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PATRICK M. BENJAMIN

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 5:26pm

Patrick M. Benjamin, 63, a native of Lafayette and resident of Patterson, died Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at his residence.

Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Deep Water Ministry in Patterson. Burial will follow in Ibert’s Memorial Park Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona Benjamin; eight children, Tasha Levy, Anjeanea Williams, Dantraell Benjamin and Emanuel Benjamin, all of Patterson, Kuristien Benjamin of Baton Rouge, Patraell Benjamin of Reno, Nevada, Kentraell Benjamin of Eunice and Trenay Verdun of Houma; siblings, Myra Condolle, Christopher Benjamin, Mark
Benjamin and Troy Benjamin, all of Patterson, and Myoshi Minor of Georgia; and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Wheel House for July 13

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 5:12pm

GOOD HOPE
Baptist Church, 908 Washington St., Patterson, celebrating its 163-year anniversary at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 30. Guest speaker the Rev. Paul Godfrey, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Charenton. Public invited.

PRAYER
BREAKFAST
At New Salem Baptist Church, 1412 Cherry St., Patterson, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, sponsored by the New Salem Baptist Church Mission/Deaconess Ministry. Guest speaker Augustine Grogan, Good Hope Baptist Church.

Fan donation

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 5:05pm

Several sponsors, the Rotary Club of Morgan City, Kiwanis Club, First National Bank Morgan City, Tiger Island Hardware and individuals purchased 50 box fans for the Council on Aging, represented by Executive Director Beverly Domengeaux. Top Photo: Shown from row from left: Debbie Stevens (Kiwanis), Domengeaux, Cherie Laiche, Stacy Kirkland and Scott Melancon (Rotary). Second row: Lou Tamporella Jim Firmin (Rotary), Angela Kramer (Kiwanis), Bill Cefalu (Rotary president), Tracy Scarbrough (Kiwanis president), Dwan Naverre, Donna Fryou, Mike Bezard (Rotary) and Bobby Dufrene (First National Bank). Third row: Lee Romaire, Rick Romaire, Damon Robison, Billy Montgomery and Jakob Dworaczyk (Rotary). Bottom Photo: Romaire, left, is shown with the Rotary's Cefalu.

Veto session viewed as more and more likely

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 5:01pm

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Pressure is mounting for lawmakers to hold a veto override session this month following the governor’s rejection of numerous bills from the 2023 regular session, including some approved by wide margins.

About two dozen vetoes from Gov. John Bel Edwards nixed the phase out the state’s corporate franchise tax, clarification of school immunization requirements, increased transparency in health care pricing, mandated notification for insurance companies, and three transgender-related bills.

Edwards has also used his line-item veto authority to rework the state budget, restoring $100 million to the Department of Health that was removed during a chaotic finale to the session last month. Other line-item vetoes cut local funding for lawmakers who opposed Edwards’ spending priorities.

While lawmakers have yet to decide whether to return to Baton Rouge, several in both chambers are ready and willing to make the trek.

The state constitution requires an override session unless a majority of lawmakers from either chamber vote to skip it. Republicans failed to override any vetoes during the first override session in state history in 2021, but successfully reversed Edwards’ veto of congressional redistricting legislation last year.

Lawmakers have until July 13 to decide, with a five-day session scheduled for July 18. Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both chambers required to override the governor.

Pollock Republican Rep. Gabe Firment, sponsor of vetoed House Bill 648 to restrict gender transitions for minors, recently told the media his colleagues in both chambers favor an override session, while others have followed commitments on social media.

The Twitter feed for Citizens for a New Louisiana includes several Republican lawmakers in favor, including Abita Springs Rep. Larry Frieman, Shreveport Rep. Alan Seabaugh, Denham Springs Rep. Valarie Hodges, New Iberia Rep. Blake Miguez, Haughton Rep. Dodie Horton, and others.

“The governor has vetoed a number of important bills that protect our children,” Frieman said in a Citizens for a New Louisiana post. “Our children alone are worth a veto override session. Additionally, he has vetoed bills designed to punish the criminals and protect the victims.”

Some lawmakers have also taken to their social media pages to weigh in.

“Please know I am absolutely ready to do my duty and go to Baton Rouge for a veto-override session,” Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Rosepine, posted to Facebook. “Governor John Bel Edwards’ veto pen has caused harm in all corners of our state. He’s harmed teachers, hospitals, businesses, families of school-age children and municipalities throughout Louisiana.”

Jim Brown: 'Blondie,' football and opera: AM radio will be missed

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 4:58pm

JIM BROWN

I’ve been a regular AM radio listener for most of my life. And now I am terribly disappointed that AM radio stations are under siege.

