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A 15-year-old has been arrested and faces attempted second-degree murder charges in connection with a shooting in Franklin, the Franklin Police Department said Thursday.

The juvenile male was arrested at 10:54 a.m. Wednesday and booked on 18 counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property, illegal use of a weapon and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile.

Franklin police say several calls came in Oct. 1 about shots fired in the area of Iberia and Oakdale streets. Officers responded at 12:45 a.m. and learned that a home and a vehicle had been hit. No one was injured.

The investigation identified the suspect and is still going on, the Police Department said.

(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.)

A Morgan City man arrested Saturday by St. Mary deputies was wanted in connection with an alleged attempt to pass counterfeit money, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

— Steven James Morris, 36, Doris Street, Morgan City, was arrested Saturday on a charge of monetary instrument abuse.

The charge arises from a complaint lodged by a Bayou L’Ourse retail outlet Oct. 6.

Deputies were dispatched to the business and inter-viewed the management, who indicated that an individual attempted to purchase items with counterfeit or altered currency. When the individual was advised that the first bill was faulty, he presented a second bill that was also altered.

The male subject indicated that he would go to his car to retrieve his debit card. The suspect left and never returned.

Investigating deputies viewed security footage which was ultimately posted to social media. Within minutes of that publication, Sheriff’s officials received numerous calls in which Morris was identified as the suspect.

Deputies secured an arrest warrant for Morris. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Morris on Saturday.

Morris was transferred and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated with bond set at $50,000.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 63 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

—Estrella Ashley Shamah, 33, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of Adderall and possession of a legend drug (Lexapro).

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

—Wade J. Blackburn Sr., 46, Cherry Street, Patterson, was arrested at 5:17 p.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to appear (traffic), allowing unlicensed persons to drive and simple battery. Blackburn paid a $976 fine and was released.

—Jada Druilhet, 21, Rail-road Avenue, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Druilhet was released on a $459 cash bond.

If you are like me, you suffer from seasonal allergies — sneezing, headaches, itchy eyes and coughing, all due to pollen from local, native plants that bloom in autumn. Among many culprits, two of the most common are goldenrod and ragweed.
Both plants bloom at roughly the same time each fall, but goldenrod often gets the blame for the problems caused to allergy sufferers. It is possible, although rare, to be allergic to goldenrod. Your seasonal sniffles are most likely caused by ragweed.
The ragweed plant itself is actually quite inconspicuous. Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) is an annual plant that has small green flower spikes. The flowers are not showy because they are not meant to attract pollinating insects.
Rather, this plant relies on wind pollination — part of the reason ragweed is so aggravating. It produces vast amounts of pollen whose particles are extremely small and lightweight, making it easy to be carried hundreds of miles and far more allergenic.
Ragweed is responsible for the majority of fall pollen-induced allergies, but many people point fingers at goldenrod, which is more noticeable in the landscape this time of year. Goldenrod’s gorgeous, showy yellow flowers are attractive to pollen-spreading insects such as bees, beetles, butterflies and wasps. In contrast to ragweed, goldenrod pollen has large, heavy particles that do not move very far from the plant without the help of pollinators that carry the sticky pollen from flower to flower.
There are several ways to tell the two plants apart. To begin with, ragweed has green flowers, it does not grow as tall as goldenrod and the leaves are divided, resembling fern leaves. Ragweed is highly branched from the bottom upward. Goldenrods have foliage that is more strap-like with large, yellow flower spikes on top.
Goldenrods (Solidago spp.), like sunflowers, are native to North America and are flowering perennials that sport bright yellow blooms in late summer, usually mid-August, through the fall. With more than 100 different species, goldenrods are members of the aster family.
You can find them on roadsides and forests growing alongside native sunflowers and other blooming asters. Most species have an upright growth habit and can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet. Many of the species are branched with flower heads that resemble a daisy and supply abundant nectar in full-sun areas. The aboveground parts have been used as an herbal medicine throughout history.
Goldenrod is an easy-care herbaceous perennial that tolerates a wide range of soils as long as they have good drainage. Plants grow best and offer the most flower production in full sun. Plants are drought tolerant once established and require minimal care. They return each year, and clumps should be divided every five or so years.
Goldenrods are beginning to show up in the nursery trade, with even showier golden blooms than wild flowers. Some ornamental goldenrods are Crown of Rays, Fireworks, Golden Baby, Gold Rush, Little Lemon and Solar Cascade. Ornamental varieties are shorter and less aggressive than most native species of goldenrod, and this makes them more adaptable within any sunny perennial garden.
Pair goldenrods with purple-blooming asters, salvias or mums, and you’ve got a gorgeous purple and gold fall display that no Tiger fan would turn their nose up to!
If you wish to control ragweed, it is best to do so early on before the plants begin making pollen. They can be hand pulled or mowed to prevent pollen release from flowers.
Ragweed also can be controlled with nonselective herbicides such as glyphosate; you’ll get the best results if the plants are still small. Follow the manufacturer’s label. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide and will kill all plants it touches.

The reopening of all lanes on the U.S. 90 bridge is still expected Oct. 19, restoring local traffic to six lanes over the Atchafalaya River for the first time since September 2019.

And that break for local drivers is expected to last four months.

After the completion of the U.S. 90 bridge rehabilitation next week, it will be the two-lane Long-Allen Bridge’s turn. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development anticipates closing the older bridge in February for rehabilitation expected to last at least 2½ years, DOTD spokeswoman Diedra Druilhet said Monday.

The bridge is a familiar landmark for local people, and it’s showing its age.

Crossing the bridge is also a short lesson in Louisiana history. A large plaque proclaims it to be the Long-Allen Bridge, named for Huey Long and O.K. Allen.
The Berwick-Morgan City La. 182 bridge is one of five in Louisiana to bear the Long-Allen name. It opened in 1933, and served vehicle traffic for the 42 years until the four-lane U.S. 90 bridge – named for legislator E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi – was complete.
Traffic on the U.S. 90 bridge has been limited to one lane in either direction during the three-year rehabilitation work there.

The old bridge’s two lanes carried an average of 12,788 vehicles a day in 2021, more than a third of the traffic count on the U.S. 90 bridge.

The Long-Allen bridge’s narrow width means it must be closed during the 2½ to three years the work is expected to take, “weather permitting,” Druilhet said.

“There’s just not enough room to make sure the contractor has enough room to keep its crews safe,” Druilet said.
Southern Road and Bridge of Tarpon Springs, Florida, was the low bidder for the Long-Allen work, which is expected to cost $26 million.

Druihet compared the contemplated work to doing maintenance on a car or a home. The work will extend the life of the bridge, she said.

The work includes cleaning and painting the bridge and making any needed repairs on the bridge deck and surface, the superstructure above the deck and the pilings and abutments below.

The possible impact of the bridge work on traffic was demonstrated again Monday.

The La. 182 bridge was closed Monday afternoon after an 18-wheeler hit the safety beams as it exited the bridge heading west on the Berwick side.

During part of that time, first responders also worked to clear a crash in the westbound lane of the U.S. 90 bridge.