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No. 11 AES upsets No. 1 CCHS, 7-3 for Division IV title

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 4:59pm

GEOFF STOUTE

SULPHUR —

No. 1 Central Catholic’s bid for a repeat state championship came to a heartbreaking end Friday as the squad was upset by No. 11 seed and District 7-1A f o e A s c e n s i o n Episcopal, 7-3, at McMurry Park.
While the Eagles overcame an early deficit, miscues and timely hitting by Ascension Episcopal doomed the Eagles.
Central Catholic Coach Tyler Jensen said he told his team in the past that walks and errors are how they lose playoff games, and those two aspects factored into their loss.
“That’s kind of what happened, and they got a couple of big hits,” Jensen said. “They just beat us. They out played us, they out coached us, the whole nine yards, and sometimes you got to just tip your cap to the other team. It just happened for them.”
The loss snapped a 14-game winning streak that included a series sweep of the Blue Gators in District 7-1A action earlier this season. The Eagles faced the Blue Gators’ Carter Dooley Friday in the state title game.
Earlier this season in the regular season finale, Central Catholic pounded Dooley for eight runs (six earned) on eight hits. However, Friday in the state title game, Dooley pitched a complete game and surrendered three runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks, two hit batters and fanned three.
“Early on, I kind of sensed we weren’t ourselves,” Jensen said. “We didn’t have the greatest at bats. We’ve seen this guy before. He just shut us down. Later on in the game, we started having some better at bats but it just seemed like we hit it right to them.”
Ascension Episcopal took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs and the bases loaded via a hit batter and two walks, Central Catholic starter Gregory Leger threw a wild pitch for a 1 - 0 A s c e n s i o n Episcopal. After a second walk, Leger threw another wild pitch that scored a second run.
Leger fanned Eli Mouton to escape any more damage.
Central Catholic cut its deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Leger homered to left field.
However, Ascension Episcopal regained its two-run lead in the top of the third when Sean Michael Brady hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored University of Louisiana at Lafayette signee Jeffery Elkins. Elkins led off the inning with a triple to the centerfield wall.
The Eagles tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the third when Mitchell Lemoine connected on a two-out single to right field that scored Adam Dupuis and Drake Angeron. Both had reached base on bunt singles.
Ascension Episcopal took the lead for good when an errant throw in an attempt to pick off a runner at third base with two outs scored a run, and Brennan Lightfoot followed with a run-scoring single for a 5-3 lead.
After another Central Catholic error kept the inning alive, Mouton followed with a single to centerfield that scored a run for a 6-3 lead.
Central Catholic made things interesting in the bottom of the sixth when it loaded the bases with two outs. However, Dooley escaped the jam unharmed.
Ascension Episcopal added its final run in the top of the seventh via a Mouton single to right field. Mouton led Ascension Episcopal with a 2-for-3
performance with a double and two RBIs.
Other top offensive contributors for the Blue Gators included Elkins 1-for-2, a triple, a stolen base and three runs; Lightfoot, 1-for-3, an RBI and a run; and Brady, an RBI and a run.
Leger led Central Catholic with a 2-for-3 performance with a home run, an RBI and a run, while Lemoine was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Brooks Thomas, the second of three Central Catholic pitchers, suffered the loss. In 3.2 innings, he surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits with two walks and fanned six.
Leger started the game, and in one inning, he surrendered two runs (one earned) with four walks and one strikeout.
Thomas Mire finished the game, and in 2.1 innings, he surrendered one run (one earned) on three hits with one walk and fanned three.
Central Catholic will be losing a large senior class, which Jensen called “great guys,” from this year’s team.
“They’ve grown up a lot,” Jensen said. “When they were younger, maybe we didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but those guys every year became more and more mature, and they actually became fantastic leaders. The big knock on them when they were young (was) they were really talented players but they wouldn’t be good leaders, and they weren’t good leaders. They were great leaders, and they’re all going to be a bunch of guys that are going to go on and be successful in life.
"I hurt for them the most," Jensen added. "I hurt for all our guys, but those guys have given so much to our program, done so much for our program, there’s not enough good things I can say. They’ve made me a better coach but probably more important a better man.”

More from the Division IV baseball finals

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 4:50pm

(Photos above) ...

