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Eight drug arrests, six DWIs by local police agencies

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 1:29pm
Staff Report

(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.)

Area law enforcement agencies reported eight arrests on drug-related charges between June 7 and Monday, as well as six drunken driving arrests, including four in Morgan City.

Morgan City

Police Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Larry T. Chester, 43, Greenwood Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:36 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging possession of a legend drug without a prescription.

--Jarrod Gaudet, 33, Aucoin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:12 p.m. Friday on charges of bicycle front lamps, side and rear reflectors required; possession of alprazolam; possession of temazepam; and possession of promethazine.

--Kerwing Benitez-Deleon, 23, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:27 a.m. June 7 on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Kendrick Burris, 29, Texarkana, Arkansas, was arrested at 6:12 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), hit and run, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and driving under suspension.

--Blake M. Vidos, 32, Karen Court, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:28 pm. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), no tail lamps and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

--Christopher Lopez, 22, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

--Christopher Cox, 53, East Basin Road, Mannford, Oklahoma, was arrested at 10:13 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

--Frank J. Sanson, 54, Vicknair Road, St. Martinville, was arrested at 2:07 a.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging three counts of failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and on a warrant alleging probation violation (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Lori E. Guyon, 34, James Street, Pierre Part, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Terry J. Rodrigue, 45, Wilson Street, Houma, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Saturday on charges of monetary instrument abuse and driving under suspension.

--Alexis J. Melendez-Davilia, 35, Robin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:16 pm. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear (16th Judicial District Court0.

--Christopher W. Allen, 45, Arkansas Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:55 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for drug court (16th Judicial District Court).

--Sheila C. Mouton, 54, Oak Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:16 a.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

--Mandi N. Hatfield, 35, Todd Lane, Morgan City, was arrested 11:42 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging two counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Marcus D Moore, 33, Dora Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. Monday on a charge of simple assault.

--Hennette Lege Hasings, 48, Morey Street, Patterson, was arrested at 11:47 a.m. Thursday on a charge of battery of emergency room personnel.

--Adrian Billiot, 41, Post Office Road, Belle Rose, was arrested at 8:52 p.m. Thursday on two counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported those arrests:

--Elton Landry, 61, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at midnight Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), improper lane usage and driving under suspension.

About 11:30 p.m. Friday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle on La. 182 for improper lane usage. Officers made contact with the driver, who was identified as Landry.

While speaking with Landry, impairment was detected. Landry was later placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he submitted a valid breath sample of 0.145g% BAC. Landry was booked.

--Weakless Leblanc, 53, Eldridge Road, Jeanerette, was arrested at 2:13 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense, refusal).

About 1:59 a.m. Sunday, an officer patrolling the La. 182 area observed a stalled vehicle. Officers stopped to check on the vehicle and made contact with Leblanc.

Leblanc showed signs of impairment, and an odor of alcohol was detected from his breath and person. Leblanc performed poorly on field sobriety testing and was placed under arrest.

He was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he refused to submit a breath sample. Leblanc was then booked.

--Alvin Durapau, 35, Parro Lane, Berwick, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia and on a Morgan City warrant alleging contempt of court.

--Ronald Hudgeons, 51, Deprima Street, Berwick, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, two taillights required and no driver’s license.

About 12:15 a.m. Monday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was observed to only have one working taillight. Officers made contact with the driver and passenger, who were identified as Hudgeons and Durapau.

During the course of the stop, consent was granted to search the vehicle, at which time methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia were located inside. It was learned that Durapau had active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department. Both were placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department for booking.

--Cory Leblanc, 41, Lagonda Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Thursday on a Berwick warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of resisting an officer.

On Thursday, officers traveled to the Patterson Police Department and located Leblanc, who was named in active warrants through the Berwick Police Department. Leblanc was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked.

--Gerson Santos-Garcia, 27, Hotard Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Thursday on a Berwick warrant alleging home invasion.

On May 24, officers responded to a complaint of a home invasion that occurred at a residence on Nicklaus Street. It was learned from the victim that Santos- Garcia was an ex-boyfriend and had arrived at the residence and forced his way inside.
While inside, Santos- Garcia committed a battery on another male subject. Santos-Garcia then left the scene, and warrants were prepared for his arrest. About 4 p.m. Thursday, 4 Santos-Garcia turned himself into the Berwick Police Department..

--Adrian Billiot, Texas Street, Berwick, was arrested at 6:51 p.m. Thursday on a Morgan City warrant alleging child desertion and improper supervision of a minor.

