RSS Feed

BERWICK – The town of Berwick has a new fire chief.

The Town Council on Tuesday confirmed Mayor Duval Arthur’s appointment of Jody Acosta as new chief of the Volunteer Fire Department.

Also Tuesday, the council approved a $3 increase in the monthly charge town residents pay for trash pick-up. And the council gave its OK to two plans connected with Berwick’s participation in the Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.

Acosta has been with the Morgan City Fire Department for the last 10 years, and served with Amelia’s volunteers two years before that.

He was one of the MCFD firefighters who went through emergency medical technician training earlier this year and passed his National Registry exam.

Acosta will lead a volunteer force that he said numbers about 25.

He told the council that he has received 12 volunteer applications while serving as interim successor to former Chief Allen Rink.

“We’re going to work some kinks out,” Acosta told the council Tuesday. “We’ve got a plan in place.”

Arthur fired Rink last month for reasons that weren’t publicly disclosed. Rink, supported by a group of volunteers at the June 13 council meeting after his termination, told the council that he had gotten the run-around on equipment requests. He said was often told that requests would have to wait until the end of the budget year, when he would learn no money was available.

Arthur responded that Rink had never been denied a request for what he needed.

Acosta gave his first report on his department’s activity, this one for June: Four motor vehicle accidents, two medical assists, one good intention call, three false alarms and five fires.

Trash pick-up

On Aug. 1, the cost of residential trash pick-up in Berwick will rise to $22.50 per month from $19.50, a 15% increase.

The mayor said the town government had no choice but to pass the increase enacted by Pelican Waste & Debris along to consumers.

“It’s not that we’re trying to gouge anybody …,” Arthur said. “We have to turn around and pass it on to you all.”

“It’s not a problem for most of us,” said Councilman Lud Henry. “But for the elderly on fixed incomes. …”

The monthly fee had been at $19.50 since May 1, 2022. The agreement with Pelican had been in force since 2015 under what officials called a parishwide “master contract” designed to get municipalities a better rate by joining forces.

Council members Colleen Askew, Henry, James Richard and Kevin Hebert all voted for the resolution raising the pick-up rate. Raymond Price was absent.

Festival

Rodney Grow and Deborah Lodrigue of the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival board asked for permission to carry out two parts of festival planning related to Berwick.

They got the council’s OK, without objection, to park a barge needed for the festival fireworks display over Berwick Bay.

And the council approved plans to stage the annual Blessing of the Fleet on the Berwick side of the river on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

The festival will be Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur, the Town Council and former Mayor Louis Ratcliff on Friday paid tribute to two other former mayors. Top Photo: The playground in front of the Berwick Civic Center was renamed for former Mayor Emmett Hardaway Sr. Bottom Photo: Pattie Drive in front of the Civic Center was re-dedicated as Charlie Savoie Drive. "These two men served Berwick well and were recognized for their dedication to Berwick, especially to the Civic Center and its grounds," the town government said in a Facebook post.

Town of Berwick Photos

(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 hit-and-run, aggravated battery and domestic abuse battery charges, while Berwick officers arrested a man on a motor vehicle theft charge.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Arrie Sam, 18, Poncio Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:48 p.m. Monday on a Berwick warrant alleging theft of a motor vehicle.

About 12:48 p.m. Monday, Sam was located at the Morgan City Police Department. He had active warrants through the Berwick Police Department.

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

The warrant stems from a vehicle theft that occurred on July 3. Through the course of the investigation, Sam was developed as a suspect in the theft. Evidence was uncovered linking him to the crime.

--Melissa Ratcliff, 34, Henry Street, Patterson, was arrested at 10:25 a.m. Monday on a Morgan City warrant alleging failure to appear on a theft charge.

About 10:10 a.m. Monday, the Berwick Police Department received a suspicious person complaint. Officers arrived and made contact with Ratcliff.

During that time, it was learned that she had active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department. Ratcliff was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she was booked on the outstanding warrant.

Ratcliff was transported to the Morgan City Police Department.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that over the last 96-hour reporting period, the the Morgan City Police Department responded to 184 calls for service and made these arrests:

--Carey M. Dupuy, 34, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at midnight July 6 on charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property less than $1,000, possession of marijuana and interfering with emergency communications.

