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Woman feels mistreated by disrespectful daughter

Fri, 05/06/2022 - 8:17am

By Jeanne Phillips, ©United Features Syndicate

DEAR ABBY: I have a daughter, “Molly,” who is in her late 30s. Her father and I divorced when she was an infant, and I raised her, with help from my family, until I remarried. Her father had visitation and paid child support, but that’s where it ended. Throughout Molly’s life, I have taken care of all medical expenses, extracurricular activities, etc., and I sacrificed so she could have what she needed.
The problem I’m having is that she treats me badly, while her father, his family, her husband’s family and members of my family are put on a pedestal. The disrespectful way she talks to me and her superior attitude have sent me into depression. She doesn’t answer texts or return my phone calls unless she feels like it or wants something.
There’s the possibility that I’ll be coming into some money soon, and I have been thinking about changing my will and not leaving her anything. I am seeing a therapist to figure out why I can’t tell her how much her words and actions hurt me. I love Molly very much, but I don’t like her. Shouldn’t she be the one in therapy to figure out why she treats me this way?
MISTREATED MOM IN GEORGIA

DEAR MOM: People don’t usually seek therapy unless they are hurting, as you are. Don’t waste your time waiting for her to seek help for something she doesn’t think is a problem. Your daughter is fine with the status quo because you haven’t drawn the line and demanded to be treated with consideration. I don’t know if she’s aware that you are about to come into money, but when she finds out, you may discover she has a sudden change of attitude.
If the money comes through, I hope you will spend that windfall on things you enjoy — travel, cultural events, all the activities you missed out on while sacrificing for Molly. You deserve it; she doesn’t. Please tell your therapist I said so. I’m quite sure your therapist will agree.

DEAR ABBY: I renovated and moved into my girlfriend’s house a year ago, to the tune of $80,000. We have been together 12 years and agreed that although neither of us wants to remarry, we should stop paying two mortgages because we are nearing retirement and should save money.
She has an old cat that is peeing all over the house. She says, “What do you want me to do about it?” I’m asking her to help me figure something out, but after more than a year of dealing with her cat peeing on everything from my children’s beds to the carpets, nothing has changed. What can I say to get through to her that this is ruining our home and potentially getting people sick? I can’t have guests over because of the smell.
FRUSTRATED OVER THE FELINE

DEAR FRUSTRATED: You and your girlfriend should discuss this with the cat’s veterinarian to find out if the animal’s behavior is age-related and can’t be controlled or a behavioral problem that can be corrected. Please don’t wait to do it! You have my sympathy.
***
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447.

Bill to end sales tax early advances in House

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 2:37pm

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Legislation to wean the state off of a temporary 0.45% sales tax ahead of its expiration in 2025 cleared the House Committee on Ways and Means this week.

Committee members unanimously approved House Bill 438, sponsored by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, to address the temporary 0.45% sales tax that's set to expire in mid-2025, which is expected to cost the state about $420 million in revenue.

HB 438 initially proposed to cut the tax to 0.35% starting with the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1, but Bacala amended the legislation to postpone the reduction until the following fiscal year. The bill would now cut the rate to 0.30% in July 2023, then to 0.15% in July 2024.

The temporary tax would then be eliminated completely on June, 30 2025.

"This a gradual reduction, equal amounts, over a two-year period, but really it's three because the final is the natural expiration," Bacala said.

Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Erath, questioned how the gradual drawdown would impact revenues.

"Next year … we would have $285 million of the $420 million to spend. In (fiscal year 2025), we would have … $152 million of $420 million to spend," Bacala said.

Rep. Buddy Mincey, R-Denham Springs, questioned what the state would cut to compensate for the lost revenues.

Bacala said a more detailed look at the five year budget forecast is necessary to develop solutions, but stressed the bill is focused on providing a gradual adjustment rather than a fiscal cliff in 2025.

"We can have a gentle hill, or we can have a steep cliff," he said. "That's the choice we have here."

"The other option is to vote to renew it, which I don't think is appealing to anyone," Bacala said.

Bacala noted that a tax incentive worth about $50 million sunsets at the same time as the 0.45% sales tax, so the net loss would be closer to $380 million in 2025.

"This isn't a comfortable conversation, it's going to be more uncomfortable the more we push it back," he said. "As hard as it is to talk about this this year, it's going to be tougher next year and tougher the following year."

