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Linemen from West St. Mary and Central Catholic square off — and maybe get away with holding — during a recent scrimmage. The prep football season starts for real Friday, when Central Catholic hosts White Castle; Morgan City High goes to Berwick; and Patterson plays at Jeanerette. \

The Review/Bill Decker

(Editor's note: One of the usual features in our Shrimp & Petroleum section is a collection of seafood recipes Space didn't allow for it to be included this year. So we'll throw in a few in this edition.)

SEAFOOD LASAGNA
8 lasagna noodles
1 cup onion, chopped
2 Tbsps. butter
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1½ cups cream-style cottage cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup dry white wine
1½ lbs. shrimp, cooked, shelled and halved
1 lb. white, lump crabmeat
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup sharp American cheese, shredded
Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain.
Arrange four noodles on the bottom of a greased 13-by-9-by-2-inch dish.
Cook onion in butter until tender, blend in cream cheese.
Stir in cottage cheese, egg, basil, salt and pepper.
Spread half of this mixture over noodles.
Combine soup, milk and wine; stir in shrimp and crab.
Spread half of this atop cheese layer.
Repeat layers.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake, uncovered, in a 350-degree oven for 45 minutes.
Top with American cheese and bake a few minutes longer, until cheese melts.
Can be frozen.
Serves 12.

SHRIMP STEW
4 Tbsps. shortening
5 Tbsps. flour
1/3 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup celery, chopped
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
3 cups water
¼ tsp. mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. cayenne
3 lbs. shrimp, cleaned
Heat shortening; add flour and stir constantly until mixture is smooth and golden brown.
Add onion, garlic and celery; cook until soft.
Reduce heat and add tomato sauce, stirring carefully, about 5 minutes.
Add water, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper; simmer about 20 minutes.
Add shrimp; cover and simmer 20 minutes.
Serve in a soup bowl over rice.
Makes 6 servings.

STUFFED SHRIMP
1 lb. large raw shrimp
1 lb. crabmeat
4 eggs
1 stick butter or margarine
1 hot dog bun
Green onions, chopped
Parsley, chopped
Cracker crumbs
Soak bun in two beaten eggs and set aside.
Sauté green onions and parsley in butter; remove from fire.
Mix eggs and bun well together and then add crabmeat (a few shrimp chopped fine can be added to the crabmeat).
Beat remaining eggs and set aside.
Split shrimp up the back, remove the shells (all but the tails).
Open shrimp and stuff with crabmeat mixture.
Dip into eggs, then in cracker crumbs until they are well covered.
Deep fry immediately or freeze for future frying.

EGGPLANT
SHRIMP
DRESSING
4 medium eggplants, peeled and cut in cubes
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup green onions, green and white parts, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
½ cup parsley, minced
½ cup bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 tsp. gravy darkener
Salt
Black pepper
Red pepper
½ cup oil
3 cups shrimp, chopped
3 cups cooked rice
In heavy pot, sauté onion, celery, parsley, bell pepper and garlic in oil until wilted, about 10 minutes.
Add eggplant and seasoning. Cover tightly and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
Add shrimp. Cover and cook 40 minutes over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
Add cooked rice.
Serves 6 to 8.

SHRIMP JAMBALAYA
4 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. flour
2 medium onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 cups shrimp
2 cups cooked rice
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Parsley, for garnishing
Green onions, for garnishing
Cook flour and oil, stirring constantly, until light brown in color.
Add onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook until onions are soft.
Add tomato sauce, water, shrimp, salt and pepper. Simmer 30 minutes.
Add cooked rice and simmer five minutes. Serve hot.
Garnish with parsley and green onions.

SHRIMP
A LA CREOLE
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
Oil
½ small can tomato sauce
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. red pepper
In heavy pot on medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in oil until wilted, about 10 minutes.
Add tomato sauce and seasoning; cook 10 minutes.
Add shrimp. Cover and cook 10 minutes.
Serve over rice.

CREOLE SHRIMP
¼ cup butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
½ cup bell pepper, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
¼ tsp. red pepper
Parsley, finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
3½ cups tomatoes, chopped
½ cup water
1 lb. shrimp
Melt butter in skillet. Sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper and celery until onion is lightly browned.
Blend in flour.
Add remaining ingredients, except shrimp. Mix well. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
Stir in shrimp. Cover and cook 10 minutes.
Serve over rice.

SHRIMP ETOUFFEE
3 lbs. shrimp
1 can tomato sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
Handful of parsley, chopped
Handful of green onions, chopped
Flour
Cooking spoon of oil
Water
Garlic clove, minced
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Red pepper, to taste
Heat oil in heavy pot.
Add shrimp and cook until they turn pink.
Add tomato sauce, a can of water, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, red pepper, green onions and parsley.
Cook slowly, covered, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Before serving, dilute a tablespoon of flour in a small amount of water. Add to gravy to thicken.
Serve over rice.

