Working on the railroad
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 3:07pm
Patterson railroad crossings at Enterprise Avenue and Tiffany Street will closed again Monday.
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Wheelhouse for April 7
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 11:32am
ST. ANNE
Thrift Store, 2710 Second St., Berwick, hosting a 10 cents sale 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 8. Proceeds benefit St. Stephen Catholic Church charities.
NEW MOUNT ESTER
Baptist Church, 1211 James St., Siracusa Subdivision, Morgan City, celebrating Jewels for Jesus five-year anniversary at 10 a.m. Saturday April 8. Speaker the Rev. Linda Harris, Believe Family Worship Center, New Iberia.
Eggstravaganza
East St. Mary Parish Chapter of Junior Auxiliary celebrating Junior Auxiliary Week with a free Easter Eggstravaganza at Morgan City Petting Zoo from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8.
WOMEN
Mission Ministry of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church, 113 Federal Ave., Morgan City, hosting a Women’s Conference Saturday, April 29. Registration, $5, at 9 a.m. Speaker Betty Grover of Reserve, lecturer Fannie Picou of Houma. Light lunch served.
Donald Edmond Byrd Sr.
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 11:28am
December 25, 1938 — April 4, 2017
Donald Edmond Byrd Sr., 78, a resident of Berwick, passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2017.
He was born Dec. 25, 1938, in Stockton, California, the son of Carl Jackson Byrd and Mary Alfreda Black Byrd Wills.
Donald served in the US Navy. During his service, he was a member of the Canoe Club and instructed diving courses. After his enlistment, he continued instructing diving classes in California, which led him to travel all over the globe, including Brazil. Later in life, after moving to Louisiana, he worked on the railroad. During retirement, he moved to Sprague River, Oregon, where he made lots of friends. He was a loving father, grandfather and friend that will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sons, Donald Eugene Byrd of Washington and Donald Edmond Byrd Jr. of Morgan City; daughter, Dawn Byrd Giroir of Berwick; stepson, Ronnie Hart; brother, Richard Byrd of Redwood City, California; sister, Phyllis Byrd Chamblin of Stockton, California; grandchildren, Lesley Byrd, Westley Giroir, Kayley Giroir, Kelci Byrd and Darleene Byrd; and great-grandchildren, Nyel McCullough and Rhyeen Satchel.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Carl J. Byrd Sr. and Mary A. Black Byrd Wills; brother, Jesse Byrd; sister, Juanita “Joanne” Byrd Hardin; and granddaughter, Donna Byrd.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
William Stokes Jr.
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 11:26am
William Stokes Jr., 51, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Thursday, March 23, 2017, in Seattle.
He is survived by a daughter, Lakisha Butler of New Iberia; a grandson; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, his parents and a brother.
Services have already been completed.
Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Shamira Jackson
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 11:24am
Shamira Jackson, 39, a native and resident of Houma, died Thursday, March 30, 2017.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dularge Community Baptist Church in Houma. Burial will follow in Southdown Cemetery.
She is survived by a daughter, Chelsey Jackson of Houma; a granddaughter; parents, Elaine Jackson and Wilbert Jones (Angela) of Houma; brothers, Michael Jackson, Wilbert Jones, Wilshawn Jones and Devin Jones, all of Houma, and Dominick Harper and Henry Harper, both of Morgan City; and sisters, Stacey Jackson, Tamira Jackson, Kiara Jones, Robin Pitman and Rashawn Robinson, all of Houma.
She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Road to 3rd Street Songwriters Festival continues
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 10:56am
Road to 3rd Street Songwriters Festival continues through Sunday at multiple venues in the Morgan City area. All festival events are free to the public with the exception of concerts Friday and Saturday nights at The Acadiana Bar & Grill in Morgan City. For more, visit roadto3rdstreet.com or its Facebook page.
Radio logs for April 7
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 10:50am
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.
Thursday, April 6
7:46 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Battery.
7:47 a.m. 200 block of Railroad Avenue; Phone harassment.
