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(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 this week on stolen property and drug charges. In Franklin, police made arrests on assault, battery and fighting charges.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reports that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 71 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Jonathon Paul Myers, 29, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:06 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Larry Gilmore Blanchard Jr., 48, Belle River Road, Pierre Part, was arrested at 2:47 p.m. Wednesday as a fugitive from the Assumption Paris Sheriff’s Office.

---Christopher B. Allen, 50, Magnolia Drive, Rayville, was arrested at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and improper lighting.

--Jason R. Cavalier. 45. Cremo Street, Patterson, was arrested at 1:31 p.m. Tuesday on charges of illegal possession of stolen things (under $1,000) and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant alleging four counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court.).

St. Mary

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

--Cody John Allemand, 35, Gray, was arrested at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday on a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II drug and possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug Allemand is being held for another agency.

--Nickolas James Morris II, 35, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:23 p.m. Wednesday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging failure to appear, a Morgan City Police Department warrant and a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant.

Bail has not been set at this time on the SMPSO warrant, and Morris is being held for other agencies.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that over the last 48-hour reporting period, the Franklin Police Department responded to 18 complaints and made these arrests:

--Akirra Williams, 24, Eighth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:59 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of aggravated assault. Williams was booked, processed and released on a $1,500 bond.

--Loneather Clarks, 43, Oakdale Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:07 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft. Clarks was booked, processed and released on a $1,500 bond.

--Javinnie Austin, 18, Verdun Lane, Franklin, was arrested on May 24, 2023, at 2:38 PM, on the charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Austin was booked, processed, and released on a $1,000 bond.

--Xavier Clark, 18, of Roy's Lane, Franklin, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Clark was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

--Bianca McDaniel, 31, Robertson Street,, Franklin, was arrested at 3:19 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging theft. McDaniel was booked, processed and released on a $1,500 bond.

--Victor Depass, 64, Eighth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:32 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of simple battery. Depass was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

--Monica Druilhet, 18, Robert Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:16 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Druilhet was booked, processed and released on a $1,000 bond.

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.
Tuesday, May 23
5:50 a.m. 1100 block of Front Street; Alarm.
7:39 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Criminal damage.
8:56 a.m. Elm/Marguerite streets; Accident.
8:59 a.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Trespassing.
9:30 a.m. Marguerite Street/La. 70; Reckless operation.
9:55 a.m. 700 block of Louisiana Street; Suspicious vehicle.
10:34 a.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Animal complaint.
11:00 a.m. Brownell Homes; Complaint.
11:16 a.m. 300 block of Adams Street; Medical.
12:13 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Fire alarm.
12:20 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
12:54 p.m. 7100 block of Park Road; Harassment.
1:17 p.m. 6700 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
2:02 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Theft.
2:10 p.m. 600 block of Bush Street; Theft.
2:12 p.m. Wyandotte Subdivision; Suspicious subject.
2:23 p.m. U.S. 90 Westbound/Federal Avenue; Stalled vehicle.
3:21 p.m. Duke Street/Federal Avenue; Traffic complaint.
5:03 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
5:26 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Suspicious vehicle.
8:22 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Arrest.
9:04 p.m. 300 block of Adams Street; Patrol.
10:20 p.m. 1400 block of Second Street; Patrol.
11:20 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Suspicious vehicle.
Wednesday, May 24
2:02 a.m. Ellzey Street and Federal Avenue; Suspicious subject.
2:12 a.m. La. 182 and David Drive; Warrant.

DEAR ABBY: I married a recovering addict, and for years he did great. We made a lovely home and family together. Then one of my husband’s drug buddies (a woman) resurfaced. My husband had an affair, went down that nasty road again and did some very cruel things to destroy our marriage. We have been married 19 years and separated for the last three, with a divorce pending.
My husband now wants to make amends. He’s in a rehab program, but I’m reluctant. We have been on a few dates, and I have real concerns about what will happen when we run into the other woman. I asked her at least six times to go away and stay away.
How should I expect him to react when we run into her? She’s deeply embedded in his social circle, far more than I ever was because I don’t care for the debauchery lifestyle. He promises he has cut ties with everyone in that circle. But I know it’s only a matter of time until we run into her.
ANGRY AND HURT IN GEORGIA

