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Operation Beautification is holding a Community Clean Up Day Saturday morning in Morgan City. Volunteers gathered at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium for assignments.
Caution should be used along roadways in Morgan City as crews will be picking up litter until noon.

Nine area young women are vying for the title of 87th Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Queen. A king will also be announced.
The coronation pageant will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Tickets, available at the door while seating lasts, are $8 for adults and $6 for children.
Bidding farewell will be the 86th Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival King and Queen William “Billy” Hidalgo Jr. and Caroline Green.
Hidalgo, a graduate of Central Catholic High School in Morgan City, earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (UL-Lafayette) and a master’s degree in business administration from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.
He is the engineering manager at Halimar Shipyard in Morgan City. Hidalgo has been involved in the design and construction of marine equipment and vessels for 30 years.
He and his wife, Judith Bergeron Hidalgo, are the parents of three children.
Green, 20, is a graduate of CCHS and attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge pursuing a degree in nursing.
At LSU, she is a sisterhood chair and historian for Sigma Alpha and is an LSU Residential Life tour guide and desk assistant.
She is the daughter of Greg and Crystal Green of Morgan City.
Members of the 2022 maid court are:
Madeline Albritton, 19, is the daughter of Tammy and Herman Albritton of Morgan City. The Morgan City High School graduate attends Nicholls pursuing a degree in elementary education.
Her interests include riding in a boat, water activities, riding bikes and traveling.
Makaylin Carver, 19, is the daughter of Leah Carver and Richard Donovan of Berwick. The Berwick High School graduate attends NSU pursuing a degree in elementary education.
At Nicholls, she is a member of the Kappa Alpha Chapter of Delta Zeta and is in the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society. In her spare time she enjoys baking, cooking, babysitting and singing.
Emily Colgin, 19, is the daughter of Nicole and Clint Colgin of Morgan City. The CCHS graduate attends NSU pursuing a degree in business administration, with a minor in culinary arts.
She was a CCHS honor student and is a member of the Nicholls Honors Program where she is on the dean’s list.
Her interests include exercising.
Elise Daigle, 19, is the daughter of Tonia M. Verrette of Pierre Part and the late Warren P. Daigle Sr. The CCHS graduate attends Louisiana State University pursuing a degree in animal sciences: preveterinary medicine.
During high school she was Executive Council president, BETA Club president, cheer co-captain, tennis captain, and served on the CCHS Student Retreat Leadership Team. She was selected as an Assumption Parish Teenager of the Year finalist.
She was selected as a senior model for Four J Photography Senior Model Team and visits other states to work with photographers on a variety of photo shoots.
At LSU, Daigle serves as a student orientation leader and is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity.
She is employed by Highland Road Veterinary Animal Hospital.
Jordan Gallegos, 18, is the daughter of Dallas and Jose Gallegos of Morgan City. The BHS graduate attends NSU pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice.
At BHS, she was a cheerleader (captain her senior year), a member of the band, and served as committee head and leader for her Student Leadership Team.
She is a member of her church’s praise team and participates in outreach programs
At Nicholls, she is a member of the Kappa Alpha Chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority
She enjoys dance, nature and animals.
Lindsie Giroir, 19, is the daughter of Janea and Brian Giroir of Berwick. The BHS graduate attends Nicholls pursuing a degree in biology — pre-medicine.
She enjoys reading, exercising, cheering for UCA and traveling.
Kennedy Grizzaffi, 18, is the daughter of Jodi and Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi of Morgan City. The CCHS graduate attends Nicholls pursuing a degree in pre-dental hygiene.
At CCHS, Grizzaffi was an honor student. At Nicholls she is a member of the Pre-Dental Society and achieved the president’s list.
She enjoys traveling.
Sarah Herrera, 24, is the daughter of Manuel and Daphne Herrera of Morgan City. She is a homeschool graduate.
She is an employee at the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau where she promotes tourism.
She is also owner of the Christian dance studio, Alto School of Dance in Bayou Vista.
Locally, Herrera performed in “St. Mary’s Got Talent Arts Jam” with the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts, and the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker. She has also trained with the Guatemalan national ballet, and a Broadway dance center in New York City.
The young entrepreneur enjoys taking day trips and attending local events, volunteering and cooking.
Peyton Skiles, 19, is the daughter of Emily and Patrick Skiles of Patterson, and is granddaughter of the 2017 Shrimp and Petroleum Festival King Jimmy Skiles. The CCHS graduate attends Baylor University in Waco, Texas, pursuing a degree in biology — pre-medicine.
While at CCHS, Skiles was valedictorian. She participated in BETA club, the National Honors Society, ARK Club, KEY Club, and was student council vice president.
At Baylor, she is a member of the American Medical Women’s Association and Animal Rescue Club.
She enjoys reading, sewing, embroidering, and traveling to explore new ideas and cultures.
Photos of the contestants are by Peter Bello Photography, except for photos provided by Makaylin Carver or Peyton Skiles.

