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ORA LEE BRASHEAR GARNER

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 1:46pm

Ora Lee Brashear Garner, 69, a resident and native of Morgan City, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans.

Visitation will be observed on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Mt. Era Baptist Church, 406 Lawrence St., Morgan City, from 9 a.m. until funeral services at 11 a.m., with Minister Anthony Stewart officiating. Burial will follow funeral services in the Morgan City Cemetery.

She is survived by her devoted companion of 17 years, Michael Merrick of Morgan City; a daughter, Natasha Garner Francois (James Naverre) of Morgan City; three granddaughters, a grandson, one brother, Raymond (Gladys) Ruffin of Morgan City; two sisters, Suzette Brashear of Lafayette and Mary Pool Collins of Morgan City; stepmother Idela Brashear of Morgan City; three aunts; four uncles, and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her: son, mother, stepfather, father, two brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law, two nephews and a niece.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Funeral Home.

Download Tuesday's Patterson City Council agenda

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 12:33pm

Click on the link below to download a .pdf version of the Patterson City Council agenda for Tuesday.

Morgan City police report two arrests Wednesday

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 12:29pm

(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 two arrests Wednesday, including one on a warrant alleging theft.

Morgan City

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

--Trinity Harris, 23, 11th Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of remaining after forbidden and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging theft under $1,000.

--Lawrence A. Garrett, 25, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday on 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrants alleging probation violation and failure to pay fine and as a fugitive from the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

-- Allen Joseph Landry, 22, Cyril Street, Pierre Part, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges followed a traffic stop in Pierre Part on Tuesday.

A uniformed patrol deputy initiated a traffic stop and interviewed the driver, now identified as Leslie LeBlanc Breaux, 41, St. Mary Street, Napoleonville.

The deputy noted a passenger in the vehicle appeared to be acting suspiciously and proceeded to conduct a pat-down search of that passenger, identified as Landry.

During the pat-down process, deputies seized a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Landry was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center. He was released on a $35,000 bond.

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:

---Carlos Andres Castillo-Jimenez, 35, Florence, South Carolina, was arrested at 11:34 a.m. Wednesday on charges maximum speed limit and unlawful production, manufacturing, distribution or possession of fraudulent documents. Bail has not been set.

--Daniel Andrew Collette, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday on charges of domestic abuse child endangerment law (aggravated) and simple criminal damage to property. Collette was released on a $4,000 bond.

--Kevin Troy Pierre Jr., 25, Patterson, was arrested at 3:06 p.m. Wednesday on charges of seat belt and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Pierre also held an active warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set.

--Corderrio Harrison, 34, New Iberia, was arrested at 4:34 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of unlawful use of ID to gain access to a gaming establishment. Bail has not been set.

--Margaret Mary Guidroz, 43, Patterson, was arrested at 9:44 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of theft. Bail was set at $1,000.

--Joel Andrew Loustalot, 35, Franklin, was arrested at 12:59 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of maximum speed limit, possession of synthetic cannabinoids and possession of drug paraphernalia. Loustalot also held an active warrant alleging possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, driving on roadway laned for traffic and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set.

Morgan City police radio logs for June 1-2

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 12:07pm

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.

Wednesday, June 1
6:33 a.m.: 1300 block Sixth Street; Street; alarm.
7:54 a.m.: 200 block Glenwood; medical.
8:46 a.m.: U.S. 90 westbound, Berwick: traffic stop.
9:32 a.m.: 2400 block Sixth Street; theft.
9:41 a.m.: 100 block Mallard; medical.
10:50 a.m.: 300 block Franklin; animal call.
10:52 a.m.: 600 block Greenwood; alarm.
11:55 a.m.: 1000 block Ninth Street; complaint.
11:57 a.m.: 1400 block Sandra; complaint.
12:23 p.m.: 2600 block Sixth Street; assistance.
12:59 p.m.: La. 182/Redwood; traffic stop.
1:23 p.m.: 200 block Everett; complaint.
1:31 p.m.: 7700 block La. 182; theft.
1:45 p.m.: Duke/Fifth; complaint.
3:21 p.m.: 1100 block Dora; simple battery.
3:23 p.m.: 700 block Fourth Street; assistance.
3:24 p.m.: 100 block Mallard; complaint.
3:32 p.m.: 700 block Florence; complaint.
3:33 p.m.: Old bridge; stalled vehicle.
3:37 p.m.: 1400 block Mayon; complaint.
4:49 p.m.: 1100 block Dora; complaint.
6:12 p.m.: 1200 block David; alarm.
7:04 p.m.: 2400 block Cypress; animal complaint.
8:58 p.m.: 7700 block La. 182; disturbance.
9:10 p.m.: 1600 block Victor II; complaint.
9:28 p.m.: 7200 block La. 182; arrest.
9:33 p.m.: 300 block Second; complaint.
9:52 p.m.: 1100 block Marguerite; complaint.
10:01 p.m.: 100 block Oak; animal complaint.
10:37 p.m.: 900 block Seventh; suspicious subject.

Thursday, June 2
3:19 a.m.: 6300 block La. 182; complaint.

More Morgan City High senior award-winners

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 11:11am

The students shown here are among the Morgan City High seniors who received awards May 13 at the school's graduation ceremony. The students receiving awards in individual academic departments were the seniors with the highest grade point average in that department. More photos of award-winners appeared in the June 1 edition, and more will appear in editions to come.

Click here to see more MCHS senior award winners.

