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Morgan City police radio logs for Nov. 25-28

Mon, 11/28/2022 - 6:01pm

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.

Friday, Nov. 25
7:15 a.m. Area of Sixth Street; Stalled vehicle.
7:58 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Complaint.
8:35 a.m. 1300 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.
9:58 a.m. 2700 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
10:11 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:24 a.m. 3200 block of Wytchwood Drive; Alarm.
10:29 a.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Complaint.
10:55 a.m. Lawrence Park; Animal complaint.
11:05 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:52 a.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint
12:12 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Medical.
3:04 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
4:19 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Animal complaint.
4:21 p.m. 3200 block of Susan Street; Complaint.
5 p.m. 1300 block of Nebraska Street; Complaint.
5:05 p.m. 1100 block of McDermott Drive; Welfare check.
5:59 p.m. U.S. 90 West/Bridge; Reckless driving.
6:32 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
7:04 p.m. Dollar Tree; Complaint.
8:31 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Warrant.
10:03 p.m. 1400 block of First Street; Warrant.
11:01 p.m. 500 block of Orange Street; Medical.
11:05 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Alarm.
11:27 p.m. 1600 block of North Second Street; Complaint.
Saturday, Nov. 26
12:05 a.m. 700 block of Marshall Street; Complaint.
1:17 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Medical.
2:03 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Reckless driving.
2:49 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:58 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
5:05 a.m. U.S. 90 West/Hampton; Stalled vehicle.
5:48 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Fire alarm.
6:43 a.m. 900 block of Wytchwood Drive; Medical.
7:26 a.m. 1500 block of Filmore Street; Medical.
7:39 a.m. 2300 block of Federal Avenue; Medical.
9:36 a.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Complaint.
12:32 p.m. 200 block of Fourth Street; Complaint.
1:07 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; 911 hang up.
1:18 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
1:46 p.m. 300 block of Oriole Street; Medical.
3:04 p.m. Area of Lawrence Park; Complaint.
3:34 p.m. 1000 block of Hilda Street; Animal complaint.
4:25 p.m. Area of La. 182; Complaint.
5:54 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Noise complaint.
6:09 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Warrant.
6:17 p.m. 1300 block of Chatsworth Drive; Civil matter.
6:20 p.m. 300 block of Leona Street; Animal complaint.
6:49 p.m. Levee Road/Fig Street; Stand by.
8:58 p.m. 500 block of Seventh Street; Suspicious person.
9:29 p.m. 500 block of Hilda Street; Loud music.
9:32 p.m. La. 182/David Drive; Accident.
10:25 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Suspicious vehicle.
10:27 p.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Complaint.
11:16 p.m. 1600 block of Walnut Drive; Medical.
11:18 p.m. 600 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
Sunday, Nov. 27
5:55 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
6:15 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Complaint.
6:18 p.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
6:20 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
7:08 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
7:18 p.m. 700 block of Sixth Street; Loud music.
7:51 p.m. 600 block of Kentucky Street; Accident.
8:01 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Medical.
8:26 p.m. 1700 block of Barrow Street, Amelia; Assistance.
8:52 p.m. 700 block of Julia Street, Amelia; Assistance.
9:17 p.m. 1700 block of Barrow Street, Amelia; Assistance.
9:38 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
10:24 p.m. U.S. 90 West/Cannatas Upramp; Stalled vehicle.
11:14 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
Monday, Nov. 28
12:27 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.
2:42 a.m. 1400 block of Sandra Street; Assistance.
5:23 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Medical.

CAA will distribute commodities in Berwick, Franklin

Mon, 11/28/2022 - 12:43pm

The St. Mary Community Action Agency and Food for Families Program will distribute commodities on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Food boxes are for persons ages 60 and older. Recipients will be able to drive through and food boxes are placed in their vehicles. Distribution begins at 7:30 a.m. in Berwick and 7:45 a.m. in Franklin. If you have any questions, please contact the St. Mary CAA Central Office at(337-828-5703.

