RSS Feed

UPDATED: Sheriff's Office releases name of victim in Verdunville shooting

Sheriff Gary Driskell said the victim who died in a shooting in Verdunville is Keith Robinson Sr., 44, Verdunville.

Deputies were dispatched at 5:36 a.m. in response to the report of the shooting.

Deputies found a man who had been shot inside a residence. .

First responders arrived and rendered aid, but the man succumbed to his injuries, the Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives do not believe there is an active threat to the public at this time and the investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Further details will be released when they become available, the Sheriff's Office said.

One dead in Thursday shooting in Verdunville

One person is dead after a shooting early Thursday in Verdunville, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies were dispatched at 5:36 a.m. in response to the report of the shooting.

Deputies found a man inside a residence who had been shot.

First responders arrived and rendered aid, but the man succumbed to his injuries, the Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives do not believe there is an active threat to the public at this time and the investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Further details will be released when they become available, the Sheriff's Office said.

Berwick police arrest suspects wanted in Morgan City

(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.)

Berwick police arrested suspects wanted in Morgan City on domestic abuse and access device fraud charges.

Berwick

Chief David Leonard Sr. reported these arrests:

--Stephen Rodriguez, 39, Berwick was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on a Morgan City warrant alleging domestic abuse battery.

At 11:19 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a residence on Pharr Street in reference to a disturbance. Officers spoke with Rodriguez and learned that he had an active warrant through the Morgan City Police Department.

Rodriguez was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the outstanding warrant.

--Lennis Paray, 39, Berwick was arrested at 3:59 p.m. Monday on a charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and on a warrant alleging criminal trespassing.

On Monday, the Berwick Police Department received a call about Paray being at a residence where he had already been banned . Officers located Paray and learned that he entered the home without permission, and previously had active warrants from a similar dealing the day before.

Paray was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked .

--Christopher Oubre Jr., 28, Berwick, was arrested at 5:14 p.m. Monday on a Morgan City warrant alleging access device fraud.

About 5:04 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence on River Road. Officers located Oubre and learned that he had active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department. Oubre was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked. In
Morgan City, Oubre was booked on access device fraud and theft charges.

--Gerald Davis, 46, Berwick, was arrested at 2:39 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first refusal), reckless operation of a motor vehicle and improper lane use.

About 2:02 a.m. Thursday, the Berwick Police Department responded to U.S. 90 in reference to a flipped vehicle. Officers made contact with the driver, who was identified as Davis.

Davis showed signs of impairment. Davis refused standard field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. At the Berwick Police Department, Davis refused to submit a breath sample.

A search warrant was obtained and samples of his blood was collected. Davis was then booked on the above charges.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reports that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 91 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Louis David Topham, 48, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of battery of a dating partner.

--Tyrone Chavis, 56, La. 401, Napoleonville, was arrested at 11:46 a.m. Monday on a charge of theft.

--Deedra Racca, 32, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:39 p.m. Monday on a charge of vicious dogs. (Released on summons.)

--Kera Roganti, 43, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:39 p.m. Monday on a charge of vicious dogs. (Released on summons.)

--Luis Ivan Garcilanzo, 21, Todd Lane, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:28 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

--Ariel Gamboa, 36, Chennault Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:44 p.m. Monday on a charge of simple assault.

--Denisica Ann Starling, 42, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lighting.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 48-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 72 complaints and made these arrests:

--Bobby D’Angelo Jackson, 36, Franklin, was arrested at 12:53 p.m. Monday on a charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. Bail was set at $3,000.

--Jeffery Paul Fryou, 62, Vidor, Texqs, was arrested at 4:03 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Fryou also held two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana and issuing worthless checks.
Bail has not been set at this time.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to nine complaints over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Kennedy Johnson, 61, MacArthur Drive, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:55 p.m. Monday with the help of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office after 16th Judicial District Court grand jury indicted him on a charge of first-degree rape.

Johnson was additionally arrested on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court for failure to appear on the charge of speeding. Johnson was booked, processed and held on a $1,000,230 bond.

--Loneather Clarks, 44, Oakdale Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Clarks was booked, processed and released on a $250 bond.

--Rushaylyn Mandubourg, 18, Oakdale Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Mandubourg was booked, processed and released on a $250 bond.

--Jermiashalia Clark, 19 ,Oakdale Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Clark was booked, processed and released on a $250 bond.

--Kierra Hurts, 21, Sandi Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 4:06 p.m. Tuesday on charges of disturbing the peace (fighting) and illegal possession of a controlled dangerous substances in the presence of a minor. Hurts was booked, processed and released on a $650 bond.