On June 8, officers made contact with Billiot at a residence on Texas Street, where it was learned that she had active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department. Billiot was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she was booked on the warrants and transported to the Morgan City Police Department.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:

--Fred Purnell Kenner, 36, Patterson, was arrested at 1:11 p.m. Sunday on charges of expired license plate; resisting arrest or officer; obstruction of justice (tampering); distribution, manufacturing or possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; expired driver’s license, transactions involving proceeds from a drug offense; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kenner was also arrested on two failure to appear warrants.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--Garnet Marie Collette, 57, Charenton, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. on a warrant alleging possession of marijuana and obstruction of justice. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Antoine David Booker, 38, Franklin, was arrested at 1:39 p.m. Friday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on a charge of child support. Bail was set at $9,815.69.

--Jordan Jamal Guilbeau, 26, Franklin, was arrested at 7:52 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding and no driver’s license. Bail was set at $443.50.

--Tommy James Vidos, 47, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:20 p.m. Sunday on a charge of theft and on an MCPD warrant alleging failure to appear. Vidos is being held for another agency.

--Michael Ray Payton, 35, Franklin, was arrested at 12:58 p.m. Sunday on a charge of second-degree battery and on a warrant alleging failure to appear. Bail has not been set at this time.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Eric Peltier, 43, Hamm Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:55 p.m. Saturday on charges of simple burglary, simple criminal damage to property, criminal trespassing, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and simple trespassing. Peltier was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Carl Trahan, II, 29, Gene Road, Erath, was arrested at 2:04 p.m. Friday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of stop signs and yield signs. Trahan was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

--Reynaldo Zelaya-Buezo, 28, Leona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:20 p.m. Friday on charges of speeding and driver must be licensed. Zelaya-Buezo was booked, processed and released on a $513 bond.

--Gable Jack, 63, Cole Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 12:47 p.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal mischief (filing a false report). Jack was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association scores

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 11:50am

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Spring League - 2023
Week 9
..................................W L
The Champs............44 37
Pole Chasers...........42.5 37.5
Whatever ................40.5 40.5
AARP Bandits..........40.5 40.5
Kool Kats..................38.5 42.5
Pit Bosses................37.5 44
High scratch point average: (30’) Tim Gilmore 80.8, Burnie Williams 68.1 and Jimmy Percle 61.6; and (40’) Dwain Arceneaux 51.0, Randy Giroir 46.8 and Dale Pearce 45.6.
High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 59.4, Williams 42.4 and Clyde Landry 42.0; and (40’) Arceneaux 34.3, Pearce 30.4 and Giroir 25.4.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 100, Williams 79 and Percle 76; and (40’) Pearce 66, Arceneaux 65, Jim Guzdial 60 and Travis Bourdier 60.
Most ringers: (one night) Gilmore 78, Landry 60, Williams 60 and Arceneaux 55; and (one game) Gilmore 32, Williams 23, Percle 22, Clay Canty 22, Landry 21 and Arceneaux 21.
High handicap game: Gilmore 112, Bourdier 111, Guzdial 109, Pearce 107, Julius Lovell 105 and Canty 102; most points one night: Gilmore 265, Williams 225, Landry 209, Percle 200 and Canty 196; and high game over average: Bourdier 26.8 and Mary Guzdial 15.7.
Best won-loss record: Williams 17-7, Gilmore 14-7, Landry 14-7, Warren Raymond 10-5, Bourdier 17-10 and Lovell 15-9; most points one night – team: Kool Kats 523 and Whatever 507; and most ringers one night – team: Kool Kats 140 and Whatever 133.

