Aug. 8 St. Mary Parish School Board agenda
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 1:50pm
Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.
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Local authorities arrest three on weapon charges
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 12:41pm
Staff Report
(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 and Morgan City authorities made three arrests this week on weapon-related charges, including one on an armed robbery charge and another involving aggravated assault.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 45 complaints and made these arrests:
--Nyjal Aly Hurst, 25, Jeanerette, was arrested at 6:30 a.m. Monday on charges of domestic abuse (child endangerment law), aggravated armed robbery with weapon, aggravated battery and attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
Bail was set at $345,000.
--Michael Paul Bergeron, 46, Morgan City, was at 1:34 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Cassidy Rose Hilliard, 20, Patterson, was arrested at 6:22 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of disturbing the peace (fighting) and simple criminal damage to property. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Felicia Margaret Young, 52, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of domestic abuse (aggravated assault). Bail has not been set at this time.
--Natron Marquanzie Ismail Pilote, 29, Patterson, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of theft. Bail has not been set at this time.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 57 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
--Angelle Rene Broussard, 32, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:07 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of alprazolam, possession of marijuana (first), driving under suspension and license plate light required.
--Kellie Boudreaux, 41, Willowbend Lane, Patterson, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. Monday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
Franklin
Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 14 complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
--Avelino Galvan, Jr., County Road 4715, Fred, Texas, was arrested at 4:36 a.m. Monday on charges of speeding and careless operation. Galvan was booked, processed and released on an $876 bond.
--Madison Turner, 31, Main Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:14 p.m. Monday on a warrant dated July 30 alleging unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Turner was booked, processed and released on a $5,000 bond.
--Juvenile was arrested at 12:49 p.m. Monday as a runaway juvenile.
--Tristen Lancon, 36, Robert Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:21 a.m. Tuesday on charges of telephone harassment and two counts of resisting an officer. Lancon was booked, processed and held on a $6,000 bond.
St. Mary jobless rate up in June
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 12:03pm
Staff Report
St. Mary Parish’s unemployment rate jumped nearly a point in June despite an increase in total employment.
Figures from the Louisiana Workforce Commission say the June jobless rate here was 5.3%, up from 4.4% in May and from 4.8% in June 2023. The numbers are not seasonally adjusted.
The jump in the unemployment rate came despite an increase in the number of nonfarm employed here to 18,015 from 17,705 in June. Employment in May 2023 stood at 18,200.
The number of unemployed people — people without jobs who are actively seeking them — grew even faster, from 806 in May to 1,006 in June.
In Assumption, the unemployment rate rose to 4.7% from 4.0% month over month despite an increase in employment from 8,350 to 8,466.
The number of unemployed in Assumption was 421 in June compared to 346 in May.
Statewide, unemployment was at 4.0% in June. The state gained 2,600 jobs from May to June, 2,300 of them in the private sector.
The largest gains were in private education and health services, which added 900 jobs month over month, and the catch-all “other services” category, which added 1,400 jobs.
The biggest losses were in leisure and hospitality, which dropped 1,000 jobs in the month, and financial activities, which lost 900 jobs.
Among locally important industries, support activities for mining and logging, which includes many oilfield service employers, grew by 700 jobs statewide from May to June.
Ship and boat building stayed steady at 5,100 employed.
Ochsner's Anderson is CFO to know in 2024
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:55am
Ochsner Bayou Region Chief Financial Officer Erika Anderson has been named to the 2024 list of “Rural Hospital CFOs to Know” compiled by Becker’s Hospital Review, one of the nation’s leading healthcare industry publications.
The CFOs highlighted on the list, which are chosen by Becker’s editorial team, are those who have proven “instrumental in ensuring the financial health of their organizations,” according to the publication. “These executives help bring cost effective, innovative, up-to-date and accessible healthcare to their communities.”
Ochsner St. Mary is part of the hospital company’s Bayou Region.
Anderson joined St. Anne Hospital in Raceland in 2010 as the accounting manager and was promoted to Bayou Region CFO in 2022. She is a member of the Bayou Region’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council and serves as a champion and mentor for Ochsner’s Women Empowering Women resource group.
Her community involvement includes serving as board finance chair for Girls on the Run Bayou Region, the local chapter of a national nonprofit that helps girls in third to eighth grade strengthen their social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills. Anderson is a member of Junior Auxiliary of Houma, a nonprofit that provides charitable services for the underserved community.
“This is a worthy honor for Erika. Her leadership and insight are respected in the Bayou Region and throughout the Ochsner organization,” says Fernis LeBlanc, Bayou Region CEO. “She has proven herself invaluable to our staff, but her service as a mentor and to her community is what truly distinguishes Erika.”
