Submitted Photos
Leadership St. Mary toured Ochsner St. Mary on Tuesday for the program's Healthcare Day. Fernis LeBlanc, CEO for Ochsner’s Bayou Region, presented the group with the latest hospital information. In addition, members were treated to a demonstration of the correct way to do chest compressions and the importance of hand hygiene was discussed.
Louisiana legislative leaders have officially called off a veto override session for 2022, leaving in place the governor’s rejection of proposals to boost school choice, make voting changes and protect churches from public health restrictions, among others.
A total of 25 senators and 39 representatives returned ballots before the Tuesday deadline to cancel the veto override session this year. The Louisiana Constitution requires a veto override session unless a majority of lawmakers in either chamber opt out.
Fourteen Republicans and 11 Democrats in the upper chamber triggered the threshold, though a majority of the 105 representatives in the House agreed to convene.
Senate President Patrick Page Cortez, R-Lafayette and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, officially announced the cancellation of the 2022 veto override session in a letter Tuesday.
“There wasn’t going to be the support necessary to override a single veto, which is why some members of the Senate considered it a colossal waste of money to show up and then gavel out the same day without accomplishing anything,” Cortez told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
The announcement means 27 vetoes issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards will remain in place, including nearly 20 that passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support.
The decision comes after Sen. Bodi White, R-Baton Rouge, announced he could not attend the override session because of surgery and Sen. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, vowed not to vote to override any bill.
State Republican leaders, members of the Louisiana Conservative Caucus, school choice advocates and others lobbied lawmakers to return to the capitol to try anyway. Several lawmakers told the media they were disappointed their colleagues opted to stay home.
“There were so many bills that were passed almost unanimously that were so good for the state,” Rep. Michael Echols, R-Monore, told KNOE.
“For us to go back into a veto override session is somewhere between $25,000 and $70,000 for a day or two,” Echols said. “I think that is a small price to pay.”
Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, noted that Republicans were at least two votes short of overriding any of Edwards’ vetoes and said he voted to cancel the session to spare taxpayers the expense.
“At the end of the day, if you are not going to be able to accomplish anything, why go?” he told KNOE.
“In my view, it would have been a waste of money. We would have gone to Baton Rouge and not accomplished anything.”
“I absolutely think that some bills needed to be overridden, but the votes weren’t there,” Morris said. “It’s impossible under the constitution if we don’t have 26 votes in the Senate.”
Bills vetoed by Edwards would have created Education Savings Accounts for families of special needs students or those struggling to read that could have been used to pursue educational options outside of the public education system. Another vetoed bill included changes to the state’s corporate charter school law that would have allowed the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve charters, circumventing local school boards.
Others would have required a supplemental canvass of registered voters, prevented emergency rules for churches that are more restrictive than those for businesses and increased penalties for criminals convicted of killing a police officer or first responder.
The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Tuesday, July 12
5:32 a.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street; Main water break.
9:40 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
10:09 a.m. 100 block of Roderick Street; Hit and run.
11:39 a.m. 1400 block of N Third Street; Alarm.
12:31 p.m. 700 block of Justa Street; Fire alarm.
1:04 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
1:29 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Fire alarm.
1:56 p.m. Area of La. 70/U.S. 90; Vehicle accident.
2:19 p.m. 100 block of Brownell Street; Animal complaint.
2:48 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Com-plaint.
4:42 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
5:43 p.m. 100 block of Brownell Street; Animal complaint.
6:11 p.m. 500 block of Front Street; Lost and found.
6:49 p.m. Seventh near Greenwood streets; Complaint.
7:07 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
7:33 p.m. 700 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Theft.
7:42 p.m. Federal Avenue near Aucoin Street; Complaint.
8:14 p.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal complaint.
8:38 p.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Disturbance.
Wednesday, July 13
12:12 a.m. 7800 block of La. 182; Suspicious person.
12:34 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Complaint.
12:46 a.m. 6500 block of La. 182; Alarm.
1:53 a.m. 600 block of Greenwood Street; 911 hang up.