Morgan City police radio logs for June 8-12

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 11:40am

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.
Thursday, June 8
8:04 a.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
8:14 a.m. 1200 block of Clothilde Street; Lost and found property.
8:29 a.m. 1000 block of Levee Road; Animal complaint.
8:46 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
8:50 a.m. Seventh/Duke streets; Animal complaint.
9:26 a.m. Greenwood Street/Federal Avenue; Vehicle accident.
9:50 a.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
10:18 a.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Alarm.
10:29 a.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
10:36 a.m. 300 block of Chennault Street; Welfare concern.
11:21 a.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
12:52 p.m. 700 block of Front Street; Complaint.
1:31 p.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
1:44 p.m. 900 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
1:48 p.m. 800 block of Florida Street; Welfare concern.
2:16 p.m. 700 block of David Drive; Alarm.
2:21 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
2:52 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Warrant.
2:56 p.m. 100 block of Diane Street, Patterson; Assistance.
4:39 p.m. U.S. 90, Berwick; Assistance.
5:15 p.m. 1200 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
6:44 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Civil matter.
7:20 p.m. U.S. 90/Thorguson Eastbound; Traffic complaint.
7:21 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
8:31 p.m. 1000 block of Second Street; Found property.
8:41 p.m. 400 block of Lawrence Street; Medical.
8:50 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Accident.
9:27 p.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Suspicious subject.
9:40 p.m. La. 70/Lake End Park; Accident.
10:04 p.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Suspicious subject.
10:05 p.m. Railroad Avenue/Myrtle Street; Accident.
10:11 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
11:05 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
Friday, June 9
Midnight U.S. 90 Eastbound; Reckless operation.
12:26 a.m. Federal Avenue/Arenz Street; Suspicious subject.
12:28 a.m. Sandra/Cottonwood/Redwood streets; Suspicious vehicle.
12:35 a.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Juvenile problems.
1 a.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Stalled vehicle.
1:46 a.m. Seventh/Florence streets; Suspicious subject.
2:02 a.m. Roderick/Allison streets/Wytchwood Drive; Suspicious subject.
2:45 a.m. 1100 block of Front Street; Animal complaint.
2:57 a.m. 1000 block of Palm Street; Suspicious vehicle.
3:28 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Building check.
3:46 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Building check.
3:47 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Building check.
3:48 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Building check.
3:50 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Building check.
3:53 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Building check.
3:54 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Building check.
3:56 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Building check.
4:03 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Building check.
4:06 a.m. 1500 block of Sandra Street; Building check.
4:17 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Building check.
4:17 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Building check.
4:18 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Building check.
4:19 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
4:20 a.m. 800 block of Ninth Street; Building check.
4:21 a.m. 1000 block of Eighth Street; Building check.
4:23 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Building check.
4:54 a.m. 3100 block of Lake Palourde Drive; Medical.
5:25 a.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Alarm.
7:50 a.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
7:52 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
8:44 a.m. 600 block of Maine Street; Assistance.
9:01 a.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street; Medical.
9:17 a.m. Federal Avenue and Terrebonne Street; Arrest.
9:22 a.m. 1000 block of David Drive; Animal complaint.
10:14 a.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; 911 hang up.
10:29 a.m. 700 block of David Drive; Alarm.
10:39 a.m. U.S. 90; Complaint.
10:45 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Criminal damage to property.
1:07 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
1:15 p.m. 900 block of Palm Street; Assistance.
1:57 p.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Reckless operation.
3:03 p.m. 600 block of Willow Street; Medical.
3:17 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
3:21 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
3:23 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:59 p.m. 100 block of Mount Street; Medical.
5:07 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Crash.
5:56 p.m. 1600 block of Filmore Street; Medical.
6:24 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
7:07 p.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Animal complaint.
7:17 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