A similar bill, House Bill 1018, sponsored by committee Chair Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, would divert the revenue of the 0.45% sales tax to a "Temporary Sales Tax Fund." The tax collections would then be deposited into four smaller funds dedicated to specific development projects, including a new Lake Charles bridge, a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge, expansion of the Interstate 49 corridor, and a Non-Federal Eligible Highway Program fund dedicated to road work.

HB 1018 also cleared the House Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday, with a vote of 12-2.

"I think the wise thing to do is to start adjusting ourselves to the loss of that revenue," Bacala said. "We can look at this bill. We can look at Rep. Edmonds' bill. I'd like both of them to go to the floor so people will have choices."

"I'd like to see two instruments go to the governor's desk and the (legislative) body make the choice about which one is prime," he said.

Local authorities make arrests on drug, domestic, auto theft charges

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 2:34pm

(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 made three arrests on drug charges Wednesday, while Morgan City officers charged three with domestic abuse-related crimes, and a Berwick man was booked on an auto theft charge.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 40 complaints and made these arrests:

—Dejhon Parker, 25, Franklin, was arrested at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of window tint violation, resisting an officer, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Bail was set at $133,500.

—Lenzy McDaniel, 49, Franklin, was arrested at 7:46 p.m. Wednesday on charges of window tint violation, aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, possession of marijuana and possession of Promethazine, and on warrants from the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Police Department and Louisiana State Police.

—Gwendolyn H. Leonard, 48, White Castle, was arrested at 11:56 a.m. Wednesday on charges of traffic control signals and driving under suspension. Leonard was released on a summons to appear Aug. 26.

—Malcolm Smith, 53, Houma, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and improper lane usage. Smith was released on a summons to appear Aug. 26.

Bail has not been set.

Morgan City

Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 56 calls for service and made these arrests:

—Brandon Kelsey Young, 29, James Avenue, Farmerville, was arrested at 2:07 a.m. Thursday on charges of battery on a dating partner and resisting an officer.

—Myron Michael Ledet, 47, Keith Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

—Crystal Ledet, 39, Keith Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:13 p.m. Wednesday on charges of domestic abuse battery and resisting an officer.

—Rollins Anslum, 34, Fourth Street, Berwick, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of criminal damage to property.

—Kedesha Nichole Scott, 27, Grace Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:31 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging possession of Alprazolam.

—Angelina Yen Nhi Thi Tran, 22, Barrow Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Kaitlin Elayne Murray, 20, Barrow Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:49 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Kenneth Rollins, 31, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:53 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Berwick

Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:

—Gregory S. Payne, 46, Oregon Street, Berwick, was arrested at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday on a Berwick Police Department warrant alleging theft of a motor vehicle.

At 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Payne was located at the Morgan City Jail and taken to the Berwick Police Department for processing on an outstanding warrant. The warrant stems from an investigation Tuesday.

A complainant filed a report that Payne stole her vehicle. Later in the evening, officers with the Morgan City Police Department located Payne in possession of the stolen vehicle, and he was arrested. Payne was processed on the warrant at the Berwick Police Department, then transferred back to the Morgan City Jail for housing. No bond has been set.

—Tiffany L. Thomas, 24, Tiffany Street, Patterson, was arrested at 8:29 a.m. Wednesday on a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging failure to appear for pre-trial on a charge of careless operation.

At 7:27 a.m. Wednesday, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Crenshaw for a traffic violation. During the course of the stop, the officer came into contact with Thomas, and she was found to have an outstanding traffic warrant through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

She was placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail where she remains pending transfer to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to seven complaints over the past 24-hour period and made these arrests:

—Ray Granger, 34, Caffery Street, Franklin, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. Thursday on a 3rd Ward City Court warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of speeding and driver must be licensed. Granger was booked, processed and held on a $503 bond.

ROLAND JOSEPH MAY SR.

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:41pm

Ronald Joseph May Sr., 79, a native of Kaplan and resident of Gibson, died Sunday, May 1, 2022, at his residence.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Crochet May of Gibson, a daughter, Renee Belanger of Gibson; six siblings, Jackie Montet of Amelia, Garry May of Bayou L’Ourse, Harry May of Duson, Patricia Pasion of Hawaii, Veronica Bernadou of Bayou Vista and Blanche LeBlanc of Baldwin; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son and five brothers.
Memorial visitation will be Monday from 9 a.m. until Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Amelia. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Gibson, with military honors.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

KEITH ANTHONY SAUCE SR.

