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JEAN LAZIME GROS

Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:56am

February 21, 1932 — June 5, 2022

Jean Lazime Gros Sr., 90, a resident of Amelia, LA, passed away on Saturday, June 5, 2022 at Ochsner St Mary.

Jean was born on February 21, 1932 to Emma Acosta and Lazime Gros of Four Mile Bayou, LA.

From 1959 to 1998, Jean worked in the oil and gas industry for Avondale Shipyard and eventually retired from McDermott, where he was known as “Pop” to many of his younger co-workers. His true passion however, was shrimping and hunting. Jean first began shrimping as a child, alongside his mother and father. He learned to sew and repair shrimp nets from his mother and went on to repair nets for area fishermen for over 70 years. On any given day, you could find Jean in the backyard repairing nets and almost always with a grandchild by his side, teaching the next generation how to sew nets. Jean continued this skill well into his 80s.

Jean was a loving husband, father and grandfather, who loved to tell jokes and always pulling the ultimate pranks on his grandchildren. He was full of life and was his happiest when he had a house full of family around him laughing, having dinner, solving puzzles, and playing cards.

Jean will be missed by his children, Agnes Gros Gaudet and her husband EJ, Lorena Gros Broussard, Jean Gros Jr. and his wife Dorothy, Molly Gros Crews and her husband Paul; his grandchildren, Chad Gaudet, Curtis Gaudet, Blaine Gaudet, Cherie Gaudet Martin, SueEllen Broussard, James “Jimmy” Broussard Jr., Lisa Broussard, Tammy Marceaux Manley, Tiffany Marceaux Kelly, Janeen Marceaux Landry, Carissa Marceaux Lovell, Carey Gros Gaddis, Jean Gros III, Nicholas Gros, Jonathan Gros, Tito Espinal, Tenille Gaudet, Jessica Crews, Justin Crews, and Jason Crews.

He is also survived by 42 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren and has two grand-babies on the way.
Jean was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Ella Mae; his children, Michael Gros, Peggy Gros Marceaux and her husband Harley Marceaux; his son-in-law, James “Jimmy” Broussard Sr.; his parents, Emma and Lazime Gros; his grandchildren, Evan and Ethan Crews; his brother, Adam Gros; and sisters, Hilda “Neen” Gros Delaune, Lydia Gros, and Agnes Gros.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Jean Gros Jr., Nicholas Gros, Chad Gaudet, Jason Crews, Jimmy Broussard, and Jacob Landry.
Jean’s immediate family had a private moment with their father and grandfather at Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City, LA on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. and welcomed family and friends from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a Rosary prayed at 10:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Amelia, LA. Jean was laid to rest at St. Andrew Cemetery in Amelia, LA.
Twin City Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.

Fremin, Schexnider receive Danos employee awards

Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:53am

Danos has named two top employees as recipients of its 2021 Employee of the Year awards.

Commercial Supervisor Brittney Fremin is the Staff Employee of the Year, and Land Warehouseman Terry Schexnider is the Dwain “Hog” Carrell Field Employee of the Year.

“Both Brittney and Terry embody the Danos values of safety, service, integrity, respect and improvement,” said CEO Paul Danos. “They exemplify excellence and our high-performance culture in their daily work, and we are proud to have them represent Danos.”

Fremin has been with Danos for 10 years and began her career with the company as an intern before filling the role of commercial assistant in the bidding and estimating department. Currently, she serves as commercial supervisor where she oversees the commercial process from bid inception to submittal. Additionally, Fremin is the GIVES chair for the Danos Foundation where she oversees the nonprofit’s grant program. Fremin earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration from Nicholls State University. A native of Galiano, she and her husband Paul live in Thibodaux.

“Brittney provides significant contributions to our commercial team as well as to other areas of the company. She is open to helping and participating where needed, whether it’s with the Danos Foundation, our internship program or other committees,” said Danos.

A 40-year industry veteran, Schexnider began his career with Danos as a crane operator 24 years ago. Since then, he has held various leadership positions. Currently, Schexnider works at a customer storage facility in Broussard, Louisiana, where he helps manage the receipt, storage and shipping of materials for offshore use. A graduate of Kaplan High School, Schexnider lives in Kaplan, Louisiana, with his wife Susan. They have two children and one grandson.

“Terry has always been a leader who demonstrates tremendous care for his team members and his work. Our customers have said countless times how much smoother operations run with Terry on the team,” said Danos.

