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Services for former Patterson mayor set for Wednesday

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 3:12pm

Services for James L. ‘Jimmy’ Bernauer, whose service to the St. Mary Parish and Patterson city governments stretched back more than six decades, were scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Bernauer, 98, died Sunday.

Bernauer was Patterson’s mayor from January 1995 to December 2006. During his three terms, the Patterson city government obtained funding for a new City Hall, a new police headquarters and a new fire station.

“Mr. Jimmy’s leadership was not only a blessing to the City of Patterson, but he also led the parish civil defense program for decades and did a fantastic job,” Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan said Monday in an email.

He also served as a Patterson alderman for 28 years: 1958-62, 1966-78 and 1982-94.

On the parish level, Bernauer served 48 years as the parish civil defense director and, according to information submitted for his obituary, was appointed to that post by Gov. Earl Long.

He also worked at Mobil Oil Corp. for 42 years.

Bernauer received the American Legion Post 242 Russell Breaux Citizens of the Year Ward in 1992.

Bernauer is survived by a daughter, Terri Bernauer Burnside, and her husband Wolfgang.

Services were set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was to interred at the St. Joseph Cemetery Mausoleum.

Morgan City man faces multiple counts of juvenile pornography

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 1:13pm

(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.)

St. Mary Parish deputies say they, working with Morgan City police and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations, have arrested a Morgan City man on multiple counts of pornography involving juveniles.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour weekend reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 78 complaints and made these arrests:

--Jose Brayan Perez-Duarte, 34, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:29 a.m. Friday on 55 counts of pornography involving juveniles.

The Louisiana Bureau of Investigations provided information to a detective with the Morgan City Police Department regarding a local man, identified as Perez-Duarte, who had possession of multiple images and videos depicting pornography involving juveniles.

The detective began an investigation and contacted the SMPSO Investigations Division. Contact was made with Perez-Duarte, and he was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail has been set at $445,000.

The SMPSO Investigation Division thanked to the MCPD detective for his exemplary work on this case.

—Olivia Rene Prado, 28, Patterson, was arrested at 12:56 p.m. Friday on a charge of failing to comply with deer tagging or harvest record and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set.

—Markeisha Kionne Charles, 34, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:15 p.m. Friday on a charge of improper lane usage and driving while intoxicated. Charles was released on a $2,750 bond.

—Shaquan Murphy, 28, Brusly, was arrested at 7:32 p.m. Sunday by the Narcotics Section on charges of maximum speed limit, possession of marijuana, possession of THC edibles and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail has not been set.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 97 calls for service over the 72-hour weekend reporting period and made these arrests:

—Charles Walker, 39, George Street, Naponleonville, was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Friday on a charge of urinating in public.

—Ernest N. Mingo, 38, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:13 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of alprazolam and disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

—Shane Eugene Richard, 28, Gabriel Street, Patterson, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and disturbing the peace.

—Benjamin Troy Wever, 46, Third Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:12 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

—Alex Paul Griffin, 48, St. Mary Street, Thibodaux, was arrested at 3:47 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of cocaine and resisting an officer.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

—Judy A. Williams, 36, Cleco Street, Patterson, was arrested at 9 p.m. Friday on charges of driving with license suspended or revoked and speeding 46 mph in a 55 mph zone. Williams was issued a summons.

—Peter A. Businelle, 75, Seventy Nine Pines Lane, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on charges of theft and criminal trespass. Businelle was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,565.

—Daniel Businelle, 64, Seventy Nine Pines Lane, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on charges of theft and criminal trespass. Businelle was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $1,565.

—Shawn Welsh, 51, Park Street, Patterson, was arrested at 9:30 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated). Welsh is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $459.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 17 complaints over the past weekend and made these arrests:

—Juvenile, 16, was arrested at 8:35 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging 18 counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated damage to property, illegal use of a weapon, illegal use of a handgun by a juvenile and criminal street gang activity.

