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If you are looking for colorful additions to your summer landscape, sweet potatoes may not initially cross your mind. But you may want to give one of the newer varieties of this tuberous crop a shot.
Offering the best of the ornamental and edible worlds, the Treasure Island series of sweet potatoes has brightly colored vines that thrive during summer and will provide you delicious tubers in time for fall harvest.
But wait — there’s more. This series is the latest in a long line of varieties developed by the LSU AgCenter, which has a rich history with the sweet potato dating back to the early 1900s.
LSU is the only land-grant university to have a research station solely devoted to the sweet potato. Located in Chase, Louisiana, the 308-acre AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station was established in 1948 with the help of horticulture professor Julian C. Miller — an early Louisiana sweet potato breeder — and the state Legislature.
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) originated in Central and South America, where its cultivation can be traced back nearly 5,000 years. Columbus brought the sweet potato to Europe, and from there, it moved to Asia, Africa and back to the New World, with the first sweet potatoes in the U.S. grown in the 18th century. Over time, many improvements to the crop have been made, and many of them happened right here at our own LSU AgCenter.
Many AgCenter scientists have improved and enhanced the sweet potato. The edible tuberous root is considered a superfood because of its nutritional content. The root is high in soluble fiber, beta-carotene — a precursor to vitamins A, B6 and C as well as potassium.
The tender new leaf growth is high in lutein and can be added to smoothies, salads, stir-fry dishes and other foods. Tuberous roots can be eaten raw or cooked and are found in a wide variety of colors from white to purple. We are most familiar with those that have a reddish or burgundy skin and orange flesh. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins.
In addition to its nutritional value, the sweet potato vine comes in vibrant colors and makes an excellent trailing ground cover. Recog-nizing that potential to be both edible and beautiful, one the AgCenter’s very own sweet potato breeders, Don La Bonte, set out to make some variety selections that fit the bill.
Along with collaborators in Europe, La Bonte developed and released the Treasure Island series of ornamental sweet potatoes in 2020, and it has been a hit in the ornamental industry. This series of annual, ornamental sweet potato vines combines beautiful, edible foliage along with delicious root tubers into one vine.
The research was conducted in 2017 at the AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge. Varieties were trialed and selected to create the Treasure Island series of ornamental sweet potatoes. The series contains five varieties: Kaukura, Makatea, Manihi, Tahiti and Tatakoto.
Kaukura has deep purple, heart-shaped foliage with red veins. Makatea has chartreuse, heart-shaped foliage. Manihi has dark purple, lobed foliage with red veins. Tahiti has light green, lobed foliage with red veins. Tatakoto is a muted dark green, lobed with red veins.
These new varieties combine the best attributes of both edible and ornamental varieties. The gorgeous foliage is reliable all summer long. Leaves come in a variety of colors and shapes. Coming from tropical climates, the sweet potato is well suited for the hot and humid weather of Louisiana.
The vine is a member of the morning glory family of plants and is a vigorous grower. Valued ornamentally for its foliage, the plants also produce small purple flowers. Vines grow best in full sun in evenly moist, well-drained soils. The tuberous roots can be harvested three to four months after planting.
Vines have a trailing growth habit, making it an excellent choice for ground covers or as a spiller in container plantings. The vines do not have any serious insect or disease issues — although deer love to eat the foliage. Tubers can be stored and used as seed potatoes in the spring.
In addition to the Treasure Island series, there are a number of ornamental varieties to choose from. Sweet Carolina Purple has dark purple foliage and smaller tubers, making it suitable for small containers. Blackie has dark black foliage with deep-cut leaves. Marguerite has bold, chartreuse-green foliage with heart-shaped leaves. Tricolor has small, pointy leaves that are multicolored and variegated in shades of green, pink and white.
The only question is does it go on the vegetable aisle or the ornamental aisle at the garden center? We need to start a new section! The trends in home gardening are moving toward edible and ornamental.
If you are a home gardener looking for more versatility in your landscape, try edible ornamental sweet potatoes. You can enjoy the vibrantly colored vines all summer, knowing you will get to harvest some tasty sweet potatoes in the fall.

(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 battery against a juvenile and aggravated assault with a firearm in a domestic violence case.