We are learning that a number of major auto companies are giving up on AM radio.

They will not include access to these hundreds of stations in their new vehicles coming off the assembly line. And the reasons for doing so seem quite weak.

I cannot recall a time in my 83 years where AM radio wasn’t both available and an active part in my daily life.

As a young kid before TV was available, I would go with my family to church on Sunday evening, then stop off at the local ice cream store for a quart of chocolate chip ice cream.

We headed home to gather around the radio and listen to the weekly episode of "Blondie and Dagwood."

There were also Saturday morning cowboy radio shows. Many younger readers may not have had that wonderful experience pre- television, but I remember those programs well.

During my teenage years, rock ‘n’ Roll was in its early stages, and we regularly gathered around the radio to listen to Bill Haley and the Comets, Bo Diddley, Ray Charles and other great musicians. We never missed listening to Casey Kasem, the smooth-voiced radio broadcaster who became the king of the top 40 countdown.

In my 20s during my early years in politics, AM radio was my way of communicating with voters throughout my senatorial district. As I ran for several statewide offices, my first stop as I toured the state making speeches was the local AM radio station.

In my 30s, I discovered how much I loved opera, and rarely missed a Saturday afternoon presentation by the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York, regularly broadcast on AM radio.

And how far away could the signal carry?

I remember being in Williamsburg, Virginia, on a National Guard training mission, and listening on a Saturday night to LSU football being broadcast on WWL AM radio over 1000 miles away.

Up until recently, I hosted a nationally syndicated radio program on the Genesis Radio Network to hundreds of stations all across the US.

Many listeners, particularly in mountainous regions throughout the country, wrote in to tell me that their television signals were often quite weak, and my program on A&M radio was their means of staying in touch with news and entertainment.

During a number of hurricanes, I broadcast throughout the night to flood victims, who had no electricity. In many instances, as the flood waters were rising, the portable AM radio was often the only source for a listener to find out
information about the weather, and where to turn to for emergency help.

Now, this means of listening for millions of Americans will be a thing of the past.

A number of European car makers, including Audi, BMW, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Volvo have stopped including AM radio in their vehicles.
Tesla no longer offers AM radio and Ford has announced it will drop it from electric pick-up trucks.

The reasoning is that hybrids and EVs supposedly have electrical systems that interfere with an AM radio signal.

But technicians tell me that this is for cost savings, and that barely moving a few parts around or shielding the radios could solve the problem.

Over 47 million listeners now tune in to AM radio, but this choice may well be fading away.

If the worst scenario comes about and AM radio continues to diminish, I suppose I’ll be able to live without it.

But the medium of AM radio has been an important part of my life, both as a listener and a broadcaster, and many listeners out there no doubt feel the same way.

Future generations, at least in my opinion, will have missed something quite special.

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. You can also listen to his regular podcast at www.datelinelouisiana.com.

Jim Bradshaw: No lemon peel for Grandma's heavenly figs

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 4:55pm

JIM BRADSHAW

From the earliest days I can remember, the beginning of July has been the beginning of fig season, the time when grandkids were dispatched to the back yard to pick fruit from eight big trees and my grandmother cooked fig preserves by the dish-pan-full.

Until I went away to college it never occurred to me that it was possible to have a meal — morning, noon, or night — without a jar of fig preserves on the table.

My grandfather was in charge of keeping the trees healthy and filled with figs each year.

He swore that the secret was to let the chickens run beneath the trees.

They scratched at the soil, helping to bring air to the tree roots and, of course, naturally fertilized the ground.

He also trimmed two of the trees almost to the ground each year in a regular rotation that kept the trees to a size where all of the figs could be reached.

“I grow ‘em for your grandmother, not for the birds to eat,” he said.

And my grandmother needed all the figs she could get. She made enough preserves to keep her extended family supplied until the next season and to distribute to friends far and wide.

Nobody left her house without a jar of preserves, but they had to promise to return the empty jar to be used next year.

People kept their promises, and returned the jars to be stored away (mouth down) on a long shelf in Grandad’s work shed until next fig season.

My grandmother became so well known for her figs that one of the eulogists at her funeral said her role in heaven was likely to be handing out preserves to newcomers at the Pearly Gates

That eulogy has the ring of truth to me.

I know that she gave them to saints on earth. I vividly remember the day when I, a lad of about 10, was in line behind her to go to confession.

When she — a good, pious woman — failed to emerge after what seemed like half an hour, I, knowing full well that I was condemning my young soul to Hades, had to edge closer to the curtained confessional to hear what she could possibly be confessing for all that time.

