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UPDATED 4:45 A.M.: Cindy makes landfall

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 5:00pm

TROPICAL STORM CINDY LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 11
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA AL032017
424 AM CDT THU JUN 22 2017

THIS PRODUCT COVERS SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS

**CINDY MAKES LANDFALL IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA**

NEW INFORMATION
---------------

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ACADIA, CALCASIEU,
EAST CAMERON, HARDIN, IBERIA, JEFFERSON, JEFFERSON DAVIS,
LAFAYETTE, LOWER ST. MARTIN, ORANGE, SOUTHERN JASPER, SOUTHERN
NEWTON, ST. MARY, UPPER ST. MARTIN, VERMILION, AND WEST CAMERON

* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 20 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF CAMERON LA OR ABOUT 30 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF LAKE CHARLES LA
- 29.9N 93.6W
- STORM INTENSITY 40 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 12 MPH

SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------

AS OF 4 AM CDT, TROPICAL STORM CINDY HAS MADE LANDFALL OVER SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA. AREAS OF RAIN AND HEAVIER RAINBANDS AROUND THE CENTER OF
CINDY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND TRACK ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA. THIS IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT TODAY, WITH AN ATTENDANT RISK OF
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING AND ISOLATED TORNADOES.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS, MAINLY IN THE FORM OF GUSTS, WILL
CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON.

STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL RESULT IN COASTAL INUNDATION OF 1 TO 2 FEET
ABOVE GROUND LEVEL DURING THE MORNING HOURS AT THE TIME OF PREDICTED
ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDE. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN COASTAL
FLOODING LINGERING AFTER THE TROPICAL STORM HAS MOVED COMPLETELY
INLAND.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* FLOODING RAIN:
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS
SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST
DANGEROUS FLOOD WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. IF
REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND
RESCUES.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND
DITCHES OVERFLOW.
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE FLOODING RAIN ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS
COASTAL LOUISIANA. REMAIN WELL GUARDED AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS FLOOD
WATERS HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS.

* WIND:
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN WIND EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. REMAIN WELL SHELTERED FROM
HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE
IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- DAMAGE TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, SHEDS, AND UNANCHORED
MOBILE HOMES. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT OBJECTS BLOWN ABOUT.
- MANY LARGE TREE LIMBS BROKEN OFF. A FEW TREES SNAPPED OR
UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE
SHALLOW ROOTED. SOME FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- A FEW ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM DEBRIS, PARTICULARLY WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ON
BRIDGES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADWAYS.
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES.

* TORNADOES:
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TORNADOES ARE STILL UNFOLDING ACROSS SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS. REMAIN WELL BRACED AGAINST A TORNADO
EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS. IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS
INCLUDE:
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS
PULLED FROM MOORINGS.

* SURGE:
POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THE MAIN SURGE EVENT ARE NOW UNFOLDING ACROSS
COASTAL SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND COASTAL SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. REMAIN WELL
AWAY FROM LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING ADDITIONAL LIMITED IMPACTS.
IF REALIZED, THESE IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- LOCALIZED INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING MAINLY ALONG
IMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS, OR IN AREAS
FARTHER INLAND ALONG RIVERS AND BAYOUS THAT DRAIN INTO THE GULF.
- SECTIONS OF ROADS AND PARKING LOTS NEAR BODIES OF WATER MAY
BECOME OVERSPREAD WITH SURGE WATER. DRIVING CONDITIONS
DANGEROUS IN PLACES WHERE SURGE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
- MODERATE BEACH EROSION. HEAVY SURF ALSO BREACHING DUNES, MAINLY
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOCATIONS. STRONG RIP CURRENTS.
- MINOR TO LOCALLY MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, AND PIERS.
A FEW SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS.

ELSEWHERE ACROSS SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS, LITTLE TO
NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:

CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE WELL CHARGED FOR AS LONG AS
POSSIBLE. IF YOU LOSE POWER, USE IT MORE SPARINGLY AND MAINLY FOR
PERSONAL EMERGENCIES AND CHECK-INS.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG

NEXT UPDATE
-----------

THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES LA AROUND 8 AM CDT, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.

