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Six arrests reported by St. Mary agencies

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 12:38pm

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.)

City and parish authorities in St. Mary reported six arrests Wednesday.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 48 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Jeffery P. Perrillioux, 56, La. 308, Lockport, was arrested at 11:48 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jabari Elijah Woods, 21, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:32 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of probation violation (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Marcus Dean Aucoin, 21, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:32 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of remaining where forbidden.

--Kameron Anthony Tabor, 20, South Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 6 p.m. Wednesday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, improper lane usage and off-road vehicles prohibited.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 39 complaints and made this arrest:

--Jamon Clayborn Bias, 44, Franklin, was arrested at 4:37 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of obscenity. Bail has not been set at this time.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Tynell Levine, 34, Willow Street, Franklin, was arrested at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on charges of stop signs, driver must be licensed, failure to obtain vehicle registration and no insurance. Levine was booked, processed and held on a $650.00 bond.

Morgan City police radio logs for July 10-11

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:59am

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.
Wednesday, July 10
8:24 a.m. 200 block of Halsey Street; Complaint.
8:38 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; 911 hang up.
9:22 a.m. 900 block of Willard Street; Frequent patrols.
9:25 a.m. 100 block of Aycock Street; 911 hang up.
9:45 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
10:07 a.m. 1100 block of Birch Street; Animal complaint.
10:17 a.m. Fourth Street; Suspicious person.
11:31 a.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Theft.
11:37 a.m. Sixth/Duke streets; Vehicle accident.
11:41 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Hit and run.
11:47 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street St; Arrest.
12:21 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless driving.
2:07 p.m. 500 block of Marshall Street; Complaint.
2:28 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Complaint.
3:24 p.m. Orange/Acorn streets; Fire.
3:52 p.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Complaint.
3:59 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Welfare check.
4:33 p.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Disturbance.
4:43 p.m. 200 block of Arizona Street; Stand by.
4:54 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Hit and run.
5:17 p.m. U.S. 90 Berwick; Assistance.
5:19 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Telephone harassment.
5:27 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Frequent patrols.
5:36 p.m. Bayou Vista; Assistance.
5:57 p.m. 1000 block of Hilda Street; Theft.
6:09 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
6:25 p.m. 1800 block of Federal Avenue; Welfare concern.
7:14 p.m. 1300 block of Elm Street; Hit and run.
7:15 p.m. Veterans Boulevard; Suspicious vehicle.
7:16 p.m. Wren Street; Assistance.
8:43 p.m. 1400 block of North Third Street; Medical.
9:20 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Welfare concern.
9:53 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Disturbance.
11:49 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Open door.
Thursday, July 11
1:36 a.m. Marguerite/Ninth streets; Animal complaint.

Talking to the animals

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:20am

The Review/Bill Decker
Youngsters who came Tuesday to the Morgan City Public Library got a special treat: a fuzzy, furry, sometimes frenetic menagerie from the city's Petting Zoo. Jan Blanchard, standing at the end of the table in the second photo from the top, Ashley Denning and Tylor Mayon brought a rabbit, hamsters, a goat named Daisy and other animals for the kids to hold.