8:06 a.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Officer stand by.
8:11 a.m. Patton and Halsey streets; Juvenile complaint.
8:21 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
8:47 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Theft.
9:09 a.m. Willard and Seventh streets; Crash.
9:31 a.m. La. 182; Traffic complaint.
9:43 a.m. Brashear and Federal avenues; Traffic stop/arrest.
9:47 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Theft.
10:02 a.m. 700 block of Greenwood Street; Animal complaint.
10:21 a.m. 2400 block of Hemlock Street; Juvenile complaint.
10:49 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
11:30 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Civil matter.
11:31 a.m. 300 block of South Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
11:49 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Disturbance.
11:53 a.m. 1600 block of La. 70; Traffic com-plaint.
1:36 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Phone harassment.
1:43 p.m. Morgan City; Complaint.
1:54 p.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Complaint.
3:26 p.m. 200 block of Laurel Street; Arrest.
4:17 p.m. Maple and Onstead streets; Crash.
5:13 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
5:14 p.m. 300 block of Laurel Street; Traffic complaint.
6:06 p.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Loud music.
6:45 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Com-plaint.
6:48 p.m. 700 block of Freret Street; Removal of a subject.
7:50 p.m. 700 block of Onstead Street; Animal complaint.
8:52 p.m. 200 block of Onstead Street; House fire.
11:38 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Spot check.
Friday, April 7
1:09 a.m. 1000 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
1:18 a.m. 6700 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
1:57 a.m. 1100 block of Levee Road; Loud noise.
2:10 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Spot check.
Man charged with battery, damage to property
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 10:41am
Staff Report
A 39-year-old Morgan City man was charged with simple battery and criminal damage to property after hitting another man during an argument and damaging a police unit, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Edward A. Gil, 39, of Kimberly Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:14 p.m. Thursday on charges of simple battery, two counts of simple criminal damage to property and disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Officers responded to a business in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived and spoke with the victim who alleged he was struck by Gil.
Gil allegedly approached the victim and began hitting him. Gil also damaged property during the altercation and was found to be in an intoxicated stated. Gil was arrested and transported to Morgan City jail. While being transported to jail, Gil damaged a patrol car. Gil was jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Andre Molo, 47, of Seventh Avenue in Port Arthur, Texas, was arrested at 9:05 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with simple battery.
Molo was located and arrested at the police department on a war-rant. The warrant stems from an investigation in 2015 where Molo allegedly struck the victim. Warrants were prepared for his arrest. Molo was jailed.
—Alicia M. Billiot, 33, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Thursday on warrants charging her with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone and no turn signal.
Billiot was located and arrested in the area of Federal Avenue on warrants. The warrants stem from an investigation conducted by patrol officers during which a traffic stop was initiated for a signaling violation. Billiot was identified as the driver. During the investigation, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located.
The area where the incident took place was in a drug free zone. Billiot was jailed.
—Jasmine A. Junifer, 27, of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:03 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear for court. Junifer was located and arrested in the area of Hilda Street on a 16th Judicial Court warrant. Junifer was jailed.
—Niki D. Freia, 33, of Laurel Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:29 p.m. Thursday on warrants for failure to pay probation fee, probation violation and three counts of failure to pay fine. Freia was located in the area of Levee Road and arrested on city court warrants. Freia was jailed.
—Danny P. Freia, 30, of Laurel Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:41 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear for drug court. Freia was located in the area of Laurel Street and arrested on a 16th Judicial Court warrant. Freia was jailed.
—Joel Claudio-Deleon, 40, of Grizzaffi Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:41 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of oxycodone, careless operation of a motor vehicle and no driver’s license.
Patrol officers saw a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed in the area of La. 182 and stopped the vehicle. Claudio-Deleon was identified as the driver.
Claudio-Deleon did not hold a valid driver’s license. He was also found to be in possession of oxycodone, and he did not hold a valid prescription. Claudio-Deleon was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 40 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Jill Vining, 38, of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:47 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family.
