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Longtime educators retire

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 9:56am

Top photo: After 42 years, Dr. Katherine Drexler, center, coordinator of secondary special services, has retired. "She has dedicated herself as an advocate for all children of St. Mary Parish, but especially our children of special needs," the St. Mary school system said in a Facebook post. Bottom photo: Robbie Gouaux, the accountability coordinator is retiring after 33 years. "We wish her the best in her future endeavors and express our gratitude for her unwavering commitment to the education and well-being of our children and school community," the system said in a Facebook post.

Submitted photos

Bayou Bend will open Bariatric Center

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 9:52am

Bayou Bend Health System announced the expansion of its services with a new Bariatric Center in Franklin.
The Bayou Bend Bariatric Center will offer services including sleeve gastrectomy, sleeve gastrectomy revisions, gastric bypass, lap band adjustments, weight loss injections, natural hormone therapy for weight loss, and thoracic procedures under the direction of Dr. Johnny Perez, general and bariatric surgeon.
Perez received his B.A. in Biological Sciences from the University of California Santa Barbara, his M.D. from the University of California School of Medicine, his PhD in Immunology from MD Anderson Cancer Center–UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
He completed his residency at the University of Texas Houston Medical School.
Perez’s 20-plus years of expertise include bariatric, laparoscopic, oncologic, colorectal, gastroenterology, and endocrine surgeries. Perez founded the LapBand program in Thibodaux and was the first surgeon to perform single-incision laparoscopic gallbladder surgery in the Tri-Parish area.
“We are so excited to have someone of Dr. Perez’s caliber on our team,” said Stephanie Guidry, CEO of Bayou Bend Health System. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Franklin and will be a huge asset to the hospital and the community.”
Perez and his staff will begin seeing patients at the Bayou Bend Bariatric Center, 1105 Northwest Blvd., Franklin, on Monday, July 8. New patients are welcome. For all inquiries or to schedule an appointment, please call 337-471-1215.
To learn more about our services or for help in finding a physician, please visit BayouBendHealth.org.
Bayou Bend Health System is a 22-bed critical access community hospital serving the residents of St. Mary Parish and surrounding communities. At Bayou Bend Health System services incluide include a 24-hour emergency room, inpatient/outpatient surgery, obstetrics with nursery, intensive care unit, transitional care bed program, laboratory, outpatient therapy services, radiology services, respiratory therapy, and nutritional services.
Physician Practices provide family medicine, internal medicine, women’s health, general surgery, orthopedics, senior behavioral health, cardiology and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

Conservatives take shots at Title IX changes

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 9:50am
ALAN WOOTEN, The Center Square

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx of North Carolina considered the panel question and delivered, as often she does, a bottom-line answer for Title IX at passage 52 years ago and today.
The Republican noted the president was a fellow member of her party, Richard Nixon, and Congress was majority Democrats. Yet the civil rights law got bipartisan approval.
“That was a time,” she said, “when Democrats knew what the difference was between a man and a woman. I mean, times have changed.”
The June 27 Capitol Hill audience for the panel discussion led by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., had chuckles, though not for the wrong reasons.
They were joined by Betsy DeVos, former Secretary of Education in the Trump administration; Riley Gaines, 12-time All-American swimmer at Kentucky; and Heather Higgins, chairwoman of the Independent Women’s Forum.
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, emceed and introduced.
Miller serves as vice chairwoman alongside chairwoman Foxx on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Sunday was the 52nd anniversary of Nixon signing Title IX into law. The rewrite is scheduled to take effect Aug. 1, though it is halted in 10 states already by injunctions.
“He told us from his first day in office they were going to rewrite Title IX,” Johnson said of President Joe Biden. “They were going to dramatically revise it. That was an ominous warning, and they made good on it.”
An April fact sheet released by the U.S. Department of Education gave clarification to the proposed changes. Included, “The proposed rule would establish that policies violate Title IX when they categorically ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are.”
Gaines and Higgins said gender ideology is about more than sports. There are sororities on campuses, detransitioners with irreparable harm, and men going to prison choosing incarceration with women.
“If you’re a guy, why wouldn’t you choose to go be in a women’s prison instead of a men’s prison?” Higgins asked rhetorically.
Higgins said, “While the administration disingenuously claims that the new rule doesn’t apply to sports, they’ve established the default position that school activities limited to biological women or biological men are presumptively discriminatory.
“The administration has repeatedly insisted, in court filings and in public pronouncements, that Title IX requires schools to allow trans-identified males to play women’s sports. They can’t have it both ways. Either they use Title IX to force schools to allow men on women’s sports teams, or if they are not, then schools should stop the madness right now.”
Gaines has been a leader to save women’s sports, traveling the country and appearing in a number of state legislatures. She’s testified in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, too. More than that, she said, she’s realized how much her time as an athlete from age 4 to 22 prepared her for what is happening now much more so than it did as a swimmer.
“They are stripping all sex-based protections for women and girls – robbing women of equal opportunity, privacy, and fairness,” she said. “Equating ‘sex’ with ‘gender identity’ effectively abolishes the original intent of Title IX. This doesn’t enforce Title IX, it violates it.”
On June 13, a Louisiana judge stopped implementation of the Title IX rewrite in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and Idaho. On June 17, a Kentucky judge halted the rewrite in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
Also on June 13, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed a Congressional Review Act to nullify the new rule. It would, if passed, formally dispense “with the administration’s Title IX rule so that educational institutions can continue protecting the safety of women and girls and their access to educational opportunities.”
Johnson said it will get a floor vote next week.
“While the Biden administration has pushed progressive gender ideology to include biological men in women’s sports under Title IX, conservatives in the House are fighting to protect women’s right to compete,” Johnson said. “We will not stand by and tolerate the erosion of safe, fair, and equal competition in women’s sports.”