Berwick

Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:

—Kevin G. Dontay, 37, Sixth Street, Berwick, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Thursday on a Berwick warrant alleging aggravated assault with a firearm (domestic), domestic abuse battery (child endangerment law), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of battery of a dating partner, and resisting an officer.

At 11:59 p.m. Thursday, officers traveled to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and took Dontay into custody on the outstanding Berwick PD warrants. The warrants stem from an investigation dated Monday, in which Dontay committed a battery on a juvenile at a residence on Sixth Street.

During the incident, Dontay armed himself with a firearm and another occupant of the home was able to wrestle the gun away from him. Dontay is a convicted felon and has a separate conviction of battery of a dating partner, both of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.

Once the police were called, Dontay fled the residence upon seeing law enforcement. He was unable to be located that day, and warrants were obtained for his arrest. On Thursday, officers received information that Dontay was at a boat landing in Patterson.

Officers with the Berwick Police Department and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office located him at the boat landing and took him into custody without incident. Dontay was processed at the Berwick Police Department and is incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, where he remains with no bond set.

—Betinna L. Duval, 47, Chestnut Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:37a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Friday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle on La. 182, and Duval was identified as a passenger. Through-out the course of the stop, Duval was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

She was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to nine complaints over the past 24 hours and made these arrests:

—Shawn Jenkins, 45, Morris Street, Franklin, was arrested on at 9:34 a.m. Thursday on a warrant dated May 21 alleging disturbing the peace (intoxication), resisting an officer with force or violence and battery on a police officer. Jenkins was booked, processed and released on a $2,000 bond.

—Jardyn McCoy, 21, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:26 p.m. Thursday on a warrant dated Thursday alleging operating a vehicle while license is suspended. McCoy was additionally arrested on the charges of expired license plate and operating a vehicle while license is suspended. McCoy was booked, processed and released on a $2,500 bond.

—Harry Nerve, 67, Talbot Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:56 a.m. Friday on 16th Judicial District Court warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle while license is suspended, operating a vehicle without a left mirror, operating a vehicle while license is suspended and operating a vehicle with improper tail lights. Nerve was booked, processed and held with no bond set at time of press release.

—Kayla Smith, 28, Sixth St., Franklin, was arrested at 2:52 a.m. Friday on charges of no insurance, careless operation of a motor vehicle, driver must be licensed, flight from an officer, and misuse of temporary plates.

Smith was additionally arrested on a warrant for Jeanerette City Court on charges of failure to appear on the charges of speeding, exceeding maximum speed limit and no driver’s license. Smith was booked, processed and held with no bond set at time of press release.

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:

--Dwayne Robertson, 29, Franklin, was arrested at 1:12 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging aggravated battery and illegal use of weapons. Robertson also held a warrant alleging failure to appear for driving under suspension and proper equipment required. Bail was set at $50,000.

--Jamie Lynn Jett, 38, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Thursday on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Jett was released on a $2,500 fine.

--Ron Vallian, 39, Jeanerette, was arrested at 8:33 p.m. Thursday by the Narcotics Section on a charge of possession of MDMA, possession of methamphetamine and no turn signal. Vallian was released on a $3,000 bond.

--Ronald Barrow, 68, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:10 p.m. Thursday by the Narcotics Section on a charge of possession of crack cocaine. Bail was set at $2,500.

