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E.D. White downs Berwick in bowling

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 8:57am

In high school bowling, E.D. White downed Berwick High 20-7 (2,472-2,214) Wednesday at Morgan City’s Steelwood Lanes.

E.D. White won the three games by scores of 816-655, 847-770 and 809-789.

Individual scores for Berwick in each of the three games:

Drake Macaluso X-110-122
Andrew Voisan 80-X-101
Cameron Lacoste 127-148-130
Carson Thomas 95-80-X
Chaz Leblanc 101-129-127
Ethan Blanchard 113-119-170
Jackson Kenney 139-184-139

E.D. White
Lawson Ducos 110-105-110
Elizabeth Scorsone 152-160-148
Drake Fields 128-132-104
Brett Brady 180-154-165
Sophia Simmons 133-160-166
Jack Morvant 113-136-116

REPOSTED: Morgan City will host meeting on proposed estuary reserve

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 8:14am

Local people can take part either online or in person in a Morgan City town hall meeting about a possible national estuarine research reserve site in St. Mary Parish, according to LSU’s SeaGrant organization.

The LaNERR Site Development Committee will host a series of town hall meetings to provide information on three possible sites: Atchafalaya Basin, Barataria Basin and Pontchartrain Basin. Three town hall meetings (virtual and hybrid) have been organized for each site. Webinar links are included on this story at StMaryNow.com

The Morgan City meeting will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.

Virtual meetings are strictly online. Hybrid town hall meetings, like the one in Morgan City, can be attended either in-person or online. Registration is required for online participation.

According to SeaGrant. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of estuarine areas representative of the various biogeographic regions in the United States.

Reserves are established for long-term research, education, stewardship and interpretation to promote informed management of our nation’s estuaries and coastal habitats. A reserve represents a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and coastal states. NOAA provides funding and national guidance, and each site is managed by a lead state agency with input from local partners.

Local supporters say the reserve can be on either private or public land, or a combination. Land use rules would continue as they are at any site selected for a reserve.

Online only virtual meetings are scheduled for: noon-2 p.m. Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 and 6-8 p.m. Feb. 9.

Virtual and in-person town halls are scheduled for:
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Southeastern Student Union Annex - Theater (2nd floor) in Hammond (parking at the corner of Ned McGehee Drive and North Oak Street)
—6-8 Feb. 3 at SUNO Auditorium of the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences (AHSS) – 6400 Press Drive in New Orleans
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 7 at Lafitte Barataria Museum & Wetland Trace – 4917 City Park Drive in Lafitte
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 8 at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.
—6-8 p.m. Feb. 10 at Sliman Theatre for the Performing Arts – 129 E. Main St. in New Iberia.

Mobile sports betting goes online in Louisiana

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 7:59am

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Mobile sports betting will go live in most of Louisiana on Friday with several online platforms cleared for launch.

Online sports betting will be available in 55 of the state’s 64 parishes that approved sports betting in November 2020, beginning 8 a.m. Friday. The state will allow each of the 20 approved licenses to run two online betting apps, though bettors must be physically present in an approved parish to place a wager.

Louisiana Gaming Control Board Chair Ronnie Johns signed licenses Wednesday for six online betting platforms, though he did not reveal which platforms will participate in the initial launch.

"Our goal was to have it available before the Super Bowl, so we were able to beat that target," Johns told the Daily Advertiser. "It will be ready for this weekend's NFL conference championship games."

BetMGM Louisiana, Caesars Sportsbook and BetRivers Louisiana have confirmed approval for Friday, while other top betting apps including FanDuel Louisiana and DraftKings Louisiana are expected to be among the first to launch, as well, Gaming Today reported.

“We’re proud that BetMGM will be in the first wave of operators to launch mobile sports betting in Louisiana this Friday,” BetMGM’s CEO Adam Greenblatt said in a statement Wednesday. “We thank both the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana State Police and look forward to parlaying BetMGM’s success in neighboring regions into a long, successful, and responsible relationship with sports fans in the state.”

The online gambling launch comes several months after in-person sports wagers became legal in Louisiana on Oct. 31. In November and December, the 11 participating casinos and race tracks generated more than $67 million in wagers and $10 million in net proceeds, resulting in a little over $1 million in taxes, according to a report from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Sports betting outfits pay taxes on net proceeds after payouts, with in-person wagers taxed at 10% and mobile and online betting taxed at 15%. The mobile betting option is expected to greatly increase net proceeds and tax revenues.

The legislative fiscal office estimated all sports betting in the state will generate $30 million a year in new tax revenue. A quarter of the tax proceeds – or up to $20 million – will go to early childhood education. Another 10% is devoted to local governments and up to $500,000 will go to address gambling addiction.

Caesars Digital Co-President Eric Hession pointed to the popularity of sports betting at in-person venues in recent months as evidence the industry is just getting started.

