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(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

St. Mary deputies made arrests on drug possession and domestic battery charges this week. Berwick police took a 10-year-old into custody after the restroom at a local park was vandalized.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 46 complaints and made these arrests:

--Phillip Ray Baker Jr., 51, Franklin, was arrested at 12:44 a.m. Tuesday on charges of domestic abuse battery and domestic abuse (child endangerment law). Bail has not been set at this time.

--Taurien Dominique Wilson, 29, Opelousas, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of Schedule II drugs. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Christopher Aaron Marquez, 38, Patterson, was arrested at 12:09 p.m. Monday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a Schedule I drug, possession of a Schedule II drug, possession of Schedule IV drug, possession of a legend drug without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17 years of age, and driving on right side of the road

Bail has been set at $42,500.

--Brad Hines, 20, Franklin, was arrested at 5:49 p.m. Monday on a Kenner Police Department warrant alleging theft of a catalytic converter. Hines also held a Jeanerette Police Department warrant alleging theft, criminal damage to property and trespassing. Hines is being held for another agency.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Juvenile male, 10, Berwick, was arrested at 9:12 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging simple criminal damage to property (over $1,000, felony).

Over the last week, the Berwick Police Department has received several complaints of vandalism and property damage. Through the course of one of the complaints, it was learned that a group of individuals damaged a bathroom at a local park.

Several juveniles were developed as suspects. Officers spoke with the juvenile and a parent who admitted committing those damages as well. Warrants were prepared for his arrest along with others who were involved.

The juvenile was booked and released to a parent pending court proceedings.

--Jeffrey Schexnider, 45, Patterson, was arrested at 12:58 p.m. Monday on charges of illegal possession of stolen things (under $1,000).

About 12:55 p.m. Monday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was learned that its license plate was reported stolen. Officers made contact with Schexnider and advised him of the complaint.

Schexnider was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

--Jack Guillory Sr., 49, Berwick, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of a legend drug without a prescription.

About 2:30 p.m. Monday, while officers handled a separate complaint, it was learned that Guillory was possibly in possession of various amounts of prescription pills that he purchased unlawfully without a prescription.

Officers located and made contact with Guillory, who was advised of the complaint. While officers spoke with Guillory, the pills were located and learned to be a legend drug.

Guillory was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.

--Myron Hatch, 51, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:33 p.m. Monday on a charge of resisting an officer (false information); a Morgan City warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of theft, remaining where forbidden and criminal trespassing; and a St. Mary Parish warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of theft.

About 8:53 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the area of Belleview Front in reference to a suspicious person complaint. Officers located and made contact with Hatch.

Hatch proved a false name. Hatch’s identity was learned, and it was found that he had active warrants through the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Morgan City Police Department.

Hatch was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 39 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Joshua Clay Driskill, 32, River Road, Berwick, was arrested 7:52 p.m. Monday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 10 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Breyonna Verret, 23, Cayce Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:23 p.m. Monday on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of theft. Verret was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

St. Mary residents have decisions to make about education and health care in a very concrete way.
A new property tax to fund repairs and upgrades at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City and renewals for property taxes in all three school maintenance districts will be on the ballot when early voting for the Dec. 7 general election opens Friday.
St. Mary residents have their choice of three early voting sites: the Registrar of Voters Office at the Parish Courthouse in Franklin, the Sales Tax Office at 301 Third St., Morgan City, and the West St. Mary Civic Center.
Early voting will run through Nov. 30 except for Sunday, Nov. 24, Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, and Acadian Day, Nov. 29.
On Friday, Nov. 22, the voting hours will be 8 a.m.-6 p.m. On each voting day beginning Saturday, Nov. 23, the hours will be 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Hospital tax
Residents of St. Mary Hospital Service District No. 2 put the 9-mill tax on the ballot. The district, which covers the eastern parish, owns the Morgan City hospital operated by Ochsner Health under lease.
The 9-mill tax would raise about $3.4 million per year to be used “to improve, maintain, operate and support hospital and other health care facilities in the District, including but not limited to repairing existing facilities, acquiring equipment, and otherwise supporting the provision of hospital services.”
The district says the tax would cost the owner of a $125,000 primary residence about $45 a year.
The “the otherwise supporting” language includes scholarships for local people entering health care fields. But the bulk of the money appears to be destined for improvements for a hospital building that is showing its age at 45 years old.
The problems were exacerbated by Hurricane Francine on Sept. 11. The minutes of a district board meeting Sept. 13 quote the board chairman, Dr. William Cefalu Jr., and Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Wise as saying blowers and dehumidifiers had been installed to deal with moisture affecting all rooms.
There was flooding on the third floor, “rain in the pharmacy, the windows were leaking and Respiratory Therapy had to be relocated.”
People who would have been admitted to the hospital were sent to Ochsner St. Anne’s in Raceland.
School
maintenance
Residents across the parish will be asked to renew property taxes for building and maintenance in the three maintenance districts, each for 10 years.
—12.42 mills in the eastern portion of the parish, expected to raise about $2.6 million a year.
—12.73 mills in District 2, the central portion of the parish, expected to raise about $2.2 million per year.
—12.53 mills in District 3, the eastern portion of the parish, expected to raise about $2.8 million per year.
Also on ballots in specific districts around the parish:
—Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 1 is seeking a 7.81-mill renewal, raising about $1.8 million a year.
—Baldwin voters are being asked to impose a 1% sales tax to raise $180,000 a year for public safety.
—Franklin is asking voters for a 1% sales tax to raise $1.3 million to operate and maintain the police and fire departments.
Four state constitutional amendments are also on the ballot. The summaries, with analysis from the Public Affairs Research Council:
Amendment 1: “Do you support an amendment to allow the supreme court to sanction a judge upon an investigation by the judiciary commission, and provide that the recommended sanction shall be instituted by the judiciary commission or by a majority of the supreme court, and to provide for the appointment of five members of the judiciary commission?”
The state Supreme Court can’t sanction a judge for misconduct until a judiciary commission investigates the matter, and critics say the commission often moves too slowly. The amendment would expand the number of commission members to 14 to nine and give the state Supreme Court more input in the process, and allow the high court to temporarily suspend a judge during an investigation without a commission ruling.
Amendment 2: “Do you support an amendment to require that the legislature wait for at least forty-eight hours prior to concurring in a conference committee report or amendments to a bill appropriating money?”
The amendment is designed to prevent an unseemly and possibly mistaken scramble to pass appropriations bills in the final minutes of a session, such as happened in 2023.
Amendment 3: “Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to extend a regular session in increments of two days up to a maximum of six days if necessary to pass a bill appropriating money?”
Again, the amendment is proposed to give lawmakers time to consider appropriation bills thoroughly before passage, even as the constitutional deadline for a session to end draw near.
Amendment 4: “Do you support an amendment to eliminate mandatory tax sales for nonpayment of property taxes and require the legislature to provide for such procedures by law; to limit the amount of penalty and interest on delinquent property taxes; and to provide for the postponement of property tax payments under certain circumstances?”
PAR characterizes the amendment as an attempt to move from a tax sale system to a tax lien system to deal with nonpayment of property taxes.
Rather than an outright sale of property on which taxes are delinquent, a lien on the property would be auctioned, offering the property owner more options for getting back into compliance.

