RSS Feed

During the first week of May in 1862, workmen enlarging briny springs at Avery Island unexpectedly ran into a wall of solid salt. They didn’t know it, but they’d hit the core of the island itself, and run up against a piece of ancient geology
It was the first discovery of solid rock salt in North America, and eventually caused the curious or the far-sighted to poke into some of the other “islands” pushing up through the south Louisiana marshland and discover that they were also made of salt.
That discovery came as s bit of surprise.
Even though Indians had evaporated salt from the spring on Avery Island since prehistoric times, nobody seemed to have wondered what made the water so salty until John Marsh Avery tried to clean and deepen the springs and recover more salt.
Up until that time, most geologists thought the places we know today as Avery Island, Jefferson Island, Weeks Island, Côte Blanche Island, and Belle Isle were the remains of ancient volcanoes.
Upon further review, they found that the islands are evidence that what today is solid land was once beneath the sea that we call the Gulf of Mexico.
We know that thousands of years ago, the Gulf was far larger than it is today, stretching north nearly to Oklahoma, but scientists argue over just how the basin that became that sea was first formed and filled with water.
There are several theories. The first is that 500 million years ago the Gulf basin was part of a solid land mass called Llanoria, and that it began to subside when a crack opened in the earth stretching from south Texas to Mobile Bay.
The second theory is that the Gulf was formed when a huge continent called Pangea began to fall apart.
According to this theory, North and South America were once part of one big continent. Then about 250 million years ago they were split apart, and part of the space between them became the Gulf.
The third theory is that the Gulf basin has always been with us; it was created early in the formation of the earth’s crust.
I’m sure that you’ve probably read them already, but for not-too-technical explanations of all of this you might want to look again at the Corps of Engineers report, “Geology of the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain Southeastern Louisiana,” (Technical Report No. 3-483, July 1958) or the “General Geology of the Mississippi Embayment,” by E,M. Cushing and some colleagues (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964).
As these and other studies point out, there are also arguments over when the Gulf permanently filled with water. The answer to that question depends, at least in part, on which theory of its basin formation is correct. According to the most popular scenario, water poured from the Pacific Ocean into the developing Gulf through small gaps that opened and closed from time to time in the mountains of Mexico.
Water flowed in when rising sea levels or earthquakes or some other phenomenon opened the gaps and it was trapped in the Gulf when they were closed.
The water evaporated during the long eras when no new water was flowing in, creating salt deposits. Eventually, somewhere between 65 and 150 million years ago, the Gulf basin formed a relatively water-tight crust and it was permanently filled.
Some of the salt deposits formed during the filling-and-unfilling period ended up beneath what is now coastal Louisiana.
Pressures created by heat and shifting material far inside the earth eventually pushed some of these salt piles up through the surface.
When those Avery Island workmen clanked their shovels onto solid salt in 1862, they were hitting the hardened remnants left millions of years before by the Gulf of Mexico’s struggle to be born.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

The St. Mary Parish Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana, will recognize its 2017 St. Mary Parish Leaders in Philanthropy and the 2017 Role Models during its annual “Walk the Red Carpet” Gala on Saturday at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.
Gail Poche’ Lippman and Alfred Sol Lippman, posthumously, have been named 2017 St. Mary Parish Leaders in Philanthropy for their outstanding contributions to their community
The 2017 St. Mary Parish Role Models are individuals or couples who live and work in St. Mary Parish. They work to make the community a better place through their support and charitable giving to the causes they care about.
Clint Judice
Agriculture
Clint Judice is the co-owner and manager of Northside Planting, a family sugarcane farm in Franklin. He is an active member of Church of the Assumption, where he is a coordinator of the perpetual adoration chapel, Eucharistic minister and volunteer with the R.C.I.A program. He is also an active member in the Cursillo movement, the Franklin Ultreya and the St John-Hanson school board. In his spare time, he coaches youth baseball.
Dominique Thomas
Arts
Dominique Thomas is the owner of Dominique’s Studio of Dance and Fitness, which she started 22 years ago with a focus on the dance disciplines of ballet, tap and jazz. She was the former artistic director for St. Mary Arts and Humanities Council, and a member of the Morgan City Main Street Board, where she spearheaded many events including the Christmas Festival and the Santa Paws Parade. She currently volunteers as the Central Catholic Cheer and Dance Team coach and has produced the Holy Cross Elementary Christmas play for the last three years.