Radio Logs for June 19

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 1:37pm

Staff Report

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, June 16
8:41 a.m. Chennault and Roderick streets; Animal complaint.
8:42 a.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Animal complaint.
8:48 a.m. 1500 block of Youngs Road; Animal complaint.
8:48 a.m. 1000 block of Ida Street; Animal complaint.
9:30 a.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Assistance.
9:40 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
9:46 a.m. 300 block of First Street; Animal complaint.
10:03 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
11:16 a.m. 800 block of Sacred Heart Drive; Theft.
11:41 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Alarm.
11:50 a.m. 1800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Criminal damage to property.
12:14 p.m. 700 block of Willow Street; Complaint.
12:46 p.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Animal complaint.
12:52 p.m. 800 block of Fig Street; Telephone harassment.
1:11 p.m. 200 block of First Street; Criminal damage to property.
1:57 p.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
2:33 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Patrol request.
3:18 p.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Medical.
3:41 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:43 p.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal complaint.
3:57 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Com-plaint.
4:15 p.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Alarm.
5:06 p.m. 200 block of Railroad Avenue; Theft.
6:03 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Officer stand by.
6:15 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
6:29 p.m. 1100 block of Ninth Street; Alarm.
6:32 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Phone harassment.
6:40 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Theft.
6:45 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
6:54 p.m. 700 block of First Street; Traffic incident.
8:10 p.m. 500 block of First Street; Alarm.
9:45 p.m. Florence and Seventh streets; Traffic incident.
11:08 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
11:44 p.m. 200 block of Louisa Street; Suspicious person.
11:55 p.m. 1000 block of Belanger Street; Suspicious person.
Saturday, June 17
1:08 a.m. 700 block of Louisa Street; Suspicious person.
1:36 a.m. First Street and Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
3:40 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless driving.
8:19 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
8:39 a.m. 800 block of Freret Street; Complaint.
11:39 a.m. 600 block of Franklin Street; Lost and found.
12:22 p.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Complaint.
12:52 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:53 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
1:30 p.m. 1600 block of Parlange Drive; Complaint.
1:55 p.m. 300 block of Aycock Street; Alarm.
3:40 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Animal complaint.
3:48 p.m. 500 block of Arenz Street; Complaint.
4:02 p.m. Mallard Street; Complaint.
5:40 p.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Medical.
5:47 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Juvenile problems.
5:56 p.m. 100 block of Poncio Street; Animal.
6:13 p.m. Louisiana and Fifth streets; Frequent patrols.
7:13 p.m. Federal Avenue/Garber Street/Levee Road; Frequent patrols.
7:48 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Disturbance.
8:27 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Assistance.
10:16 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
10:38 p.m. 200 block of South Railroad Avenue; Medical.
10:42 p.m. 700 block of General Patton Street; Suspicious person.
11:30 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless driving.
11:42 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Animal.
11:57 p.m. 200 block of Arizona Street; Medical.
Sunday, June 18
12:10 a.m. 1200 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal.
1:13 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless driving.
2:07 a.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Accident.
6:21 a.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Alarm.
6:29 a.m. 1000 block of Florence Street; Animal complaint.
8:43 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Medical.
10:42 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Officer stand by.
10:43 a.m. 900 block of Belanger Street; Alarm.
10:59 a.m. 800 block of Arkansas Street; Medical.
11:25 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
12:35 p.m. 1900 block of Federal Avenue; Medical.
1:04 p.m. 700 block of Brashear Avenue; Hit and run.
3:23 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Arrest.
5:53 p.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Medical.
5:55 p.m. Louisiana and Fifth streets; Frequent patrols.
6:11 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Civil matter.
6:48 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Theft.
8:29 p.m. 2900 block of Railroad Avenue; Assistance.
8:36 p.m. Federal Avenue/Garber Street/Levee Road; Frequent patrols.
8:45 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Traffic incident.
8:54 p.m. 700 block of Louisa Street; Utilities.
9:07 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Medical.
9:33 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Theft.
10:04 p.m. St. Clair and First streets; Suspicious person.
10:23 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Hit and run.
10:32 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Phone harassment.
11:02 p.m. 1000 block of Greenwood Street; Complaint.
11:12 p.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Alarm.
Monday, June 19
12:06 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.
12:48 a.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
12:58 a.m. 2300 block of Cypress Street; Frequent patrols.

