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St. Mary Parish students receive SLCC scholarships

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 10:55am

Staff Report

St. Mary Parish residents shared in more than $86,000 in scholarships awarded by South Louisiana Community College for the Spring 2023 semester.

“Through the generosity of companies and individuals in Acadiana, these students will have a portion or nearly all of their tuition paid,” SLCC said in a press release.

“These scholarships give students a critical ‘hand up’ on the necessary financial resources to meet their goals of attending and completing their college education,” said Lana Fontenot, SLCC Foundation executive director. “Through generous support from our partners across Acadiana, our students are positioned to achieve their goals with a significantly reduced financial burden.”

Recipients include a varied mix of majors at SLCC, from registered nursing and nondestructive testing technology to general studies and information technology.

The donors are also a diverse group, with many tracing their careers back to SLCC, like TJ Johnson. She started the Women in IT Scholarship because she wanted more women to enter the male-dominated field; Johnson hopes her scholarship will inspire them to follow their own path.

“It can be hard thriving in an environment where no one looks like you,” Johnson said. “That’s why I started the Women in IT scholarship.

“I want to encourage more women to finish their IT-based degree and to join the path I was so fortunate to travel. Supporting our SLCC students is an important endeavor for me. Someone was there for me when I was a student and I want to be a helping hand to someone else. These students are our future.”

A reception was held Wednesday at the Health and Sciences Auditorium on the SLCC Lafayette Campus.

The St. Mary scholarship recipients are:

--Jamika Mitchell, registered nursing major, Centerville.
--Oliver Adams, Charles Roe Scholarship, information technology, Morgan City
--Shondra Louviere, Community First Bank Scholarship, business major, Franklin
—Brianna LeBlanc, H&B Young Foundation Scholarship, practical nursing, Patterson.
--Aubreigh Broussard, H&B Young Foundation Scholarship, practical nursing major, Morgan City
--Dhakari Washington, Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo Scholarship, diving major, Morgan City
--Kayla Alleman, Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo Scholarship, practical nursing g major, Morgan City
--Seth Baham, Morgan City Oilfield Fishing Rodeo Scholarship, business major, Morgan City

John K. Flores: The story behind catching a record bass

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:30am

JOHN K. FLORES

Fishing in 18 to 20 feet of water, Bill Cook crawled his lure along the bottom when he saw a fish come up and eat it.

He instantaneously felt the strike and set the hook. That’s when Cook told his partner he better get the net because the bass didn’t hardly move when he set the hook.

Cook, a Houston resident, didn’t know it at the time, but he was about to break the Toledo Bend Lake record that had gone untouched for over 22 years.

You have to go back a full week, when Cook was fishing a Bass Fishing League tournament in the same spot to understand how he was able to connect with the huge fish.

The BFL tournament was a pro-amateur format meaning Cook had a co-angler. His co-angler caught an 11 pounder and not long afterwards a 5 pounder.

Cook’s co-angler then said, “Mr. Bill, do you have an Alabama rig?”

Laughing, Cook replied, “I sure do. It’s on my favorite rod laying up against the wall in my garage.”

Cook says his co-angler’s good fortune showed him he had a really good spot. The next weekend at the Bass Champs tournament Cook was prepared. He brought his Alabama rig.

For those unfamiliar with an Alabama rig, it’s a lure that has a head and five wires that deploy like an umbrella. On each wire a 3- or 4-inch swim bait and hook can be attached. When fished correctly it resembles a school of minnows or shad.

The lure itself weighs 2 or 3 ounces and when various plastics and hooks are added, it becomes a heavy bait. Heavy baits take heavy equipment. Cook was using a 7’11” Big Swimbait Rod loaded with 50 pound test braided line.

With the huge fish hooked, the next few minutes were a bit chaotic.

Cook said, “I told him to get the net and he said, ‘where is it.’ Underneath your seat I told him. So, I started bringing the fish in and he said, ‘I can’t find the net.’ So, I said come up here and lip him. It’s a real big fish so you need to hurry up.”

Cook’s co-angler was finally able to locate the net and after the bass had made two or three big runs, he dipped it and said, “My God! I can barely pick it up and put it in the boat.”