Each year, Danos employees nominate individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to Danos’ high-performance culture and embody the company’s core values. A committee composed of past winners reviews the nominations and selects the winners.

Jim Bradshaw: In one early field, post-hole diggers were enough to drill a well

Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:44am
JIM BRADSHAW

When we say that some of the early oil wells in south Louisiana were shallow wells, we mean really shallow.

Some of them were dug with long-handled post-hole diggers.

The Abbeville Meridional reported in 1907 that those wells were “showing a marvelous production when the way they are brought in is considered.”

“A prominent oilman” who’d gone to look at prospects near Vinton in western Calcasieu Parish “explained the extent of the production on the farm of Aladin Vincent” about three miles south of town.

The oilman said there were about 20 little wells on the farm, each producing from one to five barrels of “good quality” oil per day.

The wells were “anywhere from eighteen to twenty feet deep, being dug with a post-hole auger with a long handle attached.”

Vincent’s neighbor, the oilman said, was “making preparations to sink a deep well … [and] it is thought an excellent gusher will be developed.”

I don’t know how Vincent’s neighbor fared, but the Aladin Vincent No.1 well, 300 feet deep, had been drilled in the regular way in May 1904, three years before the Meridional’s post-hole report.

But that turned out to be not as lucky as it seems. It started the chain of events that ultimately reduced Vincent to digging wells by hand.

His wife, the former Azema Perry, was said to be the good luck charm when the 300-foot well came in.

She and a friend had driven out to watch the drilling and had just arrived on the scene when, according to the newspapers, “the overflow from the well suddenly changed. Water began to be covered with a glassy looking coat which rapidly became thicker. The workmen skimmed it up on shovels, the flow became stronger and stronger, and ‘oil’ was the shout of the workmen.”

After that well was brought in, Vincent and his brothers-in-law, Alex and James Perry, began buying property in the vicinity at prices hugely inflated by the lure of black gold, including more than 200 acres from John Geddings Gray.

But something went wrong with that deal. The account of just what that was depends on which family’s story you believe.

The court sided with Gray, and made him beneficiary in November 1904 of what newspapers called “the largest judgment ever awarded in the district court of Calcasieu.”

According to one report, “The writ of seizure includes all the lands of the defendant [Vincent] stretching away from the town of Vinton to the Sabine River and containing between ten and twelve thousand acres, mostly pasture land.” It included Vincent’s “fine dwelling,” Hominy Hill, and “numerous outbuildings, barns, stables, etc.”

John Geddings Gray was nicknamed “Ged.” That pasture land became known as Ged’s, then Ged, then the Ged Oil Field.

Gray formed a partnership with R. F. Benckenstein, who was one of the pioneers in the first fields in Beaumont and Jennings and, according to one biographical sketch, “made and lost several fortunes in the oil business.” This one was a winning venture.

The Benckenstein No. 1 well “came in with a great rumble and roar and shot high into the air over the sixty-foot derrick” in September 1910, beginning something big.

At its peak, more than 1,200 wells had been drilled at the Ged field, some of which are still producing.

My great-uncle Aladin held onto the scrap of land where he was digging tiny wells by hand in 1907.

He did eventually drill a real well on the fringe of the giant field he’d once owned. His post-hole digging turned up just enough oil to convince a driller that a deeper well would be worthwhile.

It supported him and Azema, but played out years ago.

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.<>/i>

Federal judge orders Legislature to redraw U.S. House map

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 8:50pm
ALLISON ALLSOP, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – A federal district judge ruled Monday that the new congressional maps drawn during a special legislative redistricting session earlier this year need to be redone to be fair to the state’s minority residents.

Gov. John Bel Edwards quickly said that he would call the Republican-led Legislature back into a new special session to reconsider the maps. Republican leaders said they would appeal the ruling.

Edwards vetoed the maps in March, but the legislators overrode his veto.

The maps created only one minority district for the six Louisiana congressional seats despite 33% of the state’s population being Black.

U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick decided in Robinson v. Ardoin that the maps violated Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act. She ruled that Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin could not hold congressional elections this fall under this map.

The 152-page ruling outlines the timeline for legislators to meet to redraw the maps. The new maps must have two Black-majority districts, the judge wrote.

The Legislature has until June 20 to submit new maps. Edwards’ statement that he will call for a new session comes just two weeks before the deadline.

The ruling came Monday as the Legislature was ending its 2022 regular session. Edwards said he would be calling for the special session within the next day, squashing hope that lawmakers would be returning home for an extended period.