Louisiana gets low grade for treatment of children

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 9:48am
JACOB MATHEWS, The Center Square

An annual report by a nonprofit organization gave Louisiana poor grades for child welfare.
The nonprofit Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Book ranked Louisiana 42nd in education, 48th in overall child well-being and family and community, and 49th in economic well-being and health categories.
The study compares pre-pandemic years to the most current, 2022, so education numbers across all of the U.S. have shown some erosion. However, Louisiana remained well below the national average for both before and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eighth graders in Louisiana are getting worse in math, with the number of students not proficient in the subject jumping from 77% to 81% from 2019-2022. The U.S. average increased even more in that timespan, from 67% to 74%.
Fourth graders in Louisiana have become more proficient at reading since 2019, with the number of students not proficient in reading dropping 2% from 74%. The U.S. average increased as well, from 66% to 68%. 
The high school graduation rates, comparing school year 2018-2019 to 2020-2021 showed improvement. The report says the number of students not graduating on time dropped 2% to 18%, still 4% above the national average which stayed the same over that timespan. 
Despite still being 49th, Louisiana’s economic well-being for children has improved in poverty rates, dropping 2%. The measure of parents who lack secure employment dropped 3%. 
Louisiana is also ranked poorly in family and community, 48th, but improved in every other category. Children in single parent families dropped 1% from 47% to 46%. Teen births per 1,000 dropped from 28 to 24. The U.S. average dropped from 17 to 14. 
The report also says the state did poorly in children’s health with a ranking of 49th. Child and teen deaths increased a whopping 11 per 1,000, from 36 to 47. The national average increased from 25 to 30. 

Ballot proposition could create royalties on renewable energy

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 9:15am
STEVE WILSON, The Center Square

Louisiana voters will cast ballots in November to determine whether the state will participate in a possible royalty system for offshore renewable energy production, but federal action is required before the money starts to flow.
Over the past several years, bills have been submitted to allow the alternative energy revenues, such as wind leases, to be sent to the Gulf states of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to fund coastal restoration and resilience projects.
All of these bills would reform the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act by increasing the revenue-sharing distribution from offshore oil and gas activities from 37.5% to 50% and eliminating the existing state revenue-sharing cap of $375 million for Gulf Coast states.
It’s of dire importance to Louisiana as the funds from the BP oil spill settlement, which is the primary source for coastal restoration projects, will run out in 2031. The projects are designed to repair and rebuild the state’s wetlands which shield inland areas from hurricane storm surges and provide important nurseries for marine life. 
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., filed a bill last year called the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems Act with U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. Congressman Steve Scalise, R-La., has a bill called the Budgeting for Renewable Electrical Energy Zone Earnings that he has filed twice in the last two years. U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, has also filed her version of the measure. 
The National Ocean Industries Association is the trade organization for the offshore industry and supports this type of legislation. President Erik Milito told the Center Square that if the bill becomes law, Louisiana could see $1.96 billion over the next 10 years if the RISEE Act or other similar legislation becomes law.
“Well, it should, over time, you’re gonna see more revenue flowing to the government from offshore wind power, and if states are able to share in that then it becomes fairly obvious to the local taxpayers and the local constituency that this much money is now coming into our state because of offshore wind,” Milito said. “You haven’t needed that in the Northeast Atlantic, Pacific. Those state governments have taken independent action to promote offshore wind because they’re more progressive when it comes to wanting to have you know, climate goals in place.
"When it comes to the oil and gas sector, you know, the Gulf Coast has been it really for the past several decades.
“And Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama have all been supportive because of the employment base and the investment base that you have along the coastline with hundreds if not thousands of companies contributing to the local economies.”
The bills have bipartisan support, as several environmental groups such as the Citizens Climate Lobby, the Coastal Conservation Association, the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation and the Environmental Defense Fund among others have weighed in support for the legislation. 
Voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether to add two amendments to the state constitution governing offshore energy royalty distribution. The two bills authored Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-Cut Off, were signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry on June 19. Right now, any offshore wind or other renewable revenues would be split between the state’s General Fund (75%) and the remainder with the state’s mineral fund
House Bill 300 would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to redirect federal revenues from “generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production sources, including wind energy, solar energy, tidal energy, wave energy, geothermal energy, and other alternative or renewable energy production or sources.”
The companion bill, House Bill 305, that would codify the shift of federal royalties to the coastal protection fund from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act program if the measure is passed by voters.