2:37 a.m. Everett and First streets; Animal complaint.
8:02 a.m. Victor II and Martin Luther King boulevards; Stalled vehicle.
8:36 a.m. 100 block of Roderick Street; Lost and found.
8:52 a.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Medical.
9:58 a.m. 700 block of Everett Street; Complaint.
10:18 a.m. U.S. 90 West; Stalled vehicle.
10:20 a.m. 1400 block of Youngs Road; Utility.
10:34 a.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Medical.
11:25 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Com-plaint.
11:28 a.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Disturbance.
11:29 a.m. Greenwood and Florida streets; Stand by.
12:24 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Reckless operation.
12:44 p.m. Myrtle Street and Railroad Avenue; Complaint.
1:01 p.m. 1000 block of Marshall Street; Disturbance.
1:35 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
2:17 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
2:18 p.m. 500 block of Bowman Street; Complaint.
3:33 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
3:55 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
4:13 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Theft.
4:26 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:15 p.m. 1200 block of David Drive; Alarm.
7 p.m. 700 block of Duke Street; Impaired subjects.
7:35 p.m. 700 block of South Everett Street; Open door.
7:40 p.m. 700 block of Duke Street; Impaired subjects.
8:07 p.m. 300 block of Aycock Street; Open gate.
8:15 p.m. 1800 block of Dale Street; Car accident.
8:21 p.m. Fifth/Duke streets area; Suspicious person.
8:34 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Death.
8:35 p.m. Circle K Amelia; Assistance.
9:26 p.m. Levee Road/Shaw Street; Reckless operation.
10:29 p.m. Terre-bonne/Egle streets; Traffic complaint.
Thursday, July 14
12:11 a.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Assistance.
1:45 a.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Animal complaint.
1:50 a.m. St Martin Street; Assistance.
2:19 a.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
2:39 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:05 a.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Complaint.
(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.)
St. Mary deputies arrested a Patterson woman on traffic and methamphetamine charges and discovered she was wanted in six warrants alleging failure to appear to answer 10 different charges, including meth and cocaine possession.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 34 complaints and made these arrests:
—Nicole Michelle Jones, 37, Centerville, was arrested at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon; illegal use, possession or control of weapons; possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia; and theft less than $1,000.
Bail has not been set at this time.
—Earl Lynn Perro, 41, Patterson, was arrested at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday on three warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of domestic abuse battery, possession of methamphetamine and criminal neglect of family. Bail has not been set at this time.
—Dierdre Louise Martin, 48, Patterson, was arrested at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding, no driver’s license, possession of Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.
Martin also held six warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine; possession of cocaine; possession of drug paraphernalia; operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled; resisting an officer; improper lane usage; aggravated from an officer where human life is endangered; obstruction of justice (tampering); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and possession, distribution or sale of a legend drug without a prescription.
Bail has not been set.
—Kendrick Juan Madison, 45, Franklin, was arrested at 5:38 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $11,052.01.
—Leon Emmanuel Lipari, 39, Centerville, was arrested at 7:48 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of theft. Bail was set at $1,500.
—Meshanda Lashae Alexander, 36, Jennings, was arrested at 3:42 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of theft. Bail was set at $1,500.
Morgan City
Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 41 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
—Brittany Sierra Jones, 28, Lloyd Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 3 p.m. Wednesday on six counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
—Glenn Earnest Buercklin, 55, Clausine Driver, Schriever, was arrested at 3:36 p.m. Wednesday on two counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
Patterson
Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:
—Douris Fanguy, 63 Patterson, was arrested at 2:57 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of violation of a protective order. Bond was set at $2,500.
(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.)
Berwick police say they arrested a man accused of leaving the scene of a crash and a woman accused of buying alcohol for minors.
Berwick
Police Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:
—Jody R. Cubbedge Sr., 64, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:35 p.m. Tuesday on charges of hit and run, careless operation of a motor vehicle with crash, driving under suspension, no insurance and switched license plate.