Republican lawmakers are confident that the appeals process will play in their favor. Attorney General Jeff Landry has already filed a notice of appeal.

The case will go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has a number of conservative judges.

A special redistricting session occurs every 10 years. This year’s session met in February. During this time, several proposed maps fulfilled the goal of Black lawmakers to have two majority-Black districts, but none of them could garner enough votes in redistricting committees in both chambers.

The map that was submitted to Edwards retained the status-quo of having five mostly white districts with the one majority-black district making up parts of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Edwards reflects on ‘world of difference’ in this legislative session

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 7:56pm
PIPER HUTCHINSON and ALEX TIRADO, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – As the Legislature adjourned Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards expressed his support for the investments in education and infrastructure, including a teacher pay raise of $1,500 and $300 million toward a new Mississippi River bridge.

But he also announced that he would acquiesce in one area that he has disagreed with Republican lawmakers saying he would allow a bill that prohibits transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity to become law without his signature.

Edwards vetoed a similar measure last year, but he said that he decided not to veto the latest ban, Senate Bill 44, sponsored by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, because he knew that the Legislature could override the veto this time.

“I hope we can all get to a point soon where we realize that these young people are doing the very best that they can to survive,” Edwards said.

As the session’s 6 p.m. deadline approached, legislators spent the day debating, rewriting, and passing some of the remaining bills.

Among the high-profile bills to be adopted was House Bill 746, sponsored by Rep. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans.

The bill would prohibit the use of solitary confinement for juvenile offenders except as a temporary response for behavior that poses a physical threat to another’s safety.

The bill as reported by a conference committee with members from both chambers was approved by the House on an 84-11 vote and the Senate 32-0.

House Bill 729, also by Duplessis, was similarly greenlit. The bill would limit the use of an individual’s booking photograph on a website if he or she were acquitted of the criminal charge.

The bill provides exceptions when releasing mugshots will assist in reducing the threat posed by an individual or when the individual is charged with a violent crime, sex offense or certain other charges.

The bill as reported by a conference committee was approved by the House on a 67-27 vote and the Senate on a 32-0 vote.

The Legislature also signed off on conference changes to a bill that would allow for misdemeanor penalties for entities that discriminated based on COVID vaccine status.

House Bill 54, sponsored by Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, was originally intended to allow for jail time and fines for anybody who does not allow an unvaccinated individual onto a premises. The bill originally applied to any vaccine.

Over the course of the session, the bill was amended to only allow for fines, apply to the COVID-19 vaccine only. Lawmakers also narrowed the scope to not apply to private businesses who seek proof of vaccination.

The conference changes passed the House on a 58-32 vote and the Senate 27-5.

Among the bills left unconsidered was one that would allow public school teachers to carry a concealed firearm on school grounds.

House Bill 37, sponsored by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, was originally intended to allow for adults 21 and older to conceal carry a firearm without training or a permit. The bill was heavily amended in a Senate committee to strike that language from the bill and add in the language allowing for armed teachers.

In his post-session remarks, Edwards pushed back on the idea that McCormick’s proposal was a “constitutional carry” bill, arguing that if people truly thought they had the constitutional right to carry a firearm without a permit, they would fight for that right in the courts, not pass a law.

Also left by the wayside was House Bill 195, a bill from Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, that would require public schools to provide free menstrual products to students.

Freeman’s proposal passed the House in May but was never heard in the Senate.

The Legislature found itself in a unique position this year. For years, the state faced budget problems, at times teetering on the edge of a $2 billion fiscal cliff. Due to hundreds of millions of dollars in increased state revenues and billions in federal pandemic aid, Louisiana is flush with cash, giving lawmakers a once-in-a-political lifetime chance to fund their priorities.

The financial boon made it easier for Edwards, a Democrat, and the Republican-led Legislature to agree on the budget. Edwards ultimately vetoed just five lines from multiple extensive budget bills. He used his vetoes to provide for higher education.

Edwards initially requested $31.7 million for faculty pay, or about a 5% pay raise for higher education faculty. The Senate whittled that amount down to $21.2 million, or about a 3% raise. Edwards used his vetoes to move money around in the budget to restore the original amount.

Edwards and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzalez, both noted after the session ended that the Legislature was able to dedicate most of the financial windfall to one-time projects rather than ongoing programs.

On Sunday, the Legislature gave final passage to a bill that would enhance the criminal penalties for abortion providers under the state’s trigger laws, which immediately ban and criminalize abortion upon the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Edwards has said that he would prefer exceptions for rape and incest, which the bill does not include. Edwards has previously signed legislation that does not include those exceptions.