Cook says they knew they had a good fish but didn’t have any idea it’d be 15 plus pounds. At the weigh in the fish weighed a whopping 15.67 pounds, besting Eric Weems’ 15.32 pound largemouth bass caught in July 2000.

Putting Cook’s big bass in perspective by comparing it to the top 10 fish registered in the Louisiana State Fish Records, the first thing you’ll note is there are no Toledo Bend Lake bass listed. Second, every fish in the top 10 is over 15 pounds.

Should Cook choose to enter his Toledo Bend largemouth bass in the state records it will place fourth, .30 pounds out of first place, .20 pounds out of second place and .15 pounds out of third place.

Cook caught a 9 pounder and his first 10 pound bass on Sam Rayburn Reservoir just last year. What’s more, over the years says he has caught a couple of 8s, along with plenty of 6s and 7s. Yet, Cook thinks with all of the modern-day electronics and skill of some of the young bass fishermen, his record won’t last long.

Cook, 78, said, “When bass get over 8 pounds they start getting pretty rare. I’ve been doing this tournament fishing for 50 years and you never, ever, think about catching a lake record you know. You just try to catch the biggest fish you can and try to get a limit. As far as thinking you’re going to catch a lake record — it just never enters your mind.”

The Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program began in 1992 and is currently run by the Toledo Bend Lake Association. The organization presents lunker bass replicas to anglers for releasing bass weighing a minimum of 10 pounds back into the lake.

This winter, Toledo Bend has been on fire. Since the beginning of January 2023, there have been 15 lunkers caught of which Cooks’ tops the list through mid-February.

Cook said, “It’s a pretty big treat for me especially. I’m 78 and in good health and this is my home lake.

To be able to do that on the home lake is pretty special — especially at this stage of my career.”

John Flores is the Morgan City Review’s outdoor writer. He can be contacted at gowiththeflo@cox.net.

JOHN JOSEPH LANDRY, SR.

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:26am

March 11, 1937 — February 27, 2023

John Joseph Landry, Sr., 85, native of Bayou L’Ourse and resident of Morgan City, Louisiana, passed away on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma surrounded by his loving family. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City.

John was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend. He was affectionately known to many as “Uncle Buck.” He loved his family dearly and gave of himself to his community and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His great sense of humor and generous and loving soul will remain in the hearts and minds of all who knew him along with each life that he touched in his own special way. All those who knew him loved him. His compassion, gentle spirit and kindness touched the lives of so many. John loved to fish with family and friends then host a fish fry for everyone.

He was the founder of Gulfland Office Supplies, Inc. in 1967 and owned and operated that family business for 34 years.

He was the son of the late John L. Landry and Levie Theriot Landry. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Lynn Berniard Landry of Morgan City, to whom he was married for 47 years. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Cyrus, Sr., Bernie and Lloyd Landry and sister, Leona L. Deroche, nephews, Bruce, Bernard and Cyrus, Jr. and niece, Helen. Also preceding John in death was our little angel, granddaughter Jordan Elizabeth.

He is survived by his children, Rene’ and partner, John C. LeBlanc, Jr. of Baton Rouge, Paul and wife Kimberly L. Landry, John, Jr. and wife Loretta A. Landry, and Adrianne Landry Henry, all of Morgan City. Special recognition goes to Adrianne, who provided loving care for him in his final few years. He is also survived by his very special friend, Nedra Tabor. John is also survived by his grandchildren, Tony, Nichole, Jessica, Alyssa, Danielle, John Christopher, Paul, Jr. and Gregory along with his great-grandchildren, Landry, Ella, Smith, Evie, Henry and Layla Lynn. Also surviving him is his sister-in-law, Ann Gill of San Clemente, California and her children along with several other nieces and nephews.

The family received visitors from 6-9 p.m., Thursday, March 2 at Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City. Visitation resumed from 8-11:00 a.m. Friday, March 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with mass at 11:00 a.m. conducted by Father Brett Lapeyrouse. A Christian burial followed at the Morgan City Mausoleum.

Pallbearers to serve were Tony Malbrough, Paul Landry, Jr., Gregory Landry, John Christopher Henry, Michael Landry and Arthur Lee Mayers. The family also acknowledges his many close friends (far too many to list here) to be honorary pallbearers who will assist in carrying him to heaven.'

