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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.)

Arrests reported by St. Mary Parish agencies this week include a man accused of 41 violations of protective orders, a man accused of domestic battery and a man accused of battering hospital staffers.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 31 calls for service and made these arrests:

--Patrick Arabie, 53, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested 10:39 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of probation violation (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and 41 counts of violation of protective orders..

--Jerry Hart, 31, 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐱 Lane, 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭, was 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 at 𝟏𝟎:𝟒𝟒 𝐚.𝐦. Tuesday on a charge of battery of emergency room personnel.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:

--Brent E. Hayes, 64, Williams Street, Patterson, was arrested at 11:23 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated). Hayes is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $459.

Berwick

Police Chief David S. Leonard reported this arrest:

--Tamoz Allen, 27, Trevino Street, Berwick, was arrested at 3:40 p.m. Monday a charge of domestic abuse battery (child endangerment law).

About 3:10 p.m. Monday, officers responded to a residence on Trevino Street for a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers met with Allen and the complainant.

While investigating the complaint, it was determined that Allen committed a battery on the victim, and a small child was present.

Allen was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked. No bond has been.

Chitimacha

Police Chief B.C. Trahan reported these arrests:

--Lauren E Alleman, 31, Plant Village, New Iberia, was arrested Oct. 13 on warrants alleging unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft (under $1,000).
The warrants were obtained in an investigation on July 15. She was transported to St Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. The Chitimacha Tribal Police Department thanked the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office for its assistance.

--Nicholas M Darby, 32, Clarence Road, Charenton; was arrested on charges of simple assault and unau-thorized use of a motor vehicle. The warrants were obtained in an investigation. He was transported to St Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. The department thanked the St Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

--Madeline Hebert, 24, Gibbs Road, Franklin, was arrested Saturday on a charge of simple battery. She was transported to St Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. The department thanked the Franklin Police Department

-- Demondre Watson, 26, Crosswinds Drive, Youngsville, was arrested Sunday on charges of improper lane usage and possession of marijuana (19.7 grams), and on a fugitive warrant from the Franklin Police Department alleging felony crimes. He was transported to St Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

When Halloween arrives each October, most people are interested in the entertaining aspects of the holiday in addition to the abundance of sweet foods that are there for the taking. Even though fun may be foremost on the brain, it is important for everyone keep safety in mind as well.
According to the Florida Law Group, Halloween is a time of heightened injuries and fatalities, and is actually the deadliest day of the year for children. A State Farm insurance study that analyzed four million fatalities between 1990 and 2010 discovered children are twice as likely to die on Halloween as they are on any other day of the year.
Data published in the Wall Street Journal indicated children between the ages of four and eight are 10 times more likely to be fatally injured by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year.
While no one wants to put a damper on Halloween festivities, it’s important that everyone celebrate safely.
Keep weekdays in mind
Halloween falls on a Monday in 2022 and that could be more dangerous than if it fell on a weekend. According to Autoinsurance.com, which conducted a study that analyzed 24 years’ worth of data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-istration, injuries to children and pedestrians in general were higher on weeknight than weekend holidays, with most accidents occurring between 6-7 p.m. — prime commuter time. Exercise extreme caution walking around this year.
Opt for face paints over masks
Medical masks may still be worn by some families as precautions against COVID-19, however, when it comes to Halloween costumes, face paints are preferable to masks and other face coverings.
Masks tend to limit visibility, which can lead to kids tripping and falling, or even not being able to see cars or other pedestrians. Follow safety instructions when using face paints around the eyes and mouth.
Improve visibility all around
On Oct. 31, the sun sets at 6:18 p.m. (in Morgan City). Sunset will occur earlier the more north one is located latitudinally. With darkness descending during peak trick-or-treating times, it’s imperative that children carry flashlights or glow sticks or utilize reflective tape on their costumes so others can see them.
Traverse familiar areas
Children trick-or-treating with adults may be able to venture a bit further in pursuit of treats, but it is generally safer to stay close to home where surroundings are familiar. This reduces the propensity for getting lost or wandering into sketchy situations.
Older kids allowed to venture out on their own would be wise to stay close to home as well. Neighbors can assist if something goes awry and there’s less chance of getting turned around.
What homeowners can do
Even though safety is largely on the shoulders of trick-or-treaters, homeowners and renters can do their part to ensure the safety of those enjoying Halloween hijinks.
Make sure walkways to doors are clear. Have additional lights on pathways or overhead to improve visibility.
Contain pets indoors, as they may become skittish on Halloween with extra crowds and noises. Don’t run the risk of kids getting scratched or bitten.
Inspect candy before it is eaten
Parents and guardians should always inspect any food or candy collected during Halloween before it is eaten. Homemade goods should only be eaten if collected from family friends.
Embracing various safety strategies can help make Halloween even more enjoyable.

