Ricky David Pillaro, 67, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Thursday, June 22, 2023.
He is survived by his siblings; Jake Pillaro III, Christine Farias, Bernardine Jaet and Jeremiah Pillaro; and son, Jason Verret.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.
Twin City was in charge of arrangements, and no services will be held at this time
Happy birthday Saturday to my husband Raymond Delco Jr., love, Myra, family and friends.
Submitted Photos
Ochsner St. Mary held two SAFE Sitter classes this summer for the youth in the community. Students learned rescue skills like choking rescue and CPR along with skills to be a great babysitter.
Terrebonne General Health System has added Dr. Logan S. Ledet, infectious disease specialist, to its medical staff.
Ledet is a Thibodaux native who graduated with honors from Nicholls State University. She completed her Doctor of Medicine from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans and underwent her internal medicine residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation. She then went on to complete an infectious disease fellowship at Louisiana State Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
Ledet is double board-certified in infectious diseases and internal medicine by the American Board on Internal Medicine.
During her medical training, Ledet was named LSU Internal Medicine Fellow of the Year, received the Dr. Richard Morvant Sr. Award as Outstanding Biology Graduate, and was awarded the Nicholls State University Presidential Medal of Honor.
She is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, the American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
“We are honored to add Dr. Ledet to our team of healthcare specialists,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO. “Her infectious disease expertise will be a true asset to our
Health System.”
Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has launched a new resource for all patients actively undergoing treatment.
A cancer support group is open to patients, regardless of diagnosis, and will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, noon-1 p.m. in the Cancer Center events room, on the second floor of Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. A Zoom link is available for patients wishing to attend the sessions virtually.
The monthly cancer support group will offer patients a comfortable venue to discuss their diagnoses, treatments, side effects, and other cancer-related topics with those who also understand the journey with cancer.
“Through this support group, patients will be able to lean on one another, address shared experiences, and find additional support and motivation,” said Amy Boudreaux, director, cancer program, Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “As the leading cancer care provider in the Bayou Region, this is another effort to provide our patients with as many resources as possible and ensure that no one faces cancer alone.”
The sessions will be led by Megan Lasserre, patient navigator and social worker, Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
“Beyond expert care, we offer a wide array of complementary resources to take care of the entire patient,” said Phyllis Peoples, president and CEO, Terrebonne General Health System. “By providing this outlet to patients, we’re emphasizing the importance of mental and emotional health in addition to the physical wellbeing of those going through cancer treatment.”
For additional information, call 98-857-8093, and ask to speak to a patient navigator.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center provides cancer care to the Bayou Region.
The full spectrum of comprehensive services, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship, is offered. Services include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, as well as patient navigation, clinical trials, and free community screenings.
The Cancer Center is nationally accredited with commendation and recognized for excellence in cancer care by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the National Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification Program, an affiliate of the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (A.S.C.O.). For more information on cancer services by Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, visit marybird.org/Houma.
Patterson Garden Club presented Patterson High School graduate Kyla Samuels with its 19th annual $500 Patterson Garden Club Scholarship at the end of the year awards assembly at Patterson High. Club member Sandra Marshall made the presentation.
Born to Chitquita Collins of Berwick, a boy, Kingston Kartiler Collins, on June 26 at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City. He weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces.
According to the latest report, Louisiana’s tax revenues are higher than last year’s for the sixth consecutive month.
In June, year-to-date revenues are up by $788 million or 7% over the previous fiscal year, coming in at $12.53 billion compared with $10.17 billion in 2021 and $11.75 billion in 2022.
Revenues for the month of June were nearly $1.25 billion, up from $1.09 billion in fiscal 2022 and $1.14 billion in fiscal 2021.
Sales tax revenues were down compared to the previous two Junes, shrinking to $316 million after collecting $395 million last year and $322 million in 2021. Year-to-date sales tax is still up 3% ($111 million) compared to 2022.
June individual income tax revenues added up to $399 million, up from $366 million last year, but down from 2021, when Louisiana collected $545 million. This year’s income tax revenues are still 1% great ($64 million) than the prior year so far.
Severance tax revenues were up to $84 million in June, up $67 million in June 2022 and $29 million in 2021. Year-to-date, collections are up $396 million compared to 2022 or an increase of 83%.
The state’s corporate franchise tax was also up, with June’s collections totaling $356 million, compared with $185 million in June 2022 and $150 million in June 2021.
Reduced general fund appropriations in recent years have forced Louisiana state parks to spend improvement funds on operations, creating a $42 million backlog of needed repairs.
