RSS Feed

(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.)

Local authorities made three arrests on domestic abuse-related charges Wednesday and a fourth of a woman accused of attacking an employee at a Berwick business.

Berwick

Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported these arrests:

—Alaina Beiza, 27, Front Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:54 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of simple battery.

About 10:48 a.m. Wednesday, the Berwick Police Department received a call to remove a subject from a business on River Road. The subject left without incident.

Moments later, the Berwick Police Department received another call that a female identified as Beiza had went back to the business and committed a battery on one of the employees.

Beiza was located and placed under arrest. Beiza was transported to the Berwick Police Department where she was booked on the charge of Simple Battery. Beiza later posted a cash bond of $326.

--Kevin Adams, 33, Blum Boulevard, Berwick, was arrested 5:01 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on warrants alleging two counts of domestic abuse battery.

About 5 p.m. Wednesday, officers with the Berwick Police Department located Adams on the walking trail. He was named in active warrants through the Berwick Police Department.

Officers made contact with Adams and advised him of the warrants. Adams was placed under arrest without incident.

Adams admitted to having marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia on his person. Adams was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked. Adams remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 30 complaints and made these arrests:

—Tyler James Archon, 27, New Iberia, was arrested at 8:51 a.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding and driving under suspension, and on a Vermillion Parish warrant. Archon is being held for another agency.

—Barbara Jackson, 56, Franklin, was arrested at 1:29 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging driving under suspension and proper equipment required on vehicles. Jackson was released on a summons to appear on July 19.

—Jenny Robin, 36, Franklin, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant alleging possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17.

Bail was set at $6,000.

Franklin

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

—Ash Miller, 41, Pine Street, Franklin, was arrested at 1:17 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant dated March 22 and alleging theft, criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing. Miller was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

—Juanita Solete, 58, Lynn Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Solete was booked, processed and released on a $2,500 bond.

—Stephen Londo, 43, Lynn Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of battery on a dating partner. Londo was booked, processed and released on a $2,500 bond.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

—Harold J. Folse, III, 48, Noe Court, Pierre Part, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of Valium, possession of methamphetamine, disregarding stop sign and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Glynda Lee Rogers, 42, Noe Court, Pierre Part, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of Valium, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug para-phernalia. The arrests followed a traffic stop Tuesday near Plattenville.

A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle parked near a local business and as the deputy approached, the vehicle accelerated toward the La. 70 Spur. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Folse.

The deputy conducted an interview and as a result, concluded that more investigation was warranted. The deputy summoned a K-9 to the location. The K-9 con-ducted an open-air sniff and alerted positive for the presence of illegal substances.

The vehicle was searched and as a result of that process, quantities of methamphetamine, Valium and assorted paraphernalia were seized.

Folse and Rogers were ar-rested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remain incarcerated with bonds set for $60,000.

(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.)

Men from Florida and Texas were arrested Tuesday by Morgan City police on heroin possession charges.

Assumption Parish deputies also arrested three people on felony battery charges after an attack on a woman at a Pierre Part bar April 16.

Morgan City

Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 44 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Ernesto Lopez II, 36, Royal Palm Beach Boulevard, Palm Beach Florida, was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, improper lane usage and following too closely.

--Teodulo Morales Sanchez, 45, Lazy Meadow Drive, Houston, was arrested at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

--Terry Lynn Ratliff, 50, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:04 p.m. Monday on a charge of driving under suspension.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 41 complaints and made these arrests:

--Bernard Allen Charles Jr., 32, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:52 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of battery-simple. Bail has not been set.

--Gillisa Centrell Clark, 35, Amelia, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of following too closely. Clark was released on a $250 bond.

--Sharon Denise Gauthier, 61, Franklin, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and failure to stop or yield at a stop sign. Bail has not been set.

--David Chad Diienno, 27, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Wednesday on charges of maximum speed limit, turning movements and signals required, driving on roadway laned for traffic, resisting arrest or officer, resisting a police officer with force (not aggravated), driving under suspension, no insurance and pos-session of drug paraphernalia.