SHRIMP GUMBO
1 cup roux
Salt
Red pepper
Black pepper
1 Tbsp. parsley, minced
Gumbo file’, optional
1 large onion, chopped
2 lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined
Water
2 Tbsp. green onions, chopped
In large pot, add roux and onion. Heat slowly and sauté onion until wilted.
Add 8 cups cold water. Season generously with salt, black pepper and red pepper. Bring to boil.
Reduce heat to medium and cook for an hour, stirring occasionally to keep roux from sticking.
Add shrimp and cook 20 minutes. If more juice is needed, add 1 to 2 cups of hot water.
Add green onions and parsley; cook 10 minutes. Add more seasoning, if necessary.
Remove pot from heat. Cover and allow to sit 15 minutes.
Serve over rice.

BATTERED SHRIMP AND FISH FRY MIX
2 eggs
2 lbs. shrimp
Cooking oil, enough to cover shrimp
2 tsp. Creole seasoning
1 cup yellow cornmeal
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp. red cayenne pepper
½ tsp. onion powder
Peel, devein and clean shrimp. Season with Creole seasoning.
Add eggs and swirl around with your hand, mixing the egg and shrimp.
In separate bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and onion powder.
Dip shrimp in dry mixture.
Heat oil to 350 degrees. Fry shrimp, in batches if necessary.
Drain on paper towels.
Serves 4 to 6.

The November 2023 general election for the office of Sheriff of Caddo Parish, Louisiana was remarkable, and not just because there were 43,241 votes cast and the election was determined by a single vote.
In the aftermath of the legal battle that ensued over the one-vote victory, a court case gave a rare insight into the problems with election integrity including absentee mail-in ballots.
The lawsuit revealed that at least two voters voted twice. An election official also stated his office was never notified during his tenure of people who were not eligible to vote so they could be removed from the voter rolls. There were at least 11 “unlawful” votes as determined by the judge who demanded a new election be held. Henry Whitehorn, who won by one vote in the nullified election, won the second election by defeating John Nickelson.
Also discovered during the trial was that numerous mail-in absentee ballots did not meet the legal standard to be counted but were still accepted.
In Louisiana, a person must have a reason to be eligible to absentee vote, such as being a senior citizen, residing in a nursing home or a college student living outside the parish of residence. And absentee ballots must be signed by the voter in front of a witness. 
During the trial, a sample of the 7,781 absentee ballots sent in by mail that were reviewed during a 90-minute break. Several of them in what was described as a “small sample” had lacked the required legal necessities “to constitute a valid and lawful vote.”
The judge found five defective ballots that were counted because they lacked the required signatures.
Brian Homza, the attorney who represented Nickelson said that the state of Louisiana has strong election laws. Michael Lunsford, executive director of Citizens for a New Louisiana, agreed with Homza that the state’s election laws were among the best in the country.
But Homza said he had a concern that there were too many absentee ballots to be verified by a small number of election voters. Homza said more people are mailing in their votes during pandemic times.
The lawsuit states that local election officials said that only their staff could review absentee ballots to determine if they should be counted.
During all statewide elections held in Louisiana in April 2024, 34,454 of the almost 1.6 million votes cast were absentee ballots, or about 2% of all votes cast.
 “The state has one of the best election codes that is out there,” Homza said in an interview with The Center Square. “There is no question it is one of the best. But the system was never created for that many absentee ballots.”
There are three new laws that took effect Aug. 1 regarding absentee voting.
Act 380 states that no person but immediate family of the voter can deliver more than one marked ballot per election to the registrar of voters.
Act 302 states that no person except the immediate family member of the voter or certain qualified election worker can assist more than one voter in completing their absentee ballot.
Act 317 states that no person except the immediate family member of the voter shall submit more than one completed absentee ballot application to the registrar of voters.
And no person or organization can distribute an absentee ballot application to anyone who hasn’t requested it.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office said it takes steps to ensure absentee ballots are not abused.
The office stated all absentee ballots require a signature; absentee ballots are only sent to those who request one and are qualified to receive them; voters who vote absentee must have first voted in-person in a previous election and confirmed their identity.
In July, Disability Rights Louisiana filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the new absentee voter laws that they claimed suppressed the votes of people with disabilities.
“These Acts directly impact people with disabilities who vote absentee, but do not have immediate family members available to help them mail their absentee ballots,” Disability Rights Louisiana stated in a media release. “Workers in nursing or group homes are now subject to criminal punishment if they drop more than one absentee ballot in the mailbox on behalf of their patient-residents.”
Disability Rights Louisiana also protested the law that limits who and how many absentee ballots can be witnessed.
“Criminalizing the witnessing of more than one absentee ballot also violates the Voting Rights Act’s mandate that disabled voters are entitled to voting assistance by ‘a person of the voter’s choice,’” Disability Rights Louisiana stated in a media release.