7:54 p.m. 600 block of Onstead Street; Medical.
8:33 p.m. Area of Greenwood/First streets; Complaint.
8:45 p.m. Area of Everett/Fourth streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:52 p.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Stalled vehicle.
9:06 p.m. 500 block of Lawrence Street; Removal of subject.
9:29 p.m. 2300 block of Maple Street; Complaint.
10:35 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:28 p.m. 1000 block of Marguerite Street; Fire.
Saturday, June 10
12:18 a.m. Area of Railroad Avenue/Idaho Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
12:19 a.m. Area of Sixth/Belanger streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:56 a.m. Area of Roderick Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:57 a.m. 600 block of Willow Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
2:10 a.m. Area of Greenwood/First streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
3:44 a.m. 2400 block of Apple Street; Disturbance.
6:14 a.m. 400 block of Garber Street; Disturbance.
6:46 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
8:15 a.m. 800 block of Duke Street; Civil.
9:27 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Two arrests.
10:54 a.m. 3200 block of Karen Drive; Medical.
10:55 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; 911 hang up.
11:39 a.m. 3000 block of Diane Drive; Welfare concern.
12:20 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Civil.
12:42 p.m. 800 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
12:56 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:57 p.m. Second and Onstead Street; Reckless operation.
1:49 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
3:13 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Reckless operation.
3:54 p.m. 700 block of Cottonwood Street; Alarm.
4 p.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; 911 hang up.
4:06 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Complaint.
5:24 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Crash.
5:54 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Alarm.
6:21 p.m. 400 block of Industry Road; Theft.
6:56 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Stalled vehicle.
7:03 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Complaint.
7:41 p.m. 700 block of General Hodges Street; Medical.
9:54 p.m. Area of Federal Avenue; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10 p.m. Area of Railroad Avenue; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10:30 p.m. Area of Railroad Avenue/Oak Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10:42 p.m. 800 block of Arkansas Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
11:27 p.m. 1100 block of Florence Street; Medical.
11:44 p.m. Area of Garber Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
Sunday, June 11
1:04 a.m. Area of La. 182/Duke Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:24 a.m. Area of General McArthur/Fourth streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:45 a.m. Area of Ditch Avenue/La. 182; Suspicious person/vehicle.
2:16 a.m. Area of Wytchwood/McDermott drives; Complaint.
2:34 a.m. Area of East Boulevard; Suspicious person/vehicle.
3:21 a.m. Area of Ida/Filmore streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
3:35 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Building check.
4 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
5:41 a.m. 600 block of Barrow Street; Vehicle accident.
7:40 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Criminal damage to property.
8:40 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
9:38 a.m. 2400 block of Pecan Street; Complaint.
10:37 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Complaint.
10:46 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Arrest.
11:24 a.m. 3000 block of Keith Street; Assistance.
11:43 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
12:18 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
1:11 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Juvenile complaint.
1:23 p.m. 300 block of Bowman Street; Crash.
1:24 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Disturbance.
2:08 p.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
2:09 p.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Medical.
2:20 p.m. 900 block of Short Street; Civil.
2:55 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
2:55 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless operation.
3:15 p.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Medical.
3:38 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
3:56 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Reckless operation.
5:28 p.m. Freret and Everett streets; Juvenile complaint.
5:32 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Medical.
6:16 p.m. 1900 block of McDermott Drive; Alarm.
7:35 p.m. 400 block of Levee Road; Welfare concern.
8:43 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up.
9:09 p.m. Area of Railroad Avenue/Headland Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
9:51 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
Monday, June 12
12:38 a.m. 800 block of Sixth Street; Welfare concern.
1:10 a.m. 1100 block of Front Street; Animal complaint.
1:33 a.m. 7900 block of La. 182; Suspicious person/vehicle.
2:12 a.m. 500 block of First Street; Disturbance.
5:08 a.m. 3100 block of Vine Drive; Complaint.