About 7:47 p.m. Tuesday, the Berwick Police Department received a call of a two-vehicle crash on La. 182. It was learned that one of the vehicles left the scene after the crash.
A description of the vehicle was given by witnesses. The vehicle was located a short time later. Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Cubbedge.
Cubbedge was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.
—Margaret Bergeron, 34, Carline Street, Berwick, was arrested at 11:04 p.m. on a warrant alleging contributing the delinquency of a juvenile.
About 11:04 p.m. Tuesday, officers located Bergeron at her residence on Carline Street. Bergeron was advised of an active warrant though the Berwick Police Department and was placed under arrest without incident for the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
The warrant stems from a previous investigation that was being conducted by the Berwick Police Department and through that investigation, it was learned that Bergeron was purchasing alcohol for minors. It was also learned that she was allowing the minor to consume alcohol in her presence. Bergeron was released on a summons to appear in court.
Morgan City
Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 40 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:
—Patrick Bourque, 41, Iberia Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 5 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging theft under $1,000.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 34 complaints and made this arrest:
—Christopher Lynn Haynes, 39, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging theft and bank fraud. Bail has not been set.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
— Franklin Kendall Jarvis Verret, 26, Naquin Street, Houma, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana (second offense), driving with a suspended driver’s license, speeding, expired motor vehicle inspection tag and no seat belt and on a fugitive warrant from Lafourche Parish.
The charges arise from a traffic stop Tuesday evening on La. 398 in the Bayou L’Ourse area.
A detective unit observed a vehicle commit multiple traffic violations and initiated a stop of that vehicle assisted by the uniformed patrol division.
The deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Verret. The deputies noted an odor of suspected marijuana from the vehicle.
The driver consented to a search of the vehicle and during that process, a quantity of suspected marijuana was seized.
During a criminal records check, it was determined that Verret was wanted on a fugitive warrant from Lafourche Parish and was driving under a suspended license.
Verret was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 11 complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:
—Missy Alexander, 35, Folsom Drive, Beaumont, Texas, was arrested at 10:48 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of theft of motor vehicle fuel. Alexander was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.
BERWICK — Clay Menard had a choice to make as he looked ahead to college baseball: continue as a position player or focus on pitching.
But Centenary College of Louisiana didn’t make him choose. So Menard chose Centenary.
The Berwick High graduate, who helped the Panther make the finals in the LHSAA 3A baseball tournament this spring, signed a letter of intent to attend and play baseball for Centenary of Shreveport.
“They gave me the best opportunity to succeed, academically and athletically,” Menard said after signing the letter Tuesday.
Berwick coaches described Menard in terms that might have been applied to scrappy players in the game’s history.
Berwick head coach Seth Henry described Menard as the “spark plug,” the lead-off hitter who gets on base and makes things happen.
“His ‘compete’ tool is probably his best tool,” Henry said. “Any team he plays on is going to have a chance.”
“In old school terms,” said Lud Henry, a longtime Berwick head coach and now an assistant to his son, “he’s what we called a dirt bag.”
That’s a term of respect.
“He just loves the game,” Lud Henry said.
Menard loves the game so much that he hesitated over giving up everyday play to concentrate on pitching. That’s despite the fact that the GameChanger app says he threw 54-1/3 innings for Berwick this spring and finished with an earned run average of 1.50.
“That was one of the key factors,” Menard said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to give up playing a position to pitch.”
Centenary recruited him as both a pitcher and a middle infielder.
Menard likes the talk about old school baseball.
“I kind of embrace that,” Menard said. “I’m not going to hit a 500-foot home run every time at bat.”
Instead, he focuses on just reaching base.
“You learn what kind of player you are, physically and your mental state,” Menard said
Clearly, Menard isn’t in the game for the stats. He didn’t know that GameChanger reported a .357 batting average with a .485 on-base percentage in 2022.
Those numbers helped Berwick go 33-8 in 2022.
Centenary, meanwhile, went 27-9 this spring and made the school’s second appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament before falling to LaGrange of Texas.