--Jayla Williams, 23, Tiffany Street, Patterson, was arrested at 4:31 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Williams was booked, processed and held on a $1,000 bond.

--Tyephia Thomas, 26, Eucharist Road, Lafayette, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Tuesday on charges of improper lane usage, no insurance, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and lights when required. Thomas was booked, processed and held on a $3,250 bond.

Mural, Pocket Park mark 40 years Franklin Main Street

FRANKLIN -- A good crowd turned out on a hot June 1 morning to celebrate the Franklin Main Street Program’s 40th anniversary, and to dedicate the mural painted by Lafayette artist Robert Dafford at the Pocket Park located between Main Street and Teche Drive.
Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard spoke about the history of Main Street at the ceremony, as well as the Main Street program. Franklin was one of the first four Main Street programs introduced in Louisiana in 1984.
Former Franklin Mayor Sam Jones, under whose administration the Main Street program in Franklin was introduced, attended the meeting, and he was recognized by Foulcard, along with Oray Rogers, who was a city council member at the time.
Foulcard also talked about past Main Street directors, and gave kudos to the Franklin Merchant’s Association and all the community partners who help Franklin be what it is today.
“But he also talked about how we need to leave Franklin better than we found it for the next 40 years and for the people who come after us,” Franklin Main Street Director Ed “Tiger” Verdin said. “I think he did a great job of driving that home, how Franklin’s bigger than just one group or a few people. It’s bigger than us. It’s for the entire community and what we do today will affect what happens 40 years down the road.”
Dafford was among the people attending the event, and spoke about his process with the mural and what he had envisioned it to be from the beginning of the process.
Verdin spoke about the history of the community, depicted in the mural as Bayou Teche telling the history of the mural with people from various time periods and cultures depicted along the banks of the bayou or on the bayou.
The Main Street celebration and mural dedication also featured Cajun music from Stephen & Aaron, gospel music from the Tri-Parish Gospel Ensemble and music by Barowed Time.
“The mural was dedicated to the entire community, as it’s a cross representation of the entire community,” Verdin said. “(We wanted to) celebrate Main Street as well as the economic development pieces we have throughout the city. The Pocket Park’s one, as well as adding the mural to the Pocket Park. It creates more foot traffic, more tourism, which in a sense creates more economic development and increased tax revenues for the city.”

Morgan City police radio logs for June 11

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.
Tuesday, June 11
8:57 a.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; Civil complaint.
9:12 a.m. 500 block of Hilda Street; Animal complaint.
9:53 a.m. 1600 block of Cottonwood Street; Hang up call.
10:32 a.m. U.S. 90 East; Stalled vehicle.
10:41 a.m. 200 block of Onstead Street; Harassment.
11:10 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Disturbance.
11:55 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Vehicle crash.
12:13 p.m. 500 block of Aucoin Street; Welfare check.
12:28 p.m. 800 block of Levee Road; Theft.
1:06 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Complaint.
3:16 p.m. 900 block of First Street; Theft.
5:12 p.m. 700 block of Terrebonne Street; Animal complaint.
6:16 p.m. 500 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:36 p.m. General Hodges/General Clark streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
7:29 p.m. Federal/Brashear avenues; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:35 p.m. Railroad Avenue/Headland Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:56 p.m. Federal/Brashear avenues; Assistance.
9:10 p.m. Clothilde Street/La. 70; Suspicious person/vehicle.
9:31 p.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
10:02 p.m. Eleventh Street/Railroad Avenue; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10:09 p.m. U.S. 90; Assistance.
10:19 p.m. U.S. 90; Reckless driver.
10:26 p.m. 3200 block of Lake Palourde; Alarm.
10:47 p.m. Sixth/Freret streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:02 p.m. 11th Street/Railroad Avenue; Suspicious person/vehicle.

