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Thibodaux Regional Health System announced the addition of Dr. Thomas Dukovac, urologist, to the active medical staff.

Dukovac is available to care for patients at Thibodaux Regional Urology Clinic, 504 North Acadia Road, Thibodaux, 985-447-5667.

Dukovac earned his medical degree from University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He completed his residency training in urology at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans.

Dukovac specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary problems in men and women as well as conditions involving the male reproductive system, and offers robotic surgery for benign and malignant urologic diseases.

Thibodaux Regional Health System is a recognized regional medical center that provides inpatient and outpatient care for the people of Lafourche and seven surrounding parishes.

The health system has been recognized as a five-star hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for providing the highest quality care and is also nationally recognized for its cost efficiency, innovation and safety.

Specialized services include heart surgery; medical and radiation oncology; neurology; neurosurgery; orthopedic surgery; sports medicine; plastic and reconstructive surgery; general, laparoscopic, and bariatric surgery; pulmonology; rheumatology; women’s services; inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation; and wellness services.

For more information, visit www.thibodaux.com.

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Spring League
Week 11 Final
League Champions: Jimmy Percle (team captain), Tim Hayles, Craig Rink and Neil Shaw.
.........................................W L
3 Tigers & A Dawg...........55 44
If The Shoe Fits..............54.5 44.5
X-Men ............................50 49
Old Dawgs.....................48 50
Underdogs.....................45 54
Inconsistent..................42.5 56.5
High scratch point average: (30’) Tim Gilmore 81.4, J. Percle 53.9 and Angela Percle 48.3; and (40’) Dwain Arceneaux 50.0, Clyde Landry 49.6 and Randy Giroir 47.6.
High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 60.8, J. Percle 33.1 and A. Percle 23.9; and (40’) Pearce 31.3, Arceneaux 31.1 and Landry 27.9.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 95, J. Percle 78 and A. Percle 69; and (40’) Arceneaux 68, Landry 65 and Pearce 63.
Most ringers: (one night) Gilmore 82, J. Percle 49, Pearce 45 and Arceneaux 44; and (one game) Gilmore 29, J. Percle 23, Pearce 18, Arceneaux 18, Landry 17, Giroir 16 and A. Percle 16.
Most points one night: Gilmore 264, J. Percle 192, Landry 176, Pearce 174, Arceneaux 163 and A. Percle 163; and best won-loss record: Gilmore 22.5-10.5, Rink 15-8, Landry 15.5-8.5, J. Percle 15-10 and Arceneaux 18-12.
Most points one night – team: Old Dawgs 527 and Underdogs 440; most ringers one night – team: Old Dawgs 130, Underdogs 96 and Inconsistent 96; and high game over aver-age: Tyler Bourdier and A. Percle 22.4.

A healthy portion of the statewide voter turnout yielded by the current election cycle will be driven by the middle of the November ballot.

That’s where you’ll find mayoral contests in nearly every corner of Louisiana.

Hundreds of candidates in 49 different parishes have signed up for these premier municipal elections, pointing to a growing interest in local-level politics.

In some areas, like Shreveport and Alexandria, voters are engaged early and emotions are already running high.

Yet there are also notable battles being waged across the state in locales as far-flung as Lockport and Ville Platte, and from Hammond to Minden.

We may be entering an election cycle where the real draw is at home and in our backyards, not at the top of the ballot with the well-financed, nationalized politics of cable news networks.

The size of Louisiana’s mayoral class is impressive and under-appreciated.

There are 300 elected mayors in the state, according to a database of officials compiled by the Secretary of State’s Office. Most, but not all, are represented on the November ballot.

There’s no practical way to touch on each mayoral election and candidate in this column. Just know that for every mayor’s race simply mentioned here, there are several others playing out in Louisiana’s smaller towns and villages, like Baldwin, Berwick, Dixie Inn, Epps, Erath, Lecompte and Ridgecrest, to mention just a few.