Staff report
On a night of prep football blowouts, Lincoln Prep of Grambling and Central Catholic slugged it out to the final bell. Central Catholic landed the last punch.
The Eagles shut out Lincoln Prep, which had scored at least 40 points in six of 10 regular-season games, 14-0 Friday to advance to the second round of the LHSAA Select Division IV playoffs.
In other first-round playoff action Friday, Sterlington was a 63-12 winner over Patterson, which made the playoffs with a single 2024 victory; Gen. Trass knocked off Centerville 58-20; and Welsh ousted West St. Mary 59-24.
St. Mary’s other first-round winner was Franklin, which downed White Castle 44-0.
Central Catholic, seeded 14th with a 6-4 record, advances to the regional round for a game with Covenant Christian at 7 p.m. Friday in Gray. Third-seeded Covenant is 10-0 and had a first-round bye after defeating Central Catholic 25-7 in the regular season finale Nov. 7.
Franklin, 6-5 and seeded 19th in Non-Select Division IV, will be at third-seeded DeQuincy at 7 p.m. Friday. DeQuincy is 9-1.
The knockout blow in the Lincoln Prep-Central Catholic game was delivered by Eagle defensive back Landon Ramagos, who intercepted a Jordan Brown pass and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Lucas Pickens’ point-after kick made it 14-0 near the end of a bare-knuckle defensive fight.
Central Catholic managed only 130 yards in total offense. Tate Fontenot was the rushing leader with 43 yards on 10 carries. But one of those carries was for 28 yards, so the other nine carries netted only 15.
Fellow Eagle running back Cash Baker also had a long night, finishing with 12 yards on seven trips.
But, after Lincoln Prep punted for only 19 yards from its own 11-yard line in the second quarter, the two backs got some glory.
Fontenot’s 28-yard run from scrimmage put Central Catholic on the visitors’ 2. After an offsides penalty, Baker rushed the final yard and into paydirt. Pickens’ kick made it 7-0 with 8:52 left in the first half.
Central Catholic held the Panthers to only 47 net ground yards, led by workhorse Dtavion Wright’s 49 yards on 16 carries. Brown hit on 16 of 26 passes for 169 yards.
But Brown also threw interceptions collected by Dominic Lipari and Greg Hamer in addition to the Ramagos pick six. And Lincoln Prep lost three fumbles.
Eagle Landon Billiot stopped Wright for a 3-yard loss when Lincoln Prep got to Central Catholic’s 21. On a later series, Billiot and Bryan Wiggins sacked Brown for a 9-yard loss after the Panthers reached the Eagle 25.
Central Catholic quarterback Benjamin Case completed 7 of 14 passes for 58 yards. Ramagos caught four passes for 28 yards. Fontenot, Hamer and Drake Rock each had a reception.

Danos has been honored with two awards recognizing xcellence in business and commitment to growth.
Danos was recognized for its continued growth and success, earning a spot on both the LSU100 and LSU ROARING20 lists.
Danos was named to the list of fastest-growing companies owned or led by LSU graduates, and to the LSU ROARING20 list of highest revenuegenerating companies led or owned by LSU grads.
This is the sixth time Danos has appeared on the LSU100 list and its fifth consecutive year on the ROARING20.
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (named Danos as the 2024 Large Company of the Year.
The LABI Large Company of the Year Award highlights Danos’ remarkable achievements in the industry, as well as its contributions to Louisiana’s economic development, community engagement and workforce development initiatives. Danos stood out among its peers for its dedication to safety, innovation and environmental stewardship, particularly in the areas of coastal restoration and workforce training, the company said.
 “We are honored to receive these prestigious awards,” said CEO Paul Danos.
“Our commitment to providing high-quality services, fostering a strong safety culture and giving back to the communities where we live and work has always been a driving force. These recognitions are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Danos team.”
 With a history spanning more than 77 years, Danos continues to be a leader in the energy industry, committed to excellence in operations, service and care for people.