Public notices for July 3, 2024

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 6:00am

LEGAL NOTICE
ST. MARY
PARISH
RECREATION
DISTRICT #3
BAYOU VISTA
COMMUNITY
CENTER
1333 BELLVIEW
STREET
P.O. BOX 635
PATTERSON, LA
70392
985-395-6552
The Board of
Commissioners of
the St. Mary Parish
Recreation District
#3 met in regular
session on
Monday, May 20,
2024, at 5:30 p.m.
in the meeting
room at the Bayou
Vista Community
Center.
Members Present:
Brian Head –
Chairman, Lane
Boudreaux – Vice
Chairman, Dr. Jeffery
Fitter, Eddie
Gay, Calvin Johnson,
Javon
Charles, Rachel
Kidder
Employees of
the District Present:
Mark Richard
– Facilities Manager,
Angie Guillotte
– Office Manager,
Calley Williams
– Activities
Director
Secretary: Tyler
Lambert
Guest: Garrick
Griffin – Athletic
Director, Imanuel
Christian School,
Morgan City
Mr. Head called
the meeting to
order at 5:30 p.m.
Everyone present
stood for the
pledge of allegiance.
Board members
reviewed the minutes
from the April
meeting. Dr. Fitter
motioned to accept
the minutes as
written. Mr.
Charles made a
second to the
motion. All were in
favor and the
motion carried.
Board members
reviewed the accounts
payable
report and the
monthly budget
comparison report.
Mr. Charles made
a motion to accept
the report as is
and pay the bills.
Mr. Gay made a
second to the
motion. All were in
favor and the
motion carried.
Mr. Griffin with
ICS presented his
request to the
board for the use of
the gym for the
school’s volleyball
team. After much
discussion, it was
determined that
there would be
some scheduling
conflicts with the
dates requested as
the community is
booked up through
the summer with
summer camp and
other activities. A
motion was made
by Mr. Gay to approve
ICS to use
the gym on May 27
and 28 for volleyball
tryouts at a
rate of $5.00 per
hour. A second to
the motion was
made by Mr. Johnson.
All were in
favor and the
motion carried.
Angie Guillot
gave the community
center report.
She informed the
board of the rentals
over the past
month and an
update on the
upcoming events.
Mark Richard
gave the manager/
maintenance report.
He informed
the board of the
need to purchase
the necessary
equipment to fix
playground equipment
at the park.
After discussion, a
motion was made
by Mr. Charles to
approve the purchase
of $2,359.57.
This motion also
included a recommendation
to update
board policy
and procedures to
increase materials,
supplies, and
equipment threshold
for quotes per
public bid law contracting
limits. A
second motion was
made by Mrs. Kidder.
All were in
favor, and the
motion carried.
Mr. Richard also
discussed the
quote received for
the repair of the
sound system in
the gym of the
community center.
Only one has been
received. A motion
was made by Mr.
Charles to wait
one more week to
possibly obtain
another, and if
none are obtained
to go with the
existing quote. A
second to the
motion was made
by My. Gay
In new business,
the board discussed
the possibility
of offering a
season pass for the
spray park at the
community center.
After discussion, it
was decided to not
offer the season
pass. No motion
was brought to the
floor on this matter.
The board discussed
canceling
the subscription it
has now to the
domain bayouvistarec.
com and
change to bayouvistacommunitycenter.
com. No
motion was
brought to the
floor on this matter.
The board discussed
the approval
of the bid received
for the roofing
project. A bid
was received totaling
$194,569.00.
Dr. Fitter motioned
to accept the bid
with a second coming
from Mr. Boudreaux.
All were in
favor and the
motion carried.
With no further
business to discuss,
a motion to
adjourn was made
by Mr. Johnson. A
second was made
by Mrs. Lidder. All
were in favor. The
motion carried and
the meeting was
adjourned.
(S) Brian Head
Brian Head,
Chairman
(S) Tyler Lambert
Tyler Lambert,
Secretary
Adv. July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
Louisiana Energy
and Power
Authority
Request for Proposals
(“RFP”) for
Firm Capacity and
Energy Products
Issue Date:
July 1, 2024
Response Due
Date:
August 5, 2024
LEPA is issuing
a Request for Proposals
for Capacity
and Energy Products
(“RFP”) to
solicit proposals
from qualified entities
(“Respondents”)
for delivery
of capacity and
energy to supplement
LEPA’s existing
power supply
portfolio for service
to its Full
Requirement Service
Members.
LEPA is requesting
proposals for
supplying a maximum
of 150 MW of
capacity and energy
in 50 MW
capacity increments.
Each increment
shall have a
term beginning
June 1, 2025, and
for a period of
5-years, 10-years,
and/or 15-years.
For more information
contact:
Mr. Joseph W.
Rogers, P.E.
Legend Consulting
Group Limited
jrogers@legendcgl.
com
Adv. July 3, 10 and
17, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
Notice Posted:
Monday, July 1,
2024 9:00 A.M.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING/
MEETING
I. A public hearing
will be held as
follows:
DATE: MONDAY
JULY 8, 2024
TIME: 5:30 P.M.
PLACE: WATER
& SEWER COMM.
#2 OFFICE, 530
S O U T H E A S T
BLVD. MORGAN
CITY, LA 70380
1. To consider
levying additional
or increased millage
rates without
further voter approval
or adopting
the adjusted millage
rate after reassessment
and rolling
forward to a
rate not to exceed
the prior year’s
maximum. The
estimated amount
of tax revenues to
be collected in the
next tax year from
the increased millage
is $994,856.82
and the amount of
increase in taxes
attributable to the
millage increase is
$5,836.68.
Close public hearing;
ADJOURN
II. A public
meeting will be
held as follows:
DATE: MONDAY
JULY 8, 2024
TIME: 5:45 P.M.
or immediately following
the public
hearing
PLACE OF
M E E T I N G :
WATER & SEWER
COMM. #2 OFFICE,
530
S O U T H E A S T
BLVD. MORGAN
CITY, LA 70380
AGENDA:
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF
JUNE 10, 2024
MINUTES
APPROVAL OF
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
FROMENTHAL
PLUMBING REPORT
M A I N T E -
NANCE REPORT/
U N B I L L E D
WATER REPORT
JOINT WATER
PLANT UPDATE
OLD BUSINESS:
1. ARLINGTON
PROJECT – FROM
E N T H A L
PLUMBING
2. UPDATE –
FULL SYSTEM
CHANGE OUT –
CORE & MAIN
NEW BUSINESS:
1. ADOPT THE
ADJUSTED MILLAGE
RATE(S)
2. SET FORTH
THE ADJUSTED
M I L L A G E
RATE(S) AND
ROLL FORWARD
TO MILLAGE
RATE(S) NOT EXCEEDING
THE
M A X I M U M
AUTHORIZED
RATE(S).
A D J O U R N -
MENT:
———————
Chris Cooper
(Board President)
St. Mary Parish
Water & Sewer
Comm. #2
530 Southeast
Blvd. Morgan City,
LA 70380
985-395-2747
In accordance
with the American
Disabilities Act, if
you need special
assistance, please
contact the office
at 395-2747, describing
the assistance
that is necessary.
Adv. July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
The St. Mary Parish Government, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, acting through its President, Sam Jones, will receive sealed bids for the Asphaltic Concrete Overlay of Lake Palourde Road project, at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse Council Meeting Room, Fifth Floor, Franklin, Louisiana 70538, until July 23, 2024, at 10:00 A.M., local time, at which time and place, they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids re- ceived after the time set forth above for opening of bids will not be considered and will be returned unopened.
The Contract Documents (Plans, Information for Bidders, Bid Form, Specifications, and other pertinent documents) may be examined at the following locations:
•Miller Engineers & Associates, Inc. – 601 Main Street; Franklin, Louisiana 70538
•St. Mary Parish Purchasing Agent’s Office – Fifth Floor, Courthouse Building; Franklin, Louisiana 70538
