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February 11, 1949 — July 5, 2022

Peggy Drown, age 73, of Salem, Illinois, passed away at her home on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.
Peggy was born on February 11, 1949 in Morgan City, Louisiana, the daughter of Edward and Edith (Dees) Kern. She married Cliff Drown and he preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughter, Sherri Dinger and girlfriend Amy Sapp of Salem; son, Scotty Adkins of Georgia; five grandchildren, Trevor Catamas, J.D. Catamas, Justin Adkins, Ashley Adkins, and Dillon Adkins; several great-grandchildren; and siblings, Patsy Kern, Glen Kern, Karen Donaldson and husband David, Richard Kern and wife Joyce; brother-in-law, Tom Ware; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and sisters, Sheila Kern and Wanda Ware.

Peggy was of the Catholic Faith and enjoyed reading her Bible. She retired after many years working in accounting. She was an avid artist and enjoyed drawing and China painting.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Crouse Funeral Home in Salem is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.CrouseFH.com

A Pierre Part man could serve up to five years in prison after pleading guilty in a 2021 fatal crash.

Dean Putz Jr., 25, Leonie Street, Pierre Part, enter guilty pleas last week in 23rd Judicial District Court last week to charges of negligent homicide, reckless operation and no seat belt.

The April 21, 2021, crash claimed the life of Kole Bahry, 21, Plattenville.

According to the 23rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, Louisiana State Police responded to the area of Belle River Road after the single-vehicle crash.

Troopers conducted an extensive crash investigation and determined that Putz was operating a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck while traveling on La. 1016-2 in excess of 100 mph.

Putz failed to negotiate a curve, causing the vehicle to veer off the roadway. The vehicle re-entered the roadway before traveling off the roadway a second time before striking a utility pole, overturning and striking a second utility pole. Bahry was pronounced deceased on scene.

Putz was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Putz underwent treatment and subsequently recovered.

Troopers were able to determine that Putz had a blood alcohol content of .07g%, just shy of Louisiana’s legal limit of .08g%. Based on the high rate of speed and the reckless manner in which the vehicle was traveling, a warrant of arrest was obtained for Putz, who was subsequently arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Jail.

Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney is the lead prosecutor on this case, and presiding over this matter is Judge Alvin Turner Jr.

Sentencing was deferred pending a pre-sentence investigation.

State Rep. Beryl Amedee, the Gray Republican who represents portions of east St. Mary in the state House, was set Wednesday present a medal to the par-ents of a college student who died trying to save children from drowning.

The ceremony was to be in Gray. That’s the home of Lenny and Kristi Gros Gravois, parents of the late Layne Paul Gravois.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission named Layne Gravois one of its 2021 heroes.

According to his obituary, Gravois, 21 at the time of his death, was a 2018 honors graduate from E.D. White, where he played football and baseball.

He went on to LSU to study electrical engineering.

According to the commission, Gravois was at Miramar Beach, Florida on April 8, 2021.

Alerted on the beach that children were in distress in the turbulent Gulf of Mexico surf, Gravois and several friends, entered the water, swimming toward multiple people in the water, the Carnegie Commission said.

A human chain was formed from shore in an attempt to reach those in distress. Buffeted by heavy waves, Gravois and two friends were removed from the water by others.

Gravois, who was unresponsive, was among 11 people who needed medical attention from first-responders on the beach.

Gravois was taken to a hospital, where he died the following day.

In addition to his parents, Gravois is survived by a brother, Collin, and a sister, Addison.

The Carnegie Commission said the most recent quarter’s awardees saved nine children from 5 to 13.

The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the U.S. and Canada to those who enter extreme danger while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. With this announcement, a total of 10,291 Carnegie Medals have been awarded since the Pittsburgh-based Fund’s inception in 1904.

Commission Chair Mark Laskow said each of the awardees or their survivors will also receive a financial grant. Throughout the 118 years since the Fund was established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Car-negie, nearly $44 million has been given in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.

(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.)

Morgan City police reported three marijuana arrests and Berwick officers reported two more Tuesday, one of a juvenile accused of distribution. Morgan City and St. Mary authorities also made arrests on domestic abuse charges.

Berwick

Police Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

—Juvenile male, 15, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of distribution of marijuana.

—Juvenile male, 16, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana, violation of controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone), possession of tobacco products by a person under 21 and introduction of contraband into a penal facility.

About 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Berwick Police Department observed two juveniles meet and conduct what appeared to be a hand-to-hand transaction. The juveniles parted ways shortly after, and officers were able to make contact with both of them.

One of the juveniles admitted to selling the other juvenile marijuana. Officers located the marijuana with the other juvenile along with a vape in his possession.

Both juveniles were placed under arrest.

The area in which the juveniles conducted the transaction is within a posted drug-free zone. Upon arrival at the Berwick Police Department, it was learned that one of the juveniles had more marijuana on his person. Following the booking process, the juveniles were released to their parents pending a court hearing.

Morgan City
Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 38 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

—Gavin Mitchell Gautreaux, 22, Bayouside Drive, Chauvin, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

—Jeffery Scott Lambert Jr., 24, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

—Brittney Marie Topham, 21, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

—Trey Minos Estelle, 30, Carla Court, New Iberia, was arrested at 10 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of failure to ap-pear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Johnathon Matthew Priestly, 28, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:19 p.m. Tuesday on five counts of failure to appear for review and one count of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Barry Lee Jones, 35, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:27 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of entry or remaining in places after forbidden.

—Teresa Foster, 60, Buckeye Road, Killeen, Texas, was arrested at 5:55 p.m. Tuesday on charges of disturbing the peace (intoxicated), defecating in public and resisting an officer.

—Chad G. Gonzales, 54, La. 308, Thibodaux, was arrested at 8:35 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and improper lighting.

—Ralph Bernard Harcum, 61, St. John Street, Lafayette, was arrested at 12:46 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of battery of a dating partner (strangulation).

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 32 complaints and made these arrests:

—Dustin J. Vaughn, 45, Berwick, was arrested at 4:19 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging domestic abuse battery, simple assault and attempted criminal damage to property.

No bond has been set at this time.