic abuse battery and possession of open alcoholic containers in motor vehicles.
Takesha Brown, 35, of 102 East Long St., Baldwin, was arrested Saturday at 2:10 a.m. on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
A deputy responded to a report of two subjects fighting in the roadway on La 83. The deputy detained the two subjects identified as Tripeaux and Brown. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Tripeaux and Brown began pushing and hitting each other during an argument inside a moving a vehicle. The deputy also located an open container of an alcoholic beverage inside the vehicle belonging to Tripeaux. Both subjects were transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Brown was released on a $2,500 bond. No bail is set for Tripeaux.
Ethan Mensman, 20, of 154 Riverview Drive Apt 10, Patterson, was arrested Sunday at 4:24 a.m. on charges of improper lane usage and possession of marijuana. A deputy observed a vehicle traveling across the fog line of La 182 in Berwick and onto the shoulder of the roadway. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver identified as Mensman. The deputy received consent to search the vehicle and located a partially burnt marijuana cigarette. Mensman was released on a summons.
Roy East, 53, of 610 Iberia St., Franklin, was arrested Sunday at 6:36 p.m. on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of open alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle. A deputy responding to a report of a disturbance at a residence in the Franklin area observed a subject involved in the incident driving on Willow Street and stopped the vehicle. While speaking with East, the deputy smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and observed indicators of impairment. East later registered a 0.142g percent blood alcohol concentration on a breath test. The deputy also located an open can of beer on the ground near the vehicle. East was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail is set at $3,000.
Cameron Jackson, 18, of 131 Sun Road, Bayou Vista, was arrested Sunday at 9:40 p.m. on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of disturbing the peace offensive language, disturbing the peace fighting and possession of drug paraphernalia. A deputy located Jackson at his residence on the warrants and transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
Neybalys Fernandez, 23, of Lake Charles, was arrested Sunday at 10:40 p.m. for disturbing the peace intoxicated, simple assault and resisting an officer. A deputy traveling on US 90 in the Centerville area observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road and stopped to assist. The deputy collected evidence that Fernandez caused a disturbance in the vehicle. When Fernandez made verbal threats that he would throw passengers out of the moving vehicle, the driver stopped on the side of the roadway. Fernandez refused to provide identification to the deputy. Following the investigation, Fernandez was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail is set at $4,500.
Jeremy Stanton, 35, of 3519 East Old Spanish Trail, New Iberia, was arrested Monday at 2:24 a.m. for the following offenses: improper lane usage, head lamps required, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, possession of Schedule I marijuana, resisting an officer giving false information and a warrant from Lafayette Parish for a charge of failure to appear.
Michael Johnson Jr., 31, 19710 La. 182, Jeanerette, was arrested Monday at 2:24 am for possession of Schedule I (marijuana).
A deputy patrolling the Irish Bend Road area observed a vehicle with only one working headlight. The deputy also observed the vehicle swerving across the centerline and fog line of the roadway and conducted a traffic stop on Northwest Boulevard. While speaking with the two occupants of the vehicle, the deputy smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the SUV. The deputy found that the driver gave a false name. The passenger was identified as Johnson. A Franklin Police officer who arrived to assist with the traffic stop, identified the driver as Stanton. The deputy found that Stanton was operating the vehicle with a suspended license and located an active warrant for his arrest. During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found a small bag of marijuana between the driver and passenger seats. Stanton was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set. Johnson was released on a summons.
Darrell Johnson, 48, of 165 St. Joseph Lane, Franklin, was arrested Monday at 2:53 a.m. for improper lane usage and possession of Schedule I marijuana. A deputy observed a vehicle cross over the centerline of the roadway on Yokley Road and conducted a traffic stop on Chatsworth Road. While speaking with the driver, Johnson, the deputy learned that there was marijuana inside the vehicle. The deputy located a partially burnt marijuana cigarette in the truck. Johnson was released on a summons.
James Acosta, 48, of 4492 La. 83, Franklin, was arrested July 25, 2017 at 10:56 p.m. on a warrant from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections Division of Probation and Parole for probation violation. During booking at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional officer located the active warrant for Acosta. No bail is set.
Clifford Johnson Jr., 36, of 114 Velma St., Four Corners, was arrested Monday at 6:54 p.m. on charges of possession of Schedule II cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule I MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor.
