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Courthouse security due for an upgrade

Wed, 05/29/2024 - 6:00am

Staff report

The St. Mary Parish Council is getting serious about security.
An ordinance passed by the council May 22 creates a two-member Courthouse Security Commission directed to “collectively oversee the drafting, enforcement, and administration of the Courthouse Security Plan.”
While the ordinance does not itself mandate routine magnetometer or X-ray screening, it makes people other than courthouse employees subject to “a physical search, and/or search utilizing metal detectors/x-ray devices” as they enter the Parish Courthouse.
People who refuse to be searched will be denied entry, the ordinance says.
The ordinance could resolve two dilemmas: the relatively easy access to the courthouse in an age of heightened security and the responsibility for assigning security to Parish Council meetings, both of which have been the subject of council discussions this year.
The commission created by the ordinance will consist of one designee appointed by the parish government and another named by the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office, “in coordination with the St. Mary Parish Government, will promulgate policies and procedures related to courthouse security and screening procedures to enforce ordinances and state laws to provide enhanced security for the courthouse facilities, personnel, and visitors.”
The Sheriff’s Office will provide personnel to provide security under a financial agreement with parish government.
Employees of government offices will have ID cards that allow them access to employee entrances. Everyone else will have to use the main entrance facing Main Street in Franklin. The official courthouse hours will be 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.
The ordinance doesn’t specifically assign security to Parish Council meetings, which has been a source of controversy.
In his campaign last year, Parish President Sam Jones pointed to the presence of a deputy as a sign of Parish Council dysfunction. Decisions about whether or not a deputy should be present at meetings has also led to harsh words.
The ordinance says that for meetings outside the regular courthouse hours and events such as early voting and election days, “the appropriate St. Mary Parish personnel will be present to provide continued security.”
The ordinance specifically prohibits people from bringing weapons into the courthouse.

L-H Printing celebrates a century, and has even more history

Wed, 05/29/2024 - 6:00am

GREIG CHAUVIN, Special to the Review

The L-H Printing Co. is celebrating 100 years of being in business in Morgan City. However, the family who owns the business can claim a deeper history in the area.
Ancestors of the present owners of L-H, Dr. William Howard Gray and his son, William Bailey Gray, arrived in Louisiana as members of the 26th Massachusetts Infantry of the Union Army in 1862.
Dr. Gray was, according to his own Civil War diary, “present for the bombarding of Confederate Forts Jackson and St. Philip,” which led to the surrender of the city of New Orleans to the Union Army.
Dr. Gray was stationed in the New Orleans Military Hospital but writes in his diary that he “saw action at Lafourche Crossing near Thibodaux and spent time in Brashear City.”
In December of 1863, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler appointed him as assistant surgeon in the U.S. 1st Colored Calvary. We know from his journal that he participated in the battles that took place in Virginia known as the Peninsula Campaign.
In 1864, Dr. Gray writes, “Last night, the great bulk of the troops disappeared to attack Petersburg, but instead of going there, they traveled up the York River to affect a junction with Grant.”
His son, Bailey Gray, also mustered into the 1st U.S. Colored Calvary in 1864, becoming a first
lieutenant before he took part in the siege of Fort Wagner “leading the charge that captured the fort.” According to Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, he also commanded one of the boats that made the attack on Fort Sumter in 1863.
In 1868, Dr. Gray returned to Louisiana, becoming executive officer of the Marine Hospital in New Orleans. Following this, he was hired as superintendent of the Freedmen’s Orphan Home in Baldwin. In 1874, minutes of the Morgan City Council show him serving on the town council.
The 1878 yellow fever outbreak prompted the City Council to establish a Board of Health, and Dr. Gray served on this board. The epidemic killed over 100 citizens, but it is said that Dr. Gray “was ever among the people during this time of sickness, sorrow, and death.”
Although Gray’s son, Bailey, had taken up an acting career on The Cotton Blossom riverboat, he returned to Morgan City to aid his father during the crisis. It was soon after this that he began his printing career.
In 1879, William Bailey Gray established Gray’s Printing House, and in 1891, he was publishing The Morgan City Free Press newspaper along with The Commonwealth, The Independent Democrat, and The Rural Topics.
The family continued in the printing business with Bailey’s grandson, Leonard Gray, purchasing the L-H Printing Co. in 1924. The 1939 photo was taken in the printing shop that was originally located in the first block of Railroad Avenue from the Front Street.
In the 1950s, Leonard and wife Della built the mid-century modern building at 205 Railroad where the business is now located. Each worked in the business until well in their 80s.
Their children, Leroy Gray and Nelwyn Robison, have also been employed at L-H along with Nelwyn’s husband, Lige Robison, who introduced the office supply department.
Through the years, many of Gray’s 16 grandchildren have worked in the business, and today one member of each family, Gray and Robison, continues in the tradition of five generations of their family.