Copies of the bidding documents may be obtained from the office of Miller Engineers and Associates, Inc. upon receipt of $250.00 for each set during normal business hours (7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Monday – Thursday and 7:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Friday). Checks for Bidding Documents shall be made payable to “Miller Engineers & Associates, Inc.”. In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2212.D, deposits on the first set of documents furnished prime bidders shall be fully re- funded upon re- turn of the documents no later than ten days after receipt of bids. On other sets of documents furnished to bidders, the deposit less the actual cost of reproduction shall be re- funded upon re- turn of the documents no later than ten days after receipt of bids. Refunds will be made upon return of the documents unmarked and in good condition if within ten days after receipt of bids.
Official bid documents can be downloaded from Central Bidding at www.centralbidding.com. Electronic bids can be submitted to www.centralbidding.com. For any questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at (225) 810-4814.
There will be no pre-bid conference for this project. Bidders are re- sponsible for making site visitations in preparation of their bids.
To qualify to bid, each bidder shall be a properly licensed Contractor in accordance with La. R.S. 37:2150 – 2163 for the classification of HIGHWAY, STREET & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION or related classification.
The Owner re- serves the right to reject any and all bids in accordance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.
Each bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bidders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U.S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.
A bidder may withdraw their bid within forty-eight (48) hours of the bid opening, ex- cluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays as governed by La. R.S. 38:2214 (C).
Any questions or clarifications shall be submitted to the Project Engineer in writing a minimum of five (5) days prior to the bid opening date. Addenda will be issued to all prospective bidders a minimum of 72 hours prior to the bid opening date. Only information provided within written addenda issued by the Project Engineer shall be considered binding.
Any person with disabilities requiring special accommodations must contact the St. Mary Parish Government no later than seven (7) days prior to the bid opening.
/s/ Sam Jones
Sam Jones,
President
St. Mary Parish Government
Adv. June 26, July 3 and 10, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
The Wax Lake East Drainage District of the Parish of St. Mary, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, will receive sealed bids for the Proposed Pump Station and Discharge Pipe Over the West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee Near Calumet project, at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse Council Meeting Room, Fifth Floor, Franklin, LA 70538, until August 5, 2024, at 10 A.M., local time, at which time and place, they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received after the time set forth above for opening of bids will not be considered and will be returned unopened.
The Contract Documents (Plans, Information for Bidders, Bid Form, Specifications and other pertinent documents) may be examined at the following locations:
•Miller Engineers & Associates, Inc. – 601 Main Street; Franklin, Louisiana 70538
Copies of the bidding documents may be obtained from the office of Miller Engineers and Associates, Inc. upon receipt of $250.00 for each set during normal business hours (7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Monday – Thursday and 7:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Friday). Checks for Bidding Documents shall be made payable to “Miller Engineers & Associates, Inc.”. In accordance with La. R.S. 38:2212 A (1) (e), deposits on the first set of documents furnished bona fide prime bidders will be fully refunded up- on return of the documents and deposits on any additional sets will be refunded less the actual cost of reproduction. Re- funds will be made upon return of the documents un- marked and in good condition if within ten days after receipt of bids.
Official bid documents can be downloaded from Central Bidding at www.centralbidding.com. Electronic bids can be submitted at www.centralbidding.com. For any questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at (225) 810-4814.
A mandatory pre-bid conference for this project will be held at Miller Engineers & Associates, Inc.’s office (601 Main Street, Franklin, LA) on July 22, 2024, at 10 A.M.
To qualify to bid, each bidder shall be a properly licensed Contractor in accordance with La. R.S. 37:2150 – 2163 for the classification of HEAVY CONSTRUCTION or related classification.
The Owner re- serves the right to reject any and all bids in accordance with Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.
Each bidder must deposit with his/her bid, security in the amount, form and subject to the conditions provided in the Information for Bidders. Sureties used for obtaining bonds must appear as acceptable on the U.S. Department of Treasury Circular 570.
No bidder may withdraw their bid within forty-eight (48) hours after the actual date of the opening thereof.
Any questions or clarifications shall be submitted to the Project Engineer, Joel J. Miller, in writing a minimum of five (5) days prior to the bid opening date. Addenda will be issued to all prospective bidders a minimum of 48 hours prior to the bid opening date. Only information provided within written addenda issued by the Project Engineer shall be considered binding.
Any person with disabilities requiring special accommodations must contact the Wax Lake East Drainage District of the Parish of St. Mary no later than seven (7) days prior to the bid opening.
/s/ Jeffery LaGrange
Chairman
Wax Lake East Drainage District of the Parish of St. Mary
Adv. June 26, July 3 and 10, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC NO- TICE — NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will be selecting eligible hunters to harvest alligators on certain Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Wetland Conservation Areas (WCAs), and State Wildlife Refuges located in various parishes based on a bid system. Successful bidders will be awarded the bid for one year (2024). Bid application notifications and forms can be printed from LDWF’s website at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/alligator-hunting, be requested by phone at 337-735-8720, or ob- tained via email by contacting LAalligatorprogram@wlf.la.gov. Completed bid application forms must be received by 10:00 AM on July 16, 2024 in Room 1007 of the LDWF Office at 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. However, bidders are hereby notified that LDWF is not responsible for any delays caused by the bidder’s chosen method of bid delivery. Failure of the bid to reach Room 1007 by the designated time and date shall result in rejection of the bid. Bid opening will be on July 16, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the LDWF Lafayette Office, 1st Floor Conference Room #1002, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506. The public is permitted to attend. Selected bidders will be notified by phone.
Adv. June 19, 26, July 3 and 10, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
HEBERT
RENTALS
PHONE:
985-395-2055
STORAGE SHEDS &
RENTAL HOMES
In accordance with the provisions of the Laws of the State of Louisiana for the purpose of satisfying the lean of the undersigned for charges incurred for storage des-cribed below, notice is hereby given that such property will be sold at public auction by Hebert Rentals at its storage facilities at:
1306 Belleview Street, Bayou Vista, LA
The auction will start at 1306 Belleview St. Bayou Vista LA 70380 on July 15, 2024 at 10AM.
The following includes a general description of the property and unit number:
BAYOU VISTA – BELLEVIEW
Destiny Dinger — Misc, Personal, Household Items, Boxes, Bags, etc.
Unit 5 BEL
Pearly Rainey — Misc, Personal, Household Items, Boxes, Bags, etc.
Unit 58 BEL
The undersigned reserves the right to bid on the property. Sale subject to prior cancellation in the event that the storage fees are paid by the occupant prior to the sale. Reservations are re- quired.