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, Aug. 29
6:13 a.m. 2700 block of Shaw Drive; Disturbance.
6:34 a.m. 800 block of Eighth Street; Alarm.
7:21 a.m. 3000 block of Catherine Street; Criminal damage to property.
9:22 a.m. 400 block of Third Street; Animal complaint.
9:24 a.m. Federal/Railroad avenues; Traffic incident.
9:29 a.m. 1000 block of Sixth Street; Theft.
10:20 a.m. 500 block of Front Street; Medical.
11:28 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Suspicious subject.
12:10 p.m. Federal Avenue; Complaint.
3:14 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Vehicle accident.
3:18 p.m. 100 block of Lenny’s Lane; Telephone harassment.
3:31 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
4:03 p.m. Elm Street/Levee Road; Utilities.
4:19 p.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; 911 hang up.
4:25 p.m. Federal Avenue/Under U.S. 90; Suspicious subject.
4:27 p.m. Downtown Morgan City; Shrimp/Petroleum Festival.
4:51 p.m. Martin Luther King Boulevard/Victor II boulevards; Vehicle accident.
5:17 p.m. 1100 block of Fourth Street; Telephone harassment.
5:19 p.m. 3000 block of Lizabeth Drive; Theft.
5:34 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Disturbance.
6:17 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Loud music.
7:38 p.m. 900 block of Second Street; Alarm.
7:46 p.m. Second Street/Brashear Avenue; Juvenile problems.
7:58 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
8:34 p.m. Freret/Second streets; Complaint.
10:06 p.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Alarm.
10:20 p.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Frequent patrol.
10:30 p.m. 1400 block of Elm Street; Complaint.
11:02 p.m. Duke Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:14 p.m. Sixth/Duke streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:18 p.m. Fifth/Freret streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:24 p.m. Seventh/Greenwood streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
Friday, Aug. 30
12:12 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Hit and run.
1:41 a.m. 500 block of Sixth Street; Frequent patrol.
3:31 a.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; 911 hang up.
5:06 a.m. 100 block of Cajun Way; Assistance.
6:28 a.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; 911 hang up.
7:38 a.m. 2101 block of Cedar Street; 911 hang up.
7:45 a.m. 1216 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
8:41 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Medical.
8:47 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Welfare check.
8:50 a.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Alarm.
9:12 a.m. Marquis Manor; Alarm.
10:21 a.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Telephone harassment.
10:29 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Animal complaint.
10:58 a.m. 3300 block of Youngs Road; 911 hang up.
11:04 a.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Theft.
11:16 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:51 a.m. 300 block of Everett Street; Theft.
12:04 p.m. 300 block of Keith Street; Telephone harassment.
12:56 p.m. 100 block of First Street; Complaint.
1:41 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Animal complaint.
1:43 p.m. 600 block of Federal Avenue; Animal complaint.
2:42 p.m. Glenwood Street; Animal complaint.
2:50 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Disturbance.
3:55 p.m. 500 block of Fifth Street; Animal complaint.
6:30 p.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Lost and found.
6:47 p.m. Roderick Street/La. 182; Utility.
7:28 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Disturbance.
7:37 p.m. Everett/Third streets; Medical.
7:40 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
7:50 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Arrest.
8 p.m. Everett/Third streets; Arrest.
8:39 p.m. Everett/Third streets; Lost and found.
8:59 p.m. 400 block of Barrow Street; Medical.
9:12 p.m. Victor II Boulevard/Marguerite Street; Traffic incident.
9:15 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Patrol.
9:24 p.m. Front Street; Juvenile complaint.
9:28 p.m. Park Street; Suspicious vehicle.
9:29 p.m. Third/Freret streets; Suspicious subject.
9:54 p.m. Greenwood/Front streets; Suspicious vehicle.
10:17 p.m. Karen Drive; Loud music.
10:33 p.m. 100 block of Orange Street; Loud music.
10:41 p.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Arrest.
11:41 p.m. Greenwood Street/Federal Avenue; Two arrests.
Saturday, Aug. 31
12:15 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
12:27 a.m. U.S. 90; Assistance.
12:50 a.m. Sixth/Hilda streets; Arrest.
12:53 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Loud music.
1:51 a.m. Greenwood Street/Federal Avenue; Theft.
2:19 a.m. 1100 block of Eighth Street; Suspicious subject.
2:33 a.m. Everett/Third streets; Arrest.
2:45 a.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Theft.
2:48 p.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Suspicious subject.
3:12 a.m. Mayon Street; Complaint.
3:33 a.m. Greenwood Street/Federal Avenue; Suspicious subject.
3:37 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Arrest.