Under cover

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 2:12pm

The Review/Bill Decker
The superstructure of the Long-Allen Bridge is silhouetted against a protective shroud as work continues on the 89-year-old bridge's rehabilitation. The bridge has been closed since February 2023 while Southern Road and Bridge of Tarpon Springs, Florida, performs the $26 million project, which includes a new deck and a paint job to replace the bridge's familiar rusty brown. A spokeswoman at the Department of Transportation and Development office in Lafayette said the bridge is on schedule to reopen in late May 2025.

Jobless rates in area take a dip in April

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 2:05pm

Staff report

The statewide unemployment rate and the jobless rates for St. Mary’s neighboring metro areas were all down in April from their March figures, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Parish-by-parish employment data is typically released early in the month after state and metro numbers are posted.
The Louisiana unemployment rate for April — not seasonally adjusted — was 3.4%, down from 4.5% in March, but higher than the 3.0% figure in April 2023.
Louisiana gained 12,300 jobs between March and April, bringing total nonfarm employment to 1,968,900. That’s 11,700 more than in April 2023.
About 5,100 of the 12,300 new jobs came in the New Orleans metro area, according to the Workforce Commission, where April unemployment was at 3.5%, down a full point from April. But New Orleans is down 3,600 jobs from April 2023.
In this region, the Houma-Thibodaux statistical area gained 300 jobs in April, when unemployment dropped a full point to 3.0%. Houma has gained 1,500 jobs since April 2023, and employment now stands at 85,900.
The Lafayette metro area gained 1,400 jobs last month as the jobless rate dipped a point to 3.3%.
The unemployment rate was down 0.9-1.1 points in all nine metro areas.

BROTHER LARRY GENE JONES

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:57pm

April 8, 1956 — May 23, 2023
Brother Larry Gene Jones, 68, a resident of Gibson, passed away peacefully, Thursday, May 23, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Brother Chunky was born April 8, 1956, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the son of Robert A.D. Jones and Mary Pierce Jones.
Brother Chunky was a man of God, with deep faith and compassion, he touched the lives of many through his work as a Pastor. He was deeply committed to his congregation. His love for God and his unwavering devotion to his faith inspired all who knew him. He was a great man who put God first. His love for God and his family was unmatched. Brother Chunky was a generous soul.
In addition to his role as a Pastor, Brother Larry found joy in the simple pleasures of life; he and his beloved wife, Brigitte shared a love for camping and adventures.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Brigitte Bonnette Jones; daughters, Brandi Ditta and husband Dale, Amber McKinnon and husband Dave; son, Cory Jones and wife Danielle; two step sons, Damien Bonnette and wife Brittany, Charles Bonnette; step daughter, Kadi Hairston and husband Matthew; sister, Sharon West and husband James; grandchildren, Korianne and fiancé Deonte, Blayde and wife Tessa, Z’Andria, Anthony, Bryce, Katilin and husband Brian, Savannha, Zachary, Brittany, Kiarie, Abriella, Leeland, Amiyah, Abel and Emberly; great-grandchildren, Kaden, Davin, Abel Paul, Luca, Aubree, Lydia and Waylon.
Brother Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert A.D. and Mary Jones; sisters, Carla and Darlene.
“Thank you Tom from the twice of us.”
In keeping with Brother Larry’s wishes, he will be cremated, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

BEARS on the air at Black Bear Festival

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:53pm

Submitted photo
"CQ special event station." That was call from BEARS — the Bayouland Emergency Radio Service —on the banks of Bayou Teche in Franklin during last month's Black Bear Festival. The members of BEARS pictured here made a total of 50 contacts with other ham operators located in the eastern and central sections of the United States. These special event stations help spread the word about not only the festival but also about Franklin, the Bayou Teche and St. Mary Parish.

Landry signs bill categorizing abortion pill as dangerous drug

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:51pm

ELIZABETH WHITE, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – Gov. Jeff Landry on Friday signed a new law that would classify abortion pills as dangerous controlled substances.
The Louisiana Senate on Thursday approved the bill.
The Senate voted 29-7 to concur with a controversial House amendment on the bill, Senate Bill 276, despite pushback from some lawmakers, healthcare workers and women’s advocates.
Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, said his goal in writing the legislation was to protect women from abortions coerced by fraud. He said his sister, Catherine Pressly Herring, was slipped abortion-inducing drugs by her ex-husband without her consent.
Pressly’s original version of the bill, which created penalties such as prison sentences and monetary fines for abortion coerced by fraud, passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
However, when the bill returned to the Senate, it received pushback due to an amendment added by the House that would reclassify the drugs — mifepristone and misoprostol — as Schedule IV drugs under the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.
Landry’s signature on the bill would make Louisiana the first state to classify the drugs as controlled substances. It also would make possession of them without a prescription a crime punishable with jail time.
“Mischaracterizing misoprostol, a drug routinely and safely used on labor units throughout the state, as a dangerous drug of abuse creates confusion, misinformation and harms women seeking high-quality maternal care,” Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, said.
Physicians and health care providers have said reclassifying the drugs would make it harder for them to prescribe them and could delay treatment, especially in rural areas. Since the drugs are also used for reproductive health care needs, not just abortion, providers say delays could cause more issues for the mother and the child.
Supporters of the amended bill disagreed, saying that it would not change how the drugs are prescribed and that they would still be available to anyone with legitimate health care reasons.
“Louisiana has been very clear: We do not prosecute women when they are seeking an abortion, but we’re also very clear that abortion is not legal in Louisiana, and this bill does not change that,” Pressly said. “What we’re simply doing is stating that we should be protecting women like my sister from harmful bad actors that are trying to kill an unborn child and harm the woman.”
Some lawmakers also raised concerns that providers would need a special license to prescribe a Schedule IV drug. Pressly said that most health care providers already have the license, but others have disagreed with him, saying most gynecologists do not have it.