Morgan City man faces multiple child porn counts

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 5:59pm

Morgan City police have arrested a Seventh Street man on 55 counts of pornography involving juveniles and nearly as many counts of pornography involving young people under 13.

Keith E. Taylor, 66, Seventh Street, Morgan, also faces multiple counts of pornography involving animals.

Taylor was arrested at 1:24 p.m. Monday on 55 counts of pornography involving juveniles, 52 counts of pornography involving children under 13, and 23 counts of pornography involving animals.

According to a Morgan City Police Department Facebook post, investigators with the Detectives Division began an investigation May 24 in reference to a subject in possession of child pornography.

According to reports, Taylor was identified as the suspect. Evidence was uncovered that day reportedly belonging to Taylor. He was booked and charged on a sole count of pornography involving juveniles.

The investigation continued as investigators conducted forensic downloads of Taylor's devices, the post said. Investigators were able to locate an additional 107 files that contained pornography involving juveniles, with nearly half of them involving juveniles under the age of 13.

Investigators also uncovered 23 files that contained pornography involving animals. Warrants were obtained for Taylor's arrest for the additional counts.

Taylor was located and arrested at the Morgan City Jail, where he remains incarcerated. The investigation continues.

Ochsner St. Mary hosts blood drive Thursday

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 2:52pm

Ochsner St. Mary will host one of a series of blood drives for the Ochsner Blood Bank in June.

All blood types will be accepted, but Ochsner said the blood bank is “experiencing a critical shortage of platelets and Type O red cells.”

The Ochsner St. Mary drive will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, 1125 Marguerite St., Mor-gan City.

Blood donations go directly to the Ochsner blood bank, which supports over 70% of Ochsner’s blood needs for patients at Ochsner hospitals, the health system said.

In addition, Ochsner Blood Bank participates in blood-resource sharing with other local community hospitals. Healthy blood donors are encouraged to donate every eight weeks in order to maintain an adequate blood inventory.

Blood donors must:

--Be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

--Be over cold or flu symptoms for 72 hours.

--Have had no dental work (including cleaning) in the last 72 hours.

--Have not donated whole blood in the last eight weeks.

--Have had no transfusions in the last three months.

--Have not lived with a person who has hepatitis in the last 12 months.

--Have had no tattoos or piercings in the last month from a facility that is regulated by the state of Louisiana; or in the last 3 months from a facility that is not regulated by the state of Louisiana.

H-T Diocese names new superintendent; former Central Catholic administrator gets curriculum post

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 12:46pm

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux has appointed Mark Williams, Ed.D., the new superintendent of Catholic schools. Williams previously served as associate superintendent of secondary schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

And former Central Catholic Assistant Principal Gerrie Byrne has been appointed associated superintendent for curriculum and instructions.

“It is with great joy and thanksgiving to God that we announce Dr. Mark Williams as our new superintendent of Catholic schools,” said the Rev. P.J. Madden, diocesan administrator. “With his deep faith and broad experience, he will bring a new dynamic of leadership that will inspire our teachers and students. And the timing couldn’t be any better, as we have a renewed commitment to enhancing the Catholic identity in all areas of our schools, including academic curriculum, athletics, and other extracurriculars. That tone will be set at our planned educators convocation on August 3.”

Williams has served in Catholic schools as a state-certified teacher, coach, department chair, dean, assistant principal, state-certified principal and, since September 2020, as associate superintendent for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

“I cannot wait until the day we can stand side by side – catechizing, educating, and collaborating in the Catholic tradition of academic excellence,” Williams said. “I am here to serve you with vigor and passion.”

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of New Orleans, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans and a doctor of education in executive leadership in 2019, also from Holy Cross. His dissertation centered around Catholic school marketing, enrollment management, and institutional advancement.

His responsibilities at the archdiocese focused on the effectiveness of the 10 archdiocesan-owned high schools, and he served as the first point of contact for the remaining 13 private, religious-order-owned high schools.

Before his position with the archdiocesan Catholic Schools Office, Williams served in several positions at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, including a stint as principal from 2015 to 2020. He also spent 16 years managing market sites and creating business plans for multiple locations in the New Orleans market for Shell Oil Company.

