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BBAYOU VISTA – Law enforcement officers, firefighters and the people they serve got together Wednesday for a National Night Out event at the Bayou Vista Community Center.

Many of those people were children who got to meet police officers and firefighters and see the equipment they use.

There were lots of “ooohs” and “ahhhs,” not least for the Bayou Vista Volunteer Fire Department truck that lifted a firefighter high above the Community Center parking lot.

Sheriff’s Office Lt. Eddie Gay, a supervisor of detectives, was at a table to talk about his other job: being a member of the office’s Dive Team. He demonstrated underwater breathing gear, the radio divers use to communicate with the surface and a diving helmet, all for the passing kids.

“The little ones are like, ‘eh,’” Gay said. “The ones over 10 and the young teens know more about what it is.

“You tell them you can breathe underwater, and they perk up.”

Detective Lt. Bart Lange and Lt. Gary Keller also talked about another maritime pursuit. They are the Sheriff’s Office Marine Section.

They talked about their work from a trailered 26-foot boat with a 350-horsepower outboard engine.

The work, Lange said, is often about helping boaters.

“People get lost,” he said. “They run out of gas. They get stuck in the tides. … It’ll sneak up on you.”

The job is “marine law enforcement and search and rescue,” Lange said. “It’s a good job.”

Deputy Noah Fryou was among the Sheriff’s Office personnel showing the office’s MRAP. It’s a military vehicle designed to carry troops and to offer protection against land mines.

The vehicle’s construction makes it handy for driving through high water.

The Morgan City High fishing team was a big part of the night’s fun. The team ran a game in which kids could cast for plastic fish set down on the parking lot and try to bring them in.

Coach Glenn Blanco said that the young anglers who caught the most fish during the playing of a 4-minute song got a prize. Then the other fishermen got a prize, too.

The St. Mary Parish Council continues to take a hard look at the home-rule charter, considering changes in the way the government operates.

That was the subject of a special meeting Wednesday in Franklin. The only action taken was referring some of the ideas under consideration to legal counsel to see if they comply with state law.

Some of the ideas, many from a list of recommendations by a charter committee in 2020, are relatively minor and are put forward to bring the 39-year-old charter into line with state laws that have changed.

Some are more far-reaching.

One charter amendment is already headed for the ballot in the spring. Proposed by Councilman J Ina of Franklin, it would open the council chairmanship and vice chairmanship to any council member.

Currently, the charter says the council leadership positions must be filled only by members elected from the council’s at-large districts.

Members representing those districts are elected parishwide, but each represents a geographic district — 9 in the west, 10 in the central parish and 11 in the east.

Ina has put forward the idea of turning 9, 10 and 11 into “super districts” from which members are elected rather than running throughout the parish.

The western district, 9, would have an African American majority, addressing what Ina sees as a racial imbalance. The parish has a population that is about one-third Black, but Ina and the Rev. Craig Matthews of Jeanerette are the only Blacks on the 11-member council.

Parish President David Hanagriff said increasing minority representation would be good. But “you have to look beyond that,” he said.

The fundamental issue is fairness, Hanagriff said. He talked about a hypothetical race in which a candidate running in one of the at-large districts could get not a single vote in that district and still win the right to represent it because of votes from across the parish.

“How is that fair?” Hanagriff said. “It’s completely not fair.”

Ina has put forward another idea last month: raising the parish president’s salary from $12,000 a year, the level set in the charter in 1983,, to the average of the mayoral salaries in the parish’s municipalities. Currently, Ina said, that’s nearly $50,000.

The point is to push the parish closer to having a full-time president to devote more time to his parish duties. One of the duties discussed last month was economic development.

Councilman James Bennett of Morgan City wondered how that would help when the parish already has a full-time economic development director in Evan Boudreaux.

Hanagriff said he already accompanies Boudreaux to talk to prospective businesses.

“Economic development should be done by an individual who is trained and has experience in economic development,” Hanagriff said. “It shouldn’t be in the hands of an elected official.”

The council should look at the raise as a cost-of-living adjustment after nearly four decades, said Hanagriff, who won’t benefit from any raise because he’s term-limited.

“Fifty-thousand is not a full-time salary for a full-time parish president,” he said.

Also under consideration after the committee recommendations: fine- tuning the chief administrative officer’s power to hire and fire personnel; prohibiting an office-holder whom voters have recalled from running for office again; giving the parish president a line-item veto to use on the annual budget; and removing the one-year waiting period before a construction project or the means of financing a construction project that has been rejected by voters can appear on the ballot again.

