RSS Feed

Geraldine Blackburn, 76, a native of Verdunville and resident of Patterson, died Friday, April 7, 2017 in Lafayette.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time.

The Advocate
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration accused a Baton Rouge congressman Thursday of spreading myths about flood recovery money and leading a partisan effort that could harm Louisiana’s long-term rebuilding.
The Democratic governor’s office released a memo saying Republican U.S. Rep. Garret Graves “can no longer be trusted” to convey accurate information about Louisiana’s recovery from last year’s March and August flooding.
The memo, distributed by Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo, came a day after Edwards attended a congressional hearing in Washington, in which GOP members of Congress — including Graves — blasted Louisiana’s response to the floods.
“In 2005, we watched as the political culture of Washington hurt Louisiana’s response and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Today, we’re at risk of that happening again,” the governor’s office memo said. “Yesterday, a small group of politicians in Washington, led by a member of our own delegation, conducted a distasteful ambush of Gov. Edwards using outright lies.”
Among the many points of dispute between Edwards and Graves is whether Louisiana has been slow to spend $1.6 billion in federal block grant aid earmarked by Congress for recovery efforts, with most of the money planned for a homeowner repair and rebuilding program. The dollars are overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.
“The state of Louisiana has federal funds at its disposal today that it could be distributing to flood victims if they had properly prepared,” Graves said Thursday in an interview.
The Edwards administration hasn’t yet hired a contractor to manage the housing aid program. Graves said he recommended to the governor shortly after the flood to quickly select such a contractor.
Carbo said Graves’ information is inaccurate and the federal government hasn’t yet released the money to the state to spend. The line of credit “has not yet been set up,” Carbo said.
To support the congressman’s position, Graves’ office supplied an email from a staff person with the U.S. House Appropriations Committee who described getting information from HUD that the “funds should be available” for the state to access Thursday. The name of the committee staff employee was redacted.
Edwards’ office replied with a screenshot of Louisiana’s view of the disaster reporting grant system HUD uses to issue lines of credit. The screenshot showed a zero balance listed in the state’s account for flood recovery.
As for Wednesday’s congressional hearing, Graves said he’s repeatedly expressed private concerns to the governor about the slow pace of recovery and his suggestions have been ignored. The congressman said he can’t properly make a case for Louisiana needing additional flood recovery aid when the state isn’t dispersing the $1.6 billion approved by Congress.
“I have tried over and over again to try to be helpful, to try to be on the same page, to try to provide good advice,” Graves said. “I recommended to him that he not come to the hearing.”
Graves also has heavily criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency response to the flooding. He denied partisan politics had anything to do with his criticisms.
Carbo said Edwards was not going to skip a federal hearing on flood recovery.
“Anyone who knows this governor knows he’s not afraid to stand up and fight for his constituents, and the congressman has been putting out outright lies to the citizens of this state about the recovery process,” Carbo said.

TV station honors students.