Ochsner Health delivers care at its 46 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. For 13 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has recognized Ochsner as the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana. Additionally, Ochsner Children’s has been recognized as the No. 1 hospital for kids in Louisiana for three consecutive
In 2023, Ochsner Health cared for more than 1.5 million people from every state in the nation and 65 countries. Ochsner’s workforce includes more than 38,000 dedicated team members and over 4,700 employed and affiliated physicians. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit https://www.ochsner.org/.
Nicholls breaks ground on building for nurse training
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:53am
Nicholls State University hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its Nursing Annex Building, the soon-to-be home of the Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University located in the Ayo Hall Parking Lot off Swanner Drive.
Remarks were made by Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Thibodaux Regional Health System CEO Greg Stock, Sen. Robert Allain, Nicholls Dean of Nursing Dr. Raquel Engolio and Nicholls President Jay Clune, PhD.
“This community is about collaboration. This community doesn’t say, ‘We hope someone will solve the problem.’ This community says, ‘What can I do to be a part of the solution?’ And that is a special thing. The two pillars of a strong community are education and access to strong healthcare, and those are the pillars that the Bayou Region will continue to grow and prosper,” said Dr. Kim Hunter Reed.
The new facility will be made possible through $20M in state-appropriated funds, along with $7.1M dedicated to renovations of Betsy C. Ayo Hall. The new 33,000-square-foot building’s first floor will house two auditoriums and two large classrooms, and the second floor will house nursing skills labs and a state-of-the-art simulation space equipped with cutting-edge technology, preparing graduates for professional practices within dynamic healthcare settings.
In addition, a $10 million contribution from Thibodaux Regional Health System will enable the university to provide equipment needed to ensure state-of-the-art teaching for students, hire new faculty members to support program expansion, support the retention of current program faculty and assist in professional development of nursing faculty – allowing the Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University to increase the number of nursing candidates in its undergraduate program and meet the need for nurses in the region.
Thibodaux Regional has been a valued partner of Nicholls and its nursing program for many years, providing clinical space for students to gain experience through all phases of their nursing education, as well as providing opportunities for employment after graduation.
The mission of Thibodaux Regional Health System School of Nursing at Nicholls State University is to prepare students to contribute to a global society and diverse workforce as well-educated nurses to meet the healthcare needs of the coastal region and beyond. This is accomplished by continuous improvement in teaching, research and service in a student-centered, culturally-rich and spirited learning environment that fosters faculty, staff and student engagement.
AG gets behind law requiring people to give officers room
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:51am
JACOB MATHEWS, The Center Square
A new bill that went into effect on Thursday creates a 25-foot buffer zone for working law enforcement officers.
The bill states that no one, including journalists, can intentionally approach within the specified distance of a peace officer who is lawfully engaged in the execution of his official duties.
It also specifies that it becomes criminal only after the officer has ordered the person to stop approaching or to retreat.
Although House Bill 173 creates a strict safeguard for cops on duty, violators of the provisions can only be fined a maximum of $500 and imprisoned a maximum of 60 days, or both.
The Legislature attempted to pass a similar bill previously, but it was vetoed by former Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Attorney General Liz Murrill fully supports the bill, which she made clear in a statement Thursday morning.
“The law [HB 173] is a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction that ensures law enforcement can do their jobs without threat or obstruction by others,” Murrill said. “We have had several incidents where police officers were injured while carrying out their lawful duties protecting the community and attempting to restore order.”
On July 31, a coalition of media companies filed suit against Murrill, State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III, alleging the law violates the First Amendment.
Critics said during the legislative session that the law could be used to prevent people from recording or witnessing police interactions as a way to hold officers accountable.
In Arizona, which passed the first-of-its-kind police buffer bill in 2022, the law was overturned for violating First Amendment rights.
What’s different about the police buffer law in the three other states — Indiana, Florida, Louisiana — is the bill does not specify rules against filming. Journalists involved with the suit say 25 feet is still not close enough to be able to catch badge numbers or evidence of misconduct, but the new laws in the three states have not been challenged in court.
Murrill is not going to back down from ensuring this bill stays in effect.
Governor, AG defend Ten Commandments law
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:49am
JACOB MATHEWS, The Center Square
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill held a news conference Monday to discuss the U.S. Department of Justice brief on the litigation filed against the state’s Ten Commandments law.
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation are all suing the Pelican State, stating House Bill 71 is a violation of the First Amendment by mandating a particular religious document be in every class from preschool through university.
“Really and truly, I don’t see what the whole big fuss is about,” the first-term Republican governor said.
Murrill said not only that this law is constitutional, but that the lawsuit against it cannot hold up.
“The plaintiffs have to show that every application of this law is unconstitutional. They cannot meet that burden,” Murrill said.