When I did, I heard Monsignor Boudreaux, wearily replying, apparently for the umpteenth time, “No, Aunt Bab, we don’t need any more fig preserves. You left plenty at the rectory.”

We also ate fresh figs doused liberally with cream and sugar for breakfast, but the preserves were the thing, made according to a recipe that I still use:

4 quarts of figs with stems
1 tablespoon of baking soda
3 quarts of boiling water
8 cups of sugar (4 pounds)
1 quart of water

Place the figs in a large bowl and sprinkle them with baking soda. Pour over them three quarts of boiling water and soak the figs for one hour.

Drain the figs and rinse them thoroughly in cold water. Combine eight cups of sugar and one quart of water in a large Dutch oven. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the figs to the syrup. Cook them about one hour, stirring about every 15 minutes. Figs should be tender and clear when done. Spoon the figs into hot, sterilized jars.

Wipe the rims of the jars with a damp towel and make sure the lids are tight. Process the jars in boiling water for 5 minutes. This makes about eight pints.

You will notice there is no lemon peel in this recipe.

Adding it to fig preserves, in my grandmother’s eyes, was not only the wrong way to cook figs, but something of a social or moral failing.

“She’s a nice woman,” she’d say sadly of a neighbor, “but you know she puts lemon peel in her preserves.”

You could infer from her tone and sadness that someone who committed such a folly probably took an occasional nip from the cooking sherry and often voted wrong at election time.

One must treat these people kindly, of course, but must also worry over what will become of them.

It is not often that I speak ex cathedra, with the same authority as the Pope, but I can guarantee this: If you go to heaven, and Aunt Bab is passing out preserves, don’t expect lemons peel.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Morgan City police radio logs for July 12

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 3:49pm

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.
Wednesday, July 12
8:14 a.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Suspicious vehicle.
8:40 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Arrest.
9:26 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Two arrests.
9:58 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Medical.
10:37 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Alarm.
10:58 a.m. 1000 block of Greenwood Street; Crash.
11:28 a.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Suspicious vehicle.
12:58 p.m. 500 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.
1:01 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.
2:14 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
2:41 p.m. 1000 block of Shaw Street; Complaint.
3:03 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Complaint.
3:03 p.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Alarm.
3:45 p.m. 300 block of First Street; Disturbance.
5:37 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Alarm.
7:45 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Medical.
6:16 p.m. 1700 block of Filmore Street; Burglary.
6:39 p.m. Area of Belanger/Sixth streets; Stalled vehicle.
7:15 p.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Alarm.
10:37 p.m. Area of Federal Avenue/Marshall Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:16 p.m. Area of Cedar/Franklin streets; Complaint.
12:26 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Suspicious person/vehicle.
2:04 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
4:33 a.m. Area of Aycock/Chennault streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.

Children were victims in arrests by area police agencies

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 3:41pm

(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.)

Arrests involving charges of child endangerment, drug possession in the presence of juveniles and child desertion were reported Wednesday by Morgan City and Franklin police and St. Mary deputies.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 44 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Shon Michael Singleton, 29, Camille Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 8:56 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of juveniles, possession of drug paraphernalia and child restraint required.

--Dustin Michael Konieczka, 36, Glenwood Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:49 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment law.

--Sasha Millet Konieczka, 34, Glenwood Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:49 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment law.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 21 complaints and made these arrests:

--Mark Anthony Hilliard Sr., 40, Patterson, was arrested at 3:16 a.m. Thursday on a charge of domestic abuse (child endangerment law), violation of protective orders and domestic abuse battery (strangulation). Bail has not been set.

--Zackary Allen Miller, 35, Franklin, was arrested at 10:35 p.m. Wednesday on a Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging second-degree arson. Miller is being held for another agency.

--Laura Lynn Cutrera, 56, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $1,560.21.

--Jarell Joseph Collie, 32, Berwick, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear. Bail has not been set at this time.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported this arrest:

--Tahj Lewis, 19, New Orleans, was arrested at 8:02 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana (over 28 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding 63 mph in a 45 mph zone.

About 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was observed speeding 63 mph in a 45 mph zone. Officers made contact with Lewis, and during the course of the stop an odor of marijuana was detected.

Lewis admitted to having marijuana inside the vehicle. A search was conducted and over 28 grams of marijuana was located along with items of drug paraphernalia. Lewis was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to nine complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Frank Lewis, 59, Clay Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of child desertion. Lewis was booked, processed and released on a $1,000 bond.