4:29 a.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Suspicious subject.
5:40 a.m. 1500 block of North Third Street; Arrest.
5:42 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Animal complaint.
8:08 a.m. Greenwood Street; Complaint.
9:01 a.m. 500 block of Federal Avenue; Utilities.
9:27 a.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Lost and found.
10:22 a.m. 1400 block of North First Street; Animal complaint.
10:38 a.m. Federal Avenue; Traffic incident.
10:55 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Assistance.
11:33 a.m. Federal Avenue On Ramp; Utility.
11:55 a.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
12:04 p.m. U.S. 90/La. 70 Junction; Utility.
12:55 p.m. 600 block of Bowman Street; Welfare check.
2:01 p.m. Second/Everett streets; Arrest.
2:07 p.m. 800 block of North Everett Street; Hit and run.
2:38 p.m. 100 block of Brownell Street; 911 hang up.
4:19 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Fire.
4:41 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Frequent patrols.
4:49 p.m. 3000 block of Diane Drive; Fire alarm.
4:54 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Animal complaint.
5:08 p.m. 3300 block of Youngs Road; 911 hang up.
5:38 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
5:52 p.m. 1100 block of Fourth Street; Animal complaint.
6:40 p.m. 200 block of Wren Street; Removal of subject.
7:34 p.m. 2100 block of Cedar Street; 911 hang up.
8:18 p.m. 100 block of Chennault Street; Loud music.
8:27 p.m. 100 block of Eleventh Street; Medical.
9:05 p.m. Everett/Third streets; Arrest.
10:50 p.m. First Street; Two arrests.
11:39 p.m. Justa Street; Animal complaint.
11:45 p.m. 3000 block of Roderick Street; Assistance.
11:47 p.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Disturbance.
11:54 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
Sunday, Sept. 1
12:06 a.m. Veterans Boulevard; Traffic incident.
12:18 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Suspicious subject.
12:22 a.m. 900 block of Short Street; Suspicious vehicle.
12:47 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Disturbance.
1:37 a.m. 500 block of Willow Street; Medical.
1:42 a.m. Victor II Boulevard/David Drive; Alarm.
1:58 a.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
1:58 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Complaint.
2 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Disturbance.
2:04 a.m. Greenwood/Fifth streets; Disturbance.
2:24 a.m. 500 block of Front Street; Alarm.
3:24 a.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Medical.
8:47 a.m. Third Street; Assistance.
12:49 p.m. 500 block of Franklin Street; Medical.
2:20 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
3:08 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Criminal damage.
3:08 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
3:53 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Assistance.
4:47 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Be on the lookout.
5:18 p.m. Second/Greenwood streets; Medical.
6:11 p.m. 900 block of Railroad Avenue; Alarm.
6:13 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Animal complaint.
6:19 p.m. Greenwood/Second streets; Medical.
6:52 p.m. 1600 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:53 p.m. 600 block of Third Street; Suspicious subject.
7:05 p.m. Belanger Street/Federal Avenue; Arrest.
7:22 p.m. 500 block of First Street; Welfare concern.
7:32 p.m. Second Street; Complaint.
7:51 p.m. Greenwood Street/Federal Avenue; Reckless operation.
8:15 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Juvenile complaint.
8:44 p.m. Federal/Brashear avenues; Animal complaint.
9:11 p.m. 400 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
9:18 p.m. 700 block of Hilda Street; Alarm.
9:47 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.
10:20 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Arrest.
10:37 p.m. Everett/Front streets; Two arrests.
10:39 p.m. Allison Street; Loud music.
11:31 p.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Disturbance.
Monday, Sept. 2
1:44 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious vehicle.
2:11 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Complaint.
2:39 a.m. 2400 block of Pecan Street; Arrest.
6:13 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Hit and run.
6:43 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Arrest.
7:45 a.m. 1800 block of Dale Street; Animal complaint.
7:49 a.m. 700 block of David Drive; Medical.
8:11 a.m. Lakeside; Animal complaint.
9:53 a.m. 600 block of Bowman Street; Medical.
10:17 a.m. La. 70; Animal complaint.
10:45 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Disturbance.
1:45 p.m. Shrimp & Petroleum Festival; Medical.
1:56 p.m. Lawrence Park; Animal complaint.
2:41 p.m. Seventh; Street; Complaint.
3:22 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:27 p.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
4:17 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
4:39 p.m. Second Street/Brashear Avenue; Arrest.
5:34 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Fire.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
4:38 a.m. 1500 block of Ellzey Street; Medical.