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Library summer reading program begins June 5

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 12:32pm

The St. Mary Parish Library System kicks off the summer reading program June 5.
Families will enjoy an ice cream treat while checking out their first batch of books.
The theme this summer is Build a Better World.
A summer lineup of professional entertainment will be provided at all seven branches, beginning the first week with an interactive drumming session by percussionist, Elizabeth “Lady Chops” Vidos.
A talented percussionist, this drummer’s off-broadway work history includes the "STOMP" show and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Incorporating musical instruments from other countries into her performance, she educates and entertains children of all ages with an engaging performance that includes interactive skills and musical instruments.
Future entertainment for the month of June will include performances by David LeBouef, Hampstead Stage Company, Javier Juarez, Matthew Noel, and Roger Day.
Combining magic, humor, and education, magician David LeBouef has enchanted children of all ages with his delightful magic show.
For the past thirty-four years, Hampstead Stage Company has excelled in providing quality interactive, educational performances to their audiences with memorable productions of popular myths, fairy tales, and plays.
The director of Javier’s Dance Studio, Javier Juarez has been a performer and teacher for over thirty years, actively involved in the educational system for the past 28 years, incorporating a multitude of dancing styles for his audience’s entertainment.
Magician Matthew Noel has kept children humored and engaged with his hilarious act showcasing his magic, juggling, and yo-yo skills for over ten years.
Award-winning children’s musician Roger Day ensures his performances are filled with loud songs, high jumps, and big dreams. His witty, whimsical wordplay has entertained and educated children to expressive heights.
A printed calendar of all scheduled performance event dates and times is available Alex P. Allain Memorial Library in Franklin and the remaining library branches.
A complete, online calendar can also be found on the St. Mary Parish Library website at www.stmarylibrary.org. All of the St. Mary Parish Library System’s summer performances are free of charge and open to the public and all ages.

Holy Cross sixth-graders call it a year

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 12:30pm

Submitted Photo
Closing ceremonies were held for Holy Cross Elementary School’s sixth-grade Class of 2017 on Monday. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Clyde Mahler of Holy Cross Church, and a reception for parents, grandparents and friends in the Yvonne Anne Adams Life Center followed. Pictured are, front row from left: Ty Ribardi, Emily Lipari, Sophie Webster, Jobe Stratton, Bryson Roy, Gracie Lipari, Mary Brinkley, Jillian Morell, Caleb O’con, Tate Aucoin, Channing Rivere and Charlotte Callais. Second row: Madison Sons, Megan Anslum, Jolie Boudreaux, Andrew Cavalier, Dominic Case, Sofia Saleme, Ben Miller, Robert Hunter, Princess Verdin, Hannah Domingue and Amaya Williams. Third row: Angelo Viscardi, Mason Johnston, Sean Hebert, Isabella Duval, Michael Mire, III, Gary Nicar, III, Brady Shannon, Hailey Denning, Chloe Estay, Rhett Thomas and Natalie Sloane. Back row: Elijha Brown, Sarah David, Trent Percle, Emily Allemond, Emma Chamberlain, Hailey Skiles, Howard Kinchen, Emily Wise, Madison Landry, Gracie Gros, Presley Bruni and Ja’cori Johnson.

Hicks wins Teche Regional's Mercy Award

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 12:27pm

Teche Regional Medical Center recently announced that Christel Hicks has been recognized as the hospital’s 2017 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of LifePoint Health’s hospitals who profoundly touches the lives of others and best repre-sents the spirit and values on which the company was founded.
The Mercy Award is an annual recognition program established in 2002 to honor the life of Scott Mercy, Life-Point’s founding chairman and chief executive officer. The award is considered the highest honor a LifePoint employee can receive.
“At Teche Regional Medical Center, we share LifePoint’s commitment to Making Communities Healthier, and we recognize this is supported by the good work and service of our employees on and off the job,” said Butch Frazier, CEO of Teche Regional Medical Center. “We are extremely proud to recognize Christel for her efforts on behalf of our patients and our community. She goes above and beyond each and every day to ensure that every person she encounters receives the highest level of care and compassion.”
Christel has been employed at Teche Regional Medical Center for 21 years. She started as a Respiratory Therapist and is now the Director of Informatics.
“Christel is always positive, compassionate and respectful of everyone she works with. She consistently goes above and beyond to help our physicians each day. She is relentless in her pursuit of making our clinical systems work as efficiently as possible,” said Dianne Teal, chief nursing officer.
Christel’s dedication and commitment to her family, friends and community are also worthy of recognition. She is very active in her community church and schools. She and her family routinely participate in fundraisers for St. Jude and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
“Christel is respected by all who know her at Teche Regional and is positive, respectful and always models exemplary behavior,” Frazier said.