Patrick J. He- bert @ Hebert Rentals 985-395-2055
Adv. July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
June 27, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the St. Mary Parish Council will hold a Public Hearing at 5:45 p.m. and will meet in Regular Session at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in the Parish Council Meeting Room, Fifth Floor Courthouse, Franklin, Louisiana.
The purpose of the Public Meeting will be to receive written and/or oral comments and to adopt the following ordinance:
An Ordinance authorizing the Parish of St. Mary to enter into a Fifth Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc. relative to the lease of property known as Fairview Treatment Center/Claire House located at 1101 Southeast Blvd., Bayou Vista, Louisiana.
Your attendance will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
GWENDOLYN L. HIDALGO,
CHAIRPERSON
ST. MARY PARISH COUNCIL
Adv. July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE FOR
PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA
DIVISION OF
ADMINISTRATION
STATE LAND OFFICE
By virtue of and in conformity with the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statutes 41:1211, et seq., sealed bids will be accepted on or before the 19th day of July, 2024, at eleven o’clock a.m., for the sole purpose of constructing and maintaining a single habitable structure on the following described tract in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, to wit:
A certain tract of State owned (nonsevered) land identified as Campsite Lot No. 13, Six Mile Lake Campsite Area, Old Bed Six Mile Lake, T15S, R11E, Louisiana Meridian
All bids must be forwarded by United States Mail to the State Land Office, Post Office Box 44124, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70804 or delivered to 1201 North Third Street, Suite G-223, and must be accompanied by check or money order for full amount of first year’s rental of not less than Six Hundred Thirty-One and 00/100 ($631.00) Dollars per year for a term of ten (10) years.
The word BID and the DATE the bid is to be opened should be written on the outside of the envelope containing your bid so that it will not be opened with the regular mail.
The failure of the tenant to pay the rent punctually, or before the date upon which said rental shall fall due, shall ipso facto and without demand or putting in default terminate and cancel said lease.
THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED.
CHESTON HILL
PUBLIC LAND ADMINISTRATOR
STATE LAND OFFICE
NOTE: SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MUST PAY THE ADVERTISING CHARGES.
Adv. July 3, 10 and 17, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE FOR
PUBLICATION
STATE OF LOUISIANA
DIVISION OF
ADMINISTRATION
STATE LAND OFFICE
By virtue of and in conformity with the provisions of Louisiana Revised Statutes 41:1211, et seq., sealed bids will be accepted on or before the 19th day of July, 2024, at eleven o’clock a.m., for the sole purpose of constructing and maintaining a single habitable structure on the following described tract in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, to wit:
A certain tract of State owned (nonsevered) land identified as
Campsite Lot No. 17, Six Mile Lake Campsite Area,
Old Bed Six Mile Lake, T15S, R11E, Louisiana Meridian
All bids must be forwarded by United States Mail to the State Land Office, Post Office Box 44124, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70804 or delivered to 1201 North Third Street, Suite G-223, and must be accompanied by check or money order for full amount of first year’s rental of not less than Six Hundred Thirty-One and 00/100 ($631.00) Dollars per year for a term of ten (10) years.
The word BID and the DATE the bid is to be opened should be written on the outside of the envelope containing your bid so that it will not be opened with the regular mail.
The failure of the tenant to pay the rent punctually, or before the date upon which said rental shall fall due, shall ipso facto and without demand or putting in default terminate and cancel said lease.
THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS IS RESERVED.
CHESTON HILL
PUBLIC LAND ADMINISTRATOR
STATE LAND OFFICE
NOTE: SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MUST PAY THE ADVERTISING CHARGES.
Adv. July 3, 10 and 17, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
ST. MARY
PARISH 911 COMMUNICATIONS
DISTRICT
1200 David Drive,
Building B
Morgan City, LA 70380
June 27th 2024
1:00 P.M.
The June 27th, 2024, regular monthly 911 board meeting was not held due to the lack of a quorum.
Adv. July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Sixteenth
Judicial District Court
——
PARISH OF
ST. MARY
——
STATE OF
LOUISIANA
GMFS LLC
Vs. No. 138200 Div “G”
Sierra Everitt
TAKE NOTICE, that by virtue of Order of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable 16th Judicial District Court, in and for the Parish of St. Mary, and to me directed, in the above numbered and entitled suit, I have seized the following mentioned and described property, to wit:
That certain tract or parcel of land, together with all component parts thereon, ly- ing and being situated in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana and being more particularly described as being the NORTH 100 FEET OF LOT 9 IN SQUARE 101 OF EVANGELINE ANNEX OF W. DITCH according to S.A. Bradford’s map or plan of survey dated March 20, 1908 and recorded in St. Mary Parish COB 15-T, page 176. File No. 140516. Said tract having a front of 50 feet on the south side of Clothilde Street by a depth between parallel lines of 100 feet; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property.
to satisfy the sum of ONE HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE AND 43/100 ($103,479.43) DOLLARS, with interest thereon at 2.50% per annum from June 01, 2023, until paid; all expenses in- curred in enforcing the note and mortgage including reasonable attorney’s fees; if/as applicable, such other or additional amount incurred or advanced for taxes, insurance premiums, special assessments, re- pairs to and/or maintenance of the property, for the protection, preservation, re- pair and recovery of the property, for the protection and preservation of the lien of the mortgage, for the protection and preservation of the mortgagee’s interest thereunder, and other amounts provided by the mortgage and applicable law, such as late charges, escrow advances for the payment of taxes and insurance, corporate advances, property ap- praisals, inspection fees, prior attorney fees and expenses, abstract and title charges, NSF charges, attorney fees and expenses, and other charges which plaintiff is permitted to prove by verified petition, verified supplemental petition, or affidavit file or submitted before distribution by the sheriff of the proceeds of the judicial sale herein; and all law charges, fees and expenses incurred in connection or relating to this proceeding including without limitation sheriff’s commission, sheriff’s costs, and all costs of this proceedings, as well as all sheriff’s costs and commissions
All successful bidders must have cash, cashier’s check or a verifiable letter of credit in favor of said bidder from a solvent bank, savings and loan association or other such financial institution authorized to do business in the state of Louisiana and full payment must be made on the date of sale. Letter must state that money is available on the date of sale.
I shall expose the same at public sale, for Cash, according to law WITHOUT ap- praisement to the last and highest bidder, at the principal front door of the 1st floor lobby area of the Court House in the Parish of St. Mary, Town of Franklin, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 10th day of July A.D., 2024, be- tween the legal hours commencing at 10 O’Clock A.M.
Sheriff’s Office
Parish of St. Mary, La.
Monday, the 10th day of April A.D., 2024
GARY L.
DRISKELL,
SHERIFF
By: Heidi Rineholt
Deputy Sheriff
Adv. June 7 and July 3, 2024