Police: Woman forged over $6,500 in checks

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 11:46am

Staff Report

A 52-year-old Morgan City woman was charged Monday with forging someone’s signature on checks totaling over $6,500 and cashing the checks at a bank, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Marilyn Guarisco, 52, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:11 a.m. Monday on warrants charging her with forgery and bank fraud.

Patrol officers conducted an investigation June 1 in regard to an alleged forgery. Officers arrived, and Guarisco was identified as a suspect. Guarisco had allegedly forged the victim’s signature on checks totaling $6,575 and cashed them at a bank. Guarisco was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 123 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Stephen A. Boyd Jr., 28, of Ratcliff Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 4:34 a.m. Saturday on St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants charging him with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, domestic abuse battery-child endangerment law, theft and simple assault and on an Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear.

Boyd was located and arrested in the area of Sixth Street on warrants. Boyd was jailed.

—Tracy A. Thomas, 49, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:59 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging her with theft less than $750 and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear for trial.

Thomas was located and arrested in the area of Orange Street on active arrest warrants. The Morgan City police warrant stems from an investigation into an alleged theft.

Thomas was identified as a suspect in taking merchandise valued at $43.68 from a business in the area of La. 70. Thomas was jailed.

—Justin D. Price, 28, of Gen. McArthur Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:25 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, driving under suspension, no insurance and improper turn.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle conduct an improper turn in the area of Belanger Street. A stop was initiated, and Price, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license and his vehicle wasn’t properly insured. Officers located suspected marijuana. Price was jailed.

—Robinson C. Aquino, 38, of Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 11:15 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to a business in the area of La. 182 in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived, and Aquino was found to be in an intoxicated state Aquino was jailed.

—John C. Aucoin, 36, of Delmar Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the Lake End Park in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived, and Aucoin was identified. Aucoin was found to be in an intoxicated state. Aucoin was jailed.

—Nakita D. Smith, 32, of N Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:30 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension, improper restraint and disturbing the peace

Officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Victor II Boulevard and the operator was not properly restrained.

A stop was initiated, and Smith was identified as the operator. Smith’s Louisiana Driver’s License was found to be under suspension. During the investigation Smith began yelling profanities in the area of an open business. Smith was jailed.

—Patrick L. Augman, 43, of Spurgeon Road in Monroe, was arrested at 10:10 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with three counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Augman was located and arrested on a warrant. Augman was jailed.

—Jose G.T. Garcia, 32, of West Syl’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 2:14 a.m. Sunday on the charges of DWI offense-child endangerment law, improper lane usage and no driver’s license.

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 arrived locating the vehicle in the area. The vehicle was observed swerving from lane to lane.

A stop was initiated, and Garcia was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Garcia was found to be in an intoxicated state. Garcia performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Test.

Garcia was found not to possess a valid Louisiana Driver’s License and several children were in the vehicle. Garcia was arrested and transported to the Morgan City jail for Chemical Test for Intoxication. Upon arriving at the Morgan City Jail Garcia submitted to chemical test which registered 0.124 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Garcia was jailed.

—Edgar A. Detrinidad-Navas, 60, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Sunday on a charge of DWI first offense.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Railroad Avenue in regard to a crash. Officers arrived, and Detrinidad-Navas was identified as the driver of the vehicle.

Detrinidad-Navas was found to be in an intoxicated state. He was transported to the police department for chemical testing for intoxication. Upon arrival, Detrinidad-Navas submitted to chemical test which registered 0.221 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Detrinidad-Navas was jailed.

—Kirk Tappin, 47, of McDermott Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery and a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment.

Patrol officers responded to the area of La. 70 in regard to a complaint of a battery that had been committed. Officers arrived and spoke with the victim. The woman displayed injuries that were consistent with a battery being committed. Tappin was identified as a suspect.