Victoria Simoneaux
Business
Victoria Simoneaux is a financial advisor and partner with her father, Lyle Simoneaux, in Franklin. Currently, she serves as president of the Franklin Rotary Club and vice president of St. Mary Landmarks. She also serves on the Historic District Board, whose goal is to preserve Franklin’s historical significance and charm. She is involved in the Hanson-St. John’s Teacher Benefit Fund, an endowment fund to help provide funds to enhance teachers’ salaries for the Hanson-St. John Schools.

Claire Guarisco
Education
Claire Guarisco is the supervisor of Child Nutrition for St. Mary Parish Schools. She has served the St. Mary Parish School system for 25 years as a teacher, curriculum facilitator, assistant principal and principal. Claire was honored as the 2013 and 2015 St. Mary Parish Elementary Principal of the Year. She was recently asked to join the Southeast Dairy Association’s School Nutrition Advisory Council and supports her local church community in various roles including lector and Eucharistic Minister.

Drs. Jared and
Carla Thurston
Drs. Jared and Carla Thurston care for members of their community through their medical practices.
Carla Thurston was born and raised in Morgan City and practices as an internist with SLMA in Morgan City.
He owns Thurston Ophthalmology in Morgan City and practices as a general ophthalmologist and eye surgeon. They support various local charitable organizations and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Nakisha Singleton
Public Service/Volunteerism
Nakisha Singleton is the regional manager for Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living where she’s played a major role in developing statewide tobacco-free healthcare policy protocols.
She was the chair of the Louisiana Healthy Communities Coalition where she spent a decade researching the impacts of chronic disease. She is committed to leadership and youth development and has served as a youth mentor and volunteer in St. Mary Parish.
She is a graduate of Leadership St. Mary, a program of the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce.

A 36-year-old Morgan City man was booked on numerous charges Thursday after police responded to complaint on La. 182, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Joseph D. Richardson, 36, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, arrested at 2:19 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of Vyvanse, possession of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, possession of acetaminophen and codeine, possession of tramadol, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone and criminal trespassing.

Patrol officers responded to a home in the in the area of La. 182 in regard to Richardson, who was banned from the property, causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and learned that Richardson had run from the area, and officers located him.

Police initiated a stop on Richardson in to the complaint at which time he fled on foot. Richardson was taken into custody a short time later.

While searching the area where Richardson had fled, officers located a bag that contained synthetic cannabinoids, Vyvanse, amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, acetaminophen and codeine, tramadol and two firearms.

One of the firearms had the serial numbers obliterated. Investigators found evidence linking Richardson to the bag. Officers also learned that Richardson was a convicted felon, forbidding him to possess a firearm.

The incident took place in a drug free zone. Richardson was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 58 calls and reported the following arrest:

—Travis J. Morin, 33, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, arrested at 3:05 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for two counts of failure to appear for trial.

Morin was located and arrested at the police department on active arrest on a city court warrant. Morin was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 39 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Christian Kiffe, 33, of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:52 p.m. Thursday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, hit and run driving and possession of open alcoholic containers in motor vehicles.

A deputy responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Southeast Boulevard near Middle Road in Bayou Vista. A dispatcher advised the deputy that one of the vehicles had left the scene.

The suspect vehicle was located on Teche Road. The deputy identified the driver as Kiffe. The deputy smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her breath and observed other signs of impairment.