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:39pm

Keith Anthony Sauce Sr., 64, a native of Franklin and resident of Gibson, died Monday, May 2, 2022.
A Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in Gibson. Burial will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery in Gibson.
He is survived by a son, Keith Sauce Jr. and daughter, Hollie Sauce.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sister and brother.
Hargrave Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cajun Open horseshow results

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:34pm

Welsh, April 30
Class A
First place, David Reed (tournament champion), Welsh, 5 wins-0 losses, 45.0 ringer percentage; second place, Alois Habetz, Sulphur, 3-2, 43.0; and third place, Tim Gilmore, Bayou Vista, 3-2, 58.5.
Class B
First, Mack Thibodeaux, Lake Arthur, 5-0, 29.5; second, Jimmy Percle, Morgan City, 4-1, 40.5; and third, Danny Navarre, Carlyis, 2½-2½, 29.0.
Class C
First, Angela Percle, Morgan City, 5-1, 19.2; second, Bobbie Richard, Church Point, 4-2, 24.2; and third, Gaylin Habetz, Sulphur, 3-2, 13.5. Percle defeated Richard in a 40-shoe playoff to claim class title.
Class D
First, Charles Benoit, Lake Arthur, 4-2, 6.3; second, Joseph Thomas III, Baton Rouge, 3½-2½, 9.6; and third, Clay Weaver, Lacassine, 3-3, 13.3.

Bayou Horseshow Pitchers Association scores

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:33pm

Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association
Spring League
Week 3
............................... W L
X- Men...................16.5 10.5
Old Dawgs.............15.5 11.5
If The Shoe Fits......15 12
Inconsistent............13 14
3 Tigers & A Dawg...12 15
Underdogs............... 9 18
High scratch point average: (30’) Tim Gilmore 81.7, Jimmy Percle 50.3 and Angela Percle 45.5; and (40’) Clyde Landry 44.7, Dwain Arceneaux 44.3 and Glenn Miller 44.0.
High individual ringer percentage: (30’) Gilmore 62.2, J. Percle 30.7, A. Percle 21.7 and Calvin Johnson 21.7; and (40’) Pearce 27.2, Arceneaux 26.3 and Landry 25.8.
High scratch game: (30’) Gilmore 90, J. Percle 61 and A. Percle 52; and (40’) Arceneaux 66, Pearce 61 and Landry 54.
Most ringers: (one night) Gilmore 79, Pearce 44, J. Percle 40 and Miller 38; and (one game) Gilmore 28, Pearce 18, Arceneaux 18, J. Percle 17, Landry 16 and Clay Canty 15.
Most points one night: Gilmore 260, J. Percle 165, Landry 155, Pearce 151 and Arceneaux 148.
Best won-loss record: Arceneaux 5-1, Gilmore 7-2, Landry 7-2, Canty 7-2, J. Percle 5-2, Randy Giroir 2-1, Kevin Kinslow 5.5-3.5 and David Bourdier 5.5-3.5.
Most points one night – team: Old Dawgs 527 and Underdogs 402; and most ringers one night – team: Old Dawgs 130 and Underdogs 94.

Older Americans Month proclaimed

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:30pm

St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff and four of the parish mayors signed a proclamation April 27, proclaiming May as Older Americans Month. The officials joined St Mary Council on Aging Director Beverly Domengeaux and three Council on Aging board members for the recognition after the St. Mary Parish Chamber Business Luncheon at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Pictured are, front row from left: Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard, Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna, Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur and Baldwin Mayor Abel Prejean. Back row: Council on Aging board members Ed Verdin and David Bourdier, Domengeaux, Hanagriff, and Council on Aging board member Reginald Weary. Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan was at the state capital and did not attend the luncheon.

Photo Courtesy Howard Castay Jr.