Berwick Civic Center
300 Pattie Drive, Berwick

St. Mary CAA Office Building
1407 Barrow Street, Franklin

Appointments for utility assistance will be taken Tuesday, Wednesday

Mon, 11/28/2022 - 12:32pm

The St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency will set appointments for St. Mary and Vermilion parishes' LIHEAP Utility Assistance Program on Tuesday, Nov. 29, and Wednesday, Nov. 30.

Residents may begin calling at 8:30 a.m. on each day until 11:30 am. Please do not call before 8:30 a.m.

For St. Mary Parish, contact the St. Mary CAA central office at 337-828-5703 or -5705 No walk-ins will be accepted for appointments.

All documentation is needed for the application to be processed. A check list will be on the St. Mary CAA website, Facebook page and or can be picked up at any of the CAA locations.

The LIHEAP Utility Assistance Program helps low-come households pay their electric, gas and water bills as well as increase their energy self-sufficiency. This program targets people with the lowest incomes and the highest energy costs based on their income and family size. Additional targets are low-income household that include the elderly, persons with disabilities, and young children.

Applicants should have the following documentation available when preparing to apply:

--Driver’s license or ID for everyone 18 years of age and older

--Social Security cards for everyone in household

--Last 30 days of check stubs for employed household members

--Proof of 2022 unearned income (Social Security, SSI, SSA Disability, retirement, VA, unemployment benefits, pension funds) for all person 18 and over

--Current utility bills (gas, light, and water bills only)

--Proof of present address (cable, telephone, water, rent receipt, lease or deed, must have name and physical address)

--Disconnect notice (if you received a shut-off notice)

--Additional information may be required to determine your eligibility for energy assistance

At the link below, you can download the .pdf version of a press release that includes income guidelines by family size.

HERMAN J. PELLERIN, JR.

Mon, 11/28/2022 - 12:06pm

Herman J. Pellerin, Jr., age 70, went home to the Lord on Saturday, November 26, 2022. He was born in San Diego, CA and a resident of Berwick, LA. Herman was a loving man who found his great-est joy in making others happy. He retired after 36 and a half years as a Digital Technician at AT&T and has spent his retirement dedicating as much time as he could with loved ones. Herman loved to fish, hunt, work out at the gym, and most importantly teach his grandchildren how to do the same. Herman was a giver. He loved to watch the joy it brought to his loved ones. He loved his wife dearly and wanted nothing more than to always make sure that she was taken care of. He absolutely adored his family and was most happy surrounded by his loved ones. Herman was truly generous, extremely kind, and an honest and loving man. He left a remarkable impact on all who knew him and will be forever missed.

Herman was preceded in death by his father, Herman J. Pellerin, Sr.; and his sister, Eve Suttoon.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Debbie D. Pellerin; daughters, Dawn Jett (Joab), Tori Chasson (Michael); son, Ryan Pellerin (Teia); six grandchildren, Jonathan Cutrone, Peyton Cutrone, Brannan Chasson, Maddie Chasson, Maddox Pellerin, and Reid Pellerin; and his fur babies that adored him, Harvey, Jack, and Kitty. He also leaves behind his mother, Ruby Joubert Pellerin; and six siblings, Ruby Lemoine (Jimmy), Keith Pellerin, Craig Pellerin (Deb), Carl Pellerin (Rosie), and Kathy DeHart (Rogers).

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a visitation at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Morgan City on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at the church during a 12:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial. Following the Mass he will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum. Father Brett Lapeyrouse will be the Celebrant for the Mass and conduct the services.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jonathan Cutrone, Brannan Chasson, and Maddox Pellerin, and his brothers, Carl Pellerin, Craig Pellerin, and Keith Pellerin. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Martin, Greg Farmer, Joab Jett, Rogers DeHart, and Michael Mire.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregivers, Kayla, Kacey, Katelyn, and Kim, for their exceptional care of Herman in his time of need.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made in Herman’s name to the Dementia Society of America, online at https://www.dementiasociety.org, by mail at PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or by phone at 1-800-336-3684.

Family and friends may view the obituary online by visiting www.iberts.com and are encouraged to share their condolences, cherished memories, love, and support for the family.

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

UPDATED: Sheriff's Office identifies fatality, injured person found in Bayou Vista home

Sun, 11/27/2022 - 8:13pm

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office has identified the woman who died and the injured person found Sunday night in a Bayou Vista home.