The juvenile was booked, processed and released pending juvenile court

About 12:45 a.m. Oct. 1, the Franklin Police Department responded to several calls of shots fired in the area of Iberia Street and Oakdale Street. Officers arrived in the area and began investigation efforts. It was learned that projectiles entered a residence and a vehicle. No one was injured.

On Friday, a third juvenile was arrested in the case.

The investigation continues.

—Randolph Joseph, 30, Third Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:57 a.m. Saturday on a charge of simple assault. Joseph was booked, processed and released on a $1,000bond.

UPDATED: Three killed in two local highways crashes

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 12:55pm

Staff Report

Three people died in two traffic crashes Sunday, one on the La. 182 bridge and two in the Stephensville area.

The fatal crash on the Long-Allen Bridge happened shortly after 2:30 p.m., according to Louisiana State Police Troop I.

The preliminary investigation revealed that an unidentified male was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla west on La. 182. At the same time, a 2017 Ram pickup was traveling east on La.182.

For reasons still under investigation, the Corolla struck the pickup head-on in the eastbound lane on the raised portion of bridge.

The unidentified male was restrained but succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He was pronounced dead by the St. Mary Parish Coroner’s Office. Despite being unre-strained, the driver of the Ram reported no injuries.
Impairment is unknown but standard toxicology samples were obtained from both drivers and results are pending. This crash remains under investigation.

About 6:30 p.m. Sunday, troopers answered another call, this one to the area south of La. 70 in Stephensville.

Two people died in a crash. They were identified by state police as Shirley A. Chiasson, 83, and Jeffrey A. Holmes, 34, both of Morgan City.

The initial investigation revealed Chiasson was driving east on La. 70 when she pulled onto the improved shoulder, then attempted to perform a U-turn in the roadway, state police said. At the same time, Holmes was driving east on La. 70 on a 2019 Honda CRF motorcycle. The front of the motorcycle struck the left side of the Camry in the eastbound lane of travel.

Chiasson was unrestrained and suffered fatal injuries. Her front seat passenger was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. Holmes was wearing a DOT approved helmet but also suffered fatal injuries.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Martin Parish Coroner’s Office. A standard toxicology sample was obtained for analysis and this crash remains under investigation.

JAMES L. 'JIMMY' BERNAUER

Mon, 10/24/2022 - 6:11am

August 22, 1924 – October 23, 2022

James L. Bernauer, affectionately known as Jimmy, passed away peacefully at the age of 98 during the early morning hours of Sunday, October 23, 2022.

Jimmy worked the majority of his life for Mobil Oil Corp. retiring after 42 years of service. Jimmy was very active in public service, serving as St. Mary Parish Civil Defense Director for 47 years, being appointed by Gov. Earl Long. He also served as a Councilman for the City of Patterson for 28 years as well as serving as Mayor of Patterson for 12 years. During his service to the Patterson Community, he was instrumental in securing grants for the city, including funds to construct the new City Hall, Police Department, Jail, and Fire Substation south of Hwy 90. In 1992 Jimmy was presented with the American Legion Post 242 Russell Breaux Citizen of the Year Award.

Jimmy is survived by his daughter, Terri Bernauer Burnside and her husband Wolfgang.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Lena Cutrera Bernauer; his parents, Wilbur Louis Bernauer and Virginia Robinson Bernauer; and his brother, CPL Wilbur Louis Bernauer Jr.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson during an 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial. Father Herb Bennerfield will be the Celebrant for the Mass. Following the Mass, he will be laid to rest in the St. Joseph Cemetery Mausoleum. A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday at Ibert's Mortuary in Patterson from 9:00 AM until time of dismissal at 10:30 AM.

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.

Berwick falls short against E.D. White

Sun, 10/23/2022 - 11:39am

E.D. White demonstrated again Friday that it belongs at the top of prep football's District 8-3A, winning easily at Berwick, 45-21.

White, 7-1 and 3-0 in the district, seems to excel at every phase of the game. Its power running game has a big cast of running backs, four of whom carried the ball in a six-play, 68-yard drive topped by a 21-yard touchdown run from Dylan Worthington on the Cardinals' first possession.