Louisiana Politics: Rural jobs bill unites unlikely political allies

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 11:37am

JEREMY ALFORD

In what could be described as an exercise in star-crossed politics, the left-leaning Louisiana Budget Project and the right-leaning Americans For Prosperity officially joined forces on Monday to oppose the creation of a rural jobs tax credit.
Special interests and lawmakers alike have become more protective in recent years about the use of taxpayer money for such incentives, with Louisiana’s government struggling through one budget shortfall after another.
The rural jobs tax credit inside HB 641 by Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, has already cleared the committee process in the lower chamber and was expected to be brought to a floor vote this week.
The legislation allows the Revenue Department to award the tax credits, out of the proposed $90 million program, that can be claimed against future premium tax liabilities by the participating investors, lenders and insurance companies.
Those entities would then invest in growth funds that are supposed to create rural jobs in small businesses with 50 or fewer employees, in addition to other benchmarks.
McFarland argued during the bill’s initial hearing that rural banks have scaled back on making loans in recent years due to federal regulations, which in turn has cut rural companies off from access to capital.
Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain also supports the proposed program, which otherwise fell under fire this week by the Louisiana Budget Project, an advocacy group that focuses on government funding, and Americans For Prosperity, a national conservative outfit with a chapter in Louisiana.
“We should be looking to end many of these tax credit programs and instead focus on comprehensive tax reform,” said AFP state director John Kay.
Based on an analysis from the Legislative Fiscal Office, the total potential revenue loss to the state could be $30 million per fiscal year beginning in 2023.

Special session timing unclear
The possibility of a June special session still weighs heavily on the minds of those working in the Governor’s Office — it would, after all, be the fourth special session called by Gov. John Bel Edwards since his swearing in ceremony in January 2016.
But the only way that happens is if lawmakers fail to produce a budget in the regular session that adjourns on June 8. The House and Senate are currently negotiating the budget bill, for which the bodies have drastically different visions.
The Legislature failing to pass a balanced budget would not be unprecedented, but is a rare occurrence. If it does happen next month, lawmakers would have to begin their work again immediately.
What’s more likely, according to a spokesperson for the governor, is a special session being called at a later date to address a $1.3 billion hole slated for next year due to the expiration of temporary taxes.
Edwards as well as legislative leaders are doubtful that enough new revenue can be created in the regular session that ends in just a few weeks.
The House, in particular, has failed to come to an agreement on several major tax policies this session.
That said, a fourth special session for this term will probably still be required — eventually — to tackle the state’s temporary taxes that fall off the books on July 1, 2018.
Whether that means a special session is on tap for this fall, which appears to be favored by legislative leaders, or for next year, when the so-called fiscal cliff will be much closer, now becomes the new focus of speculation around the Capitol.
Unless, of course, lawmakers are unable to agree to a budget in the regular session, which would in turn require an immediate special session convening in mid-June.

White gets some backup
A six-figure media buy that features a reference to state Education Superintendent John White and policy milestones during his tenure launched earlier this week in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport markets.
Television, radio and digital are all part of the campaign, which is being bankrolled by Education Reform Now, a 501(c)(3) affiliate of the state chapter of Democrats for Education Reform.
The outreach effort comes one month after LaPolitics first reported an effort underway in the state Senate and elsewhere to have White either face a contract review before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or a ratification vote before a Senate committee.
White, who was hired by BESE during the administration of former Gov. Bobby Jindal, is now working on a month-to-month basis during the current term.
Opponents believe bringing a longterm contract before BESE or a second ratification vote before the Senate offer an opportunity to oust White.

No extra money for state
Lawmakers who were hoping for an uptick in tax collections, just in time for the final stretch of the regular session, were sorely disappointed earlier this month after the Revenue Estimating Conference met.
The REC panel, which is charged with determining how much money the state has to spend, downgraded the revenue estimate for the next fiscal year by roughly $27 million. Lawmakers consider that to be a modest decrease for a $29 billion budget.
Nonetheless, it’s unknown if lawmakers will have to address that loss as budget negotiations continue. There was no change in the forecast for the current fiscal year that ends on June 30, although state officials admitted that a dip might eventually surface there as well.