While speaking with Kiffe, the deputy learned that she took prescription pills prior to operating the vehicle. Kiffe did poorly test on field sobriety test. She was transported to an area hospital for evaluation and then the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

—Troy Walden, 54, of Leon Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Friday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and improper lane usage.

A deputy traveling on U.S. 90 in Patterson observed a vehicle swerving over the centerline and fog line. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Walden.

The deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person and administered a standardized field sobriety test. Walden conducted the test poorly.

He later registered 0.138 grams-percent blood alcohol concentration on a breath test. Walden was booked into parish jail and released on $2,750 bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:

—Jorni Loupe, 17, of Neptune Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:57 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Loupe posted $176 bail.

—Christa Conner, 17, of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:57 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Conner posted $176 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:

—Abram Granger, 18, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:52 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Granger was released after paying a $413 cash fine.

The Morgan City High School Lady Tigers punched their ticket to the state softball tournament for the first time in 13 years Friday after knocking off District 7-4A foe Assumption, 6-1, in Class 4A regional round action in Morgan City.
The Lady Tigers(25-3), Class 4A’s No. 3 seed, will play again Friday at noon against No. 11 West Ouachita in the Class 4A quarterfinals. It is the Lady Tigers’ first appearance in Sulphur since 2004 when they squad fell in the quarterfinals to Erath.
“I’m excited for my kids,” Morgan City Coach Tamara Keller said. “I wanted it for them so bad. They were so disappointed last year, and we were so close.”
Keller said her team started talking about making a trip to Sulphur once the season started.
“To make it with 13 kids, it’s a big deal, because it’s 13 close kids who really, really wanted it, and we had them locked in,” Keller said.
While Morgan City faced Assumption (12-20) for the third time this season after beating them twice in the regular season in district play, Keller said that with a young team, facing a familiar opponent was a good thing to keep her team calm.
“We weren’t settled at the beginning, but they always knew that we’ve beaten them twice and they were going to hit that kid,” Keller said. “She did a great job, but we came through in the moments that mattered. That comes down to knowing you can do it, and when you have confidence against a team like that, it helps out a ton.”
After stranding four runners combined in scoring position in the first two innings, the Lady Tigers finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with three runs. With runners on second and third and one out, Morgan City’s Hannah Praddo hit into a fielder’s choice and Allie Vincent, who led off the inning with a bunt single, slid safely into home plate.
Matti Rivere followed with a two-RBI single to right field to extend Morgan City’s lead to 3-0.
Assumption cut its deficit to 3-1 in the top of the sixth inning, but Morgan City countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Gracie Verrett beat out a bunt single, and Vincent followed with a single to put runners at first and second base.
Kennedy Hebert followed with a fielder’s choice, but Verrett was safe at second on the attempt to get her out on the play loading the bases. During the at bat of the next Morgan City Lady Tiger, Scottie Metrejean, Verrett scored on a wild pitch.
Metrejean added to the Lady Tiger lead with a two-RBI double to right field for the final margin.
“Morgan City’s a good ball club,” Assumption Coach Kirk DeLatte said. “We’re young, just two seniors. We’re starting four freshmen basically. Our kids came out and they fought as hard as they could. They have a lot to be proud of. I’m very proud of them. That’s a good team that just beat us. We kept it close for the majority of the game to the second to last inning.”
Each team had six hits, while Morgan City overcame three errors. Assumption had one miscue.
Hebert earned the win. In seven innings, she surrendered one run (one earned) on six hits with five strikeouts.
Metrejean and Vincent led Morgan City offensively. Metrejean finished 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, while Vincent was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and two runs. Other top Morgan City offensive contributors included Rivere, 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and Prado, an RBI, two stolen bases and a run.
Emily John led Assumption’s offense with a 2-for-4 performance.
Abbey Aysen suffered the loss. In six innings, she surrendered six runs (six earned) on six hits with five walks and one strikeout.