Patrol officers located Tappin at a home on McDermott Drive. Tappin was found to have warrants for his arrest. Tappin was jailed.

—Heather B. Durapau, 39, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on warrants charging her with possession of buprenorphine hydrochloride, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper turn and failure to appear to pay a fine.

Durapau was located and arrested on warrants. The Morgan City police warrants stem from a January narcotics investigation where a vehicle was observed making an improper turn in the area of Sixth Street.

A stop was initiated and Durapau was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Durapau was found to be in possession of suspected buprenorphine hydrochloride, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Durapau was jailed.

—Kelly Richard, 38, of Cross Larue in Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:26 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Brashear Avenue in regards to a suspicious person. Patrol officers arrived, and Richard was identified.

Richard was found to be in possession of suspected alprazolam and drug paraphernalia. The area where the incident took place was within a drug-free zone. She was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 127 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Amber Lovell, 29, of Rose Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of stolen things and possession of marijuana and possession of clonazepam and warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I drugs.

A deputy responded to a report of a theft from a home in Bayou Vista. The deputy developed information that Lovell stole a wallet while she was visiting at the victim’s home. The deputy and Morgan City police located Lovell at a home on Duke Street.

While at the location, deputies and police found marijuana, clonazepam, and the stolen wallet. Lovell was jailed with no bail set.

—Troy Perez, 52, of Carol Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 1:01 p.m. Friday on a charge of nonconsensual disclosure of a private image.

A deputy received information that a private nude image was posted to a social media account and conducted an investigation. The deputy found evidence that the picture was posted by Perez without the female victim’s consent. Perez was jailed with no bail set.

—John Destefano, 51, of South Grand View in Daytona, Florida, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and disturbing the peace by obscene language.

A deputy responded to a report of a suspicious person at St. Mary Plaza in Bayou Vista. Deputies made contact with Destefano outside a business at the shopping center. Deputies found that Destefano was banging on the doors of another nearby business and causing a disturbance in the area.

During the arrest, deputies located marijuana, methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia in Destefano’s belongings. Destefano was jailed with no bail set.

—Richard Barrick III, 35, of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:22 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear for a drug court status conference and failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court.

Barrick was also charged on warrants from the City Court of Morgan City warrants for failure to appear on the charges of driving under suspension and failure to signal a turn. While working a call for service in Bayou Vista, a deputy spoke with Barrick and located the active warrants for his arrest. Barrick was jailed with no bail set.

—Ashlyn Gros, 25, of Sun Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:54 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

While patrolling Bayou Vista, a deputy encountered Gros and a man walking behind a business off U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista. While speaking with them, the deputy located the active warrant for Gros. Gros was jailed with bail set at $1,500.

—Landon Rodriguez, 36, of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Saturday on a charge of theft of goods.

A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a business in Bayou Vista. The deputy collected evidence that Rodriguez concealed items and attempted to leave the store without paying for the goods. Rodriguez was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Nerissa Cole, 42, of Mission Court in Avondale, was arrested at 1:49 p.m. Saturday on charges of speeding and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.

A deputy monitoring traffic on U.S. 90 in Patterson area observed a vehicle traveling 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy conducted a traffic stop, identified the driver as Cole and found that she was driving the vehicle with a suspended license. Cole was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—David Aucoin Jr., 21, of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Saturday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of Schedule I drugs.

A deputy responding to a separate call for service encountered Aucoin and located the active warrants for his arrest. Aucoin was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

—Spencer Aucoin II, 46, of Duhon Boulevard in Amelia, was arrested at 3:26 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with telephone harassment.

The warrant was issued following an investigation into a report received June 7. The deputy found evidence that Aucoin made threats to a victim via phone. A deputy located Aucoin at his home on the warrant. Aucoin was booked into jail and released on $500 bail.

—Patrick Augman, 43, of Burney Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Saturday on a charge of theft of goods. A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy collected evidence that Augman left the store without paying for several bottles of liquor. Augman was located at the Morgan City Police Department. Augman was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Heath Ohmer, 29, of Justin Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 8:21 a.m. Sunday on a charge of violation of the parish leash law ordinance.