The finding is one of several outlined in a report from the Louisiana legislative auditor released last week that examined how the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism’s Office of State Parks manages Louisiana’s 21 state parks and 16 historic sites.
“Prior to fiscal year 2010, OSP used (repair and improvement funds known as) 729 Funds according to state law in terms of spending 50% of the self-generated revenues on each park on that park’s improvements and repairs needs,” auditors wrote. “However, OSP’s annual state general funds have decreased 12.9%, from $19.4 million in fiscal year 2016 to $16.9 million in fiscal year 2022.
“As OSP received fewer state general fund dollars, the agency began relying more on self-generated revenues … to fund operations,” according to the report.
OSP maintains a list of needed repairs and improvements that totaled $14 million in March 2023, but “staff say this is only a list of projects that they can realistically complete based on current funding levels as the true amount needed for improvements to keep parks and historic sites operating at expected service levels is three times this amount (approximately $42 million),” the report read.
OSP generated $79.6 million in visitation revenue in fiscal years 2016 through 2022, with $60.7 million or 76% coming from cabins, premium RV campsites, and day-use admissions. Between 2016 and 2022 visitation revenue increased by 4.4% to $11.8 million in 2022. Non-visitation revenues, meanwhile, jumped 2,589% to $4.6 million in 2022, due in large part to temporary COVID-19 funds and other federal funding, leases and royalties, and oil spill funds.
State park visitation has decreased from 1.83 million in 2016 to 1.27 million in 2022, with the exception of an increase to 1.47 million in 2021 during the pandemic.
The LLA noted a 42% reduction in full-time staff between 2007 and 2022, from 494 positions to 261, has presented a challenge for administering parks. A large part of the staffing reductions stem from unaffordable benefit requirements for full-time workers tied to the Affordable Care Act, auditors wrote.
While OSP has found ways to maximize staff, such as cross-training park employees and sharing staff between parks, “the legislature may wish to consider increasing funding for interpretive and park ranger positions for OSP to operate in a more efficient and effective manner and to ensure the safety of park visitors,” according to the report.
Other findings pointed to a need for a master plan to “set priorities and determine where to allocate resources,” as well as a “formal process to document repair and improvement decisions,” the report read.
Additionally, the LLA suggests OSP evaluate fee adjustments and pricing strategies, ways to build on current revenue-generating agreements and public-private partnerships, and the development of a more cohesive marketing strategy to boost visitation and revenue.
Brandon Burris, OSP assistant secretary, agreed with the LLA’s findings in a letter to LLA Mike Waguespack on July 5 outlining how the agency is working to implement them.
Take the stairs at school, the office or while at the mall to get in some extra exercise.
Physical activity is important for personal health. However, many women do not get the recommended levels of exercise.
Health.gov says evidence shows physical activity has immediate health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and blood pressure. That is just one reason why adults should aspire to get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week.
Such activities should be paired with muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week, according to the Move your Way program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Busy women may argue that they simply do not have enough time to exercise. Parental responsibilities, work obligations, long commutes and school can get in the way of exercise.
However, if people study their days, there’s likely plenty of ways to incorporate exercise into the busiest of schedules without making large changes.
—Take the stairs. Skipping the escalator or elevator and taking the stairs doesn’t require much time, but pays great dividends for your overall health.
It guarantees a mini-workout each day, particularly if you work in an multistory office building or home. Take the stairs whenever possible.
—Walk more. Walking requires no specialized equipment and is good for the body. Instead of sending that email to a coworker, get up and walk to his desk.
Rather than hopping in the car to go to the store up the street, put on your sneakers and walk there. If you drive to a store or appointment, park the car far away from the entrance and walk further to get to and from the door.
—Change your perception of exercise. Physical activity need not be limited to the gym or running around the neighborhood. Exercise can involve a half-hour dance session with the kids or walking around the park with the dog.
When you make exercise about fun activities, you may be more inclined to do it regularly.
—Carry those shopping bags. Certain states around the country have banned single-use plastic shopping bags in certain stores. This means shoppers have to bring in their own reusable totes. Use this to your advantage by passing up the shopping cart and filling the totes with items, lifting and flexing your arms as you go. It’s a small strength workout every time you shop.
—Exercise while sitting. You can fit in a little exercise even if you’re chilling out watching a movie or doing your remote work in your home office. Keep a lightweight dumbbell nearby and do a few bicep and triceps curls. Or invest in a portable cycling device to stow under the desk and clock miles that way.
Exercise is important for a variety of reasons. Busy women can make more time for exercise simply by incorporating some tweaks into their daily schedules.
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