Believe it or not, St. Landry Parish alone has 12 different races for mayor.

For our most fortunate politicians, there will be no bids at all in November. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker was elected without opposition, and so were Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry and Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot. A few dozen other mayoral qualifiers — overwhelmingly from towns and villages — were unopposed as well.
Then there’s Shreveport, where interest in this year’s race for mayor, both inside and outside of the city, is through the roof.

The candidates are packing rooms, too.

There was a massive crowd last week for a mayoral forum hosted by the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana.

All 10 candidates who qualified for the race participated in the community forum, which drew sparse attendance just four years ago.

Under fire for the city’s crime challenges and still fielding criticism for a failed U.S. Senate bid during his first term in office, incumbent Mayor Adrian Perkins is viewed as vulnerable by local politicos.

By far, the “sounds of gunshots in the night” — a direct quote from more than one candidate — and blight are the leading issues in this race.
Some of the lesser-known candidates even managed to capture the attention of the crowd on the topic.

“You better get you a gangsta to run Shreveport, Louisiana, if you wanna stop any of this type of crime,” said Melvin “No Limit” Slack.

No one in the field can touch state Sen. Greg Tarver when it comes to fundraising.

The senator is sitting on more than $389,000.

That tally includes $277,000 from his personal campaign account, according to the latest filings, and another $112,000 from his leadership account, known as Mo PAC.

Perkins has just $104,000 in his state re-election account, but his failed U.S. Senate bid has a federal account attached that’s still holding an additional $155,000.

Perkins will not be allowed to use that federal account on a local race, but he could always donate the cash to a supportive super PAC or other outfit in Louisiana that would in turn work to boost his chances.

On the other side of the political spectrum, attorney Tom Arceneaux is the strongest GOP contender in the field, and the only Republican aside from Slack.
Arceneaux, in comparison, is running as a traditional conservative and reported more money in his state account — $117,000 — than the mayor did.
Arceneaux, who is among several contenders, has struck a positive tone in his campaign. While Tarver declared that Shreveport is “going down faster than the Titanic,” Arceneaux used last week’s forum to paint a picture of a city that could heal quickly.

“Can these dry bones live?” Arceneaux asked the crowd. “Oh yes, they can.”

There are similar story lines playing out in mayoral races across the state.

In Alexandria, a former mayor is challenging the current mayor on the November ballot.

In Ville Platte, the sitting mayor, who’s also the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, is facing organized opposition.

In Lockport, the former mayor resigned, prompting a special election that the same former mayor now wants to join.

So if you’re in search of political action this fall, and the top of the ballot just isn’t doing it for you, remember you can always look local.

For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @ LaPoliticsNow.

October 11, 1946 — August 1, 2022

Donald Joseph Keller, 75, a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully, Monday, August 1, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Donald was born October 11, 1946, in Morgan City, the son of Henry Peter Keller Sr. and Doris LeBlanc Keller.

Donald was drafted into the Vietnam war and proudly served his country for two years. Donald was a handy man, who was always fiddling around with something. He was an avid football and baseball fan and loved LSU.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Deborah Gros Keller of Morgan City; one son, Robert Keller and wife Kimberly of Mobile, AL; two daughters, Jessica Feliciano and husband Juan of Morgan City, Christie Dragna and husband Lee of Morgan City; six grandchildren, Juan Feliciano and wife Letitia, Allie Hudson and husband Josh, Brendan Keller and wife Rebecca, Nicholas Feliciano, Cecily Feliciano, and Andrea Dragna; four great-grandchildren, Ava, Juan, Sophia, and Cooper; numerous nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Doris Keller; brother, Henry “Cookie” Keller Jr.; sister-in-law, Kathleen Bercegeay; brothers-in-law, Charles Bercegeay, Michael Gros, and Donald Justilian.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Twin City Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Twin City
Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. After services, Donald will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery, where military rites will be rendered.