A deputy began an investigation into a Friday animal complaint in Amelia. With the assistance of St. Mary Parish Animal Control, two dogs that were running loose in the area were caught. The deputy found that one of the animals belonged to Ohmer and located him Sunday. Following the investigation, Ohmer was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Carey Montet II, 39, of Barrow Street in Amelia, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery-child endangerment law.

A deputy responded to a report of domestic abuse at a home in Patterson. The deputy collected evidence that Montet grabbed a woman by the arm causing a small laceration. Two juveniles were in the home at the time the battery occurred. Montet was booked into jail and released on $3,500 bail.

—Heather Durapau, 39, of First Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:20 p.m. Sunday on Morgan City Police Department and City Court of Morgan City warrants for failure to signal, possession of buprenorphine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear on the charge of speeding.

Durapau is also charged on a warrant for issuing worthless checks. A deputy assisting Morgan City Police with serving the warrants arrested Durapau on Arbor Circle in Bayou Vista. Durapau was jailed with no bail set.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Cameron Jackson, 18, of Sun Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace by language and aggravated assault. No bail is set.

—Jessica Everage, 36, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace by language. Everage posted $237 bail.

—Stacey Jackson, 48, of Sun Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:18 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace by language. Jackson posted $237 bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Garret Woods, 36, of Bob White Loop in Lafayette, was arrested at 12:48 a.m. Monday on charges of theft of goods, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bail is set.

Statement about tropical weather near Yucatan

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:44am

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A 1005 mb low pressure center is near the center of the Yucatan
Peninsula, near 19.5N89W. Gale-force winds, and sea heights
ranging from 9 feet to 14 feet, cover the Caribbean Sea from 18N
northward between 84W and 85W. Gale-force winds are going to be
developing in parts of the SE Gulf of Mexico during the afternoon
hours of today. A surface trough extends from the 1005 mb low
pressure center, to the Florida Big Bend. Convective
precipitation: scattered to numerous strong from Honduras toward
NW Cuba between 82W and 85W. Widely scattered to scattered
moderate and isolated strong in the Gulf of Mexico from NW Cuba to
29N between the Florida west coast and 87W. Earlier scattered to
numerous strong precipitation, that was covering the areas that
are from the northern half of Guatemala to 20N in the Yucatan
Peninsula, has weakened. Widely scattered moderate to isolated
strong remains, mostly in the coastal plains from Belize to 20N in
the Yucatan Peninsula. The low pressure center continues to lack
a well-defined center of circulation. Gradual development of this
system is expected when it moves into the southern or central
Gulf of Mexico later today and Tuesday. It is likely that a
tropical storm, or a subtropical cyclone may form there. Heavy
rains are expected to continue in parts of Central America, the
Yucatan Peninsula, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba
during the next few days. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter
aircraft is scheduled to investigate this system later today, if
necessary. The chance of formation into a tropical cyclone during
the next two days is high. Please read the latest NHC Tropical
Weather Outlook under AWIPS/WMO headers MIATWOAT/ABNT20 KNHC, and
the HIGH SEAS FORECAST...MIAHSFAT2/FZNT02 KNHC...for more details.