In a time when most kickoffs in area games are squib kicks, White kicker Ty Powell put kickoffs in the end zone three times and was perfect on extra points. He also kicked a 41-yard field goal.

The Cardinals committed no penalties before getting flagged for illegal motion on their first series in the fourth quarter.

The defense held Berwick quarterback Cru Bella to 5-of-13 passing for 86 yards . Most of the yards came on two passes, one to Nisiah Bennett (34 yards) and the other to Zack Gonzales (37 yards).

Berwick running back Jayden Milton picked up 108 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. But that represented the bulk of the Panther offense.

While E.D. White played a complete game, the Berwick backfield was incomplete. Milton's backfield partner, Andre Engleton, did not play Friday.

The net result was that Berwick went four-and-out on each of its seven first-half possessions, wasting a 58-yard return by Gonzales on the opening kickoff.

E.D. White, meanwhile, scored on its first five possessions before Berwick sophomore Cole Morris intercepted a Jake Sternfels pass late in the second quarter. But Berwick went four-and-out again, giving Wiley the chance to hit his field goal with as the first-half clock expired. White was ahead 38-0.

In the second half, Bennett caught Bella passes of 11 and 34 yards to set up Milton's 4-yard touchdown and Evan Crappell's kick with 1:21 left in the third quarter. Blaize Harrison recovered a fumble to set up a 29-yard scoring run by Milton.

Another fumble recovery and three Milton runs put Berwick in position to score on the 37-yard pass to Gonzales with 3:05 left in the game, but E.D. White's lead was too big to overcome.

For E.D. White, Jeffrey Diedrich rushed 10 times for 84 yards and a touchdown; Sternfels nine times for 75 and a score; Owen Thibodeaux six times for 62 yards and two TDs; and Worthington eight times for 59 yards and two TDs.

Sternfels was 3-for-6 passing for 37 yards.

Berwick, 6-2 and 1-1 in district, will play at the home of the other District 8-3A leader, St. James, Oct. 28. St. James is 7-1 and 2-0 in the district. Berwick will finish its regular season schedule by hosting Patterson, 4-4 and 0-2, on Nov. 4.

E.D. White, 7-1 and 3-0 in district, has a nondistrict game Oct. 28 with Sam Houston before returning home Nov. 4 to take on St. James for the game that seems likely to determine the district championship.

The name of the E.D. White kicker has been corrected.

150 years and counting

Fri, 10/21/2022 - 8:20pm

For the second time in a week, Morgan City saw a local institution mark 150 years in operation. On Friday, a big crowd came to Front Street to help a landmark downtown Morgan City business, Shannon Hardware, celebrate 150 years. The crowd was entertained by the Chee-Weez band and was able to browse items at a vendor fair. On Oct. 15, the Morgan City Fire Department also marked its 150th anniversary.

The Review/Bill Decker

Central Catholic overpowers Hanson

Fri, 10/21/2022 - 2:32pm

For the second straight week, Central Catholic put the first loss on an undefeated opponent Thursday, striking hard and quickly in a 60-14 prep football win over district foe Hanson Memorial.

Central Catholic, 7-1 and 4-0 in District 7 1A, scored four times on plays of 35 yards or more. The Eagles led 19-0 after a quarter and 47-6 at halftime.

Standout running back Damondrick Blackburn, averaging 199 rushing yards per game, ran for 206 yards Thursday on 22 carries. He scored four touchdowns.

Even when Blackburn wasn't carrying the ball, he drew enough attention from the Hanson defense to open passing lanes for quarterback Caleb O'Con.

O'Con was 6-for-9 passing for 166 yards and three touchdowns, one each to Vernon Singleton (16 yards), Dominic Case (35 yards) and Tylon Hollins (73 yards). Singleton finished with three catches for 54 yards and Hollins with two for 77 yards.

Freshman Cash Baker had a 65-yard touchdown run late in the game.

Defensively, Central Catholic limited Hanson to just nine snaps in the first quarter while building a 19-0 lead on the touchdown passes to Singleton and Case and a 1-yard run by Blackburn.