Parish Council takes another look at 2018 charter panel's work

Maybe the committee that proposed 26 home rule charter changes in 2018 didn’t toil in vain after all.
The St. Mary Parish Council will meet in special session at 5 p.m. Wednesday to consider the charter committee recommendations that the council passed over, rather than passed, six years ago.
That action comes as the council is scheduled to take a final vote on an ordinance creating a full-fledged charter review commission at the regular meeting that follows at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin.
In the context of recent council discussions, the distinction between “committee” and “commission” is important. The commission would be empowered to propose changes directly to voters rather than rely on the council to decide which or whether to put amendments on the ballot.
Some of the 26 changes recommended by the 2018 committee amount to housekeeping details, such as bringing into line with state law the rules about when a council vacancy must be filled by a special election.
The most significant recommendations deal with the powers of the parish president and the chief administrative officer.
“The charter should limit (as much as practicable) the power and authority of the CAO,” according to the recommendations.
The home rule charter creates a part-time parish president, paid $1,000 a month, while giving broad responsibility for personnel decisions and day-to-day operations to the full-time CAO, who is appointed by the president with council approval.
One of the motivations for proponents of charter review has been to make the parish president post full-time and with a full-time salary.
In 2018, the committee recommended setting the president’s salary at an undetermined amount comparable to that of other parish officials with similar power and responsibilities. It recommended doing away with the economic developer position.
The recommendations would also place limits on the CAO’s personnel authority.
“The authority to terminate the department heads is the responsibility of the council composed of elected officers,” the recommendations said.
And the committee wanted the charter to be clear that the operating and capital improvement budgets are developed at the direction of the parish president and not the CAO, as the charter now says. The budgets must be approved by the council in either case.
The committee’s unease with a powerful CAO also shows in its proposal for changing rules about an absent parish president.
The current charter says that if the parish president is unable to discharge the duties of the office for six months or more, the Parish Council can declare the office vacant. In the meantime, the CAO has the powers of the president in the meantime.
“The committee perceives the danger that for more than 6 months, a person who was not elected to the office of president will be discharging the responsibilities and duties of the president,” the recommendations say.
The committee did recommend one limit on the parish president’s power. It wanted to eliminate the president’s line item veto, the power to reject individual appropriations without rejecting the entire budget.
Another focus of charter change discussions has been minority representation on the council, which currently has two Blacks among its 11 members.
The recommendations didn’t address African American representation directly, but it does recommend a change in the way new district maps are drawn after each U.S. Census.
“Under the present provisions, the council has final authority over whether [redistricting] is even necessary,” the recommendations say. “The committee recommends that [redistricting] should be explored by a committee with the assistance of a qualified demographic expert.”
The charter revision committee included Oray Rogers, Nick LaRocca, Ricky Armelin, Deborah Price, the Rev. Allen Randle Sr., current Councilman Mark Duhon, Chris Lipari, Logan Fromenthal and Stan Robison.
Through a link on this story at StMaryNow.com, you can download a .pdf version of the recommendations prepared for the Parish Council.

FERREL CLETNER MILLER

Ferrel Cletner Miller, 67, a resident of Patterson, died Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at his residence.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy Block Miller; two sons, Fabron Miller and Ethan Miller; six grandchildren; and sister, Renae Miller.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial visitation will be Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Twin City Funeral Home, who is in charge of arrangements.

Wheel House for June 12

PASTOR’S AID
PEW RALLY
9:45 a.m. Sunday, June 23, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 507 Fourth St., Morgan City, hosted by the Rev. Dr. Ronald McCoy, pastor. Public invited.

FRIED CHICKEN
Dinners 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, New Salem Baptist Church, 1412 Cherry St., Patterson. Fried chicken, sweet peas, baked spaghetti, green salad, dessert, bread. Donation: $12.