--Jaydon Richard, 18, Lee Charles Street, Franklin, was arrested at 2:36 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of violation of protective order. Richard was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--Mercedes Williams, 20, Cypress Lane, Jeanerette, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Williams was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

Hospital board: Two more weeks of talks to bring OB back to Ochsner St. Mary

Thu, 07/13/2023 - 12:41pm

Staff Report

The Hospital Service District No. 2 board says it will allow two more weeks for talks aimed at bringing labor and delivery back to Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City. If there is no agreement with Ochsner Health by then, the board said in a news release, it will remove two related tax propositions from the Oct. 14 ballot.

Ochsner, which operates the hospital under lease with the hospital district, announced in March that it would end nonemergency obstetrical care at Ochsner St. Mary on April 1 as the health care giant consolidates its Bayou Region labor and delivery services at Ochsner St. Anne in Raceland.

“Since initial discussions in March, the HSD 2 board has not reached a written agreement with the leadership of OSM,” the press release said. “Discussions are ongoing and the HSD Board voted to continue discussions so terms could be reached. The Board has agreed to allow 14 days to reach an agreement.”

“If an agreement is not reached, the Board will remove the propositions from the Oct. 14 ballot,” said HSD board attorney William Bourgeois.

The board made that decision at a special meeting July 12.

After its decision to end labor and delivery services at the Morgan City hospital, Ochsner pointed to what it characterized as a small number of births at the facility, about 200 a year, and demographic trends toward an older population with fewer women of child-bearing age.

The move was criticized at a board meeting because of the longer drive for expectant mothers forced to rely on hospitals in Franklin, Thibodaux or Houma. Some asked whether the hospital would continue to be able to handle a life-threatening pregnancy complication if the longer drive threatens the life of a mother and child.

Ochsner and the district agreed to talk about bringing the services back. And the district board approved the two tax propositions to raise money to bring the services back to the hospital.

Proposition 1 would create a 5.5-mill property tax. “The funds would go towards OB physician and staff recruitment to develop a department of three physicians and support the staff necessary for the department,” the district press release said. It would also allow for recruitment assistance for other specialties along with improvements to the hospital and progress reports to the community.

A mill is 1/10th cent of tax for every $1 in a property’s assessed valuation. A residential property’s assessed valuation is 10% of its market value as determined by the parish assessor. The first $7,500 of tax on a primary home would be exempt from taxation under Louisiana’s homestead exemption.

The 5.5 mills would cost the owner of a $200,000 home $68.75 per year, and the owner of a $100,000 home $13.75 per year.

“Our patients are likely paying that much in fuel to go to hospitals out of our district to deliver their babies,” said Dr. William Cefalu Jr., who practices at Oschner St. Mary and chairs the Hospital Service District No. 2 board.

Proposition 2 would rededicate existing funds from a tax no longer collected to support these efforts, the press release said. Currently those funds are restricted to the purchase of equipment and facility improvements.

If voters approve these propositions, efforts to recruit new OB-GYN physicians could begin in 2023, the press release said.

“Labor and delivery services closer to home saves lives by reducing complications and risks for mothers and babies,” Cefalu said in the press release. “Louisiana has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the U.S.”

In St. Mary Parish, the infant mortality rate is 7.6 per 1,000 live births, compared to a national rate of 5.9.

The date of the special Hospital Service District No. 2 meeting has been corrected.

Domestic battery, drug charges in Tuesday arrests

Wed, 07/12/2023 - 10:26am

(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.)

Morgan City police reported arrests on domestic battery and drug charges Tuesday.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 51 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Brodie Boudreaux, 29, Saturn Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:56 a.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and theft of a motor vehicle.

--Lance Boudreaux, 27, La. 69, White Castle, was arrested 9:56 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

--Chase P. Betrand, 37, Joey Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on two counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Gerald Wayne Chenevert, 53, Jude Lane, Opelousas, was arrested at 5:09 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of a legend drug (diclofenac sodium), driving under suspension, possession of a firearm by convicted felon and possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and as a fugitive from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 20 complaints and made this arrest:

--Amanda Irene Davis, 40, Hammond, was arrested at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday on warrants alleging failure to appear on two counts of of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to seven complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Ja'Andre Willis, 23, Louie Street, Lake Charles, was arrested at 12:27 p.m. Tuesday on charges of speeding and driving under suspension. Willis was booked, processed and released on a $1,250 bond.

--Julien Decultot, 46, Rua Antonio Lisboa Alves, Brazil, was arrested 3:49 p.m. Tuesday on two counts of stop sign violation. Decultot was booked, processed and releasedon a $458 bond.