In lieu of flowers, your sentiments may also be expressed by donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice.

CLARENCE ROBINSON SR.

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:22am

-Clarence Robinson Sr., 90, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at his residence.

Visitation will be Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Morgan City. Burial will be in the Morgan City Mausoleum.

He is survived by children, Jowanda Tillman of Morgan City, Venita Henderson of Gretna, Sanford Robinson and Suzzette Allen, both of Patterson, and Clarence Robinson Jr. of Berwick; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife, mother, a brother and a son.

Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Allain files bills that would reduce business taxes

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:19am

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Louisiana lawmakers have prefiled dozens of bills six weeks out from 2023 Regular Legislative Session, including several that failed to become law in prior sessions.

State legislators are preparing for a 2023 session that will begin on April 10 and run through June 8..

Bills submitted to the upper chamber include Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, to repeal the corporate franchise tax and provide a means to resolve outstanding tax credits.

Allain has also sponsored Senate Bill 2, a constitutional amendment to phase out the tax on inventory and establish the maximum allowable exemption for the industrial property tax exemption program.
SB2 would cap the maximum exemption at 60% of the assessed valuation for ad valorem taxes imposed by school boards, and at 80% for “any other local taxing authority.”

Other Senate tax bills include Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, to exempt certain real estate investment trusts from the corporate franchise tax, and Senate Bill 10, also sponsored by Foil, to increase the individual income tax exemption for certain education savings accounts for tuition expenses at elementary and secondary schools.

Senate President Patrick Page Cortex, R-Lafayette, and Sen. Ed Price, D-Gonzalez, are also co-sponsoring Senate Bill 18 to provide benefit increases with funding for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors of state retirement systems.

In the House, Rep. Rhonda Butler, R-Evangeline, reintroduced legislation to create education scholarship accounts for students with disabilities to attend nonpublic schools, House Bill 9, which mirrors a measure approved by lawmakers but vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2022.

Last year’s legislation, House Bill 194, was backed by the Pelican Institute with broad support from both Democrats and Republicans, but Edwards argued it and other education savings account bills

“Would potentially divert Minimum Foundation Program funds (state education funding) for students to attend non-public schools.” He alleged in his veto message the scholarships would “allow the children of wealthy parents to attend private schools subsidized by taxpayer dollars.”

Other education bills include House Bill 12, sponsored by Rep. Richard Nelson, R-Mandeville, to prohibit students with reading deficiencies from advancing to the fourth grade, and House Bill 32, sponsored by Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Jefferson, to increase income tax deductions for elementary and secondary education like tuition and homeschooling expenses from $5,000 to $6,000 per year.

The former cleared the House last session but did not gain approval in the Senate.

Rep. Candace Newell, D-New Orleans, also reintroduced legislation to regulate marijuana that failed to gain traction in 2022.

Newell’s reintroduced House Bill 24 would decriminalize the possession and distribution of marijuana contingent upon the legislature adopting a regulatory system and sales tax. Newell also introduced House Bill 17 to propose a regulatory framework for marijuana.

Other prefiled bills in the lower chamber involve changes to the state’s Mega Projects Leverage Fund, a measure to outlaw employment discrimination based on gender identity, immunization requirements
in schools, gaming revenue reports, and carbon dioxide sequestration projects, among other issues.

Vinyl Radio will perform here Monday

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:15am

Vinyl Radio will bring classic Seventies radio melodies to life at 7 p.m. Monday in the fourth performance of the 2022-23 Morgan City Concert Association series.

The concert will be at the Morgan City Auditorium’s Schreier Theatre. Tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for students. For more ticket information, go to morgancitylive.com/tickets/ .

Promotional material describes Vinyl Radio as ” vocal power with a righteous regard for the great Rock-n-Roll music classics.”

The group performs music from the Eagles, America, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Doobie Brothers, and more, delivering “the harmonies and melodies of classic ‘70s radio.”

Remaining on the Morgan City Concert Association bill for the remainder of the season are:

--Hi Tide on March 30. The duet performs classic pop covers with an island flair.

--Hits and Grins on April 20. The trio includes Grammy-nominated songwriters and a Country Music Radio Broadcast Hall of Famer performing songs originally written for artists including George Strait, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens and Alabama.
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Candidate vows to halt action on coastal lawsuits

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:12am

Louisiana Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Sharon Hewitt is promising to shut down all coastal litigation involving alleged damage from energy companies.