--Cyrinthia M. Singleton, 47, Louisiana Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:18 p.m. Friday on a charge of domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

--Antonio M. Romero, 31, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:14 a.m. Saturday on charges of hit and run, driver must be licensed and simple obstruction of a roadway.

--George L. Bogen, 54, North Bayou Black Road, Gibson, was arrested at 9:02 p.m. Monday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and maximum speed limit.

--Shamar T. Naverre, 21, Apple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:46 a.m. July 7 on a warrant alleging failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward City Court of Morgan City).

--Tonya L. Naverre, 43, Thomas Delpit, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 10:46 a.m. July 7 on a warrant alleging failure to pay restitution (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Alyessa L. Ashmore, 33, Front Street, Morgan City, was arrested at noon July 7 on a warrant alleging two counts of failure to appear (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Gary L. Durden, 49, Forrest Drive, Gibson, was arrested at 9:32 a.m. July 7 on a charge of disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

--Kyle Q. Rhett, 32, Gen. MacArthur, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. July 7 on a charge of failure to return a leased movable.

--Jonette Guidry, 44, Belanger Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:36 p.m. July 7 on a charge of resisting an officer (false information), possession of a legend drug and possession of marijuana.

--Heather L. Tyree, 50, Searcy, Arkansas, was arrested at 12:19 a.m. Saturday on charges of disturbing the peace (drunkenness) and smoking in hospitals.

--Junior Paz Alvarado, 19, Egle Mill Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:33 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and driver must be licensed.

--Rodney L. Carvin Sr., 56, Martin Luther King Street, Patterson, was arrested at 11:13 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and driving under suspension.

--Jamerie T. Gash, 20, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Sunday on a charge of no insurance and as a fugitive from the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to 37 complaints and made these arrests:

--Brodie William Boudreaux, 29, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:31 a.m. Monday on a Morgan City Police Department warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana and theft of a motor vehicle.

Boudreaux is being held for another agency.

--Douglas Baney Jr., 34, Berwick, was arrested at 3:55 p.m. Monday on a Lafourche Parish warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of molestation of a juvenile.
Baney is being held for another agency.

--Jordyn Ray Mccoy, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 4:41 p.m. Monday on four warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; flight from an officer; unlawful operation of an off-road vehicle; operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled; failure to stop or yield at a stop sign; and operating a vehicle with an expired license plate.

Bail has not yet been set.

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.
Sunday, July 9
5:12 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
8:10 a.m. 500 block of Federal Avenue; Animal complaint.
8:59 a.m. 5000 block of Railroad Avenue; Assistance.
9:16 a.m. Everett/Fifth streets; Suspicious subject.
9:35 a.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Arrest.
9:42 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Patrol.
10:13 a.m. 300 block of Greenwood Street; Medical.
11:10 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Removal of subject.
12:42 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Criminal damage to property.
1:03 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Theft.
1:04 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Juvenile complaint.
2:09 p.m. 1300 block of Nebraska Street; Disturbance.
3:46 p.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Complaint.
4:54 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Removal of subject.
5:10 p.m. 300 block of Pershing Street; Medical.
7:40 p.m. 1500 block of Filmore Street; Suspicious vehicle/person.
8:44 p.m. 100 block of Glenwood Street; Medical.
9:04 p.m. 800 block of Sacred Heart Drive; Complaint.
10:33 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Suspicious vehicle/person.
11:16 p.m. Area of Federal Avenue/Bowman Street; Suspicious vehicle/person.
12:10 a.m. 200 block of Brashear Avenue; Fireworks.
12:29 a.m. Area of Front Street ; Suspicious vehicle/person.
1:17 a.m. 800 block of Youngs Road ; Complaint.
2:44 a.m. Area of East Boulevard; Suspicious vehicle/person.
3:05 a.m. 600 block of Terrebonne Street; Armed robbery.
3:20 a.m. Area Railroad Avenue/First Street; Complaint.
4:37 a.m. Area of Railroad Avenue/East Boulevard; Complaint.