DEAR ABBY: I’m having a hard time deciding what to do about my engagement to my fiancé. We met at our old job. Before we got together, he was with someone else, and while he says he didn’t leave her for me, I am sure I helped.
I have low self-esteem, so I couldn’t understand why he left her for me. But he told me I was lucky he cared about me so much because he could have still been friends with her. I did tell him that I wouldn’t care as long as I knew. We finally moved into an apartment together, and he started a new job with an old friend he drinks with.
Since the move, he has become very verbally abusive, and I have developed anxiety and panic attacks. I have also developed a fear of driving. He tells me I need to quit being stupid and to grow up. He doesn’t like to talk about problems. He likes to pretend they never happened. If I try to discuss things that upset me, there is always an argument and I’m always in the wrong. When I work late or if I’m not home, he gets upset, drinks and breaks stuff.
He proposed a year into our relationship when things were OK. I’m trying to do anything I can to make this not miserable, but it’s not enough. What do you think I should do?
NOT REALLY HAPPY IN MICHIGAN

DEAR NOT REALLY HAPPY: When problems can’t be discussed, they also can’t be resolved. I think it’s time to calmly evaluate the status quo and decide if you really want to spend the rest of your life with an insecure, domineering, abusive partner who has a drinking problem. If the answer is no, make other living arrangements. Pack your belongings, inform him the romance is over (do this only when he is sober AND you have a witness) and leave.
If you have any reason to think this charmer may become violent, first call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 to put together a safe escape plan. Believe me, you can do better than this.

DEAR ABBY: Whenever I’m out early for a medical or dental appointment, early church services, etc., I usually stop at a fast-food drive-through and bring home breakfast. My neighbor is a single mother who works at home due to the pandemic, and I buy something for her and her son and leave it on her porch. I remember times when I was still working and a co-worker would bring in breakfast treats, and how much I enjoyed them.
My wife has told me to stop because, she says, my neighbor will think I’m a “dirty old man.” My neighbor and I hardly ever speak except to say hello, and I never give her another thought. What do you think?
PASSING IT ON IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR PASSING: When you pick up those breakfasts, do you bring something home for your wife as well? If the answer is no, your wife may be insecure about the attention you are paying to this neighbor. From my perspective, what you have been doing is a kindness.
***
For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby, Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

What does adequate minority on the St. Mary Parish Council mean, and what’s the best way to make it happen?

That was the question posed by Councilman J Ina at the council’s Wednesday meeting.

Also Wednesday, the council heard from Amelia residents who are demanding a remedy for loud music from vehicles and homes — a problem that has been addressed for years without a solution.

Racial balance

The council must redraw its district map by next fall based on 2020 Census results. So far, the most contentious issue is over representation in Berwick, where Councilmen Patrick Hebert and Mark Duhon each hope to enlarge their districts to take in more of the town.

In western St. Mary, District 2’s Ina, District 1’s the Rev. Craig Mathews and District 3’s Rodney Olander appear settled on one of the proposals developed by the South Central Regional Planning & Development Commission staff.

The proposal mainly affects Mathews’ district, which would be expanded to run around Franklin to Verdunville.

The Black majorities in the districts represented by Ina and Mathews would be increased.

But on Wednesday, Ina talked about minority representation in a different way.

Blacks make up 32% of the parish’s population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Two of the Parish Council’s 11 members are African Americans — Ina and Mathews — both elected from districts with African American majorities.

Surrounding parishes have roughly the same percentage of African American citizens as St. Mary but have greater minority representation, Ina said.

“I think the Black population is grossly underrepresented,” Ina said.

Without specifying, Ina said he will put forward ideas for increasing minority representation.

Mathews made his point by asking Ina how many surrounding parishes have council members elected at large. The answer is none.

Eight of the St. Mary Parish Council’s 11 members are elected from geographic districts. The other three are elected at large. All three at- large members are white.

Olander said that he won’t argue with Ina’s numbers. But if only the eight geographic districts are considered, 25% of the council members are African Americans.

Loud music

Two Amelia residents asked the council to come up with some way, possibly an ordinance, to prevent loud music from mobile homes and vehicles from disturbing their lives.

Charlene Patureau made an impassioned plea for the council to do something.

Denise Chaisson said she’s been coming to the council since 2015 with complaints about loud music from homes and vehicles that makes it hard to sleep and bothers older residents.

Loud music even interrupted a priest who was officiating at a recent funeral.

“They don’t respect the dead, much less the living ...,” Chaisson said.

“Everybody tries to do something, and nothing gets done.”

That seems to sum up the state of a noise enforcement in the parish.

Eric Duplantis, the attorney for the council, said he’s been asked to draft dozens of ordinances over the years, but they don’t get introduced.

Gary Driskell, the chief deputy for the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, said talks with the District Attorney’s Office haven’t resulted in an enforceable strategy.

Council Chair Dr. Kristi Prejeant Rink said she’s been working on an ordinance for months. She promised to have one for the council to consider by the end of September.

Rink said the issue is complicated. She wanted to know whether council members would want to take on the expense of providing deputies with decibel meters to measure the noise level.