Murrill says because the law has not been fully enacted and the plaintiffs couldn’t have seen the posters displayed, they cannot prove the posters would be unconstitutional.
Murrill also said despite media claims, the law is not paused or blocked. The compliance date for the law is Jan. 1, 2025, and that hasn’t been changed. The attorney general’s office is still deciding which posters they like the most before printing.
Many different options were displayed during the news conference as a way to show how it can be done constitutionally.
The law requires the poster to have a context statement. Some included MLK, Ruth Ginsburg, and other American leaders in history, all of which Murrill says express the Ten Commandments as teaching moments and in different constitutional ways without pushing the Christian religion.
Landry believes the Ten Commandments is above one religion.
“The Ten Commandments is not symbolic of any one particular religion. Many religions share and recognize the Ten Commandments,” Landry said.
In response to a question about what families of other or no religions should do, Landry said they should understand this law was enacted by a Legislature the majority of Louisianans voted into office.
“I think we’ve forgotten in this country that democracy actually means majority rules,” Landry said.
Morgan City police radio logs for Aug. 5-6
Tue, 08/06/2024 - 11:31am
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.
Monday, Aug. 5
5:23 a.m. Freret/Fourth streets; Complaint.
12:15 p.m. 1300 block of Lakewood Drive; Theft.
12:47 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Prisoner transport.
12:57 p.m. Lawrence Park; Obscenity.
1:34 p.m. Spruce/Elm streets; Utility.
2:18 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:30 p.m. 1600 block of Chestnut Drive; Medical.
3:21 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:30 p.m. 700 block of Terrebonne Street; Complaint.
3:35 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Theft.
4:21 p.m. Federal Avenue/Julia Street; Suspicious person.
4:58 p.m. Brashear Avenue/Front Street; Fire.
5:38 p.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; Stand by.
8:17 p.m. Front Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:18 p.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Complaint.
9:03 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:52 p.m. Ditch Avenue/Ninth Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10:59 p.m. Everett/Fifth streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
1:08 a.m. Pine/Elm streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:36 a.m. 6800 block of La. 182; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:44 a.m. 6900 block of La. 182; Suspicious person/vehicle.
2:10 a.m. La. 70; Animal complaint.
Aug. 6 Patterson City Council agenda
Mon, 08/05/2024 - 6:17pm
Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.
Drug, property crimes alleged in recent arrests
Mon, 08/05/2024 - 1:40pm
(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.)
Police agencies in St. Mary made six arrests on drug-related charges in the last week, and six more on theft, monetary instrument, burglary or identity theft charges.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:
--Kenneth Ray Hebert, 73, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:51 a.m. Friday on charge of possession of Schedule II drugs and turning movements and required signals. Hebert was released on a $3,750 bond.
--Phillip Paul Meaux, 62, Lafayette, was arrested at 4:05 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless operation with accident and possession of marijuana. Meaux was released on a $10,000 bond.
--Casey Joseph Moresi, 50, New Iberia, was arrested at 11:39 a.m. July 31 on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Spencer Bourda, 33, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:58 p.m. July 31 on charges of possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of a drug-free zone, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and transactions involving drug proceeds.
--George Davison Harvey III, 42, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:38 p.m. Sunday on a charge of monetary instrument abuse. Harvey was released on a $3,500 bond.
--Tamika Beatrice Bias, 49, Amelia, was arrested at 9:53 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear for a charge of issuing worthless checks. Bias was released on her own recognizance.
--Michael Wayne Darby, 66, Franklin, was arrested at 11:42 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of simple burglary. Bail was set at $30,000.
--Malcomb Jermoe Williams Jr., 48, Humble, Texas, was arrested at 5:13 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of probation violation. Bail has not been set at this time.
--William Joseph Roberson Sr., 62, Patterson, was arrested at 4:07 p.m. July 31 on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, careless operation of a motor vehicle and operating a vehicle with an expired motor vehicle inspection. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Gerald Wayne Chenevert, 54, Opelousas, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. July 31 on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by convicted felon, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles, and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled. Bail has not been set at this time.
Bail was set at $351,000.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:
--Lance Christopher Terry, 40, Ledoux Circle, Patterson, was arrested at 3:56 p.m. Saturday on charges of aggravated burglary, flight from an officer, resisting an officer with force, criminal damage to property and careless operation of a motor vehicle.
--Brandon Leigh Boudreaux, 38, Susan Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:40 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, disregarding traffic controls and failure to appear for drug court (16th Judicial District Court).
--Sasha Millet Konieczka, 34, Glenwood Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:05 p.m. Friday on charges of domestic abuse battery (child endangerment law).