A selection panel’s recommendation to the governor for the location of a new estuary research reserve could come as early as Wednesday.
And if enthusiasm counts, the Atchafalaya Basin has an edge.
That was the word from a meeting Friday in Morgan City, put together by the St. Mary Excel citizens group.
An Atchafalaya Basin site for a National Estuarine Research Reserve has drawn more than 400 letters of support, said Dr. Brian Roberts, who chairs the Atchafalaya site committee. The Atchafalaya site is one of the final three sites under consideration, and the Basin drew more letters of support than the other two, Pontchartrain and Barataria, combined.
The town hall meeting in Morgan City offering information on the program and the Atchafalaya site also drew significantly more people than town halls for either of the other two sites.
At Friday’s meeting, Roberts paused his presentation and said the temperature seemed warm. He pulled off his outer shirt to reveal a blue-and-white T-shirt used by proponents to promote the Basin as a NERR site.
The National Estuarine Research Reserve program is administered through the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration. They’re devoted to “long-term stewardship, research, education and training.” More than 30 such reserves stretch down the East Coast and around Florida to the Gulf Coast to Texas — except Louisiana, which has none.
Other NERRs are located on the Pacific coast.
The reserves are composed of some combination of public and private land that can be used to study estuaries, loosely defined as the ecosystem where a river meets the sea.
As the name suggests, the reserves are useful for researching estuary zones. But, proponents say, NERRs also offer opportunities for educational field trips for school children, as well as for tourism.
NOAA provides 70% of funding for the reserve’s operation, plus coordination and guidance. The state pays the rest.
The shape the reserve takes varies from site to site. Possible infrastructure improvements include visitor centers and trails for walking or biking.
The Eastern Research Group performed an economic impact study on three Florida NERRs and one in Oregan.
The study found that the Florida NERRs created 512-664 jobs each at the NERRs and their partner organizations.
The annual economic impact was $46 million-$57 million each.
In Oregon, the NERR generated 65 jobs and $6.1 million in economic impact.
What a reserve doesn’t do, Roberts said, is impose new federal regulations on the way land is used.
“They’re not coming in and saying you have to change the way you manage your lands,” Roberts said. “That’s important.”
NERR sites are supposed to bring unique environmental elements to the table, and the Atchafalaya comes closer than the other proposed sites to meeting that standard.
And more than 3 million people live within 100 miles of the Atchafalaya site. More than 800 schools are within field-trip driving distance.
Gov. John Bel Edwards will receive a recommendation on a NERR site from a four-member panel: Harry Vorhoff and Russell Caffery of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities, and Gregory Grandy and Bren Haase of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
The panel has committed to making a recommendation by June 1, Roberts said.

Luanna “Lou” and Stanley “Stan” Amadore passed away just less than 34 hours apart. Lou passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at West Jefferson Medical Center and Stan passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022 at his home in Bayou Sale. They both passed peacefully surrounded by family.
Lou was born on August 17, 1944 in Berwick, the daughter of Marshall Clinton Thompson and Frida Marie Bijeaux Thompson. Stan was born on October 2, 1939 in Patterson, the son of George Earl Amadore and Mabel Luke Amadore.
Lou and Stan will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by six children, Jerri Lynn Giroir and husband John, Johnnie “Sue” Pearce, Diane L. Matherne and Kim Marie Amadore, all of Berwick, Julie Ann Amadore and husband Mike of Thibodaux, Stanley Clinton Amadore of Village Mills, Texas and daughter-in-law Lisa Amadore of Warren, Texas; 18 grandchildren, David Goodwin, Daniel Goodwin, Frances Hicks, John Giroir Jr., Timothy Giroir (Lynn), Kelli Sue Guidroz (Sue), Lindsay Kiffe, Karlie Matherne (Diane) Nikkie Marie Vasquez (Kim), Tyler Earl Amadore (Julie), Zouiee Hudgens, Taylor Maass, Terry Fendley, Garrett Amadore, Briana Amadore, Noah Amadore, Daylon Bowes and Clay Campbell (Stanley); 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, Rowan Martin Galloway; Lou’s siblings, Aubrey Thompson and wife Vicky, Goldie Marin and husband Donald, Wanda Thompson and Clint Thompson. Lou was also survived by one aunt, Mathilda B. Anslum, one uncle, Lester “Skinny” Beadle; Stan’s siblings, Leo Larry Amadore and Georgia Mae Peltier. Lou and Stanley leave behind numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Lou was preceded in death by her parents and three infant brothers, Marshall Thompson, Lawrence Thompson and Ward Thompson. Stan was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Jerry Amadore, Maxine Malinchalk, Alice Buie Shinn, George David Amadore and Theresa Amadore.
A visitation for Stanley and Lou Amadore was held from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022 at Twin City Funeral Home with the visitation resuming on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services honoring the lives of Stanley and Lou Amadore was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Twin City Funeral Home with Pastor Brian Head officiating. Following the services, Stanley and Lou were laid to rest together in the Berwick Cemetery, military honors were provided by the United States Navy Honor Guard, for Stanley.