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Berwick, Central Catholic take their shots at a title

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:52pm

Two Tri-City area baseball teams were playing for state high school championships early this week after fighting their way into the state semifinals at Sulphur.
Central Catholic, seeded fifth in Select Division IV, was to play top-seeded Opelousas Catholic at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sulphur’s McMurry Park.
In Non-Select Division III, defending champion and 14th seed Berwick was set to play Sterlington at 11 a.m. Wednesday, also at McMurry.
Despite the low seed, Berwick powered through the playoffs by winning best-of-three series against Springfield, Caldwell Parish and Jewel Sumner.
A Berwick win Wednesday puts the Panthers in the 5:30 p.m. Friday title contest against either South Beauregard or Doyle.
Central Catholic had a bye in the first playoff round, and then beat Delhi Charter and Riverside Academy to reach the semifinals.
Glenbrook and Covenant Christian were to play in the other Select Division IV semifinal. The title game will be at 2 p.m. Friday.

CONCHETTA CASTALANO

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:26pm

A Mass of Christian burial was held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation was Monday, May 6, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. After Mass, Conchetta Castalano was laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery.
A native and resident of Morgan City, Conchetta passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by her loving family.
She was an active member of Holy Cross Church, where she was a member of the Ladies Altar Society for many years, as well as the Catholic Daughters of America for many years.
Conchetta was a faithful employee of Morgan City Bank & Trust for 26 years, where she had many friends.
Conchetta was survived by her sister, Margie Domino and husband Leroy Domino Sr., many nieces and nephews, Sarah Forgey and partner Heather Guarisco, Angela D. Smith, Lisa D. Ledbetter and husband James Ledbetter, Leroy Domino Jr. and wife Monique, Charles Domino, Christina Smith, Katie L. Louviere and husband Jason Louviere, Thomas Ledbetter, significant other Allison Talley, and their son Owen, Nicholas Forgey and wife, Erin, Olivia, Isabella, and Sophia Domino, Lylah Louviere, Luke Louviere, Henley, Andersyn, and Nico Forgey; step nieces and nephews, Kristi Helm, and daughter, Erin, Joni Vicknair, and daughter Jennifer, Van Clements IV, wife Sue, and son Christopher.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Castalano and Sarah Manfre Castalano; sister, Beatrice Castalano; brother, Christopher Castalano; stepmother, Mildred S. Castalano; stepbrother, Van Clements III and wife Amelia; grandparents, Christopher Castalano, Biaggio Castalano, Mario Manfre, Conchetta Manfre.
Pallbearers were Leroy Domino Jr., Charles Domino, Harold Smith Jr., Thomas Ledbetter, Nicholas Forgey, and Jason Louviere.
The family would like to thank her caregivers over the years, and the staff of Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

CARL CHRISTOPER BLANCHARD SR.

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:23pm

Carl Christopher Blanchard Sr., 58, a resident of Amelia, died Sunday, April 7, 2024.
He is survived by his children, Carl Blanchard Jr., Cindy Blanchard and Michele Blanchard; six grandchildren; sisters, Carla Dartez, Charlotte Ratcliff and Carolyn Guidry; and brother, Chester Blanchard.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Twin City Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Around Town for May 8

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:20pm

Happy big 50th birthday Monique Ratcliff, we love you!

Wheel House for May 8

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:20pm

CHICKEN SALAD
SANDWICH
Fundraiser 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, at Patterson United Methodist Church, 1204 Main St., Patterson. Sandwiches $3 each, pints $8 each. Deliveries are available on orders of 10 or more sandwiches and four or more pints.

FEEDING
FOR MOTHERS
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at Lawrence Park, Morgan City, an event presented by 100 Black Men of St. Mary Parish. Enjoy food, fun and fellowship; there will be door prizes and other gifts. BBQ with all the trimmings. Bring a lawn chair. For more information, call 337-578-8336, 985-518-9512 or 985-519-1007.

Coach of the Year

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:15pm

Central Catholic coach Sunni Blanchard was named District Softball Coach of the Year in the Eagles' Class 1A district. Blanchard was also the District Coach of the Year in volleyball.

The Review/Bill Decker

DESRI makes donation for business incubator training

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 12:12pm

The Bayou Region Incubator received $3,500 in support from D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments LLC, a leading energy company that develops, owns and operates utility-scale solar, wind and battery storage projects throughout the United States.
With this donation, DESRI is sponsoring a QuickBooks training portal that includes lifetime access for the incubator and several membership vouchers for incubator entrepreneurs.
“We’re incredibly grateful for DESRI’s generous donation to the BRI. Their support will be instrumental in providing our budding entrepreneurs with the resources they need to thrive. With DESRI’s contribution, we can further empower them to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses, ultimately strengthening our local economy and lifting some membership costs to receive that support,” said Executive Director Lisa Kliebert.
“It is a critical part of our project development process to forge relationships with local initiatives and to support the good work they are doing,” said Hy Martin, chief development officer at DESRI. “Our team is thrilled to support the Nicholls Bayou Region Incubator’s work in St. James Parish and hopefully amplify their impact among young people and young businesses. We look forward to continued work within the community as the St. James Solar Energy Center progresses forward.”
DESRI is currently developing the St. James Solar Energy Center, a proposed hub for clean energy projects to deliver cost-effective electricity to Louisiana residents and businesses. DESRI has three planned solar projects developed in a way that efficiently uses available land, expands local investment, creates new construction jobs and produces major economic benefits with minimal environmental impacts in St. James Parish. The projects will all interconnect to the electric grid at the Entergy 230kV substation in Vacherie with expectations to be online in 2026.
The BRI provides business incubation and co-working space for entrepreneurs or students striving to develop business ventures. The BRI plans to host approximately 40 to 50 startups and small businesses through different levels of membership, offering collaborative work and meeting spaces, private offices and multifunctional conference rooms. Local entrepreneurs will have access to trainings, guest speakers, networking opportunities, members-only resources and mentoring.
The purpose of the BRI is to economically strengthen and contribute to an inclusive community by supporting development focused on Louisiana’s coastal and water crisis, community health and economic vitality; working with emerging entrepreneurs; creating jobs and advancing industries addressing ongoing environmental threats to coastal communities. For more information, visit bayouregionincubator.org.