Byrne has a bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing, is a certified teacher, and has a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Byrne worked her entire professional career in the Catholic school system. During her 28-year tenure in Catholic schools, she served as a teacher-minister in grades 1, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. She also served as curriculum specialist and assistant principal at Central Catholic School in Morgan City.

Selected as the curriculum specialist for the Office of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in January 2021, she used her experience and faith-filled passion to assist with curriculum needs for all schools within the diocese before assuming most of the tasks of the superintendent when that position became vacant.

“I believe in the mission of Catholic education – to educate the whole child,” Byrne said. “Catholic schools are about more than academic excellence; we are about the formation of one of God’s greatest gifts, our children. I look to the future with excitement as we work together to further our mission of Catholic schools.”

Morgan City police radio logs for June 3-6

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 11:16am

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.
Friday, June 3
6:34 a.m. 6700 block of La. 182; Criminal damage to property.
7:18 a.m. 200 block of Amelia Street; Theft.
8:19 a.m. 300 block of Union Street; Disturb-ance.
8:54 a.m. 100 block of Oak Street; Animal complaint.
9:13 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Bomb threat.
9:23 a.m. Sixth and Arenz streets; Crash.
10 a.m. Wytchwood and Roderick streets; Medical.
10:06 a.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Animal complaint.
10:09 a.m. 1500 block of Cedar Street; Medical.
10:32 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
11:34 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Assistance.
12:25 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
12:32 p.m. 1000 block of Belanger Street; Animal complaint.
12:39 p.m. 3100 block of Jennie Drive; Animal complaint.
12:44 p.m. Brashear Avenue; Crash.
1:17 p.m. Old Bridge; Stalled vehicle.
1:20 p.m. 2400 block of Tupelo Street; Animal complaint.
1:44 p.m. 2400 block of Cypress Street; Animal complaint.
1:46 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
2:30 p.m. 1100 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
3:14 p.m. La. 182 and Justa Street; Crash.
5:20 p.m. Area of Fed-eral Avenue; Animal complaint.
5:24 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
6:55 p.m. 6200 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
7:24 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
7:48 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Patrol request.
7:57 p.m. Area of Ay-cock Street; Complaint.
8:07 p.m. 2300 block of Tupelo Street; Stand by.
8:28 p.m. Area of Karen Drive; Assistance.
9:29 p.m. Area of Freret and Fifth streets; Disturbance.
9:54 p.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Complaint.
Saturday, June 4
Midnight 300 block of Aycock Street; Alarm.
12:48 a.m. 1000 block of Fourth Street; Complaint.
1:24 a.m. 100 block of Front Street; Complaint.
2:06 a.m. 7500 block of La. 182; Assistance.
2:44 a.m. 300 block of Iowa Street; Complaint.
3:51 a.m. Area of Aucoin Street; Com-plaint.
4:22 a.m. U.S. 90 Eastbound ; Reckless driver.
6:31 a.m. Ditch Avenue and Sixth Street; Reckless operation.
7:24 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Crash.
8:14 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Alarm.
8:32 a.m. 7300 block of La. 182; 911 hang up.
8:56 a.m. 1200 block of Onstead Street; Medical.
9:13 a.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Complaint.
9:18 a.m. 1800 block of East Garner Street; Alarm.
9:22 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Theft.
9:24 a.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Civil.
11:31 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
12:21 p.m. 200 block of Louisa Street; Utility.
12:37 p.m. Eighth and Clothilde streets; Crash.
1:01 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Com-plaint.
1:08 p.m. Maryland Street; Complaint.
1:35 p.m. 800 block of Railroad Avenue; Arrest.
3:07 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
3:22 p.m. 600 block of Barrow Street; Medical.
3:56 p.m. 400 block of Bush Street; Juvenile complaint.
4:15 p.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Animal complaint.
4:32 p.m. Levee Road and Laurel Street; Complaint.
4:57 p.m. 1300 block of Railroad Avenue; Animal complaint.
5:09 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Alarm.
5:18 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Removal of subject.
5:40 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
6:12 p.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Medical.
6:19 p.m. 1400 block of Nevada Street; Removal of subject.
7:04 p.m. 6700 block of La. 182; Complaint.
7:44 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
7:49 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
7:55 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Frequent patrols.
8:04 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
8:49 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
9:09 p.m. 700 block of Louisiana Street; Com-plaint.
9:11 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
9:24 p.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
9:43 p.m. 800 block of Palm Street; Complaint.
10:01 p.m. 200 block of Texas Street; Assistance.
10:08 p.m. Area of Maple and Onstead streets; Complaint.
10:42 p.m. 1600 block of Elm Street; Com-plaint.
Sunday, June 5
1:15 a.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Alarm.
1:21 a.m. 1000 block of Ditch Avenue; Medical.
2:06 a.m. 600 block of Barrow Street; Medical.
2:38 a.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Medical.
2:52 a.m. Area of Veteran Boulevard extension; Complaint.
7:10 a.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Animal complaint.
7:57 a.m. 900 block of Sixth Street; Assistance.
8:17 a.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Disturbance.
9:49 a.m. 500 block of Aucoin Street; Complaint.
10:43 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Arrest.
11:12 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Arrest.
12:04 p.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; Medical.
12:43 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Medical.
2 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Arrest.
2:11 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Arrest.
2:33 p.m. 2300 block of Cypress Street; Com-plaint.
2:39 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
3:46 p.m. U.S. 90 West; Reckless operation.
4 p.m. 600 block of Greenwood Street; Assistance.
4:50 p.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Medical.
5:11 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
5:12 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless operation.
5:44 p.m. 2300 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:35 p.m. 2200 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
Monday, June 6
1:24 a.m. 7100 block of Park Road; Welfare check.
4:24 a.m. U.S. 90 Westbound; Complaint.