Jim Bradshaw: Eyes rolled, but Zuschlag persisted

I remember well the day in 1971 that Richard Zuschlag appeared before the Lafayette Parish Police Jury and said that he and two partners wanted to start an ambulance service.
The parish needed one badly.
Funeral homes had used their hearses as ambulances for years, but new federal regulations made it prohibitively expensive for them to keep doing it.
They were quitting the business and nobody knew how to replace them,
I was at that meeting as a reporter, and remember that the police jurors were skeptical that three guys who’d never run an ambulance service before were likely to make a success of it. But no one else wanted to do it and so the jurors gave them their blessing, wished them well, sat back in their chairs, and rolled their eyes.
I was an eye-roller myself. We had no idea of the energy, far-sightedness, and plain old gumption of this young guy from Pennsylvania who’d been sent by Westinghouse to Lafayette a year before to help train hospital employees. Simply put, Richard was the reason we skeptics were wrong.
Acadian Ambulance began operations on Sept. 1, 1971, with two ambulances and eight medics covering only Lafayette, the smallest parish in the state.
It was tough going at first.
The three co-founders sometimes drove the ambulances themselves and cleaned them after use. Those first ambulances were not much more than cabs on pickup trucks that had to share a radio frequency with a local lumber company, which at first had the stronger transmitter;
Richard was not CEO when the company started. That was Roland Dugas. He was the assistant administrator at Lafayette General before taking on the ambulance business. But Richard was the face of the new company, and he was good at it. He was a persuasive and persistent communicator who never missed an opportunity to shamelessly promote his company. Those who knew him warned only half in jest that one of the most dangerous places to be was between Richard and a camera.
Part of his success was that he made it a point to meet anyone and everyone who could help make his business grow, and to make sure that they knew who he was and his plans for the ambulance service.
Everyone.
In 2007, when I wrote a series of articles on the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Audrey, I found out that George H.W. Bush had gone to Cameron right after the storm. The President-to-be was CEO of Zapata Marine at the time and had boats there. I thought it would be neat to get a comment from him, but had no idea how to get in touch.
I called Richard.
Within two hours I got a call from President Bush’s personal secretary and the next day I had an e-mailed comment from the former President of the United States. It concluded with, “Give my regards to Richard.”
Another part of Richard’s success was that he genuinely enjoyed meeting people and building his company. And, as we all know, he built it into a huge success — success that he shared abundantly with the growing number of communities that Acadian served.
Almost all of the tributes that poured in following the announcement of his death included the word “philanthropist,” and rightfully so. It is probably impossible to compile a list of causes that he supported over the years because he did it without fanfare.
Gov. John Bel Edwards remembered that “as one of the greatest philanthropic leaders I know, he continuously demonstrated a commitment to servant leadership that deeply transformed the lives of people around him — family, friends, employees, and countless organizations included.”
Randy Strozyk, president of the American Ambulance Association, said that he “was indeed a trailblazer” who personified “innovative capabilities, scrappiness and tenacity, and entrepreneurial spirit” and who was “always looking for ways to give back to the community and utilize his personal and business resources to give to those in need.” 
I know from personal experience with several organizations and causes that all you had to do was ask.
A tiny example: A decade ago I helped set up a scholarship program for kids who would otherwise not be able to continue their education.
I sent out what I called my “begging letter” each year for donations to fund it. Richard’s substantial check was invariably the first to arrive. He quietly helped send a score of young people to school and to a better life.
Multiply that by hundreds of causes and thousands of people and you may come close to the lives enriched by Richard Zuschlag’s generosity and vision, not to mention those saved by prompt, expert medical attention from the ambulance service that was given little chance to succeed.
:You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

St. Mary students receive diplomas at Nicholls St.

St. Mary students were among the 620 who received degrees during the Nicholls State spring 2024 commencement ceremonies.
St. Mary’s Nicholls graduates are shown here with their degree programs and majors:
Alleman, Eian, Nursing (Bachelor), Nursing (Bachelor)
Angeron, Drew, BS, Biology -Pre-Veterinary Med, Biology
Barrilleaux, Cameron, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Blakeman, Alli, BFA, Art-Studio Art, Art
Blanchard, Taylor, BS, Finance, Finance
Borkowski, Joseph, AS, Safety Technology, Safety Technology
Boston, Korhoree, AGS, General Studies (Associate), General Studies (Associate)
Carpenter, Hannah, MSN, Nursing (MSN)-Practitioner, Nursing (Master)
Collier, Meghan, BA, Psychology-Pre-Counseling, Psychology
Daigle, Jacie, AGS, General Studies (Associate), General Studies (Associate)
Domingue, Ryan, BS, Safety Management, Safety Management
Favre, Jenna, MED, Master Cur Inst- Early Chldhd, Master of Ed-Curriculum & Inst
Gros, Dru, AGS, General Stidies (Associate), General Studies (Associate)
Hamer, Hugh, AGS, General Studies (Associate), General Studies (Associate)
Hartman Elizabeth, AGS, General Studies (Associate) ,General Studies (Associate)
Hebb, Nathan, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Hill, Michael, BS, Biology-Pre-Med/Pre-Dentistry, Biology
Hollins, Trevor, BS, Computer Information Systems, Computer Information Systems
Hunter, William, BS, Geomatics, Geomatics
Johnson, Kennedi, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Lambert, Dylan, BS, Safety Management, Safety Management
Landry, Krystle, BA, History, History
Lousteau, Emily, BS, Marketing-Advertising, Marketing
Luc, Katie, BS, Business Administration-Pre-Law, Business Administration
Morell, Matthew, BS, Business Administration, Business Administration
Phillips, Faith, AS, Child Development-Preschool Management, Child Development-Preschool Management
Phillips, Faith, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Riley, Savannah, BSN, Nursing (Bachelor), Nursing (Bachelor)
Seneca Hunter, BS, Human Performance Education, Human Performance Education
Thibodeaux, Juliet, BS, Accounting, Accounting
Thomas, Dontrenae, BS, Health Science-Pre-Professional, Health Sciences
Viola, Rachel, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Wiggins, Quincee, BIS, Interdisciplinary Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies
Williams, Celestina, BA, Psychology-Pre-Counseling, Psychology

Pages

ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255