“Caesars Sportsbook is ready for mobile sports betting’s debut in Louisiana on Friday. This is an opportunity we’ve been working toward for a long time,” Hession said in a statement. “We’ve seen tremendous interest in legal sports betting since the opening of our Caesars Sportsbooks at Harrah’s New Orleans and Horseshoe Bossier City. Come Friday, through the app, we’ll be able to offer even more opportunities to experience the thrill of sports wagering.”

Louisiana is expected to launch a third sports betting option at retail kiosks in bars and restaurants in March. The Louisiana Lottery will oversee that option and is seeking requests for proposals from vendors, according to the Daily Advertiser.

Parishes that opted out of sports betting include Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Sabine, Union, West Carrol and Winn.

Here's some reaction to governor's proposed budget

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 7:53am

VICTOR SKINNER, The Center Square

Policy advocates are urging a greater focus on accountability and directing more funds toward helping Louisiana's most vulnerable after Gov. John Bel Edwards unveiled his proposed state budget.

Commentary from the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) highlighted the “glut of cash” for the upcoming fiscal year and commended Edwards for devoting large chunks to pay down debt, such as a suggested $400 million federal loan payment for upgrades to New Orleans’ storm protection system.

PAR agreed with the governor’s plan to use the $2.8 billion in one-time funding on nonrecurring expenses such as debt reduction and transportation projects, but is advocating for a more transparent and accountable process than in the past, with targeted goals to measure the impact of investments.

“PAR would like to see more planning in appropriations for the short-term cash and the increased general fund money available in next year’s budget, with an eye toward long-term state improvement and targeted goals for what the spending should achieve,” the commentary read.

“Edwards and lawmakers should connect a wanted policy outcome to the money, rather than splitting it up so every favored project simply gets a little piece of the largesse."

The private research nonprofit also urged lawmakers to prepare for the expiration of a temporary 0.45% state sales tax in mid-2025, as well as a shift in a portion of taxes charged on the sales of new cars and trucks from the general fund to a transportation fund for road and bridge work.

“The latest forecast shows $161 million expected to be steered toward the transportation dedication in the 2023-24 financial year and $325 million a year later,” according to the PAR commentary. “But when the temporary sales tax disappears in the 2025-26 budget year, general fund revenue is forecast to fall to below $10.6 million, a $371 million drop from the upcoming budget year.”

PAR is advocating for an easy-to-navigate website to track the state’s spending of federal funding for the pandemic that shows where lawmakers steered the money and who received the assistance.

A Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) analysis applauded the governor’s proposed pay increases for teachers and college faculty, rate increases for home and community-based services and investment in the M.J. Foster Promise Program to help low- to moderate-income students with community and technical college.

The LBP, however, believes more of the $1.4 billion in federal pandemic funding, $700 million in surplus and $853 in unanticipated revenue could be put to better use. The LBP pointed to a proposed $550 million payment to the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and $1 billion toward highway projects in particular.

“While no one who has driven on Louisiana’s highways disputes the need for transportation upgrades, it should not consume such a massive portion of these discretionary dollars,” LBP Executive Director Jan Moller wrote. "And steering these one-time relief dollars into the unemployment trust fund means prioritizing bosses and corporations over their hard-working staff.”

The LBP would prefer the money go toward addressing the affordable housing crisis, creating a paid sick leave program or bonuses for teachers and retail workers.

“Regular people in Louisiana are still struggling during our long recovery from Covid,” Moller wrote. “The Legislature should take a more balanced approach to investing this year’s windfall: one that centers the people and communities with the greatest need.”

The Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer is also focused on how lawmakers ultimately spend the one-time funds, and he is urging restraint and discipline in the process.

“Now is the time for fiscal responsibility,” Erspamer said. “One-time funds should be spent on one-time expenses. We know what comes after a boom, and the Legislature would be wise to hold the line on spending and continue their work to grow the economy and bring jobs and opportunity back to Louisiana.”

Crawfish weather was great while it lasted

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 7:31am

KENNETH GAUTREAUX, LSU AgCenter

ABBEVILLE — Above-average temperatures in November and December helped Louisiana’s crawfish season get off to a fast start.
Water temperatures in some ponds were as high as 75 degrees at the end of December, which kept newly hatched crawfish active and growing. These weather conditions led to many crawfish reaching market size in late December and early January.
“When the water temperature is jumping between 60 and 70 degrees, that’s optimum for crawfish growth,” said Mark Shirley, an aquaculture agent for the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant.
Unfortunately for crawfish lovers, freezing conditions set in, which will put a damper on the catch until warmer weather returns.
Shirley said some crawfish producers and buyers have told him this year is one of their better starts in the past five years.
Shirley expects this year to be a good season because of the rainy weather through early September while many crawfish were in their late-summer burrows with their young. Wet conditions help both adult and young crawfish survive until their ponds are flooded in September and October.
One of the biggest threats to the crawfish industry is the deadly white spot virus. Because little is known about the virus, AgCenter and Sea Grant researchers have started a research project to learn more about it.
“We don’t know the transmission vectors at this point — whether it’s birds, whether I’s insects or something in the water,” Shirley said. “We haven’t identified how it gets into a pond.”
Haley Gambill is an LSU graduate student involved in collecting field data for the project.
“There’s not a lot of published literature on white spot within crawfish ponds,” Gambill said. “So, this is really one of the first intensive studies to look at white spot within an aquaculture context.”
Gambill said most of the information on white spot is related to shrimp.
Shirley is quick to point out that white spot is only a threat to crustaceans.
“The virus might be present or not present in a sack of crawfish you may boil this weekend,” Shirley said. “It’s not a concern for people. So go ahead and enjoy the crawfish. It doesn’t affect the taste. It doesn’t affect anything else.”
Shirley said one of the telltale signs a pond has been affected is that larger crawfish will die and be found floating on the water. Another sign is the catch will go down significantly in a matter of two or three days.
Louisiana is expected to have nearly 260,000 acres of crawfish ponds across the state producing nearly 150 million pounds of crawfish.