Scalise condition upgraded

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:32am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise was upgraded from “critical” to “serious condition” Saturday and continued to show signs of improvement after he was wounded in a shooting at a Republican baseball practice outside Washington.
Medstar Washington Hospital Center released the update on behalf of the Scalise family. The congressman underwent another surgery Saturday, and the hospital said he was more responsive and speaking with family.
Scalise, the House majority whip, was one of five people shot when a gunman opened fire Wednesday as the Republican team practiced in Alexandria, Virginia. He has required surgery several times since the shooting.
The man who shot Scalise and others at the baseball practice had with him a piece of paper with doodles and the names of three lawmakers, according to a person familiar with the case.
The person told The Associated Press on Saturday that investigators aren’t sure of the significance of the names and don’t know if it was a list of people he was targeting. This person was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. The person did not disclose the names, but said those listed had been briefed.
Scalise’s trauma surgeon said Friday he can hope to make an “excellent recovery,” even though the lawmaker arrived at the hospital Wednesday at imminent risk of death. Dr. Jack Sava of MedStar Washington Hospital Center said it’s a “good possibility” that the Louisiana Republican will be able to return to work in his full capacity.
Sava declined to put a timeline on when that would happen or when Scalise, 51, would be able to leave the hospital. The doctor described how a bullet from an assault rifle entered Scalise’s hip and traversed his pelvis, shattering blood vessels, bones and internal organs along the way.
Scalise, the No. 3 House Republican, arrived at the hospital via helicopter in shock, with intense internal bleeding, Sava said.
Scalise’s security detail and other police officers shot and killed the assailant, James Hodgkinson of Illinois, who had lashed out against President Donald Trump and other Republicans over social media.
Sava said Friday that there are hundreds of bullet fragments in Scalise’s body, but “we have no intention to try and remove all the bullet fragments at this point.”
Nonetheless, said Sava, “we fully expect him to be able to walk” and “hopefully run.”
Sava said that after being released from the hospital, Scalise “will require a period of healing and rehabilitation.”
“I feel a lot more confident and a lot more optimistic than I did two, three days ago,” Sava said. “I think that his risk of death right now is substantially lower than when he came in ... he was as critical as you can be when he came in.”
Sava said he told Scalise’s family that “I am not declaring victory until he’s playing ball in his back yard with his family.”
Suffering relatively minor injuries were two Capitol Police officers, David Bailey and Crystal Griner, and House GOP aide Zack Barth. Griner remained hospitalized at MedStar Hospital after getting shot in the ankle, and Sava described her in good condition.
Bailey was spotted Friday in the Capitol, on crutches and out of uniform, accepting congratulations from fellow officers.
Lobbyist Matt Mika, who was shot multiple times and critically wounded, has undergone additional surgery and doctors expect a full recovery, his family said Saturday.

Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Maria Danilova in Washington, and Jim Salter in St. Louis contributed to this report.

Louisiana Spotlight: Budget talks will get tougher

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:30am

By MELINDA DESLATTE

Associated Press
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana lawmakers made crafting their latest nearly $29 billion state operating budget a teeth-gnashing, stress-inducing struggle that took two legislative sessions to complete. That doesn’t bode well for what comes next.
The state had relatively solid financial footing, without massive budget gaps, for the financial year that begins July 1. Lawmakers generally just needed to set spending priorities and determine what they could afford. Those are the basic decisions expected of the legislative branch, which holds the state’s purse strings.
But lawmakers’ philosophical, partisan and personality divides made even those straightforward choices tough. And for the first time in 17 years, they failed to finish an operating budget in their regular legislative session, costing taxpayers extra money so they could go into overtime.
If it was this much of a saga to create a 2017-18 spending plan, haggling over the next one is certain to be a mess, with lawmakers staring down a budget gap estimated to top $1 billion for the 2018-19 fiscal year.
House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, a Metairie Republican, summed it up succinctly, at one point telling lawmakers in the just-ended special session that dealing with the next year’s financial troubles “will make this budget process look like Disneyland.”
After it became clear lawmakers wouldn’t raise any new revenue with taxes for this latest budget, the divide largely centered on one question: How much should the state spend?
At issue was the state income forecast. When revenues come up short of the income projections, agencies are forced to make midyear cuts. Louisiana has had 15 midyear deficits over the last nine years because the income forecasts have repeatedly been too high.
House Republican leaders wanted a different approach that wouldn’t allocate every dollar available, but would instead leave some money unspent so if the income forecast is too high, they’d have a cushion to possibly avoid cuts.
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said he thought it was a worthwhile approach — but not until sometime in the future when state agencies were on more solid footing. House Democrats and most of the majority-Republican Senate agreed with Edwards.
Budget haggling across more than two months centered on that dispute. Enough moderate Republicans in the House eventually bucked their leaders that the Senate and the governor won the fight, with all the dollars allocated in the final version of the spending plan that begins in two weeks. In a compromise, the Edwards administration agreed to withhold $60 million from agencies as a deficit-avoidance measure.
The next financial dispute already looms.
Another special session is planned over the next eight months (an exact date hasn’t been set) for lawmakers to consider raising taxes before Louisiana hits what is called the “fiscal cliff.” That’s when temporary sales taxes expire June 30, 2018 and leave a budget hole estimated to be as much as $1.3 billion or more.
In the regular session, the conservative House blocked all tax hikes to offset the financial hole. Senators who have shown more willingness to raise taxes could do little.
House Speaker Taylor Barras, a New Iberia Republican, said he thinks lawmakers will be more likely to consider tax measures when they near the tax expirations, after they’ve determined if other state revenue sources have improved and what size hole they face.
No legislative leader has suggested the entire mid-2018 gap can be closed with cuts. But Barras lamented that lawmakers didn’t pare back spending in their just-completed budget, to help lessen expenses long-term.
“I think our intent was to, from a reform perspective, get the fiscal cliff to (a smaller) level,” Barras said of House GOP leaders. “It was clear from our negotiations with the Senate that they wouldn’t accept any level of cuts.”
Senate leaders and the Edwards administration said stripping available dollars out of the budget would make unnecessary and harmful cuts that could damage critical services.
Lawmakers will face the same debates in that next special session as they choose between cuts and taxes.
Senate Finance Chairman Eric LaFleur, a Ville Platte Democrat, said he doesn’t think lawmakers will allow programs and services to be decimated.
“When we have one finger on the edge of the cliff we’re hanging on, we will do the right thing,” LaFleur said. “We’re not very proactive. We’re very reactive.”
Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