In committee, permit-less carry bill gutted, changed to OK concealed weapons for teachers

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 10:35am

ALLISON ALLSOP and PIPER HUTCHINGSON, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — A Senate committee struck provisions Wednesday that would have allowed for permit-less concealed carry, dramatically altering a bill to instead allow for teachers to carry concealed guns on school property in certain circumstances.
House Bill 37, sponsored by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, was intended to remove current requirements that an individual must have a concealed carry permit to carry a handgun in a concealed manner in Louisiana.
An amendment proposed by Sen. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, removed provisions of the bill that would have allowed for permit-less carry and inserted language that would allow for teachers to become certified to carry weapons on school grounds.
The amendment passed 8-2 Wednesday evening, with Republican Sens. Jay Morris of Monroe and Mike Reese of Leesville in opposition.
Lambert pointed to the more than 40-minute period that police in Uvalde, Texas, were delayed in entering Robb Elementary School last week during a mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers.
Lambert argued that having an armed teacher inside could have mitigated the carnage, though critics around the country have asked how a teacher could stand up to a shooter with an AR-15 if police were afraid to challenge him.
Moments before the bill was discussed Wednesday, news broke of a mass shooting at a healthcare facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The amendment would allow each school to designate one or more “school protection officers,” who could be a teacher, an administrator or a retired teacher or administrator. The individual would have to have a concealed carry permit and undergo specialized training.
The identities of any teachers or administrators who become school protection officers would not be subject to public records requests, although law enforcement officers would have access to the information.
Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke against the bill.
“This bill does not promote a culture of life,” Costanza said.
McCormick would not commit to moving forward with the bill, saying in an interview that he had to review the amendments.
Last month, McCormick pulled a controversial bill criminalizing abortion after it was dramatically amended on the House floor.
McCormick did say that he would be in favor of arming teachers “in certain circumstances.”
The original bill, referred to by supporters as a “constitutional carry bill,” cleared the Senate Judiciary C Committee on the same day of the mass shooting at the Uvalde elementary school.
Louisiana, consistently a leader in murders and gun violence, is currently the top state for mass shootings per capita, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
A bill similar to McCormick’s original instrument was brought in 2021 but was vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. The Legislature attempted an override but fell short of the necessary votes.
Edwards opposed the bill primarily due to the fact that it would eliminate training requirements for concealed carry.
The bill will now go to the Senate for a floor vote. If it passes the Senate, it would have to go back to the House for concurrence on amendments before the session ends on Monday.

Senate passes bill protecting state employees using medical marijuana

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 10:20am

PIPER HUTCHINSON, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE–The Senate gave final passage to a bill Wednesday that would protect state employees who legally use medical marijuana.
House Bill 988, sponsored by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, protects state employees from negative consequences if they are diagnosed with conditions for which a doctor recommends medical marijuana used in accordance with state law.
The bill cleared the Senate on a 26-8 vote. It was opposed by Republican Sens. Mike Fesi of Houma, Beth Mizell of Franklinton, Cameron Henry of Metairie, Sharon Hewitt of Slidell, Jay Morris of Monroe, Barrow Peacock of Bossier City, Rogers Pope of Denham Springs and Bodi White of Central.
The law would protect employees from being fired and would protect prospective employees from being discriminated against for use of medical marijuana.
The bill would not apply to law enforcement, firefighters or other public safety officials.
The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy reported that there are over 43,000 medical marijuana users in the state.
Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe, carried the bill on the Senate floor.
Cathay argued that the bill would help prevent state employees from being addicted to opioids, an argument previously used when the bill came up as the House passed the bill.
“There are a lot of people who don’t want to take opioids for their long-term PTSD and pain management because of the high possibility of addiction to opioids,” Landry said when the bill came up in a House committee last month. “This has proved to be a better option than them.”
Opponents of the bill, most notably Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, had argued then that the issue should be handled by the Division of Administration.
Jacques Berry, communications director for the Louisiana Department of Administration, pushed back on this notion. Berry clarified that his department has policies protecting its workers from discrimination based on medical marijuana use but cannot set policy for all agencies that employ state workers.
The House passed the bill 60-32. It now awaits signature from the governor.

CHARLES ANTHONY WILLIAMS

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 10:17am

Charles Anthony Williams, 56, a resident of Spokane, Virginia, and native of Patterson, Louisiana, passed away Jan. 28, 2022, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.
The St. Mary Veteran Funeral Squad will perform at 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2022, at Jones Funeral Home, 715 Sixth St., Morgan City, Burial will follow at the Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary.
He is survived by his mother, Gloria Williams Smith, and a host of relatives and friends.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

GREGG ANTHONY VESH

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 10:15am

Gregg Anthony Vesh, 61, a resident of Bayou Vista, Louisiana, passed away Friday, May 27, 2022.
He was born April 24, 1961, in Clinton, Massachusetts, the son of Edward D. Vesh and Beverly Bolton.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Vesh, of Bayou Vista; daughter Kristi Vesh Rohrbacher; brother Glenn Vesh; two step-sisters, Cindy Elliot and Jody Horton; one granddaughter and one grandson on the way; and numerous friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will hold a memorial service at a later time and date.

Berwick plans seat belt checkpoint Thursday

Thu, 06/02/2022 - 8:43am

The Berwick Police Department announced that it will conduct another Seat Belt Checkpoint in conjunction with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation/ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Click-it or Ticket campaign

The checkpoint will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday in the town limits of Berwick.

Berwick police would like to remind drivers that not all crashes are survivable, but statistics show that wearing your seat belt is the single most effective thing you can do to increase your chances of surviving a crash and / or limiting the severity of injuries during the event of a crash.