Higgins: Area projects funded in Corps work plan

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:48pm

Staff Report

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, recently announced that South Louisiana waterway projects received funding in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY 2024 Army Civil Work Plan.
Operation & Maintenance projects in Louisiana’s 3rd District were awarded:
—$62,461,000 for the Atchafalaya River and bayous Chene, Boeuf and Black
—$33,000 for the Bayou Teche and Vermilion River
—$564,000 for Bayou Teche
— $54,086,581 for the Calcasieu River and Pass
—$18,277,000 for Freshwater Bayou
—$19,134,000 for the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
—$10,941,000 for the Mermentau River

State gaming revenue down; mobile device betting skyrockets

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:47pm

STEVE WILSON, The Center Square

Gaming revenues were down in Louisiana in April, according to data from the state’s Gaming Control Board.
Mobile gaming has taken over the sports wagering market, as attested by state data that shows proceeds up 72.9%. This is a product of more providers being approved by regulators to enter the marketplace, which began in January 2023 after being authorized by lawmakers.
So far this fiscal year which began July 1, $1.8 billion in wagers have been written, with nearly $170 million in net proceeds and $30.3 million in taxes.
In April, $263 million of mobile wagers were written, generating $35.1 million in net proceeds and $5.27 million in taxes
Wagers were down at sports books by 29.4% compared with the same time last year, with $19.8 million of wagers yielding $1.3 million in net proceeds and $118,818 in taxes paid.
For the fiscal year to date, sports books have generated $257 million in wagers, $26.2 million in net proceeds and nearly $2.6 million in taxes.
That is down 23.6% compared to the last fiscal year.
The state’s lone land-based casino, Harrah’s New Orleans, had its revenues dip by 12.9% compared to March, falling from $22.2 million to $19.3 million. Compared to April 2023, revenues were down by nearly $2 million, a decline of 9.4%. The casino generated $19.3 million in tax revenues.
For the fiscal year to date, revenues went down from $218.6 million to $205.3 million, a decrease of 6%.
The casino has paid $54.1 million in taxes this fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
Riverboat gambling revenues were down at all of the state’s riverboats, with revenues dipping from $166.3 million to $138 million, a decrease of nearly $28 million or 16.8%. The casinos generated $29.7 million in taxes in April.
Compared to the year prior, revenues were down $12.5 million from $150.8 million, a dip of 8.3%.
For the fiscal year to date, revenues are down 3%, slipping from $1.47 billion to $1.422 billion. Tax revenues are also down, decreasing from $315 million to $305.9 million.
Video poker machine revenues were also down in April by 11.4% compared to March and 4.3% less than the same time the year before. These generated nearly $19.3 million in tax revenue.

La.'s Landry joins in letter opposing WHO pandemic agreement

Tue, 05/28/2024 - 1:45pm

The Republican governors of two dozen states, including Louisiana, penned a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the World Health Organization’s proposed “Pandemic Agreement,” which they said could “undermine national sovereignty” and states’ rights.
The state executives argue the treaty “would seek to elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority in public health.” They contend the proposed accord could also allow the WHO to establish “a global surveillance infrastructure” and force participants to censor free speech.
On Tuesday, 93.3% of voters in Georgia’s Republican primary said “unelected and unaccountable international bureaucrats,” such as those at the WHO, should not have “complete control over management of future pandemics in the United States and authority to regulate your healthcare and personal health choices.” The vote is nonbinding, but it could guide legislative action when Peach State lawmakers meet again next year.
In their letter, the governors said that “if adopted, these agreements would seek to elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority in public health.
“Under the proposed amendments and treaty, the WHO’s Director-General would supposedly gain unilateral power to declare a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ (PHEIC) in member nations, extending beyond pandemics to include a range of perceived emergencies,” the governors added. The “proposals could erode state sovereignty by granting the WHO’s Director-General the authority to dictate responses to a declared PHEIC, stripping elected representatives of their role in setting public health policies and compelling citizens to comply with WHO directives, potentially including mandates regarding medical treatments.”
Govs. Kay Ivey of Alabama, Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Sarah Sanders of Arkansas, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Brad Little of Idaho, Eric Holcomb of Indiana, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Joe Lombardo of Nevada, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Bill Lee of Tennessee, Greg Abbott of Texas, Spencer Cox of Utah, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Jim Justice of West Virginia and Mark Gordon of Wyoming signed the letter.