Hanson, 7-0 before Thursday's game, also checked its own progress by committing five first-half turnovers. Central Catholic's Greg Hamer had a hand in two of those, intercepting an Ethan Judice pass and recovering a bad Hanson punt snap in the end zone for a touchdown.

Linebacker Andrew Cavalier continues to lead the Central Catholic defense with an average of seven tackles per game.

Judice was on both ends of touchdown passes for Hanson, catching a 31-yarder from sophomore Trey Frost and throwing a 6-yard score to Dylan Inzina.

Judice was 4-for-8 passing for 34 yards, and Frost finished 3-for-7 for 71 yards.

Rushing, Eugene Foulcard had nine carries for 32 yards, and Loren Wells had 36 yards on seven trips.

For the third straight week, Central Catholic will play an unbeaten team Oct. 28. The Eagles will go to Abbeville to play District 7-1A rival Vermilion Catholic, 8-0.

Hanson, 7-1 and 4-0 in district, will play Beau Chene at Arnaudville.

Flu shots will be offered in southeast La. region

Fri, 10/21/2022 - 1:57pm

The Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Office of Public Health (OPH) for Region 3 (Southeast) will host flu vaccination clinics across our area to kick off the fall and to prepare Louisianans to fight the flu.

COVID-19 vaccines, including the COVID-19 bivalent boosters, will also be available, along with Monkeypox vaccines.

Flu vaccines are available at no cost to individuals who are insured, have Medicaid or Medicare coverage, or are uninsured. There are no out-of-pocket costs; but if you have insurance it will be billed. If you have insurance or coverage, bring along a valid insurance card. Any existing COVID-19 vaccine cards will be updated.

Flu vaccination clinics in the area for the week of Oct. 24-28 are as follows:

St. John Parish Health Unit: Monday, Oct. 24 from 8 am to 5:30 pm, 473 Central Ave, Reserve
Assumption Parish Community Center: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 9 am to 6 pm, 158 LA-1008, Napoleonville
St. James Parish Health Unit: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8 am to 5:30 pm, 29170 Health Unit St, Vacherie
Lafourche Parish Health Unit-Galliano: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 8 am to 5:30 pm, 17862 W. Main St., Suite B, Galliano
Terrebonne Parish Health Unit: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 8 am to 5:30 pm, 600 Polk St., Houma
Lafourche Parish-Thibodaux: Thursday, Oct. 27, 1:30 - 6:30 pm, Warren J. Harang Jr. Municipal Auditorium, 310 N. Canal Blvd, Thibodaux

Additional flu vaccination clinics will be offered around the region later this fall.

CDC and LDH recommend that all individuals ages 6 months and older receive a flu shot by the end of October. The flu shot is particularly encouraged among high-risk populations such as pregnant women, children below the age of 5, adults age 65 and up, and immunocompromised children and adults with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.
COVID-19 vaccine guidance

CDC and LDH also recommend that everyone ages 6 months and up get vaccinated against COVID-19 and that everyone ages 5 and up get a booster as soon as they are eligible.

Seven arrests include drug, theft charges

Fri, 10/21/2022 - 1:27pm

(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.)

Local agencies on Friday reported seven arrests, including charges of theft and drug possession.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Shayla Micheal Morris, 35, Robertson Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft. Morris was released on a $2,000 bond.

--Nikki R. Mayon, 40, Marie Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7:02 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for another jurisdiction. Mayon is incarcerated at the Patterson PD jail.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 52 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Josue Roberto Becerra-Mendoza, 35, Crozier Street, Houma, was arrested at 8:44 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding 68 mph in 50 mph zone.

--Ryan Spivey, 42, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana and four counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jim James Businelle, 63, Louisiana Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:16 a.m. Friday on charges of resisting an officer and improper lane usage.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 32 complaints and made these arrests:

--Brittany Nicole Crouch, 36, Patterson, was arrested at 8:47 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of alprazolam and illegal use, consumption, possession or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17. Crouch was released on a $250 bond.