House votes to end three-year rule for home insurance

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 11:39am

JACOB MATHEWS, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana House approved a bill this week to phase out a rule that a home insurer cannot cancel a customer’s policy for three years except for lack of payment or fraud, sending it to Gov. Jeff Landry for his signature.
The bill is at the center of a high stakes push by the new insurance commissioner, Tim Temple, and Landry to reduce regulations on insurers to try to attract more of them to the state.
After a series of hurricanes in 2020-2021–Laura, Delta, Ida, and Zeta–a dozen insurers became insolvent, leaving many homeowners with only the most expensive options.
But some lawmakers and other critics have said the new plan will hurt some residents in the short run. They also question whether insurers that return to the state will have the financial strength to survive amid predictions of more frequent intense storms.
House Bill 611, which would scrap the three-year rule, is the most notable of a package of bills sought by Temple. Under the bill, upon filing a plan with the commissioner, an insurer may decide not to renew up to 5% of its customers’ policies per calendar year for any reason, provided that no more than five percent of the insurer’s policies included within the plan to be dropped are in one parish.
Legislators also sent a bill to Landry this week that would allow insurance companies to raise premiums without having to get pre-approval from Temple’s department. The insurance commissioner would then have 30 days to notify the insurer if the rates are rejected.
Temple said during one hearing that the “totality of everything we’re trying to do to create a competitive market.” He said that he believes that bringing more carriers to Louisiana would create more competition, and that would lower premium rates.
“I hear from people every day that can’t afford their insurance, and maintaining status quo is not going to help us,” Temple said.
But some lawmakers expressed concerns about deregulation, specifically in the short term before the market might theoretically correct itself.
Until then, many families could lose generational homes because they would be dropped from insurance plans and forced into the most expensive options, said Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans.
“My biggest concern with this bill right now is the impact that it will have on those policyholders who have protections from the three-year rule,” Willard said.
Willard is also concerned that phasing out the rule will force people to turn to more expensive policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state’s insurer of the last resort.
Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, the author of HB 611 and an advocate for deregulation, argued for a long-term view of the problem. He said Louisiana is the only state with a three-year no-cancellation rule, and he identified that as the reason new insurers will not come into the market.
“By not allowing a strategic nonrenewal, you’re penalizing everyone by forcing them to raise their premiums,” Firment said at a hearing.
“So look: If you want us to come in here this morning and say nobody will experience an increase in their premiums, I mean, we can’t do that. But you know, if you look at the big picture, customers need options, they need choices, and this is a way to accomplish that.”
There are a few bills this session that could help consumers. House Bill 257 raises penalties on insurers for failure to comply with certain directives issued by the commissioner of insurance, with fines of up to $1,000.
House Bill 120 helps both insurers and consumers long-term by extending the termination date of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, which provides state grants for consumers to fortify their roofs as protection from bad storms.
Researchers at Colorado State University are predicting an “extremely active” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, citing warmer than normal temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean.
Looking further ahead, scientists predict that the Gulf Coast will generally experience more frequent and intense hurricanes than in the past.

School savings account bill gets massaged in committee

Tue, 05/07/2024 - 11:35am

ELIZABETH WHITE, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – The Senate Finance Committee voted 4-3 Thursday to pass an amended version of the education savings account program backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, slowing down its implementation and possibly setting the stage for it to be smaller than originally envisioned.
The education savings account program, called LA GATOR, would allow families to apply for state funding to send their children to private schools of their choice.
Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, on Monday proposed overhauling the plan he had sponsored through a set of amendments. They call for a study of Louisiana’s existing educational resources to determine how to best implement an education savings account program instead of rushing into it. The study would be completed by Dec. 1.
“That will give us the data that we’re looking for, to make certain that we’re moving forward correctly,” Edmonds said. “A lot of that data I think brings a lot of comfort to folks.”
The education savings accounts, which could cost taxpayers several hundred million dollars a year, were one of Landry’s priorities. With part of the state sales tax expiring next year and potentially reducing state revenue by up to $500 million, the delay now sought by Edmonds would give legislators more time to decide how much money to devote to the plan.
The study will be conducted by the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. They will determine the need for an education savings account program and develop rules and regulations.
If the board decides to implement the program, it will make recommendations to the Legislature about how to transition students from the current voucher program, Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence.
Additionally, if the state board approves an education saving account program, it will be subject to appropriations of funds from the Legislature each year.
The amendments came after criticism from school boards, superintendents and other lawmakers who believe that the program, as originally envisioned, would divert needed funds from public schools and cost far too much.
The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates that the education savings accounts could cost the state more than $250 million a year by the third year. Outside experts have estimated that the cost could reach $350 million to $500 million a year.
The only cost under the amended bill would be $1.8 million in administrative funds.
The House has already passed its own version of an education savings account bill, but it has not been heard in the Senate yet.
Some members of the Senate committee expressed concern over the lack of accountability measures in the amended bill. Edmonds said he would work on adding those measures before the bill goes to the Senate floor.

Patterson City Council agenda for May 7

Mon, 05/06/2024 - 4:26pm

Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the agenda.