“On my first day in office, I will instruct my Secretary of Natural Resources to immediately pause all coastal litigation,” Hewitt, the Senate majority leader, told the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association in Lake Charles on Monday. “I will not allow baseless litigation to be weaponized against the oil industry, holding producers to made-up standards fabricated to enrich trial lawyers. I will not do it.”

Hewitt’s comments follow a decision by officials at the Department of Natural Resources in late October to override the objections of local leaders to sign onto a proposed $100 million settlement with Freeport-McMoRan on behalf of four parishes that refused.

The settlement involves one of 43 ongoing lawsuits from coastal parishes that allege more than 200 energy companies damaged the coastline by creating canals and other development, despite federal permits authorizing the work.

The Freeport-McMoRan settlement would require the company to pay $23.5 million over the next two decades to fund coastal restoration projects, while the remainder of the money would be funneled into an environmental credit scheme that critics have likened to a political slush fund.

Councilmen in multiple parishes have criticized the proposed settlement, alleging the trial attorneys behind it stand to reap millions from the deal.

The pro-energy Grow Louisiana Coalition has worked to urge parishes to reject the settlement, as well, pointing to $435 million the oil and gas industry has contributed to coastal work since 2017.

“The number one reason is it’s better to work with the oil and gas industry in south Louisiana than to work against it,” Marc Ehrhardt previously told The Center Square.

Research from the Pelican Institute shows the state lost 2,000 jobs in the two years after the coastal lawsuits were first filed in 2013, resulting in $70 million in lost wages. The policy group estimates between $43 million and $113 million in annual economic losses since the lawsuits were filed, which equates to a $22.6 million loss for state and local governments for schools, roads and other infrastructure.

Before becoming a lawmaker, Hewitt worked for Shell for two decades, initially on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico before working her way up to a high-ranking executive charged with overseeing hundreds of employees and billions in deep water assets.

In Lake Charles, the Slidell Republican called for an in-depth review of any allegations by the DNR’s long standing regulatory and administrative enforcement authority.

“We know that over the last 40 years, DNR has issued hundreds, if not thousands, of citations for violations of our coastal laws and regulations,” she said. “Unlike these lawsuits, DNR has never sued or cited anyone for things that took place before any laws or regulations were in place. We don’t have ex post facto laws in Louisiana — it’s a violation of the most basic principles of our legal system."
should be handled through citations, in accordance with DNR regulations and state law.”

Hewitt’s position on the coastal litigation stands in contrast to her Republican competition for governor, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who in 2021 signed off on the Freeport-McMoRan settlement.

The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed Landry for the 2023 gubernatorial election in November.

Jeremy Alford: Coastal lawsuits make appearance at political forum

Fri, 03/03/2023 - 9:09am

In one of the first gubernatorial forums of the election cycle, hosted earlier this week by the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, the central characters in this cycle’s premier production offered us an overview of what to expect in the months leading up to August qualifying.

For starters, you can anticipate some familiar themes. Three of the candidates — state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, Attorney General Jeff Landry and state Rep. Richard Nelson — were asked what they would do about the coastal lawsuits the state, parishes and others have filed against oil and gas companies.

Eight years ago, during the last open race for governor, the then-contenders were asked the same question. Anti-industry litigation is a serious issue for business and industry in Louisiana, and has been for a very long time.

While the candidates all share concerns, it was Hewitt who promised — on day one, if elected — to instruct the state Department of Natural Resources to “pause” all activities related to such litigation.

Back in 2015, former U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who ultimately lost to now-exiting Gov. John Bel Edwards, told the same industry crowd he would hold back state funding from parishes that engaged in similar
lawsuits.

That was tough talk from Vitter. And this is tough talk from Hewitt. The issue, however, probably won’t resonate beyond the halls of a business-minded forum.

But Hewitt’s policy approach as a no-nonsense former energy executive is memorable. That may be her forward-facing image this cycle.

Landry, meanwhile, was the quasi-incumbent on stage. He’s also a showman.

During his speech to LOGA’s membership, Landry reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a legal-sized paper with a familiar message: “Drilling = Jobs.” He held it out proudly for the audience to read.