--Alec George Race Jr., 51, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:32 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Bail has not been set at this time.

John K. Flores: Deer season looks good, but disease remains a concern

Fri, 10/21/2022 - 6:28am

JOHN K. FLORES

For the past several weeks deer season has been open in St. Mary Parish’s deer hunting area 7. Archery season opened Sept. 17 followed by a one-week primitive firearms season on Oct. 8 that ran for 7 days, which led up to the current regular firearm season that opened Oct. 15. So, what can St. Mary Parish’s deer hunters expect this hunting season?

When comparing St. Mary Parish’s area 7 coastal marsh deer hunting to the other 9 hunt areas in the state that include bottomland hardwood, upland hardwood, mixed pine and hardwood, swamp hardwood, and coastal prairie, it stands out amongst them.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon, said, “St. Mary remains as the highest deer harvest parish in coastal Louisiana. The productivity and plant species composition of those marshes there, are the primary reason. The delta in that area is not experiencing the same challenges as the marshes east and west. It should continue to do well despite short term set-backs from major events such as flooding from tropical systems.”

In 2020 and 2021 Louisiana experienced five and two tropical storm events respectively. Four of the events were severe catastrophic storms causing serious wind and flood damage along the coastline. Coastal hunt areas 7, 9 and 10 were all impacted but continue to show the resilience of the whitetail deer population east to west.

Bordelon said, “Deer area 10 is back on pace as far as harvest. The 2020-21 harvest for deer area 10 returned to the 10-year average. St. Mary in deer area 7 landed back on the 10-year average for reported harvest. The 10-year average for St. Mary Parish is 1090. Last season there were 1072 deer reported.”

The LDWF utilizes two methods to estimate deer harvest. Since 1970 the department has used its annual hunter harvest survey questionnaire. The other method is through the required license reporting system. According to Bordelon, the statewide harvest for the 2021-22 season was the highest reported for the past 10 seasons, besting the previous 10-year high.

The biggest issue currently facing Louisiana is chronic wasting disease. CWD is a neurodegenerative disease found in most deer species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose and caribou. CWD is infectious, always fatal, and has no known treatment according to the LDWF website.
CWD was discovered for the first time in Louisiana in 2022, in Tensas Parish, becoming the 29th state to detect the disease.

As a result, the LDWF has developed an action plan to help control the spread of the disease. Some of those restrictions include feeding and baiting in the control area where the disease was found. Included in the restriction is the movement of deer body parts.

Additionally, hunters are not allowed to move a whole deer out from the control area. Thus, restricting movement to deboned meat, clean skull caps with antlers and cape. Any deer harvested within the control area must also be tested.

The CWD control area is currently all of Tensas Parish which borders Mississippi, a large portion of Madison Parish, also bordering Mississippi, and part of Franklin Parish.

At the present time, St. Mary Parish deer hunters shouldn’t have any concerns with Tensas Parish being some 200 plus miles away.

However, Bordelon said, “There is concern outside of Franklin, Madison and Tensas parishes. The disease continues to be detected across new counties in adjacent states.

"One, just seven miles north of the Louisiana-Arkansas line. It appears CWD was detected early in Tensas Parish based on one positive detection despite parish-wide sampling and the large number of non-detections.

“That area has been the focal point since 2018,” Bordelon continued, “which marks the year the disease was detected in an adjacent Mississippi county.

Unfortunately, there are areas in adjacent states detecting an increase in prevalence within already positive counties. Only time will tell what that means for Louisiana, but continued surveillance and mitigating measures have never been more important.”

When considering the state’s deer population and harvest trend, Bordelon says it’s difficult to come away with a statement that fits the entire state due to regional differences.

Moreover, though the state is currently stable with harvest numbers increasing, there are exceptions.
Bordelon said, “Overall harvest has been good, but in some cases, we are seeing issues with deer herbivory and crop damage in areas where it hasn’t been an issue in the past.”

For St. Mary Parish area 7 hunters, 2022-23 should be another productive season.

There have been no coastal tropical events and the local marshes are lush with plenty of feed.

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