Political history: Four fast
facts on the Legislature
There were two years in Louisiana’s long history where the Legislature was unable, although not unwilling, to convene a policymaking session and an extended period of time where there was actually more than one House and Senate meeting, according to a history compiled by the Legislative Research Library.
The terms of lawmakers have changed over the years as well and some key leadership positions probably aren’t as old as you think, based on the historical summary of the House’s total membership dating back to 1812. The document was last updated by the library’s staff in April.
Here are four interesting takeaways from the research:
— Members of the Louisiana Legislature were elected every two years until 1880, when voters began selecting members of the House and Senate every four years.
— The Legislature did not meet in 1813, due to the War of 1812. The body also did not meet in 1815, due to the Battle of New Orleans.
— During the Civil War there were two elected legislatures meeting simultaneously. (There are very few records documenting the Confederate legislature, which met in north Louisiana.)
— The position of speaker pro tem did not exist in Louisiana until it was created by resolution on the first day of the 1972 regular session. That’s when then-Rep. Kenneth Leithman of Jefferson Parish was elected by acclamation as the very first speaker pro tem.

They said it
“I do not believe those students in 10th grade all of sudden got dumber over the summer. But it does happen. I’m not gonna lie.”
—Walter Brown of Caddo Parish, a former educator, testifying before the House Education Committee on standards-based assessments
“This was just the camel’s nose under the tent.”
—Rep. Scott Simon, R-Abita Springs, on the state allowing medicinal applications of mari juana
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.

Clancy Dubos: Newton's 1st law of bad government

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 11:29am

By CLANCY DUBOS

Sen. Bret Allain 985-850-2738 allainb@legis.la.gov

Sir Isaac Newton reduced much of what we know about the universe to handful of precise mathematical formulas. Good thing Sir Isaac isn’t around today to try to make sense of the Louisiana Legislature. He’d surely go mad.
Or perhaps, upon noticing the extravagance with which hordes of unctuous lobbyists are pushing a bill to regulate web-based transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, he might be moved to formulate his First Law of Bad Government: A proposed law’s awfulness is geometrically proportional to the number of lobbyists hired to secure its passage.
That is surely the case with House Bill 527 by Rep. Kenny Havard, R-Jackson, which might otherwise be called the No Lobbyist Left Behind Bill.
HB 527 is no doubt the handiwork of Uber and Lyft, which have promoted similar bills in other states. The two companies are international outfits that use smartphone apps to arrange what would otherwise be taxicab rides in a growing number of cities. Unlike taxicabs, however, Uber and Lyft want to avoid local regulation at all costs — and they are sparing no expense toward that end.
In the current Louisiana legislative session, Uber and Lyft have hired so many registered schmoozers to pass Havard’s bill that it’s difficult to navigate the legislative halls without bumping into one in the act of puckering up. And make no mistake, HB 527 is a very bad bill.
At face value, there’s nothing wrong with the state regulating TNCs. As their lobbyists are quick to note, it would level the playing field statewide for mobile app-based outfits like Uber and Lyft. But Havard’s bill goes much further than that — and in the wrong direction.
There are at least four measures by which HB 527 is an awful bill:
First, its regulatory provisions are a sham. HB 527 places TNC regulatory responsibility with the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry rather than the Louisiana Public Service Commission. That’s not a misprint. The state’s experts on eggs, milk, cotton and pine trees would regulate internet-based cab services in Louisiana’s urban areas. To justify that charade, the bill magically declares TNCs not to be taxis, for-hire vehicles, or “common carriers,” even though they perform the same function as taxis and limos. (Despite such legislative legerdemain, rest assured you WILL be charged if you use Uber or Lyft.) Worse yet, most of the Ag Department’s regulatory efforts would be collecting a puny fee from Uber and Lyft, whose main goal quite obviously is to escape already established — and far more thorough — regulations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and elsewhere.
Second, the promised treasure trove of fees generated by state regulation is an illusion. New Orleans, which generates by far the most TNC traffic, has a home rule charter and a taxicab ordinance that predates the 1974 Constitution. That makes it highly possible, if not likely, that HB 527 will either be declared unconstitutional or inapplicable to the Big Easy.
Third, HB 527 poses a very real danger to public safety. It contains no provisions for drug testing or fingerprinting TNC drivers. In fact, at the urging of Uber and Lyft’s lobbyists, House members rejected amendments calling for such provisions. The bill does require criminal background checks — every two years. Meanwhile, two Baton Rouge Uber drivers were recently busted for DWI — one of them with a passenger on board.
Fourth, HB 527 makes a mockery of accountability and transparency. The bill mentions annual audits, but Uber and Lyft — not the state — would hire auditors to check their numbers. After those “audits” are done, local governments could inspect but not get copies of them. The legislative auditor, whose job it is to audit all entities that receive public funds, likewise could not get copies of the audits. Worst of all, the audit findings and virtually all other information about the TNCs and their operations would be specifically exempted from the Louisiana Public Records Act, which means the public would have no way of knowing if something is amiss.
If you think these provisions are bad, think about this: The original version of HB 527 was worse. Much worse.
Sadly, HB 527 has been grossly under-covered by the state’s political media. That has played into the TNCs’ hands, but hopefully that will soon change. And hopefully, voters will take notice of just how dangerous HB 527 is and tell their senators (who now have the bill before them) to vote against it.
Don’t let Uber and Lyft’s phalanx of lobbyists deter you from speaking out, because the one thing no amount of money or lobbying can overcome is a mob of angry constituents.
Newton might even call that his First Law of Good Government.
Clancy Dubos is the political editor of Gambit of New Orleans.