Bail has not been set.

--Dee'antre Gray, 24, Jeanerette, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and window tint. Gray was released on a summons to appear July 19.

--TJ Joseph Small, 44, Schriever, was arrested at 5:12 p.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of improper lane usage, possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of cocaine.

Small was released on a $3,500 bond.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

-- Sarah Boudreaux Hebert, 31, La. 70 South, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated bat-tery and disturbing the peace.

--Cindy Ann Cavalier, 43, Mike Street, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated battery and disturbing the peace.

--Tony Coupel, 50, Ideal Street, Belle Rose, was arrested Tuesday on charges of aggravated battery and disturb-ing the peace.

The charges arise from a fight at a local lounge on or about April 16.

On or about April 22, deputies responded to a complaint from an individual who indicated she was the victim of a vicious attack by several individuals during an incident at a local bar.

The victim provided video as well as other physical evidence to corroborate the allegations.

As a result of the investigation, warrants were issued for the arrests of Hebert, Cavalier and Coupel.

All three were booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and released on bonds of $25,000 each.

-- Dylan J. Rivere, 35, Paul Street, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on a charge of resisting arrest with force or violence.

Deputies responded to a call Sunday regarding an individual walking in people’s yards and talking to himself.

Deputies located Rivere and identified him as the subject of the complaint. Deputies attempted to detain Rivere, and he resisted those efforts and was subsequently restrained and arrested.

Rivere was treated at a local medical facility for unspecified medical issues.

Rivere was arrested on Monday and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending bond pro-ceedings.

The Morgan City Council on Tuesday approved a $1-an-hour raise for entry level Police Department employees, hoping to reverse personnel losses attributed to low pay.

The council members agreed that more money is needed for a pay scale that, according to Police Chief James F. Blair, is $4 an hour less than the average for police de-partments from Franklin to Houma.

Members agreed to meet to look for solutions. No formal proposals beyond the additional $1 raise for entry-level employees emerged from Tuesday’s meeting. No one proposed a tax increase, but no one took a tax hike off the table either.

Also Tuesday, the board introduced an ordinance that would keep two city property taxes at their current level; moved toward a fall election for a sales tax renewal; made two moves needed to com-plete the purchase of the M.D. Shannon prop-erty from the St. Mary School Board; and approved a resolution that moves the city closer to having a new water plant.

Police pay

When Blair spoke to the council, his message was bleak:

—The Morgan City Police Department responded to more than 14,000 complaints in 2021, more than any other law enforcement agency in the parish.

—The starting pay for Morgan City Police Department employees is $12.09 per hour.

—Forty people have left the MCPD in the last three years.

Some of the departures were retirements, Blair said after the meeting. But most were because officers were leaving in search of better pay.

He told the council that he has heard many officers cite pay as the reason they’re leaving the department.

“I’m tired of hearing that,” he said.

All five council members spoke in support of the police.

“I’m getting the sense,” Councilman Ron Bias said, “that the Morgan City Police Department is just a [training] ground for other police depart-ments.”

Councilman Lou Tamporello talked about a recent death resulting from a fall from the La. 182 bridge.

“You shouldn’t have to go out there for $12.09 an hour,” Tamporello said.

Councilman Steve Domangue said that when he goes to work at Cannata’s at 4 a.m. each day, he’s glad to see a patrol car nearby.

Councilmen Mark Stephens and Tim Hymel each recommended Finance Committee meetings to look for a solution.

“We’re not going to try,” Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna said. “We’re going to get it done.”

For now, the council approved a budget amendment that pro-vides the $1-an-hour raise for the entry level employees. Receiving the raise will be 22 patrol officers, eight corrections officers, four communications officers and two records clerks.

The amendment authorizes about $67,000 in spending to cover the raise for the rest of the budget year.

Tax rates

An ordinance introduced Tuesday would set two property taxes for 2022: 16.07 mills for general government purposes and 2 mills for maintaining Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.