Narcotics detectives conducted a search warrant at Johnson’s residence. They spoke with Johnson and other subjects at the residence including two juveniles. During the search, detectives located MDMA pills, crack cocaine, bags of cocaine, and a handgun. Johnson is a convicted felon and the residence is located within 2,000 feet of a church. Johnson was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
Terry Peterson, 36, of 804 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lafayette, was arrested Monday at 7:24 p.m. on charges of possession of Schedule I MDMA. Narcotics detectives observed a vehicle fail to properly signal a lane change on US 90 in Baldwin and conducted a traffic stop. Detectives spoke with the occupants of the vehicle, including Peterson who was a passenger. Detectives received consent to search Peterson and found MDMA pills in one of his pockets. Peterson was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrest:
Equanna Gable, 25, of Willow Street, Franklin, was arrested Monday at 12:21 p.m. on a warrant on the charge of nonconsensual disclosure of a private image. Gable was booked, processed, and released on a $750 bond.
Chitimacha Police Chief Hal Hutchinson reported arrest of Jainey Boudreaux, 22, of E. Tampico Street, New Iberia, was arrested Monday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Boudreaux was released on a summons.  An officer, while patrolling the Reservation, observed a vehicle that did not stop at a stop sign. This resulted in a traffic stop.  During the traffic stop, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle, for which Boudreaux was arrested.

Submitted Photo
The city of Patterson received an Honorable Mention in the 2016-17 Community Achievement Awards Competition sponsored by Louisiana Municipal Association, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Louisiana Industrial Development Executive Association, Capital Regional Planning Commission, Louisiana State Office of the Fire Marshal and Louisiana Main Street for outstanding community improvement in community development within population group 3,001 to 10,000. Patterson submitted its latest project, the Jon Felterman Sr. Memorial Wharf, for judging. Approximately 300 entries were received and reviewed for judging in which an overall total of 27 municipalities were honored. Patterson was recognized before a crowd of 1,200 attendees at the 80th LMA Annual Convention in Shreveport. Pictured are, from left: City Accountant/Deputy City Clerk Reginald Weary; Mayor Rodney Grogan; LMA Executive Director John Gallagher; LMA Immediate Past President Barney Arceneaux; Dawn V. Rentrop, chairman of the Patterson Lower Atchafalaya Historic & Cultural District; and, Councilman John C. Rentrop.

CHICAGO (AP)— A popular TV series that showed a teen ending her life may have triggered a surge in online searches for suicide, including how to do it.
That’s according to a new study about the show “13 Reasons Why.” Netflix released all 13 episodes on March 31.
Researchers found that for almost three weeks afterward, there were at least 900,000 more than expected Google searches including the word “suicide.” That’s a 19-percent increase based on forecasts using Google Trends and historical search trends. Searches included suicide methods, suicide hotlines and suicide prevention.
The study doesn’t prove a link and didn’t examine any connection with actual suicides or attempts. It was published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
A journal editorial said it’s not clear if the searches “were made out of idle curiosity or by suicidal individuals contemplating an attempt.” But it argues that the producers could have done more to emphasize suicide prevention, including listing resources for where to find help before and after each episode.
Some mental health advocates say the show glamorized suicide, and many U.S. schools sent parents warning letters about the show.
The series is about a high school girl who left behind 13 audiotapes where she revealed sexual assault, substance abuse and bullying that led to her decision to take her own life. The finale shows her suicide.
Episodes with the most explicit material included warnings and a website Netflix created with crisis hotlines and other resources for the more than 30 countries where the series was available. It has been renewed for a second season.
John Ayers, a San Diego State University researcher who led the research, said the series could trigger troubled teens and that the producers should remove and edit the episodes to focus on suicide prevention before reposting.
“Far more people go to the brink and come back and have satisfaction with that decision,” he said.
In a written statement, Netflix said, “We always believed this show would increase discussion around this tough subject matter. This is an interesting quasi experimental study that confirms this. We are looking forward to more research and taking everything we learn to heart as we prepare for season 2.”
Madelyn Gould, a Columbia University suicide prevention researcher, noted the study design was less rigorous than some research methods, but said the results “should be taken seriously.”
“My main concern was that suicide was portrayed sort of as the inevitable consequence of life’s adversities rather than depicting what would be an actually more appropriate message, which is that there’s help when you’re feeling suicidal rather than resorting to killing yourself,” Gould said.
—Online:
Suicide warning signs: https://edubirdie.com/blog/student-suicide-prevention-guide