Wheel House for Jan. 28

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 7:25am

SENIOR DANCE
A St. Mary Senior Citizen’s Dance is 7-11 p.m. Feb. 19 at St. Mary Senior Citizen’s Center, 4014 Chennault St., Morgan City. Music by “The Anytime Band.” Tickets $10. Tickets available at the center 10 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday, Feb. 7-18. For info call Alicia Robicheaux, 985-384-2618.

Around Town for Jan. 28

Fri, 01/28/2022 - 7:22am

Happy birthday Charles Pye from family, friends and Zoie.

Dewey qualifies to run for Patterson City Council

Thu, 01/27/2022 - 12:54pm

On Thursday morning, the second day of qualifying for the March 26 election, the first candidate filed to run for an open seat on the Patterson City Council.

Ray Dewey Sr. qualified to run for the unexpired term of Sandra K. Turner, who resigned in July. Tina Johnson has been serving as an interim council member.

Otherwise, the list of qualifiers for St. Mary offices remained unchanged from Wednesday as of midday Thursday:

--Tammie Moore of Jeanerette qualified Wednesday to run for the St. Mary School Board, where she has served as an interim member since October. The election is slated for March 26. She's running to complete the unexpired term of the late Sylvia Lockett.

--In Franklin, Ella Prevost Hamilton qualified Wednesday to run against District C incumbent Larry Guilbeau, who also signed up to run.

The other incumbents who qualified Wednesday are Mayor Eugene Foulcard; at-large member Lester "Motor" Levine Jr.; Jaime B. Robison in District A; Chuck B. Autin in District B; and Joseph H. Garrison in District D.

Patterson voters will also be asked to decide the fate of three proposed charter amendments. One would require the mayor to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Another would set a minimum age of 21 and establish an in-city residency requirement for the police chief as well as require Peace Officer Standards and Training certification.

The third amendment would allow the police chief to receive a pay raise in the same four-year term in which the council approves the increase.

Qualifying runs through Friday.

City, parish authorities arrest four on drug charges

Thu, 01/27/2022 - 12:45pm

Staff Report

(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 and St. Mary Parish authorities made four arrests Wednesday on drug charges, including one of a local man accused of possessing marijuana and cocaine. Deputies also arrested a 17-year-old on a juvenile pornography charge.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 39 call for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
—Barron F. Kenner, 48, Arizona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of marijuana, and on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant alleging failure to appear for trial.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 34 complaints and made these arrests:
—Zada Wiggins, 19, Berwick, was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and failure to obey traffic control. Wiggins was released on a summons to appear April 21.
—Benjamin I. Pittman Jr., 20, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:22 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Pittman was released on a summons to appear April 21.
—Corleen Brown, 38, Houma, was arrested at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of driving under suspension. Brown was released on a summons to appear on April 21, 2022.
—Juvenile Male, 17, Franklin, was arrested at 10:08 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of pornography involving juvenile(s). The boy was released into the custody of a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Curtis Ledrell Williams, 39, Franklin, was arrested at 10:37 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of improper lane usage, reckless operation (no accident), resisting an officer by flight, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug, obstruction of justice (tampering), transaction involving proceeds from a drug offense, battery on a police officer, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone) and resisting an officer.
Bail has not been set.
—Jalen Jones, 19, Franklin, was arrested at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of illegal carrying of a weapon. Jones was released on a $1,000 bond.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 11 complaints over the past 24 hours and made this arrest:
—Kade Daigle, 22, Hamm Street, Franklin, was arrested at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, on a 3rd Ward City Court warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of speeding. Daigle was booked, processed and release on a $300 bond.

Morgan City police seek information in Monday night shooting

Thu, 01/27/2022 - 12:04pm

Chief James F. Blair and the Morgan City Department are seeking assistance from their community partners in identifying suspects in a shooting investigation.

In the late evening hours of Monday, officers with the Morgan City Police Department responded to the area of Chester Bowles in regards to shots being fired. During the investigation, it was learned that four subjects arrived in a dark blue or black Dodge Ram and fired several shots at a residence before fleeing the area.

Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department are looking for information on the identity of the truck along with the suspects involved. Anyone having information about this investigation is asked to contact the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division at 985-380-4605. You can remain anonymous.