A deputy investigating a complaint of a suspicious person on Teche Road encountered Vining and located the active warrant for her arrest. Vining was jailed with no bail set at $1,715.
—Tanner Rivere, 25, of Randall Street in Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:37 a.m. Friday on two Assumption Parish warrants for failure to appear on the charge of simple burglary. While conducting a traffic stop on U.S. 90 in Berwick, a deputy made contact with Rivere and located the active warrants for his arrest. Rivere was jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Jamal Gibson, 29, of Headland Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving under suspension and no li-cense plate light. Gibson posted $1,250 bail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.
Area lawmakers’ bills run the gamut
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 10:30am
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UPDATED: Study: I-49 South means hundreds of jobs, hundreds of millions in income
Fri, 04/07/2017 - 10:25am
BILL DECKER
LAFAYETTE — A new study released Friday says upgrading U.S. 90 into Interstate 49 South from Lafayette to New Orleans will create more than 1,900 jobs along the corridor and generate $900 million in income statewide by 2044, beyond the impact of the actual construction work.
The Community Foundation of Acadiana rolled out the study at a press conference at its Lafayette headquarters. Foundation President Raymond Hebert said the study’s purpose was to gather reliable, unbiased data about the impact of the project, which has been in the works for three decades.
The study was also underwritten by several economic development groups in the region, including the multiparish Acadiana One, which has aggressively pursued the controversial I-49 Connector portion that runs through Lafayette.
A connector executive committee made up of state and local officials voted last week to move ahead with plans for an elevated highway through Lafayette along something like the current Evangeline Thruway corridor. That idea, introduced in 1994, has been opposed by people concerned about the potential for blight beneath elevated highways and on the impact such a highway would have on surrounding neighborhoods.
The study was also criticized in reporting by theind.com, which called the study “heavy-handed” and noted that study presenter Eric McClellan of CMS Smith, the consultants who performed the study, wore an I-49 South pin in his lapel during his presentation.
Regional economic development directors spoke at the press conference, including St. Mary Parish’s Frank Fink.
“We have to do this together,” Fink said after the meeting. “We can’t do one or leave out portions of the other or wait another 10 years. It has to be done together.”
Regional Economic Models Inc. also participated in the study. The findings on economic impact are based on an analysis of travel efficiencies created by I-49 South and the way those savings would move through existing economic relationships modeled by Regional Economic Models Inc. The savings would presumably generate investment and other economic activity.
Among the findings:
—The capital expenditures for the entire project, including right of way acquisition, planning and engineering, and construction, are expected to total nearly $2.8 billion for the whole project, including about $911 million for the connector.
—The benefits in travel efficiency, a key factor in determining the economic benefits, in Louisiana are expected to total $772 million for the whole project by 2044, including $181 million attributable to the connector.
—The number of jobs generated by 2044 is expected to reach 1,931 in surrounding parishes outside Lafayette and another 807 in Lafayette itself. The number of jobs peaks at more than 6,400 during construction in 2023, drops to about 440 the next year and begins to rise slowly through 2044.
—The statewide income generated by the project will reach $901 million by 2044.
Chris Brown of Regional Economic Models acknowledged at the press conference that the estimates did not tackle other economic influences, such as the price of oil. That leaves open the possibility that the benefits will be greater than the study estimates.
“Interstates bring opportunity,” said Lafayette Economic Development Authority CEO Gregg Gothreaux. “It’s just that simple. Everybody knows that.”
Fink said the interstate upgrade of U.S. 90 could also open land in the Berwick-to-Patterson area by creating access via new ramps and outer roads.
“The study wasn’t specific to St. Mary,” Fink said, “but you’ve got to believe that since I-49 is going through the heart of our parish, and it will open up 5,000 developable acres for us to develop for residential, commercial and industrial uses, it’s going to be a larger impact than could be evidenced by the study itself.”
The interstate will also help with the evacuation of east St. Mary if a dangerous hurricane approaches, Fink said.