Dead at the scene was Heather Dupre, 28, Bayou Vista.

The injured person is Skilan Gros, 35, also of Bayou Vista. Gros was taken by helicopter to a medical facility, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office said Monday that deputies were dispatched to a home on Southwest Road at 6:40 p.m. Sunday. They discovered Dupre and Gros at the home.

The Sheriff's Office released no information on what caused the death and the injury.

The investigation continues, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office corrected the ages of the two victims in a press release.

Ten arrests reported by local agencies

Sat, 11/26/2022 - 6:25am

(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.)
Law enforcement agencies in the region reported 10 arrests this week.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
--Gabriel Damazo Cardenas, 21, Gray, was arrested at 9:56 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of parole violation in Terrebonne Parish. Cardenas is being held for another agency.
--Kyle Austin Baudoin, 30, Duson, was arrested at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless operation of a vehicle and failure to maintain automobile liability insurance.
Bail has not been set.
--John Serrano Garcia, 32, Franklin, was arrested at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and improper
lane usage. Bail has not been set.

Patterson
Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:
--Dustin R. Harmeyer, 38, Fanwick Court, Tomball, Texas, was arrested at 3:25 a.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit and careless operation. Harmeyer was released on $686 bond.
--Malissa A. Guillory, 33, Shady Grove Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 2:26 a.m. Thursday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging possession of marijuana less than 14 grams. Guillory was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $100.
--Mark A. Eugene, 58, Terrebonne Street, Morgan City, was arrested at noon Thursday on charges of hit and run, operating a vehicle with a suspended license and expired license plate. Eugene was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail and released on his own recognizance.
--Keyandre V. Polidore, 31, Clements Street, Patterson, was arrested at 9:58 p.m. Thursday on charges of obstruction of justice (evidence tampering), disturbing the peace, three counts of threatening a public official, criminal damage to property and resisting an officer. Polidore is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported these arrests:

--Troy Lumpkin, 32, Willow Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:23 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on the charges of driving under suspension and general speed law. Lumpkin was booked, processed and released on a $350 bond.
--Huey Hopkins, 39, Yellow Bayou Road, Franklin, was arrested at 11:18 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (second offense) and operating a vehicle under suspension for certain prior offenses. Hopkins was additionally arrested on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on the charge of speeding. Hopkins was booked, processed and held on a $5,205.50 bond.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon this arrest:

-- Jacob Timothy Dugas, 36, Bayou Drive, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on a fugitive warrant alleging contractor fraud.

Deputies were advised of an outstanding felony warrant from Ascension Parish on Dugas for contractor fraud.

Dugas was arrested on Monday evening in Pierre Part. Dugas was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention and transferred to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office for booking in that jurisdiction.

Around Town for Nov. 25

Fri, 11/25/2022 - 10:41pm

Happy birthday Sunday to Annabelle Ruiz, love, all your family and friends … Happy birthday Catherine Lynch, happy birthday Saturday to Kerwin Webb Jr., and belated happy birthday Teraneka White from family, friends and Ira.

John K. Flores: Some hunters found success when duck season opened

Fri, 11/25/2022 - 10:38pm

When it comes to numbers, 802,000 may seem like a lot. Unless it’s the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ waterfowl population estimate.

Point of fact, the 802,000 ducks estimated during the November 2022 survey for coastal Louisiana and Catahoula Lake was the lowest since the survey began in 1968.

According to the aerial estimate that was reported on the eve of the 2022/2023 waterfowl season opener last weekend, the number was 38 percent lower than last year’s November (2021) estimate, 28 percent lower than the recent 5-year average, and 48 percent lower than the 10-year average.

Once again, the lion’s share of ducks counted were found in southwest Louisiana, totaling 644,000, followed by 105,000 in the southeast, and 38,000 on Catahoula Lake.

No matter what the duck numbers are, few diehard waterfowl hunters will ever miss the season opener.

One hunter who hunted the southeast region of the state was Bill Lake, owner/operator of Bayou Guide Service. Lake’s duck lease is close to transect line number 20 of 27 south of Gibson that the LDWF flies over. He and three of his friends hunted opening day and were surprised how well they did.