Bills signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards

Sat, 06/10/2023 - 3:59pm

Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed these bills from the 2023 Regular Legislative Session into law. You can look up bills by number at https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillSearch.aspx?sid=last.

ACT 108-HB34 Provides relative to the funding deposit account for Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System and authorizes the board of trustees of the system to modify employer contributions.
ACT 109-HB50 Designates the bridge located on Interstate 55 service road in Manchac between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain as the "Robert E. Mayers, Jr. Memorial Bridge."
ACT 110-HB57 Designates a portion of Louisiana Highway 657 in Larose, Louisiana, as the "Clarence Marts, Jr. Memorial Highway."
ACT 111-HB64 Provides relative to per diem and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Cameron Parish Library Board of Control.
ACT 112-HB67 Authorizes the University of Louisiana System to establish tuition and fees for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
ACT 113-HB80 Provides relative to the prior approval process available to potential suppliers.
ACT 114-HB83 Provides relative to toll exemptions for students traveling on ferries, roads, and bridges.
ACT 115-HB93 Provides relative to per diem paid to members of the governing board of Fire District No. 5 of Allen Parish.
ACT 116-HB111 Extends the tax exemption period for cigars and pipe tobacco products sampled at the Premium Cigar Association convention.
ACT 117-HB132 Provides relative to advertisement and sponsorship signs on property of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
ACT 118-HB138 Provides relative to administrative adjudication of certain ordinance violations in the city of DeRidder.
ACT 119-HB304 Prohibits an elected official who has retired or resigned from office from filling the vacancy his retirement or resignation created.
ACT 120-HB331 Provides relative to automatic weapons.
ACT 121-HB347 Provides relative to court costs and civil filing fees in Alexandria City Court.
ACT 122-HB356 Provides relative to compensation for Ouachita Parish hospital service district commission members.
ACT 123-HB368 Establishes the official state nut.
ACT 124-HB383 Requires each insurer subject to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association Law to provide for a data transfer plan and file such plan with the commissioner of insurance.
ACT 125-HB403 Authorizes substitution of certain biosimilar biological products relative to step therapy or fail first protocols.
ACT 126-HB488 Provides relative to inspections of riverboats.
ACT 127-HB524 Provides relative to distilleries.
ACT 128-HB644 Creates Affordable Digital Textbook and Learning Materials Pilot Programs.
ACT 129-HB647 Provides relative to manufacturing distillers of alcoholic beverages.
ACT 130-HB651 Provides relative to alcoholic beverage products for consumption off restaurant premises.
ACT 49-HB19 Provides relative to group insurance expenses of the clerk of court of Evangeline Parish.
ACT 50-HB28 Designates certain portions of highways in Iberia and St. Landry parishes.
ACT 51-HB30 Provides with respect to the salary of magistrate judges in the Fourteenth Judicial District Court.
ACT 52-HB49 Provides relative to transcription fees charged by court reporters in the Thirty-Sixth Judicial District.
ACT 53-HB72 Provides relative to the designation of military and veteran-friendly campuses.
ACT 54-HB73 Designates a portion of Louisiana Highway 433 in St. Tammany Parish as the "Captain Walter B. Abney Memorial Highway."
ACT 55-HB78 Provides relative to school facilities preservation and systemwide needs programs in certain school districts.
ACT 56-HB86 Creates the "Protect Teachers Act."
ACT 57-HB87 Provides relative to the board of commissioners of East Feliciana Gas Utility District No. 1.
ACT 58-HB124 Authorizes the sale or exchange of sixteenth-section state lands by the Cameron Parish School Board.
ACT 59-HB140 Provides relative to the Mid City Economic Development District in Orleans Parish.
ACT 60-HB142 Provides for the termination of custodial property under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
ACT 61-HB150 Increases certain fees for justice of the peace courts.
ACT 62-HB161 Changes local sales and use tax exemptions for commercial fishermen and certain seafood processing facilities from optional to mandatory.
ACT 63-HB191 Provides relative to teacher certification.
ACT 64-HB202 Provides relative to fees for the City Court of Hammond.
ACT 31-SB15 Provides relative to per diem received by commissioners of the Vinton Harbor and Terminal District.
ACT 32-SB17 Provides for the composition, terms, powers, and duties of the Shreveport police and firefighters' pension boards of trustees.
ACT 33-SB20 Provides relative to hospital service districts and scholarships for certain healthcare professionals.
ACT 34-SB24 Provides relative to the Louisiana Board for Hearing Aid Dealers.
ACT 35-SB29 Provides relative to the use of a surgical smoke plume evacuation system.
ACT 36-SB36 Provides for funding of certain insurance costs for retirees of the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office.
ACT 37-SB53 Provides for the powers and authority of the commission of the Cane River Waterway District.
ACT 38-SB55 Provides for procuration or mandate by a succession representative.
ACT 39-SB59 Authorizes the sale of certain school property by the Natchitoches Parish School Board and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
ACT 40-SB64 Creates Ezekiel's Law and provides relative to protecting children from abuse.
ACT 41-SB68 Provides for the lease of property located within Jefferson Parish.
ACT 42-SB98 Provides for adding interest in bone marrow donorship to the list of options offered during application for renewal of a state-issued driver's license.
ACT 43-SB100 Provides for advanced recycling facilities.
ACT 44-SB101 Provides for the distribution of funds from the Lafayette Parish Visitor Enterprise Fund.
ACT 45-SB113 Provides for certain insurance premium discounts.
ACT 46-SB115 Provides relative to educational benefits for children, spouses, and surviving spouses of certain veterans.
ACT 6-HB6 Extends deadline for annual January meetings of certain public postsecondary education boards.
ACT 7-HB7 Provides relative to default judgments.
ACT 8-HB11 Provides for contract limits for projects.
ACT 9-HB20 Provides relative to court costs for the City Court of Lake Charles.
ACT 10-HB27 Provides with respect to reporting of gaming revenue.
ACT 11-HB48 Provides relative to mayor's court costs.
ACT 12-HB110 Provides relative to fortified roof endorsements.
ACT 13-HB112 Provides relative to the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners.
ACT 14-HB133 Provides relative to the Prescription Monitoring Program Advisory Council.
ACT 15-HB171 Provides relative to requirements for dealers and marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales and use taxes.
ACT 16-HB194 Provides relative to post-adoption visitation rights of grandparents.
ACT 17-HB200 Provides relative to newborn screening for certain genetic conditions.
ACT 18-HB216 Authorizes certain military members stationed in Louisiana to serve as commissioners.
ACT 19-HB232 Provides relative to licensing and reporting procedures for charitable gaming.
ACT 20-HB248 Provides for the burial of pet remains with human remains.
ACT 21-HB256 Requires extension of the deadline to pay local sales taxes when the deadline for payment of the tax falls on certain holidays.
ACT 22-HB302 Provides relative to cemetery trust funds.
ACT 23-HB314 Provides relative to trained peer support members.
ACT 24-HB337 Eliminates the minimum child support award in the child support guidelines.
ACT 25-HB393 Provides relative to certain building code roofing inspections of a commercial or residential structure.