Local police report drug, theft arrests

Mon, 06/06/2022 - 10:53am

(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 and Morgan City made arrests on drug charges over the weekend, and Berwick police charged a woman with theft after an arrest in Patterson.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 115 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

—Louis David Topham, 46, Louisa Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:33 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging possession of acetaminophen-codeine elixir.

—Brock Elix Williams, 42, Oak Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Saturday on charges of criminal damage to property and disturbing the peace.

—Arthur Joseph Cole, 64, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:50 a.m. Sunday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Stephanie Aucoin, 52, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was 11:12 a.m. Sunday on a charge of entry or remaining where forbidden.

—Tre Mathew Dunn LaCoste, 28, La. 182, was arrested at 2:07 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

—Juan Robles-Contreras, 35, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:19 p.m. Sunday on charges of urinating in public and no driver’s license.

Berwick

Police Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

—Zacolby Grangers, 30, Grace Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:55 p.m. Friday on two St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants alleging failure to appear.

About 12:41 p.m. Friday, the Berwick Police Department received a complaint of two young juveniles driving a vehicle in a reckless manner. Officers responded to the area and located the vehicle in question and conducted a traffic stop.

During the course of the stop, officers made contact with Granger as a passenger in the vehicle. He had active warrants through the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. Granger was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department.

Granger was booked on the outstanding warrants and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for incarceration.

—Alicia Bertrand, 37, Oregon Street. Berwick, was arrested at 8:13 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging theft under $1,000.

About 8:13 p.m. Sunday, Bertrand was located at the Patterson Police Department. Officers traveled to the Patterson Police Department and placed Bertrand under arrest on an outstanding Berwick Police Department warrant alleging theft under $1,000.

In October, the Berwick Police Department received a complaint of a theft at a local business. During the course of the investigation, evidence showed Bertrand to be the person committing the theft.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 103 complaints and made these arrests:

--Zhane Jatasha Pool, 28, New Iberia, was arrested at 9:58 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana; illegal use, consumption, possession or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17; and improper lane usage. Pool was released on a $1,500 bond.

--Shannon Gail Wright, 31, Patterson, was arrested at 3:28 p.m. Friday on two warrants alleging violation of protective orders, simple criminal damage to property and simple assault. Bail was set at $6,500.

--Willie Joseph Batiste, 43, St. Martinville, was arrested at 7:49 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamines, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Bail has not been set.

--Carol Lee Bowie, 59, Charenton, was arrested at 3:32 a.m. Saturday on a charge of battery of a dating partner. Bowie was released on a summons to appear Sept. 28.

--King George Alexander Charles Sr., 62, Jeanerette, was arrested at 3:32 am. Saturday on a charge of battery of a dating partner. Charles was released on a $2,500 bond.

--Ramiro Gamino Villagomez, 30, Houma, was arrested at 6:29 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic, possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance (five counts) and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17.

--Rhonda Lynn Lodrigue, 45, Morgan City, was arrested at 10 a.m. Sunday on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Lodrigue was released on a $10,000 bond.

--Andres Valenzuala-Tyson, 46, Ellsworth, Maine, was arrested at 7:38 p.m. Sunday by the Narcotics Section on a charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Bail was set at $25,000.

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