Lake said, “Man, I hate getting rained on before getting in the blind. Good thing the front Saturday morning came in after daybreak as it would have been a cold and miserable pre-dawn ride. We had a better opening day than expected. We didn’t see any birds while brushing our blinds a couple of days before the season. We didn’t get full limits, but we shot enough ducks for supper. We had teal, greys, widgeon, ringnecks, spoonies, and a summer mallard. So, it was a good start.”
Across the state, Brian Windsor hunted south of Highway 82, east of Cameron in southwest Louisiana. Windsor said they saw plenty of ducks along the coast and lots of high flight birds. He and his partner were able to limit (12 birds) by 8 a.m. on opening day.

On Sunday, he and two other friends limited out again killing 18 ducks prior to 8 a.m.

Windsor said, “The majority of birds were teal, mostly blue wings. Other species we killed were grey ducks, spoonbills, and a few widgeons.”

Ben Givens hunted the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area on opening day. Givens brought his 8-year-old son Harper who would be making his first ever duck hunt. Givens was hoping his son would have fun hunting ducks and make the connection that comes with being down to the camp with a bunch of guys.

Father and son hunted with four other duck hunters that put out some 50 decoys with hopes of attracting a few birds.

Givens says up until around 7:15 a.m. things were unusually quiet for the group of hunters. In fact, across the WMA there were few shots fired. Then a few birds started flying only they weren’t committing to the decoys.

They witnessed lines of diving ducks flying high, saw decent flocks of teal buzzing over distant tree lines, and lonely pintails every now and then looking for anything but them Givens said.

After a while, things changed, and the group of hunters started getting a few passes. All total they killed 19 ducks that was a mixed bag of blue and green winged teal and scaup.

Givens said, “We had a few opportunities, but you had to act quick and take long hard shots. Fortunately, we shot well. That really was the saving grace of our hunt.”

Thomas Landers and his friends hunted in Gueydan. Landers reported he saw more ducks on Saturday ahead of the cold front that passed through than he’d seen in 10 years.

Landers said, “We had good hunts both days with easy limits. We had a banded mottled duck on Saturday in the mixed bag of 18 and over the two days of opening weekend we harvested 9 different species of ducks. We shot blue winged teal, green winged teal, mottled ducks, gadwall, wood ducks, scaup, ring necks, widgeon, and the ever-present spoonbill made his appearance. I’m looking forward to more of the same with any luck this season.”

Jack Cousin, who guides for Sportsman Charters in Gueydan, mainly hunt white-fronted geese (speckle bellies). Opening weekend wasn’t very good for goose hunters says Cousin.

“It was pretty slow to nonexistent for us, but we’re starting to see some birds now. So, hopefully things will start to pick up for us,” Cousin said.

With the waterfowl season only a week old, there’s still a lot of season left for duck numbers to hopefully increase as the migration continues southward. It usually only takes a few cold fronts in the heartland with a mix of snow and ice to push ducks south. Here’s hoping that occurs over the next few weeks.

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

Flood control project may yet help Lower St. Martin

Fri, 11/25/2022 - 10:34pm

KARL D. JETER

karl.jeter@techetoday.com

ST. MARTINVILLE – The canceled plan to organize an ambitious flood control project in lower St. Martin Parish could get another chance to succeed.

As discussed by Public Works Project Manager Callen Huval at the Nov. 15 Parish Council committee meeting, the Bayou Estates Flood Wall project in Lower St. Martin Parish was shelved in early 2022 when the original $6+ million FEMA funding plan proved to be inadequate.

Engineering and design work is complete for the project, which involves the construction of two flood gates, a sheet pile wall to isolate the area in times of rising water, and the addition of a high-volume pump station along with improved cross-drainage conduits.

With additional funding from a recently-secured $1.8 million Community Development Block Grant, parish government decided it was worth another try.

Bayou Estates is the most problematic development in the parish with regard to flooding. Currently, parish workers must rush to block storm drains when back-flow water begins to rise. The streets are frequently flooded and much depends on the ability of pumps to protect the homes.