Blighted property worries council

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 11:24am

Ivory Bibbins

ibibbins@daily-review.com

The Morgan City Council voiced concerns Tuesday over the long process for getting rid of blighted property.
Anthony Governale, the city’s planning and zoning director, mainly discussed the blight property of 711 Duke St.
Governale said the property is located on three different parcels with eight property owners.
Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said that all efforts must be exhausted to contact the owners before the city can take action.
Grizzaffi also said Morgan City has a lot of blighted properties, which could cause the expense of legal action to become too high of a cost for the city.
“You got to pick and choose because we’ll go broke trying to fight these things,” said Grizzaffi.
Governale recommended that legal counsel be contacted so that the process of taking care of the property can be expedited. The council agreed to give him that permission. Governale said the city is currently working on nine blighted properties.
Also Tuesday, the council approved two financial committee recommendations that Councilman James Fontenot presented.
The first recommendation was to allocate $12,026 to purchase billing and receivable software module for City Hall and the auditorium. The module would be an extension to the current software in place but make the current software up-to-date.
The second recommendation was to allocate $9,329 to purchase a hydraulic breaker attachment to be used by Public Works.
During the meeting, the council approved four resolutions and adopted one ordinance. The council adopted an ordinance approving millage rates for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The millage rate is 14.75.
The first resolution approved Tuesday calls for the city to continue in an updated citizen participation plan for the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program. The citizen participation plan emphasizes that citizens, especially those of low income, will be notified of public hearings through the use of the city’s official journal.
Also, the city will hold at least one annual performance hearing. Citizens will be able to request an interpreter with proper notice, technical assistance, and access to all key documents.
The council approved in a separate resolution that The Daily Review was to be the official journal for the city for the next fiscal year in which legal publications and notices from the city will be placed in the paper for the public.
Council members also approved resolutions to grant a certificate of substantial completion for the Front Street Wharf to Larry Doiron LLC and renew a lease agreement with G&J Land and Marine.

Award for safety

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 11:16am

Submitted Photo
Ben Bordelon, Bollinger Shipyards president and CEO, accepts the Shipbuilders Council of America Award for Excellence in Safety from Matthew Paxton, left, council president, and Richard McCreary, right, council chairman. Bollinger was presented the award for the 12th consecutive year May 18 during SCA’s Annual General Membership Meeting in Washington, D.C. This award is given to member companies with the lowest total recordable incident rates based on a quarterly injury and illness survey conducted by the association.

Wheel House for May 24

Wed, 05/24/2017 - 11:13am

VACATION BIBLE
School at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 113 Federal Ave., Morgan City, 6-8 p.m. June 5-9. For info call Charlain Nicholas, 985-519-4745.