(1927-2022)

James C. Azcona passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at the age of 95. A native New Orleanian born in 1927 to Mateo James Azcona and Miriam Fiegler Azcona, he faithfully served his country, his community, his family, and his Catholic beliefs throughout his life.

Jim was a graduate and loyal supporter of Jesuit High School. He later attended LSU, where he attained his undergraduate degree, and became a lifelong Alumni and LSU Tiger fan.

In 1944, Jim proudly enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During World War II he trained as a signalman and served in the Philippines. After the war, he earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and began practicing law in 1952. He was a respected and admired attorney for over 60 years and was a member of the Louisiana Bar. He successfully practiced law in many diverse and challenging roles throughout his career, including Government Service, Private Practice and Corporate Law.

Jim met the love of his life, Betty Mitchell at a party on her 16th birthday. They married seven years later, after the war, and built a life together that lasted over 75 years. Jim and Betty had five children, and devoted all their love, wisdom and patience to raising their family. Jim was a devout family man and made it a priority to be home with his family for dinner at 6 pm every evening. He also never missed his children’s extracurricular activities including football games, school plays or concerts. Jim truly enjoyed New Orleans traditions, one of which was bringing his children to watch the horses’ early morning workouts at the Fairgrounds.

The day would start at 6 am with Mass, followed by donuts and chocolate milk.

He was known as “Grandpa” to his six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, whom he adored. When in their company, his face would light up and his playful nature would quickly take over. Jim especially loved gathering with the family, where he delighted in playing a traditional hide and seek game of “Sardines” in the dark, where he made the “Grandpa challenge” an unforgettable memory.

A devout Catholic, Jim was a longtime parishioner of St. Francis Cabrini and St. Maria Goretti churches in New Orleans. He served on the Steering Committee and helped build both churches. He was an annual attendee of Cursillo Men’s Retreats and, along with his beloved wife Betty, worked as an exemplary Marital Speaker team in Catholic Pre-Cana Seminars for many years.

Together they received training and were commissioned as Ministers of Holy Communion by the Catholic Church.

After Katrina destroyed their home in New Orleans, Jim and Betty moved to Rayne, Louisiana. In Rayne, they were quickly embraced by old family friends and new acquaintances, including the parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church, which made a difficult transition much easier.

Jim was an avid and boisterous LSU and Saints fan. He loved to recant great memories of these games including being present at the famous Billy Cannon Halloween Run in Tiger Stadium. He was also a lifelong Saints season ticket holder, and was present at the very memorable inaugural Saints kickoff in Tulane Stadium. He was later honored by the Saints organization by having his and Betty’s name placed on the Memorial Wall outside the Superdome.

Jim loved nothing more than to celebrate holidays and good times with his beloved “Betty”, his family, and friends. Everyone looked forward to his unique recipe for cooking his Thanksgiving turkey and boiled crawfish. When asked what his secret ingredient was, he would always respond, “It was cooked with love.”

When Betty passed away, he was asked by his children and grandchildren what was it like to be married to Betty for 70 years. His reply was “The Best”.

His cultivated knowledge of local and national politics and history made him an interesting and entertaining conversationalist. Jim was renowned as a devoted father and grandfather, a consummate professional, and a true man of integrity. He will be missed by all who knew him, and was well loved.

He is survived by children, James C. Azcona, Jr., Ann Elizabeth Azcona Ewin (Dabney), Susan “Suze” Azcona Davis Stouff (Roger), Stephen John Azcona (Colleen), and Nancy Ann Azcona Lawson (Mark), his grandchildren John Scott Davis, Jr. (Dana), Elizabeth Azcona Aucoin (Troy), Melissa Lawson Salmon (Jameson), Stephen George Azcona (Olivia), Lindsey Elizabeth Lawson, and Katherine Courtney Azcona, and numerous beloved great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces, His sisters-in-laws Joan Mitchell Mayeux (A.J., deceased), Laura Mitchell (John Patrick Mitchell, Jr., deceased). He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife.

A funeral service for family and close friends was held in early October at Greenwood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jesuit High School of New Orleans, 4133 Banks Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.

Kenneth Jackson Welch, 58, a native of Morgan City and resident of Houma, died Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at his residence.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.