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LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Sixteenth
Judicial District Court
——
PARISH OF
ST. MARY
——
STATE OF
LOUISIANA
Gitsit Solutions LLC
Vs. No. 138341 Div “G”
Kenneth Joseph Hidalgo, Jr.
TAKE NOTICE, that by virtue of Order of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable 16th Judicial District Court, in and for the Parish of St. Mary, and to me directed, in the above numbered and entitled suit, I have seized the following mentioned and described property, to wit:
THAT CERTAIN TRACT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, together with all the buildings and im- provements thereon, and all the rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, advantages and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, being LOT NO. THREE (3) of SQUARE 25 of UNIT NO. II of LAKESIDE SUBDIVISION, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, as shown on plat of survey of J.J. Krebs & Sons, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, recorded in Conveyance Book 13-M, under Entry No. 123,718 of the records of St. Mary Parish, and according to which survey said property measures 60’ front on McDermott Avenue, with a width in the rear and depth as shown on said survey; subject to restrictions, servitudes, rights-of-way and outstanding mineral rights of record affecting the property.
to satisfy the sum of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY THREE AND 96/100 ($154,843.96) DOLLARS, as of March 22, 2024 with interest thereon at 5.06% per annum, subject to adjustment as specified in the note and in accordance with law, until paid; additional principal resulting from Loan Advances to pay mortgage insurance premiums per annum servicing fees taxes, hazard in- surance premiums and special assessments repairs to and/or for maintenance of the property inspection, BPO, appraisal and other fees for the protection, preservation, re- pair and recovery of the property amounts paid for the protection and preservation of the lien of the mortgage and for the protection and preservation of the mortgagee’s interest thereunder, and interest on such Loan Advances at 5.06% per annum, all of which plaintiff is permitted to prove by affidavit filed or submitted before distribution by the sheriff of the proceeds of the judicial sale herein. Plaintiff is owed or will be owed the following charges as they accrue or are incurred all expenses incurred in enforcing the note and mortgage including reasonable attorney’s fees as allowed by the note and mortgage all law charges, costs, fees and ex- penses incurred in connection or re- lating to this proceeding including without limitation sheriff’s commission, sheriff’s costs and all costs of this proceedings, as well as all sheriff’s costs and commission
All successful bidders must have cash, cashier’s check or a verifiable letter of credit in favor of said bidder from a solvent bank, savings and loan association or other such financial institution authorized to do business in the state of Louisiana and full payment must be made on the date of sale. Letter must state that money is available on the date of sale.
I shall expose the same at public sale, for Cash, according to law WITHOUT ap- praisement to the last and highest bidder, at the principal front door of the 1st floor lobby area of the Court House in the Parish of St. Mary, Town of Franklin, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 10th day of July A.D., 2024, be- tween the legal hours commencing at 10 O’Clock A.M.
Sheriff’s Office
Parish of St. Mary, La.
Tuesday, the 18th day of April A.D., 2024
GARY L.
DRISKELL,
SHERIFF
By: Heidi Rineholt
Deputy Sheriff