Parish Council members on Oct. 12 began the process of selecting a new registrar of voters for the second time in a year.

Also Oct. 12, the council got a look at a new proposal designed to overcome the main obstacle to redrawing the council’s districts: who will represent Berwick and how much of Berwick.

The council heard from Pelican Waste & Debris about missed trash pickups.

Registrar

A letter from the Secretary of State’s Office noted that state law gives the council until Dec. 22 — 90 days from the start of the vacancy — to make an appointment to replace Registrar of Voters Byron Stelly.

Stelly resigned after being appointed to be registrar in St. Landry, his home parish, last month.

Stelly, 28, and an Auburn University grad, was appointed St. Mary’s top election official in October 2021, succeeding Jolene Holcombe, who retired after more than 40 years in the Registrar’s Office and serving as registrar since 1998.

Terry Foulcard is serving as interim registrar, and she made a pitch for the permanent position.

She has served as Stelly’s chief deputy and has managed the registrar’s offices in Franklin and Morgan City in his absence.

“We are fully prepared and ready to proceed with the election process in this voting cycle,” Foulcard said.

A primary election with local, state and congressional candidates on the ballot is scheduled for Nov. 8.

Foulcard is African American, and the lack of full-time Black employees in the Registrar’s Office before Stelly was appointed became an issue after a complaint from Alfreida Edwards.

“Here is the opportunity,” Edwards told the council Wednesday.

Councilman J Ina of Franklin said appointing Foulcard shouldn’t be about race.

“I think she’s earned it,” Ina said.

The parish government will advertise for applicants with an eye toward conducting interviews in mid-November.

In another election-related matter, the council heard from the Secretary of State’s Office that it has received the council’s resolution calling for a Dec. 10 charter amendment election.

The amendment would change the parish charter to allow any member of the council to be elected to either of the two leadership positions, chair and vice chair. The charter currently limits those positions to members elected from the three at-large districts.

Remapping

The council must redraw its election districts based on the 2020 Census before next year’s elections.

The council has hired the South Central Regional Planning and Development Commission staff to develop proposals. The council has focused on one of four previous alternatives as a working plan.

The biggest source of contention is in Berwick, much of which is represented now by Councilmen Patrick Hebert of District 6 and Mark Duhon of District 7.

Hebert would like to see District 6, which also takes in land east of the Atchafalaya, changed to take in more of Berwick. Duhon’s current district comes across the river from Amelia and Morgan City into southern Berwick, and he’d like to see more of Berwick in his district.

The alternative on which the council has focused so far favors Duhon’s point of view.
Josh Manning of South Central presented a new alternative Wednesday. In that map, Hebert’s District 6 would wrap around Morgan City and pick up Lakeside Subdivision.

Duhon’s District 7 would come south into the downtown Morgan City area.
No action was taken Wednesday.

Trash pickup

The council has received complaints about missed residential trash pickups. CEO Roddie Matherne of Pelican Waste & Debris came to Wednesday’s meeting
to talk about the complaints.

The loss of a key employee has hampered pickup recently, Matherne said. He also said many of the complaints come from the ends of routes that can’t be finished at the end of the day.

Pelican is required to come back for pickups within 24 hours of the time they’re missed, said Chief Administrative Officer Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange. Pelican has been fulfilling that obligation.

But Councilman James Bennett didn’t accept the explanation about the missing employee.

“That’s inexcusable,” Bennett said. “Everybody’s got labor problems. My business has labor problems. ... I’m not trying to bash you, but you’ve got to get it right.”

Council members agreed that Pelican has responded quickly to complaints.

Residential trash pickup may soon become more complicated. LaGrange said bear-proof trash cans, the lids of which must be unlatched before they’re emptied, may soon be required in the area south of U.S. 90 and west of the Charenton Canal.

Meeting dates

The council voted to change its November and December meeting schedule to accommodate the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

The council normally meets each second and fourth Wednesday. But it will meet Nov. 9 and 17 and Dec. 7 and 14.

Submitted Photo
Brooke Landry, RN in the Emergency Department at Ochsner St. Mary, received the Daisy Award, which recognizes nurses for their extraordinary work. She was nominated by a patient for going above and beyond to help her patients.