Berwick looks at festivals, ordinances on taxes and stray animals

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:15am

BILL DECKER

bdecker@daily-review.com

BERWICK — The Town Council on Tuesday praised a contribution to one festival and paved the way for another.
The council gave Beacon Shines On recognition to Katherine Broussard, who organized last month’s Lighthouse Festival pageant. Members also approved plans to have the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Blessing of the Fleet on the Berwick side of the bay this year.
The council introduced an ordinance to feed the town kitty by rolling forward two property tax levies after this year’s reassessment. When it comes to feeding kitties literally, another ordinance introduced Tuesday would prohibit putting out food for stray cats, and stray dogs, too. The ban is put forward as a public health measure.
Festivals
The council gave a certificate of merit to Broussard “in recognition of outstanding service to the community.”
The June 8 pageant crowned 11 girls and women to preside at this year’s festival, scheduled for Nov. 1-3 on the Berwick riverfront.
The festival will feature live music, food, fireworks, arts and crafts, and more.
Berwick’s starring role in the Shrimp & Petroleum Festival will be the Blessing of the Fleet, set for 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1.
The 89th edition of the festival will run from Aug. 29-Sept. 2.
Ordinances
This is a reassessment year, when parish assessors set the value of taxable property in parishes and municipalities. The Louisiana Constitution says that an increase in assessed valuation must be followed by a rollback in property tax rates so that reassessment doesn’t result in additional tax revenue.
The council or board can raise the property tax rates back to their pre-reassessment levels to gain the added revenue. But that move requires a vote by two-thirds of the members of the board or council.
That’s what the Berwick ordinance would do. Reassessment would drop the town’s general purpose property tax millage of 12.88 to 12.66, and its maintenance and improvements millage of 6.0 mills to 5.9.
The ordinance would return the rates to 12.88 mills and 6.0 mills.
The combined difference of 0.32 mills from rolling the rates forward again would amount to $3.20 on a home with a market value of $100,000 and $6.40 on a $200,000 home. Louisiana’s homestead exemption doesn’t apply to municipal property taxes.
The prohibition on feeding stray animals forbids “the placing of dog or cat food, or similar food products of consumable materials attractive to dogs and cats which may result in dogs and cats congregating thereon on a regular basis. …” It applies whether the food is left on the ground or placed in a feeder.
The ordinance defines a stray as “an unlicensed domestic or feral dog or cat running at large and unaccompanied or uncontrolled by an owner.”
The ordinance says large populations of strays “pose a hazard to human health and safety as much as such animals provide a fruitful breeding ground for infectious diseases … and may otherwise bite or attack humans and domestic animals.”
The threats include rabies, distemper, fleas, ticks, and attracting raccoons and rodents, the ordinance says.
The ordinance sets a fine of $50 for a first violation, $100 for the second and $200 for the third and subsequent offenses. There would be exceptions for veterinarians and government and nonprofit employees who have custody or manage stray animals.
Under the normal procedure, both ordinances would come up for a public hearing and a passage vote at the Aug. 13 Town Council meeting.

Berwick seeks Patterson's help for gas system

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:12am

Staff Report

Berwick is asking for some help with delivering natural gas to its residents, and Patterson may be poised to lend a hand.
The Patterson City Council will conduct a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday. The only item on the agenda is Berwick’s request to purchase natural gas from Patterson’s system.
Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur and Public Works Director Rafael “Chuco” Lopez came before the Patterson council July 2.
They’re not asking Patterson to provide gas for all of Berwick’s needs. Their problem is near the end of the Berwick system near Old Spanish Trail. And that problem is gas-fired electrical generators.
Many generators turn on automatically, and begin consuming natural gas, during an electrical outage.
That causes a drop in gas pressure throughout the system, Arthur said.
Berwick is hoping Patterson will sell enough gas to Berwick to boost pressure by 3 pounds per square inch only when the pressure in Berwick’s system drops.
Berwick will pay for the connection to the Patterson system.
“All you have to do is turn the knob,” Arthur said.
Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan urged council members to do their research about the impact of the connection to Berwick.
“Do your research,” Grogan said. “It’s a sale. It’s money.”

Chi Chapter grant-in-aid

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:08am

Submitted photo
Hannah Fryou, a recent graduate of Morgan City High School, recently received a $300 grant-in-aid certificate from Chi Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Fryou, center, will attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to major in early childhood education grades PK-3. Each year, Chi Chapter awards this grant to a female graduate who plans to attend college and major in education. Representing Chi Chapter are Mary Michelle Reggie, member, left, and Suzanne Bergeron, president.

Summer reading gift for tots

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 10:55am

The Review/Bill Decker
On Wednesday, Sonic presented the Morgan City Library with a $1,200 check for the library's summer reading program. The donation represented a share of the proceeds from the restaurants' promotions related to Dr Seuss in March. The birthday of the late children's author is March 2. Shown from left are Hailee Rivette and Lisa Venable of the library, Sonic's Mr. Tots mascot and Sutton Travis, owner of the Morgan City Sonic.

Rounding up for Hogs for the Cause

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 10:53am

The Review/Bill Decker
Beginning in April, local Stazione outlets asked customers to round up purchase amounts for Hogs for the Cause, which creates homes where families can stay while children undergo cancer treatment. On Tuesday, Stazione presented Zandy Rainold of Hogs for the Cause with a check for $15,874, half from customers and half from a match by Luke Guarisco. Shown from left are Dale Ratcliff, store operations manager; Sarah Templet, Stazione 3 manager; Kevin Busse, business development, Rio Fuel; Guarisco; Chris Mayon, Victor II Stazione manager; Tonya Espinal, Stazione 2 manager; Dean Duplantis, vice president; Christy Businelle, Berwick Stazione manager; Mark Zerangue, Rio Fuel manager; Destiny Gutierrez, Amelia Stazione manager; and Rainold. Cheryl Businelle of Patterson was not present for the picture.