MCOFR weigh-in: Let the stories begin

Sat, 06/10/2023 - 3:23pm

The weigh-in is underway at Municipal Auditorium for Saturday's Morgan City Open Fishing Rodeo. The annual event, which raises money for education, drew 69 teams. The weigh-in was to continue until 4 p.m.

The Review/Bill Decker

Patterson council passes post--COVID budget, praises people who make a difference

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 10:48am
BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com

PATTERSON — The Council on Tuesday passed a fiscal 2024 budget that anticipates 12% less revenue than this year, but 17% less in expenses, too.

Like other local governments, Patterson is back to budgeting without some of the state and federal aid sent their way by state and federal authorities in the last couple of years. But next year’s budget has a $489,000 surplus, and anticipates no cuts in services or personnel, according to City Accountant Reginal Weary.

Also Tuesday, the council praised personnel who don’t work for the city but are making important contributions. They include the people who run the Park Street Park Easter egg hunt, a group of Patterson High freshmen who are learning something as they prepare to enter a tournament in Houston, a woman who has worked at the Center of Hope for four decades, and an 8-year-old Cub Scout who turned herself into a one-girl anti-litter campaign.

The council normally meets at 6 p.m. each first Tuesday at City Hall. But the next meeting will be July 11 to avoid a conflict with Independence Day.

The budget

The 2024 budget passed unanimously Tuesday foresees total revenues of $8.7 million, down from $10 million this year. Spending is expected to hit $8.2 million in 2024, down from $10.0 million in 2023.

The biggest component of the $1.3 million drop in revenue is $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act money that the city received for 2023 but won’t have next year, Weary told the council.

On the spending side, some capital projects are also coming off the books, including the last of the work on Morey Park improvements, Weary said.

Mayor Rodney Grogan said Patterson might be in line for more federal grants if city residents had had a higher participation rate in the 2020 Census. The census showed Patterson with a population of 5,931, down 3% from 2010.

Like his colleagues in Morgan City and Berwick, Grogan believes his city’s population was undercounted in the pandemic-plagued 2020 head count. And if the population was undercounted, the median household income was overestimated, he believes.

With overestimated wealth and an underestimated population, “we have to live with it for eight or nine years,” Grogan said.

The city budgeted for an increase in tax revenue of about $220,000 to $3.6 million and a $119,000 hike in utility services income to $4.1 million.

Anticipated spending is down from 2023 in all seven expenditure categories, including police (down $104,000 to $1.9 million), fire (down $145 million to $606,000) and capital outlay (down $671,000 to $345,000).

The city government isn’t finished yet with state- and federally -funded projects.

Patterson has qualified for a $1.5 million federal grant, which will require a 25% city match, and $2.53 million in state capital funding for improving sewer service capacity south of the railroad tracks.

The sewer system upgrade is needed to accommodate development south of the tracks. But the rules governing the grants mean Patterson can improve the system but not replace it, a sore point for the mayor.

“If we’re going to get $4 million, we should go with state of the art,” Grogan said.

After the meeting, Grogan pointed to the city’s experience with a new water plant. Upgrading the old plant would have cost $11 million, he said, but building a new, modern plant cost only $6 million.
Grogan is hoping an agreement can be reached to allow for a replacement rather than an upgrade of the existing sewer service south of the tracks.

Also Tuesday, the council made another preparation for growth by introducing an ordinance that would update definitions in the zoning code, part of an extensive overhaul of the city’s zoning rules.

Kudos

The council also offered and received praise Tuesday.

—Amelle Dupre, 8, the daughter of Lonie and Brittny Dupre, was praised by Grogan for picking up three large bags of litter along Tiffany Street on May 21, a Sunday.

“At the end of the day,” Grogan said, “when you picked up the garbage that people just threw away, it helps you respect your community, right?”

The mayor posted pictures of her project on the city’s Facebook page.

“You went viral,” Grogan told her.

—Arc of St. Mary/Center of Hope Director Kristal Hebert introduced the council to Sarah Charlot.

The center provides training and employment for St. Mary residents with developmental disabilities.

Charlot has worked at the center for 40 years.

—Councilwoman Mamie Perry and her council colleagues recognized members of the St. Mary Parish Elite basketball team, which will compete in the Juneteenth Shootout in Houston June 16-18.