BERWICK — Because its Town Council members are elected at large, Berwick is spared the chore of redrawing political districts based on 2020 Census results.
But the town still finds itself at the center of debates over redistricting, including the effort to redraw St. Mary Parish Council districts.
Parish Councilman Patrick Hebert appealed Tuesday to the Town Council to support a redistricting plan that puts Berwick in a single Parish Council district.
The alignment adopted by the Parish Council last month as a working plan, which keeps Berwick split between Hebert’s District 6 and Councilman Mark Duhon’s District 8, is “the worst map Berwick could get,” Hebert said.
The Parish Council hired the South Central Regional Planning and Development Commission to come up with plans for redistricting. The commission staff came back with three alternatives.
The only real contention so far is over Berwick.
Hebert favors Alternative 3, which would put all of Berwick in his District 6 and reduce the portion of the district extending across the Atchafalaya into Morgan City. Duhon’s District 8 would be confined east of the river.
But the council adopted Alternative 2 as its working plan. As in the current map, Duhon’s District 8 would stretch from Amelia across the river into Berwick near the bridge. The proposed alternative puts more of Berwick into Duhon’s district.
Duhon has defended his desire to keep part of Berwick in his district, saying he got more than 60% of the vote there in 2019 because he serves constituents well.
On Tuesday, Berwick Councilman James Richard agreed with that sentiment, saying Duhon has been prompt and helpful. But, Richard said, what happens after a new council representative is elected from that district?
The objections to the split districts are that a council member representing an Amelia-to-Berwick district might be less responsive to the town’s needs, and that a political candidate from the district would have to run a campaign from Amelia to Berwick.
Having all Berwick in a single district “just made it more convenient,” Mayor Duval Arthur said.
Councilman Raymond Price suggested a resolution supporting the compact Berwick district favored by Hebert. But a vote on the resolution will have to wait until it can be prepared and advertised as agenda item for the Aug. 9 meeting.
The Parish Council is still working on the new district maps and hasn’t formally adopted any of the alternatives.
Berwick also figured in deliberations over the new St. Mary Parish School Board districts, which have already been adopted. In order to create a more compact District III, a mobile home park with nearly 300 residents near Ber-wick’s Country Club Estates was taken from District VIII and placed in District III.
That led to complaints that the Berwick residents in the mobile home park deserved to be in a Berwick district.
Also Tuesday:
—Engineer Reid Miller said plans for subsurface drainage work serving the Country Club Estates area have been sub-mitted to the state. Bids could go out as early as September, he said.
A pair of flash floods in 2019 flooded homes in the subdivision. The town government developed a plan for alleviating the flooding.
Some of the work, such as clearing ditches, was accomplished quickly. But the subsurface work requires work costing more than $1 million.
The town government received a $1.2 million grant from the state Department of Transportation and Development for the work, with a 10% match from the town.
—The council unanimously passed an ordinance resetting a property tax rate.
The council had set a millage broadly dedicated to recreation, public works, public safety and other functions at 6.38 mills based on the latest parishwide reassessment. But voters had approved a renewal of the tax at 6.0 mills. The ordinance passed Tues-day makes it clear the rate is 6.0 mills.
The rate takes effect this year, so no one was billed at the higher rate.
—The new Lighthouse food truck court is on track to open Aug. 4, Councilwoman Colleen Askew said. One food truck operator has signed up so far, and four others have applied.
Court Massabielle, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, recently installed new officers. From left are Regent Jovita Compton, Vice Regent Florina Bergeron, Secretary Barbara Strader, Financial Secretary Margaret Kreider and Treasurer Gail Breaux. Court Massabielle serves the surrounding communities with following the motto, “Unity and Charity.”
The early years of midlife are a hectic time for many people. Around the time many people reach their late 30s and early 40s, they’re balancing the responsibilities of a career and a family. But as people enter their 50s, some of those responsibilities tend to be less significant, leaving more time for recreational pursuits.