A public hearing and a passage vote are scheduled for the May 24 City Council meeting.

The tax levels are unchanged from 2021.

A mill is 1/10th cent of tax applied to each dollar of a property’s assessed valuation. By law, the assessed valuation of residential property is set at 10% of its market value.

Sales tax

The council moved toward a fall election to renew an existing 0.3% sales tax dedicated to roads, sidewalks and drainage.

The council set a public meeting at its May 24 meeting on the renewal.

The fall election date on the Louisiana secretary of state’s calendar is Nov. 8.

Water plant

The council authorized a cooperative endeavor agreement to facilitate state funding for a new water plant.

The bulk of the funding for the $5.2 million project will come from the Water Sector program, administered by the state government with federal COVID funding targeting water and sewer system improvements. The city’s portion of the funding is $1 million.

The new plant is de-signed to increase capacity using fewer chemicals, resulting in savings.

M.D. Shannon

The council approved two resolutions, including the hiring of a special counsel, for the transfer of the M.D. Shannon property from the School Board to the city government.

The city will pay the School Board $100,000 in monthly installments over three years. The city will have use of the historic school for sports programs and other activities.

The city’s Development District will also sell 16 residential lots on the property.

Also Tuesday:
—The council approved plans for the annual Bayou BBQ Bash for July 15-16 in downtown Morgan City.

—Council members agreed to consider an ordinance changing the rules for closing time at bars in the city.

Bar owner Ricky Roussel said the current rules prohibit the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m., the same time customers must leave the premises. He suggested that the city government follow the parish rules, which stop alcohol sales at 2 a.m. but give customers until 2:30 a.m. to leave.

—The council members heard Lea Hebert of Keep St. Mary Beautiful ask for support.

The organization once had both a director and government funding support, Hebert said, but the position and the funding have ended. The current budget is $500 a year, she said.

Council members praised recent cleanup campaigns, including one involving Morgan City High athletes and people from Ochsner St. Mary, Central Catholic and Wyandotte Elementary.

—The council approved plans for a tennis camp for young people 5-18 June 6-9 at Lawrence Park. The camp is a project of Bishop Jerry Hebert, a former University of Louisiana-Lafayette tennis player.

The project estimate for the new waterplant has been corrected in this story.

No two families are the same. What may be “normal” for one family could be quite unique to another.
Because families are so different, days such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, and even days devoted to siblings or cousins present opportunities for families to celebrate diversity while honoring their family members.
Branch out to many caregivers
Certainly a person becomes a mother if she has given birth to a child. But motherhood is a much broader concept. Many women are mothers to children with whom they have little to no biological connection. Some may be relatives that filled the void left by a mother who passed away or was unable to care for children. Anyone who has stepped into the role of caretaker can and should be celebrated on Mother’s Day.
Recognizing stepmothers
The notion of the “evil stepmother” in fairy tales is inaccurate. Many children have very close relationships with their stepmothers — even retaining relationships should the stepmother divorce out of the family. Modern families even include strong connections between stepmothers and biological mothers, with each doing her part to make sure children are getting the love and support they need.
Same-sex relationships
Families continue to evolve and same-sex couples are raising children. Among married same-sex couples, 18.9% of the households have children under age 18. These non-traditional families can be creative as they navigate holidays like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. One way to do so is to celebrate one parent on Mother’s Day and the other on Father’s Day. However, families also can remove gender labels and celebrate both days as Parents Day, casting love and affection on caregivers however they see fit.
Absent but not forgotten
Some mothers are not present in children’s lives for various reasons. These can include death, incarceration, illness, military deployment or enrollment in a rehabilitation program. Mother’s Day can be a time of mixed emotions for individuals whose moms are not present, and families can work together to find ways to celebrate. This may be visiting the cemetery to pay respects or sending a letter to express one’s feelings. Individuals also can recognize those people who act as surrogate mothers, including special friends or coworkers who always listen and offer advice.
Mother’s Day can be recognized with flexibility and creativity within non-traditional families.