Another prospective project in Lower SMP includes improvements to Four Mile Bayou Road. One and one-half miles of the often-inundated aggregate road would be raised and topped with asphalt.

Parish President Chester Cedars commented that, given the price increases since contract proposals were received last year, it may still be a reach, even with the added funding. “I’d say I’m very, very, very cautiously optimistic, but it’s well worth taking another shot,” he said.

Waste Collection Cost

The contractual allowance with Pelican Waste for periodic increases in fees according to changes in costs, particularly of diesel fuel, will result in an increase in customers’ trash collection bills.

Fees for customers in unincorporated areas of the parish will rise by approximately 8% to $25.01 per month in the upper portion of the parish and $26.06 in Lower SMP beginning in January.

Oilfield jobs picking up in Louisiana, Texas

Fri, 11/25/2022 - 10:32pm

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Louisiana and Texas are expected to gain thousands of oil and gas jobs in the coming months, though employment numbers likely won't return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon, according to a new report.
The 2023 Gulf Coast Energy Outlook released by Louisiana State University this week shows Louisiana lost roughly 8,700 upstream oil and gas jobs during the pandemic, while Texas lost about 83,000, accounting for 26% and 35%, respectively.

By August 2022, Louisiana had gained back about 2,500 oil and gas jobs, while Texas regained about 44,700. David Dismukes and Gregory Upton, Jr., with the LSU Center for Energy Studies, predict that trend to continue into 2023, before slowly declining for the next couple of years.

"Over the next year, the GCEO anticipates both states will continue to gain back some of these COVID-induced job losses. By the second quarter of 2023, Louisiana is expected to gain about 3,500 jobs. Texas is forecasted to gain about 12,200 upstream jobs between August 2022 and the second quarter of 2023," the authors wrote.

"It's important to note that although employment is expected to increase over the forecast horizon, these model results are not anticipating employment in either state to reach pre-COVID levels over the forecast horizon," the report read.

The GCEO expects upstream oil and gas job numbers to peak in the second quarter next year, then decline steadily in both states through 2025.

"This is driven by a combination of projected increases in oil and gas production alongside futures market prices that are currently in backwardation (expected to decline over the forecast horizon)," according to the report. "Although, we note that given the margin of forecasting error, upstream employment post the peak forecasted in 2023 should be considered a random walk, for all intents and purposes."

It's a similar situation with refining and chemical manufacturing employment, which also declined during the pandemic, though as drastically as upstream oil and gas jobs.

"For Louisiana, the GCEO anticipates employment to first recover from the recession and then modestly increase over the rest of the forecast horizon," the report reads. "Specifically, the GCEO envisions employment to increase by about 1,450 jobs by the end of 2023, or about a 3.9% increase. Employment growth is expected to slow thereafter, gaining approximately 600 jobs in 2024 and 700 jobs in 2025."

The GCEO predicts refining and chemical manufacturing jobs in Texas will follow the same pattern, adding 4,500 by the end of 2023, then slow to gain 800 jobs in 2024 and 600 jobs the year after.

Oil and gas prices, meanwhile, are expected to fall next year after significant increases tied to the war in Ukraine.

"Oil prices that are currently trading at over $90 per barrel (spot market) are anticipated to decline by the end of 2023, when oil price futures fall to about $80 per barrel," the report reads. "In the long run, oil futures converge to prewar levels and even fall below prewar futures prices by 2030."

Natural gas prices are expected to fall from $5.50 per million British thermal units in 2023 to $4.70 per million British thermal units in 2024, then remain about $1.40 higher than anticipated before the war.

Production of oil and gas is expected to increase by about 30% over the next decade, though the LSU models are based on continued offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico that's currently at the center of legal disputes.

The report notes, however, that the Inflation Reduction Act requires the Department of Interior to follow through with at least two lease sales in the Gulf next year.

"Although some have communicated skepticism of this process, suggesting that the Biden Administration will continue to make attempts at discontinuing offshore activity, the current law of the land is that offshore leasing will continue," according to the report. "As with past GCEO's, our modeling assumptions are based on current policies, not predictions about future policy actions that could occur."