Team members have played together since Biddy Basketball and are now freshmen.

Cordale Mobley, who coaches the team along with Tron Triggs and Carlton McGuire, said leading the team is about more than basketball.

“We try to get them going in the right direction,” Mobley said.

The team plans a fundraising can shake 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday on Catherine Street.

—Members of the Patterson New Age organization thanked the City Council for its support.
New Age is involved in a variety of activities, the most visible of which is the annual Easter egg hunt.

Also Tuesday:

—The council approved an agreement with Acadian Ambulance. Acadian will occupy a room at the old city hall for $400 per month, with the city government paying for utilities.

—The council passed a resolution supporting National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

Legislature passes budget in wild finish, trims teacher raise

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 10:34am
ALLISON ALLSOP, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – Under a compromise approved in the chaotic closing minutes of the spring session Thursday, state lawmakers limited a $2,000 pay increase for teachers to a one-year stipend and cut $100 million from what the Senate had sought for the Louisiana Department of Health.

Those moves came even though legislators had more than $2 billion of revenue at their disposal beyond what had originally been expected to supplement both the current budget and one for the fiscal year starting July 1.

In the deal, lawmakers also added back more than $40 million for early childhood education programs and $25 million for extra differential pay for teachers in demand areas like math and science.

The final votes came with angry lawmakers demanding to know what had happened with the teacher pay raises and the health cuts and objecting strenuously that they did not know the details of the bills they were voting on.

The package of budget bills includes hundreds of million for roads and bridges, health care and higher education as well as money to pay down state debt.

The House voted 95-9 to approve the final version of House Bill 1, the state operating budget negotiated by a conference committee made up of members from each chamber. The Senate passed it 35-3.

But as lawmakers heard a few of the details of the final agreements only 20 minutes before the session expired, some demanded to know why the teacher pay raise was not made permanent and how House members could have slipped in the $100 million cut in health spending.

Sen. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, and a long-time educator, called the failure to make the teacher pay raise permanent an insult to teachers.

“The budget has come back in horrible, horrible condition,” he said.

Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, the chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, said he could not understand how the Health Department budget could have been cut at the last minute when the state has so much extra money. Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, responded that House members insisted on the cut.

It was not immediately clear which health programs would be cut or whether the reduction would cause a corresponding loss in federal funding.

As House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzalez, rushed members from one vote to another as the clock ticked down to the 6 p.m. end of the session, conservative Republicans lashed out at him for refusing their demands about voting procedures.

“Mr. Speaker, you have to follow the rules of the House,” Rep. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, the leader of the House Republican Delegation, shouted. “ Noone is above the rules of the House, not even yourself.”

Conservatives in the House had battled for most of the two-month session to hold onto expenditure limits under a formula that caps legislative spending in an effort to reduce the size of the budget.

But Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and Senate leaders teamed up to pressure House members to lift the cap and allow up to $250 million of the extra funds to be spent this year’s and $1.4 billion to be spent next year.

At a press briefing after the session ended, Edwards said the late cut in the Health Department budget came as a “complete surprise” to him and could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in related federal funding.
He also criticized the increasing partisanship at the Capitol.

"You heard me say this before: we're not Washington D.C.,” he said. “We're moving in that direction, and that is not a good thing."

Earlier in the session, Edwards had proposed a $3,000 pay increase for teachers that would continue in future years. House Republicans wanted to use part of the windfall to pay off state and local debts for the teachers’ retirement program, ostensibly freeing up money for parishes to decide whether to give raises to their teachers.

Education leaders placed ongoing pay raises of $2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for support staff in the Minimum Foundation Program, a formula for allocating funding to school districts.

But late Thursday, lawmakers ignored that plan and rewrote the raise into the budget, thus turning the increases into one-time stipends. Some members said they would try again next year to make the raises permanent.

As the session came to an end, some lawmakers said $44 million had been added back into the budget for early childhood education programs.

Edwards’ original budget proposal had included $52 million for the programs to help replace some of the federal funds being lost for that. Administration officials had said $52 million would have helped to retain only a quarter of the 16,000 subsidized seats for children that were created during the pandemic.

The Senate’s budget had reduced that to $14 million, which would have funded about 1,120 seats, while the House budget had cut that funding to zero.

House Bill 1 is the main budget bill for fiscal year 2024. Lawmakers also passed HB 2, which outlined construction and infrastructure projects for next year, and HB560, which provides for any remaining spending the legislature wishes to use for this year. Other supplemental bills made up the rest of the budget.