Wheel House for June 19

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:24am

VACATION BIBLE
School at Church of Christ, 1105 Railroad Ave., Morgan City, 6-8 p.m. June 26-30. Classes for ages 4 to adult. Theme: “God’s Team.”

SOUP KITCHEN
Serving those in need at Bayou Vista Community Fellowship, 1523 Anthony St., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 20. For info call 985-399-3433.

WILL “JIMMY” JOHNSON

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:18am

Funeral services for Will James “Jimmy” Johnson will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2017 beginning at 10 a.m. in St. Peter Catholic Church in Bordelonville. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 beginning at 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 6 p.m. in the St. Peter Catholic Church Hall. The Hall will reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday Morning until time of service. Burial will take place in the St. Peter Church Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Escude Funeral Home of Mansura.
Jimmy Johnson, 79, a resident of Bordelonville passed away on June 4, 2017 in the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. He was a Drilling Superintendant for AMOCO for 18 years, member of the Farm Bureau Board of Directors, President of CENLa. New Voice Club. He was a Native American of the Chitimacha Tribe and was a member of the US Armed Services serving in the Navy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ernestine (Darden) Johnson; sons, Joey Vilcan, Joey LeBlanc and Ryan Keith Johnson; grandson, Ross Breaux.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dorothy R. Johnson of Bordelonville; sons, Mark Johnson (Rhonda) of Charenton, Kelly Johnson of Charenton and Michael Johnson of Charenton, Buddy Bordelon (Dana) of Bordelonville, Lee Bordelon (Lisa) of Abbeville and Gerald Ecuer (Rachel) of Charenton; daughters, Lisa Head (Joe) of Mansura, Kaye Wilkes (Marcus Sr.) of Simmesport. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren: Brandt, Zayne, Ciera, Calieb, Barbara, Keith, Lee, Jr., Justin, Aaron, Eve, Isabella, Ezra, Malachi, Richard, Shelby, Marcus, Jr., Mandy, Hayden and Gabriella; fourteen great-grandchildren: Bryden, Clay, Addilyn, Kaylee, Roman, Mila, Liam, Jamie, Alex, Emily, Mae, Addilise, Caleb and Noah.
(Paid Notice)

Senior happenings

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:18am

Activities involving Tri-City area senior citizens.

Last weekend's carnival and fair

Mon, 06/19/2017 - 10:17am

"A Community A-Fair" wrapped up Sunday after a four-day run in Franklin. Rides, games and much more were available to attendees, and of course, the rides were hits with the youngsters.