House panel votes down 'don't say gay' bill

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:29pm

JAYDEN NGUYEN, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — The House Education Committee voted 7-4 Tuesday to reject a bill to ban sexual orientation and gender identity discussions in classrooms for kindergarten through eighth-grade students.
The bill, House Bill 837, was criticized for its vague wording and for making it difficult to teach subjects in Louisiana’s new social studies standards, such as LGBTQ+ individuals who were targeted during the Holocaust.
“I think it is too broad and leaves a lot of room for interpretation,” Rep. Aimee Adatto Freeman, D-New Orleans, said.
All four Democrats on the committee and three Republican representatives voted against the bill.
Opponents referred to the bill as a more extreme version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, as the Louisiana one would have covered a broader age range of students and banned teachers from discussing their sexual or gender identities with students.
“No teacher, school employee, or other presenter shall discuss his own sexual orientation or gender identity with students in kindergarten through grade twelve,” according to the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton.
Horton has rejected the “Don’t Say Gay” label and the notion that her bill was exclusionary and anti-LGBTQ+.
“It’s not prejudice to one group or another,” Horton said in an interview with KSLA-TV in Shreveport.
The lack of discussion about sexuality and gender appeared to be a contributing factor in the bill’s rejection Tuesday. When Rep. Patrick Jefferson, D-Homer, asked Horton if students would be allowed to address faculty as “Mr.” or “Ms.,” Horton said that her bill had nothing to do with such titles. This was met with laughter from the committee’s audience.
Lawmakers in other states have proposed bills that would limit all classroom instruction and discussion related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The controversy over this type of legislation has mostly revolved around Florida, but lawmakers in other Republican-led states, including Alabama, Ohio and South Carolina, also have introduced restrictive bills to prevent gender and sexuality instruction.
“These issues do seem to animate Republican voters for whatever reason, and legislators think they’re following the will of their voters,” said Peter Robins-Brown, the executive director of Louisiana Progress, a progressive organization.
While the Louisiana bill did not make it to the House floor, in Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Parental Rights in Education act, better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Part of the bill prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten through third grade classes.
DeSantis cited parents’ rights and protecting children as his main motivations for enacting the law.
“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents,” DeSantis said in a press release. “Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old.”
Like DeSantis, Horton said that it is important to protect students from inappropriate information such as teachers’ lifestyle preferences.
“Certain teachers use classroom instructional time to share their personal sexual orientation or gender identity preferences with our most vulnerable citizens, our children,” Horton told the House Education Committee. “Unfortunately, in the last probably five years, you just see a trend of certain educators … interjecting their own lifestyle choices.”
In Florida, teachers are already expressing concern over how DeSantis’ legislation will change their classrooms starting in July.
“I can no longer teach kids to be inclusive and accepting of one another,” Melody Bass, a teacher at Cedar Grove Elementary School in Panama City, said in an interview. “I wish that the people writing and passing these laws were actually in the classroom and had exposure to the students that they think they know.”

Ban on hand-held cellphones while driving fails

Thu, 05/05/2022 - 1:28pm

ALLISON KADLUBAR LSU, Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE — Lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly rejected a bill to ban hand-held driver phones after a handful of amendments, debates and product demonstrations.
The bill would have allowed law enforcement to ticket anyone caught with a cell phone in hand while driving.
“This bill is a wireless cell phone hands-free bill,” the author of the bill, Rep. Mike Huval, R-Breaux Bridge, said. “It does not keep you from using a cell phone when you’re driving. It just requires you to do it in a safe manner.”
The bill failed to pass in the House by a close margin of 48-46. But prior to the vote, lawmakers discussed the bill in intense debates.
Lawmakers adopted eight amendments to alter the bill since it was first proposed in the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works on March 14.
Amendments increased maximum fines from $100 to $300 as well as community service from 15 hours to 90 hours.
The amended bill also would have prohibited officers from arresting an individual who was caught with a phone in hand while driving even if the officer observed illegal activities or items in the car.
Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine, argued that the ban might still prompt an officer to abuse his power.
“I’m going to submit to you that, if he walks up to the vehicle and visibly observes an open container in the console, they’re going to find a reason to detain you and get a search warrant,” Brown said.
Huval said the bill would not allow an officer to do so.
Brown also questioned how law enforcement officers would be able to accurately spot someone driving with a phone in hand.
He held up an item while standing several feet away from Huval and asked him if an officer could fine him if he was driving. Huval said yes, but Brown then revealed it was a phone charger.
“That’s my point,” Brown said. “If an officer sees this, he thinks it’s a cell phone, but it’s a phone charger.”
This was not the only demonstration.
When lawmakers debated the bill in March, Rep. Robby Carter, R-Amite, argued that the bill discriminated against people who can only afford “pay-as-you-go” phones without voice-command features.
“It will not be possible to operate a cell phone in a car that doesn’t have Bluetooth,” Carter said during that debate.
Huval picked up a Dollar General bag with a phone inside.
“This phone costs $49, but I found out I can go to Walmart and get it for $19,” Huval said. “I drive a car that is 50 years old, and…all it has is AM radio. You know what, I can drive my car with this hands-free.”
The bill failed even though the House passed a similar bill in the 2021 session. A motion to reconsider the bill is pending.