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Dear Abby: Woman shamefully targets disabled man

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 6:00am

DEAR ABBY: My son “Ethan” is a visually impaired adult with disabilities. He’s articulate, down to earth and joyful to be around. He’s a homeowner in a nice area of town.
A woman we met through the Nextdoor app bought an expensive winter coat from us very cheap. She and her husband know Ethan is in Special Olympics and awaiting a guide dog. She raised chickens, and when Ethan mentioned the new egg hatcher we bought for him, she asked if she could borrow it. I told her she could, after our one chick was grown enough.
I have asked repeatedly for her to return it. She said she would, and even asked for our address. I provided her with the information. She has since moved, but she’s still in town. When I asked her more recently to please return it, she posted Ethan’s photo from the Nextdoor app with a quote, “Dangerous and Unstable Person.” What can I do to defend him? Legally, I think something needs to be done for his reputation now.
PERPLEXED MOM IN COLORADO

DEAR MOM: There is enough discrimination toward people with disabilities without this awful woman contributing to it. Consult an attorney to discuss her behavior and find out how to defend your son from her uncalled-for attack. To label your son as dangerous and unstable is a slander intended to damage his reputation.

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a long-distance relationship for 11 years. I love “Roger.” He’s a hardworking, decent person. He says he loves me too. We got engaged three years ago and set a date for this year.
Well, Roger has called it off, but he still wants to be together. He put our wedding on hold after we had a fight. He told me he can’t marry me if I act like that. Abby, he’s exaggerating the fight. He’s my best friend, and he’s always there for me if I need him. He lives two hours away. After I had a flood, he came to help. He couldn’t even see too well. (He got shingles two days before my flood.) Regardless of how sick he was, he drove all that way to help me.
Roger has his own construction company. He has remodeled my kitchen and bathroom and done many other things for me. This is the second time he has postponed our wedding. I can’t imagine life without him. Should I stay with him? Should we break up? I’d really hate to start dating again. Do you think he will marry me?
ON HOLD IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR ON HOLD: You stated that Roger lives two hours away. Have you driven those two hours to be with him? If you haven’t, it may be time you did because he may have another romantic relationship going on closer to home that would be complicated to get out of.
From your description, he seems like a caring person, but there has to be a reason why he refuses to make a commitment. Until you get some honest answers from him, a marriage isn’t likely to happen. If he is unattached, some premarital counseling may help to calm his fears.

***

Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Jim Bradshaw: South Louisiana man invented the best tractor safety insurance