--Allen Lee Escort, 59, Mount Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:16 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Devin Michale LeBlanc, 22, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 6:14 p.m. Saturday on charges of simple battery and failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Jenney Plessala, 32, Darlene Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2 a.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and resisting an officer.
--Kyle Christensen, 38, Darlene Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2 a.m. Friday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (16th Judicial District Court).
--Benjamine David Vining, 28, Nevada Street, Morgan City, was arrested 11:52 p.m. July 31 on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, hit and run, careless operation, disregard of traffic controls, driving under suspension, improper lane usage, open alcohol container in vehicle and ignition interlock device required.
Patterson
Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:
--Brenda Brown Gant, 65, Martin Luther King Avenue, Patterson, was arrested at 11:10 a.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Gant is currently incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.
--Denise M. Reynolds Smith, 47, Shady Grove Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Thursday on a charge of driver’s license suspended or revoked. Smith was issued a summons.
--Payton Ivorian, 24, Camille Drive, Patterson, was arrested Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
--Kellie Pyle Boudreaux, 35, Willowbend Lane, Patterson, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. Monday on a Morgan City warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of following too closely. Boudreaux is currently incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,000.
Berwick
Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:
--Aaron Benso, 51, Gibson, was arrested at 10:58 pm. Friday on a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging failure to appear.
--Summer Gaudet, 29, Gibson, was arrested at 10:58 p.m. Friday on an Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging identity theft.
About 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers observed a stalled vehicle. Officers stopped to check on the vehicle and made contact with Benson and Gaudet.
While speaking with them, it was learned that they both held active warrants for their arrest. Benson and Gaudet were placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where they were booked on the active warrants.
--Devin Leblanc, 22, Berwick was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Saturday on Morgan City and St. Mary Parish warrants alleging failure to appear.
About 4:20 p.m. Saturday, while investigating a separate complaint, officers made contact with Leblanc. It was learned that Leblanc had several active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department as well as the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Leblanc was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the outstanding warrants.
--George Harvey III, 42, Morgan City was arrested at 6:57 p.m. Saturday on a Berwick warrant alleging monetary instrument abuse.
In July, the Berwick Police Department received a complaint of a counterfeit bill that was attempted to be passed at a local business. Through investigation, Harvey was identified as the suspect attempting to pass the bill, but had left the area.
Warrants were later issued for his arrest. On Saturday, Harvey was located at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Harvey was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the active warrant.
--Mervin Miller, 18, Berwick, was arrested at 7:26 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace and a Berwick warrant alleging disturbing the peace.
In July, the Berwick Police Department had responded to several incidents where disturbances were taking place involving Miller. But each time, he had previously left the scene. Warrants were prepared for his arrest.
On July 20, the Berwick Police Department received another disturbance call regarding Miller as the suspect. Officers located Miller and placed him under arrest. He was transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the above charges.
--Patrick Carello, 51, Berwick, was arrested at 7:11 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated (second offense) and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
About 6:30 p.m. Sunday, the Berwick Police Department received a 911 call of a reckless driver on U.S. 90. A description of the vehicle was given to officers, at which time it was located a short time later. Officers made contact with Carello and impairment was detected.
Carello performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department. Carello submitted a breath sample of 0.226G% BAC. It was learned that Carello had been previously convicted of DWI (first offense) since 2023. He was then booked.
Franklin
Chief Cedric Hardy reported these arrests:
--Tyler LeBlanc, 23, LaGrange Robicheaux Road, Franklin, was arrested at 2:01 p.m. Sunday on a warrant dated July 27 alleging five counts of theft by shoplifting. LeBlanc was booked, processed and released on a $7,500 bond.
--Jon Ireland, 39, Antigo Alley, Franklin, , was arrested at 12:10 p.m. Saturday on two warrants dated July 24 alleging theft (second offense). Ireland was booked, processed and held on a $10,000 bond.
--Preston Lewis, 30, Jacob Street, Napoleonville, was arrested at 11:41 a.m. Friday on charges of stop sign and driving under suspension. Lewis was booked, processed and released on a $399 bond.
--Dylan Dwyer, 25, Life House Street, St. James, was arrested at 12:23 a.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, possession of Schedule I drugs and three counts of possession of Schedule II drugs. Dwyer was booked, processed and held on a $7,250 bond.
--Michelle Brown, 52, Eighth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:58 a.m. Sunday on a warrant dated July 17 alleging simple battery of the infirm. Brown was booked, processed and held on a $7,500 bond.
--A juvenile was arrested at 6:28 p.m. July 31 on charges of unlawful purchase of tobacco under 18 and violation of a drug-free zone.
--Alicia Sereal, 40, Adams Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:27 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of simple battery. Sereal was booked, processed and held on a $268 bond.