A Bayou Vista teen was charged with aggravated battery after repeatedly hitting another teen in Ricohoc with a cast on his arm, causing a facial fracture to the victim, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Kyle Bellard, 17, of Mercury Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:11 p.m. Sunday on a charge of aggravated second-degree battery.
A deputy responded to a report of a disturbance that occurred outside of a Ricohoc home. Through investigation, the deputy found evidence that Bellard used a cast on his arm to repeatedly strike a teenaged male juvenile during an argument. The juvenile suffered a facial fracture as a result of the battery. Bellard was jailed with no bail set.
Hebert reported responding to 131 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Kevin Darby, 26, of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 8:53 a.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. During the booking process at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional officer located an active warrant for Darby’s arrest. No bail is set.
—Lucius Romero Jr., 41, of North Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:56 a.m. Friday on a warrant failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. During the booking process at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional officer located an active warrant for Romero’s arrest. No bail is set.
—William Daigle Jr., 43, of Weeks Street in New Iberia, was arrested at 11:40 a.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A correctional officer transported Daigle from the Iberia Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on the warrant. Bail is set at $10,548.46.
—Cary Breaux, 43, of Union Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:48 a.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation. During the booking process at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional officer located an active warrant for Breaux’s arrest. No bail is set.
—Jodie Meranta, 48, of Clarke Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:39 a.m. Saturday on a Sixth Ward Court (Morgan City) warrant for disturbing the peace. A deputy encountered Meranta at a business on La. 182 in Bayou Vista and located the active warrant for her arrest. Meranta was jailed with no bail set.
—Amanda Soudelier, 39, of Rose Park Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8:29 p.m. Saturday on a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for criminal damage to property, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of Schedule IV drugs with intent to distribute.
A deputy located Soudelier at her home on the warrant. Soudelier was jailed with no bail set.
—Rickey Glynn, 53, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:49 p.m. Saturday on a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with criminal damage to property, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Glynn was also charged on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of hunting or taking deer at illegal hours or with artificial light, hunting or taking deer illegally from a boat or while swimming, and failure to change ownership of registration. A deputy located Glynn at his home on the warrants and transported him to parish jail with no bail set.
—Robert Gussman Jr., 44, of Rose Park Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Sunday on charges of resisting an officer by providing false information, obstruction of justice and five Morgan City Police Department warrants for contempt of court and other offenses.
On Friday evening, a deputy went to the listed home to locate Soudelier, who had active warrants for her arrest. The deputy made contact with a man prior to making the warrant arrest of Soudelier. Continuing to investigate the man’s identity, the deputy found that he gave a false name.
The deputy positively identified the man as Gussman and located multiple active warrants for his arrest. The deputy returned to the home. When the deputy arrived, he made eye contact with Gussman who was outside of the camper. Gussman then went into the home and locked the door.
Gussman refused the deputy’s commands to exit the camper. The deputy obtained a search warrant. When Gussman was informed of the warrant, he came out of the home. Gussman was jailed with no bail set.
—Timothy David, 48, of Chestnut Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:14 a.m. Sunday on charges of speeding in a construction zone and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. A deputy patrolling U.S. 90 observed a vehicle traveling at 60 mph in a posted 45 mph construction zone and conducted a traffic stop.
While speaking with the driver, David, the deputy found that he was driving the vehicle with a suspended license. David was released on a summons to appear in court July 10.
—A juvenile female, 14, of Ricohoc, was arrested at 4:16 p.m. Sunday for ungovernable juvenile and criminal damage to property. A deputy responded to a disturbance in Ricohoc and collected evidence that the juvenile damaged a wall inside the home. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Kenneth J. Alfred, 43, of Marie Street in Patterson, arrested at 10:56 a.m. Friday on charges of driving under suspension and stop sign violation.
Patrol officers observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign in the area of Belanger Street and stopped the vehicle. Alfred, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license and was jailed.
—Jack M. Rawls, 46, of Allister Road in Maurice, arrested at 11:05 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with unauthorized use of a movable over $500.
Rawls was located and arrested in the area of La. 70 on a warrant. The warrant stems from a September 2007 investigation where Rawls had allegedly taken a car that belonged to a local business without permission. Rawls was jailed.
—Freddy A. Borne, 39, of Prairie Road in Centerville, arrested at 2:45 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment on a charge of theft.
Borne was located and arrested at the Franklin Police Department on a warrant for Morgan City Court. Borne was jailed.
—Gregory Granger Jr., 29, of Main Street in Patterson, arrested at 11:41 p.m. Friday on charges of red light violation, flight from an officer and open container.
Patrol officers observed a motorcycle fail to stop at a red light in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard. Officers attempted to initiate a stop, but the driver failed to comply. The motorcycle entered onto U.S. 90 west as officers followed. Officers were able to stop the motorcycle on U.S. 90 in Berwick.
The driver was taken into custody and identified as Granger, who was also found to be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage. Granger was jailed.
—Jodie Meranta, 48, of Clark Road in Morgan City, arrested at 5:49 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging her with disturbing the peace.
Meranta was located and arrested at the Morgan City Police Department on a warrant. The warrant stems from an investigation in December 2016 in which Meranta allegedly came in contact with the victim in the area of First Street and began hollering profanities.
When speaking with the police the victim indicated that they would wish to pursue charges at which time a warrant was prepared for Meranta’s arrest. Meranta was jailed.
—Joseph M. Price, 45, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, arrested at 9:25 p.m. Saturday on a charge of resisting an officer.
Officers responded to the area of Front Street in regards to a trespassing complaint. Officers arrived, and Price was identified as a suspect. Upon making contact with Price, he allegedly fled on foot from officers. Price was located in the area a short time later and jailed.
—Charles E. Beverly, 24, of Willow Street in Franklin, arrested at 2:23 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with contempt of court. Beverly was located and arrested in the area of La. 182 on a warrant. Beverly was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Daniel Tillery, 25, of Francis Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:01 a.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace. Bail is set at $176.
—Shawn Orgeron, 22, of Oregon Street in Berwick, was arrested at 7:07 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Orgeron posted $176 bail.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrest relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Daeon Johnson, 27, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:08 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with probation violation. Johnson was jailed on $500 bail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.