DEAR ANGRY: You are rightfully hurt and angry, but if reconciling is going to work out well, it’s important you’re assured that he isn’t still carrying a torch for her.
You would be wise (and less confrontational) if you ask your almost-ex-husband how he plans to react should he encounter her, rather than dictate how he should do it. He’s in rehab and trying to rebuild his life after the mess he made of it. I see no reason to create a scene if your paths cross. A courteous hello AND GOODBYE should suffice.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 57-year-old male. I have no children, and I was forced to move back in with my mother to start my life over again. I divorced my wife because she was cheating.
I have a cousin from Alabama who is 30. I love her dearly. She’s my favorite cousin, and I have begun having feelings for her. I think it may be my body’s way of telling me it wants to procreate and leave a legacy. I feel guilty about these thoughts and feelings. In my heart, I believe they are shameful. These thoughts are something I must take to my grave and never act upon. But the urge is growing stronger and it’s becoming a losing battle.
Telling her (or anyone else in my family) my true feelings would be a terrible thing for me to do. Can you please help me rid myself of these feelings for her? I will take any advice into consideration.
ASHAMED IN TENNESSEE

DEAR ASHAMED: In some (not all) states, marriage between cousins is legal. Tennessee and Alabama happen to be two of them. Your cousin may be 27 years younger, but at 30, she’s a grown woman. Do you have any indication of whether your feelings are reciprocated? Sometimes the feelings we suppress only make them grow stronger. A way to resolve this would be to express them.
If your cousin doesn’t share your affection, bear in mind that all women are not cheaters, as your wife was, and start to build a new life while you look for a suitable companion in your community.
***
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Here’s one you can put under the old headline “local boy does good,” except that he only recently became local by federal decree, and we don’t know how much good he’s going to do yet.

He is U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, who since the post-2020 Census reapportionment has represented three precincts in and around Morgan City as part of his 6th Congressional District.

Redistricting put Graves in Morgan City. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy put Graves in the position where he now finds himself: a top Republican negotiator in the knock-down-drag-out over the federal debt ceiling, deep spending cuts and a potential federal default.

Apparently not one to brag, Graves (his staff, actually) has placed on his website, under the heading “news releases,” dispatches about the winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition, legislation to expand access to truck-driving as a career, and an effort to mint a commemorative coin to honor NASCAR’s 75th anniversary.

There’s nothing to remark on Graves’ role in the budget negotiations. There’s certainly nothing with a headline that says, “Dude! Who’s the man?”

We could almost forgive him if there was. He’s had quite the job.

The mess du jour has to do with the legal limit on federal borrowing: the debt ceiling. That ceiling at present is about $31 trillion, and we’ve hit it.

Some fancy juggling at the Treasury Department has pushed the drop-dead date back a few weeks. But officials quoted in the national media, including Treasury Secretary and former Fed Chair Janet Yellen, figure the plates start hitting the floor about June 1.

So there would be no more borrowing for our deficit-financed government. That could bring on all sorts of calamities, from a downgrading of U.S. debt by rating agencies to an empty mailbox when Grandma’s expecting her Social Security check.

House Republicans want a little something for going along with a debt ceiling hike. They want cuts in discretionary spending.

The GOP notes that spending and the debt have risen sharply in recent years. The federal debt was around $18 trillion when President Donald J. Trump took office. Now it’s over $31 trillion after all the federal spending during the COVID pandemic, not to mention the Trump tax cut, which Democrats would like to make part of the discussion.

The Democrats have forgotten the hard-learned lessons of the 1970s, Republicans say, and the result has been the highest inflation in the four decades since.

Democrats, meanwhile, tend to believe that the recovery from the Great Recession was slow and balky because Uncle Sam was too stingy. Besides, they say, the inflation rate is back below 5% and heading slowly down.

So that’s what Graves has been dealing with as a negotiator.

On May 16, it was Graves who was quoted in the national press as saying there are areas where agreement is possible, including changes in the energy production permitting process, a spending cap, reclaiming unspent funds set aside for COVID relief and work requirements for some federal aid programs.

On Friday, it was Graves who told reporters that negotiations were “on pause,” which he blamed on White House stubbornness.

Since then, McCarthy and President Joe Biden agreed to meet in person beginning Monday. Bringing in the expensive suits could mean that the situation is desperate. Or it could mean a deal is within reach, and the big names are coming in for the triumphant photo op.

Even when he was the public face of the negotiations, Graves hasn’t acted like a headline-grabber, something sure to go down well with McCarthy. An interview with
Graves was conspicuously absent from a weekend Washington Post story on his role in the budget deal.

The Post hauled out the ancient trope about work horses and show horses. Graves is, the newspaper said, decidedly a work horse with a reputation for mastering of policy details.

“Graves’s success in helping find consensus among Republicans to elect McCarthy speaker and corralling the disparate ideological factions of the conference during the
first several months of this year — a daunting task by any measure — is why McCarthy’s allies say Graves, 51, is the obvious pick to represent Republicans in ongoing negotiations with the White House,” said the Post.

Bill Decker is managing editor of the Morgan City Review.