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 6:00am
JIM BRADSHAW

It’s not clear whether Paul Trahan of Gueydan wanted to make money or just keep farmers from getting hurt when he patented his safety attachment for tractors in 1922.
He may have wanted to do both. When he started building the devices, there was some speculation that he wouldn’t be able to make them fast enough to keep up with the demand.
His application to the patent office said his invention was “a simple, readily attachable device … which will operate to prevent overturning of the machine … [and] protect the operator from mud, dirt, stones, and the like thrown upwardly by the spikes of the tractor wheels.”
The Fordson tractor was the best seller in those days. Its wheels were made of iron and had spikes on them that tossed up anything they hit, but the bigger problem was that the  Fordson, and other brands, had the habit of rearing over backward if the plow got stuck on something or simply dug too deep in the ground.
Eastern Implement Dealer magazine claimed that Fordsons killed 36 drivers in 1918. Pipp’s Weekly, a trade paper based in Detroit, said that Fordsons killed 136 men up to August 1922.
Trahan applied for the patent in May 1920, and it was granted as Patent No. 1,409,043 in March 1922. He announced the opening of the Tractor Safety Attachment Manufacturing Company in Gueydan in January 1923.
The Abbeville Meridional reported at the time that “demand for the Safety Attachment has been growing continually of late and it is doubtful whether the factory will be able to supply the demand by turning them out at the rate of ten or twelve a day.”
They seemed simple enough to make. The patent documents described an “attachable frame” that could be “positioned without danger of interfering with the operating parts of the tractor.” Drawings attached to the document show the frame projecting a bit behind the tractor so that “in case of lifting of the forward portion of the tractor” it would act as a brace and keep the tractor from flipping over.
There’s not much of a record to go by in judging just how successful the company was, or how long it lasted. It may have merged with another company or changed its name. The Farmers Machine Shop in Gueydan ran an ad promoting the Trahan Safety Attachment in November of 1923, eleven months after Trahan’s manufacturing company opened.  It may have been that the factory had closed and the machine shop took over production, or that the factory took a simpler name.
That machine shop ad claimed, “The Tractor Safety Attachment is the best insurance you can take on your life if you operate a tractor.”
When Paul Trahan died in 1937 at the age of 48, his obituary makes no mention of his device.
The 1930 census lists his occupation as a laborer in a garage, but that doesn’t sound right. His obituary says he was the major dealer in Vermilion Parish of J. I. Case farm machinery and “was widely known and one of the most prominent men in the parish.” He was a member of the police jury, and that may have played a role in his death.
According to the Meridional announcement, “Mr. Trahan had contracted flu in the early part of last week and went to bed after attending the Police Jury meeting in Abbeville Tuesday and the Town Council meeting in Gueydan the same night.” The flu turned into a fatal bout of pneumonia.
As for his invention, I suspect that it fell prey to a common fate for such devices: The deeper-pocketed tractor makers saw its success and began to make their own safety apparatus.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Jim Brown: Louisiana's voting machines need an upgrade

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 6:00am
JIM BROWN

 After former President Donald Trump lost his reelection in 2024, there have been continuous allegations that election fraud has taken place all across the country.
So here is the question. Can voting machine computers be hacked?
Can the election process be manipulated?
Is there widespread election fraud as many and others allege?
I may be a pretty good source to give you an opinion. I did serve for eight years as secretary of state, Louisiana’s chief elections officer. 
According to every legitimate watchdog group across the country, as well as judges who reviewed allegations in numerous lawsuits, the answer is no. And I would agree.
With minor exceptions, I just have seen no evidence that anything improper has taken place in the nation’s election process. But half of the U.S. population mistrusts election results. If so many people feel that way, then elections officials need to find out how to rebuild confidence in the elections process.
I was having lunch in the back room of Phil’s Oyster Bar in Baton Rouge a few months ago, where a recognizable face was sitting at the next table. Robert F Kennedy Jr. started to leave, then proceeded to sit down and visited with our group having lunch.
He’s running for president now, and usually garners some 15% of the vote in national polls. Kennedy cannot be elected president, but his voters certainly will have an effect on who wins the presidency in November.
We talked about the election process and why there is such a lack of confidence in the current system.
“U.S. citizens need to know that all of their votes were counted, and that their election cannot be hacked,” he told me. “And a large number of voters do not believe that such is the case. We need to return to paper ballots to avoid electronic interference with elections.”
He’s right. Paper ballots were the way we conducted elections for years in Louisiana. In today’s modern age, machines connected to the iInternet and even simple electronic machines can be hacked or tampered with.
And if there is no paper trail, you can see why voters can be suspicious. If we want to have the gold standard for voter security, then paper ballots are the key.
The overwhelming majority of democratic countries require paper ballots in their elections. According to the Pew Research Center, paper ballots are used in 209 of the 227 countries that are democratic. For example, the Associated Press reports that voters in France “use the same system that’s been used for generations: paper ballots that are cast in person and counted by hand.” 
Under my watch, Louisiana used large and bulky voting machines that had no electronic connections and gave a full paper display of the vote.
he machines were opened after being removed back to a warehouse where any citizen could watch a review and final account. No one questioned the process.
And what happened to election day? It’s gone by the wayside. It used to be that everyone voted on one day with military exceptions, and those who signed a notarized affidavit that they would not be present on election day. Now we have voting spread out over a month and absentee voting mailed to anyone who asks. It’s become “too inconvenient” to drive a few blocks to a polling location. The US is almost alone in not combining the voting process to one day. So we now have election month.
Right now, there are lots of suspicions about the election process, both in Louisiana and throughout the rest of the country. If voters are to have assurances that elections are legitimate, changes in the process have to be made. These changes are simply the procedures found in most civilized countries to assure voters there will be less fraud and more trust to the system.
One of the ways to rebuild this trust is to use voting machines that provide a counting procedure that use paper ballots. A method that Louisiana used for many years. A simple system that takes us back to the future.
Peace and Justice
Jim Brown
Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com.

DELORAIS HOSKINS

Wed, 07/03/2024 - 6:00am

Delorais Hoskins, 90, of Morgan City, died Saturday, June 22, 2024, at her residence.
Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Morgan City. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
She is survived by three sons, Anthony Hoskins and Dwyne Hoskins, both of Morgan City, and Donevin Hoskins of Charlotte, North Carolina; and sister, Sarah Hebert of Birmingham, Alabama.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a son and daughter.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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