Reading scores improve for La.'s K-3 students

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 10:52am

Louisiana students in grades K-3 improved their reading scores by 10 percentage points on the state’s first universal literary screener, the state Department of Education announced.
The percentage of K-3 students reading on grade level jumped from 44.6% on the beginning of year screener to 54.6% on the end of year screener. This data is from the 2023-2024 school year and sets a new baseline that can be used to measure progress in future years.
“The early elementary years are critical to a student’s academic success," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, "and we now have a tool to better identify where support is needed whether at the student, school, or system level.”
Overall, Louisiana saw a 10% increase in students reading on grade level in grades K-3 from beginning to end of year. Students in grades K-1 made significant gains, with 27% more kindergarten students and 14% more first grade students reading on grade level from the beginning of the year.
All Louisiana public school students in grades K-3 are required to complete literacy screeners. These assessments, which increase in difficulty from beginning to end of year, provide teachers with real-time data to support students during their foundational years in school.
Louisiana has made considerable progress since launching its comprehensive literacy plan in 2021, the Education Department said.
The Education Recovery Scorecard found that Louisiana is one of only three states where average reading achievement in 2023 was above 2019 levels.
Louisiana’s fourth-graders were No. 1 in the nation for reading growth on The Nation’s Report Card and economically disadvantaged fourth-graders improved from 42nd to 11th overall for reading proficiency from 2019 to 2022.
Louisiana has also drawn national attention for its bold literacy policies. The non-profit education organization ExcelinEd recognized Louisiana as one of only three states taking action on all 18 of the organization’s early literacy fundamental principles. These include a universal screener for K-3 students and science of reading training for all K-3 teachers.
“This marked the first year of full implementation for key literacy policies,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jenna Chiasson. “Not only are we poised for additional reading progress, but similar math policy shifts have been made to accelerate student outcomes.”
About Louisiana’s K-3 Literacy Screener
This is the first year the LDOE is administering one universal literacy screener to students in grades K-3. These assessments provide teachers with information on student reading levels and how well students are progressing on particular skills. The screeners are given through a secure administration and measure skills predictive to reading success as a student progresses through school. Student scores are reported as Well Above Level, On Level, Below Level, or Well Below Level.
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, third grade students who score at the Well Below level at the end of the school year are at risk of retention. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, results from the literacy screener will be included in school performance scores.

LSU works with NATO on cybersecurity

Thu, 07/11/2024 - 10:51am

LSU cybersecurity researcher Elias Bou-Harb, associate professor of computer science with joint appointments in the LSU College of Engineering and the LSU Center for Computation & Technology, is working with NATO Allied Command Transformation to develop innovative training scenarios to help strengthen NATO cyber defense. Held annually in November and December, the NATO Allied Command Transformation Cyber Coalition exercise challenges civilian and military representatives from the 32 member nations to navigate several realistic cyber threat scenarios. Bou-Harb and his team of LSU students are now developing one of these scenarios. This fall, they will stage a hypothetical healthcare cyber assault in a NATO cyber range in Estonia to enhance collaboration and cyber preparedness across the NATO countries.
“NATO’s strength lies in collective problem-solving,” Bou-Harb said. “Our scenario is crafted to promote cooperation, ensuring NATO can effectively respond to cyberattacks regardless of individual members’ expertise and resources.”
This year’s focus on the potential exploitation of medical devices to launch cyberattacks has broad implications for civilian life and military operations. Bou-Harb highlights the importance of healthcare infrastructure in maintaining the health and well-being of civilian populations and military personnel, noting that a cyberattack on these systems could have far-reaching consequences for patients, hospitals, emergency response capabilities and national security.
Medical devices, such as infusion pumps, ventilators and medical imaging systems, are increasingly network-connected and susceptible to cyber threats. Similarly, soldiers’ biometric sensors and GPS guidance systems could be targeted.
“Our partnership with Professor Bou-Harb and LSU has been instrumental in keeping the Cyber Coalition exercise at the forefront of cyber defense innovation,” said Ezio Cerrato, interim director for the 2024 NATO Allied Command Transformation Cyber Coalition exercise. “By integrating advanced academic research and insights into our training scenarios, we provide our teams with the most relevant and challenging environments to simulate real-world cyber threats."