Governor says he expects to veto LGBTQ+ bills

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 10:24am
ALLISON ALLSOP, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards said he expects to veto three anti-LGBTQ+ bills passed in the legislative session that ended Thursday.

The bills—limiting health care for transgender minors, the use of alternate pronouns and classroom mentions of sexuality—were part of a push by conservative politicians around the country.

“Let’s focus on the real problems,” Edwards said in a post-session news conference. “Let’s don’t pick on very small minorities who have been in comprised of the most vulnerable, fragile children in our state, those most likely to engage in suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts. There’s nothing great in that.”

But Edwards, a Democrat, also expressed confusion about why the NAACP had issued a travel advisory for Louisiana, warning people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals that the state may not be safe for them in light of the legislation.

Edwards said that because those bills have not become law yet, he did not understand the need for the NAACP’s action, nor did he support it.

Edwards’ comments came shortly after state lawmakers passed a $45 billion budget package that limited a $2,000 pay increase for teachers to a one-year stipend and included a last-minute cut of $100 million from the proposed allocation for the Louisiana Department of Health.

Those moves came even though legislators had more than $2 billion of revenue at their disposal beyond what had originally been expected to supplement both the current budget and one for the fiscal year starting July 1.

The budget bills had gone through conference committees made up of just a few members of both chambers. The reports listing the final changes were not released until the last hour of the session, angering some lawmakers who had to then vote on the bills quickly.

Edwards said he was blindsided by the $100 million reduction for the Health Department. He said no one reached out to him or his office.

He said he will do everything in his power to lessen the impact of the cut, which also could trigger a loss of related federal funds.

In a separate news conference, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, said legislative leaders had not intended to bring the bills at the last minute. He said that was just how it happened. He said staff had worked all night and day to get the bills ready.

In the closing minutes of the session, several lawmakers had expressed frustration with the speaker as he pushed through the votes with little discussion.

“Mr. Speaker, you have to follow the rules of the House,” Rep. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, the leader of the House Republican Delegation, shouted. “No one is above the rules of the House, not even yourself.”

Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, said the cut in the health budget came because House negotiators had insisted on dedicating more money to reducing state pension debt.

The pay raises for K-12 educators--$2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for support workers—became one-year stipends because many lawmakers did not support other aspects of a spending plan put together by education leaders.

Since legislators refused to pass the larger plan, the raises did not become permanent. Some lawmakers said they would revisit that issue next year.

Congressional redistricting was also a point for Edwards during his news conference.

The U.S. Supreme Court released a decision on an Alabama redistricting case Thursday. The Court decided that Alabama would be required to create a second majority-minority district. Louisiana is facing a similar lawsuit over redistricting maps the Legislature created last year.

A lower court had already ordered Louisiana lawmakers to redraw the maps to include a second majority-minority district, but lawmakers did not do so. The case was put on hold by the Supreme Court until the Alabama case was heard.

Edwards called the Supreme Court ruling—and the likelihood that Louisiana maps will be revisited--a win for the people of Louisiana who believe in simple math and basic fairness.

Senate President Page Cortez maintained, however, that Louisiana’s case was different from what he had read about Alabama’s.

“There’s a lot of legal roads to travel long before we would ever be called back into a special session,” Cortez said.

Edwards said that a special session to redraw the maps may not be called depending on how much patience the court has with the Legislature. A federal district judge had proposed possible new maps last year.

Edwards said that the Legislature had its chance and does not know if it will get another.

LEVE REVERE

Fri, 06/09/2023 - 10:15am

Leve Revere, 88, a longtime resident of Patterson, LA passed away June 5, 2023.

Leve was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Boudreaux Revere; parents, Allemond Revere and Mabel “Mae” Richard Revere; and brother, Joseph Allemond Revere (Jay).

He is survived by his daughters, Cheryl Revere Jones (Keith Savoie) of Patterson, LA, Kim Revere Carriere (Terry Carriere) of Carencro, LA and Debbie Revere Ferri (the late Guy Ferri) of Tampa, FL; Sisters, Earline Boudreaux of Maurice, LA, Margie Courville (Bob Courville) of Eunice, LA; Sister in Law, Jean Lanclos of Beaumont, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

An intimate service will be held at Leve’s home with family on Saturday, June 17th, at 10 a.m. Proceeding directly afterwards, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., we welcome ALL who knew and loved Leve to stop by and visit and share your story or favorite memory of him with his girls in his backyard, his “Cajun Paradise.” (407 Broussard St., Patterson, LA).

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support for our family during this difficult time.

Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1111 Lia Street, Patterson, LA 70392, (985) 395-7873.

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