Hobbies and other pursuits outside of work are often more fun when enjoyed with friends. People over 50 undoubtedly recognize that it’s not always so easy to make new friends, even though it’s undeniably beneficial to have supportive relationships into your golden years.
A 2017 study from researchers at Michigan State University found that valuing friendships was a stronger predictor of health and happiness among older adults than valuing family. Those results align with an earlier Australian study that found Australians age 70 or older tended to live significantly longer if they had more strong friendships.
Making friends after 50 might not be as simple as it was during your school days, but these strategies can help men and women in midlife build new friendships.
—Identify your interests. Fifty-somethings who have spent the last couple of decades building a career and raising a family can give some serious thought to their interests outside of work or passions they hope to pursue now that they have more time to commit to such pursuits.
The more interested you are in a given activity, the more likely you are to stick with it. And the longer you stick with something, the more likely you are to meet like-minded individuals (i.e., future friends) willing to make similar commitments.
—Utilize social media. In years past, men and women over 50 may not have had any readily available tools to reach out and connect with new people. Social media has made it much easier to build such connections.
Even the most obscure passions likely have a social media group of locals devoted to them, and these groups can be great ways to meet new people. A local runner’s club may have its own social media accounts, and local governments and community groups often share information about sports leagues and other groups via social media.
—Sign up for group outings. Communities often sponsor group outings to museums, the theater, sporting events and other day trips. Signing up for a bus trip to a museum presents a great opportunity to meet people who share your interests, providing the potential to build lasting friendships built on a foundation of shared interests.
—Broaden your horizons. Just because you’re in your 50s doesn’t mean your friends have to be.
Don’t hesitate to invite younger or older acquaintances and colleagues over for dinner or on weekend excursions. Friends come in all shapes, sizes and ages, so you could be missing out if you’re not willing to extend a hand in friendship to people of different ages and backgrounds.
Making friends after 50 can be challenging. However, various strategies can help men and women over 50 connect with new people.
DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, “Ashton,” is bisexual. After we have fights, he takes “breaks” and uses them to be with other men. He has several friends who are bisexual or transgender. He is presently in the closet about his status because he comes from a Christian family and lives in a highly conservative area.
He was still maintaining contact last year with his on-again, off-again boyfriend, “Will,” even though he swore nothing was going on between them. He always rushed back to Will or kept him on the side during his other relationships as well. I almost broke up with him four months ago over his hanging out with Will.
Now he wants his friend “Cody,” who is a transgender male, to stay with him for several days for an upcoming concert there. I’m in the process of moving to his area, but I don’t trust him not to have sexual relations outside of ours. My straight male friends have warned me not to trust him.
Should I break up with him because I don’t feel he respects his female partners as much as he does his male ones? It also seems like he has a double standard with sharing phone details. I share mine openly, but he isn’t as open with his, which leads me to think he’s still got someone else on the side. Yet he wants me to see only him. Help!
FRUSTRATED GIRL IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR FRUSTRATED: Because someone identifies as bisexual does not mean the person is incapable of being monogamous.
Ashton, however, seems to use these “breaks” to consort solely with other males. He may be using you to hide his true orientation from his Christian family. None of this bodes well for your relationship. Listen to your friends. They may have more insight into Ashton’s character than you do.
P.S. People who hide their phones often have more going on than they are comfortable revealing. Consider this another red flag, and reconsider both the move and your romance with him.
DEAR ABBY: I have a lifelong friend whose oldest child has always been led to believe that his stepmother is his mother. The stepmom has had two children of her own now, and it is clear that she treats her own kids far better. I recall example after example. When does the charade end?
I have been close friends with the kid’s dad since childhood, but that poor kid will feel betrayed when he finds out who his mother really is and that I was one of the adults who knew and kept it from him. He will be 18 soon. What can I do?
SILENCED IN THE WEST
DEAR SILENCED: Talk to the young man’s father. Point out that because of genetic testing, it’s only a matter of time until his son learns the truth about who his birth mother is, and it would be better if the news comes from his father.
***
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.
Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255