Back in 2011 when he was a congressman, the attorney general held up a similar sign in the U.S. House as former President Barack Obama unveiled his jobs package. Landry wants to make sure Republicans know he’s still the same guy.

Nelson was somewhat of a new face for this particular crowd. A freshman legislator, Nelson has a knack for offering comparisons about Louisiana you might not think of, like this nugget: “If Louisiana were just average in the country, we’d all live four years longer and get a 33 percent raise.”

At the LOGA forum, Nelson also blamed late Gov. Huey Long for many of the state’s tax problems, among other things, and challenged those in attendance to stand tall against the ghosts of yesteryear.

If there’s a reform candidate in this race, it may be Nelson, who slammed the budget process at the Capitol, since it often yields lavish expenses for government entities.

“Put it on the roulette wheel of state government and see who gets the splash pad,’ Nelson said, referring to pet projects coveted by legislators for generations.

Not participating this week due to an illness was Treasurer John Schroder, who is expected to make future forums and debates. Independent trial attorney Hunter Lundy was not invited.

Lundy and Schroder, though, would not have appeared side-by-side with their opponents since the candidates didn’t agree, as a group, to appear on stage simultaneously. Instead, they were offered the opportunity to speak and then field questions one at a time.

It’s quite possible we’ll never see the contenders on a stage as a group in this 2023 political theater. A race without that drama isn’t much of a race.

As for who else might be up on such a stage, Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is expected to announce his candidacy in early March as the lone Democrat in the field.

Congressman Garret Graves is also staying quiet while admitting he’s feeling “intense pressure” from others to get into the race. Graves actually met privately with Landry over the weekend, at the attorney general’s request.

According to the congressman’s camp, Graves “mainly wanted to be very transparent about a few issues and establish clarity between them. Both would agree it was a positive meeting.”

So for now, Graves is not on the stage. That could always change between now and qualifying. Stay tuned.

For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @ LaPoliticsNow

Morgan City police radio logs for March 1-2

Thu, 03/02/2023 - 1:03pm

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, March 1
5:59 a.m. 1900 block of Maple Street; Complaint.
6:44 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
6:54 a.m. 1600 block of Chestnut Drive; Alarm.
7:52 a.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Juvenile complaint.
9:07 a.m. 600 block of General McArthur Street; Hit and run.
11:01 a.m. 800 block of Sacred Heart Drive; Telephone harassment.
11:25 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Stand by.
11:55 a.m. 700 block of Marshall Street; Complaint.
11:58 a.m. 1000 block of Spruce Street; Theft.
1:51 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Theft.
2:26 a.m. 400 block of Sixth Street; Criminal damage to property.
3:44 a.m. 100 block of Eleventh Street; Medical.
3:47 a.m. 300 block of Wren Street; Juvenile complaint.
3:56 a.m. 600 block of La. 182; Crash.
5:44 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
5:57 a.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Arrest.
6:38 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
6:54 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Alarm.
11:50 a.m. Cottonwood Street and Victor II Boulevard; Suspicious subject.
Thursday, March 2
1:43 a.m. 200 block of Mallard Street; Trespassing.
3:02 a.m. Brashear Avenue and Second Street; Suspicious subject.
3:10 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:11 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
4:29 a.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Medical

Burglary, resisting charges result from arrests

Thu, 03/02/2023 - 1:00pm

(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.)

Four arrests reported by local agencies Thursday included charges of burglary and resisting an officer.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 28 complaints and made these arrests:

--Gabriel Goulart, 39, Franklin, was arrested at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of simple burglary. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Melvin Jay Brown Jr., 43, Patterson, was arrested at 12:13 a.m. Thursday on charges of reckless operation (no accident), aggravated flight from an officer, and resisting arrest or officer. Bail was set at $103,500.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 37 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Frank James Rock Jr., 35, Andrew Street, Patterson, was arrested at 6:09 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

Franklin

Interim Chief Tina Thibodeaux reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to six complaints over the last 24-hour and made this arrest:

--Kimaya Joseph, 29, Morris Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:26 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding and driver must be licensed. Joseph was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on the charge of operating a vehicle without a driver’s license. Joseph was booked processed, and released on a $733 bond.