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Early voting on tax issues ends Saturday

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 11:21am

Early voting for the Nov. 13 election will continue through Saturday.

Early voting will be 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Registered voters may vote early at either the Parish Courthouse in Franklin or the Registrar of Voters Office, 301 Third St., Morgan City, regardless of where they live in the parish.

The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot is Nov. 9, other than military or overseas.

On the ballot:

—Voters will decide whether to continue paying a property tax for the St. Mary Parish School Board for 10 years. The ballot measure is labeled Consolidated School District No. 5, but the proposition will appear on ballots parishwide.

The tax is 11.82 mills, up from the current 11.18 after reassessment to keep the revenue at the same level.

Its purpose is to support education “by providing funds for salary obligations and educational management, advancement and enrichment …,” according to the ballot language.

—Recreation District No. 2 in the Siracusaville area has two propositions on the ballot for district residents.

The first is renewal of an existing 13.34-mill tax collected “for the purpose of maintaining, operating and improving recreational facilities in the District. …”

The renewal is for 10 years starting in 2022.

The second proposition authorizes a bond issue of up to $2.55 million at an interest rate up to 6%.

Plans for the money include a walking trail, replacing 25-year-old playground equipment at the district’s park and, maybe, a new roof for the recreation building, said Leroy Trim of the Recreation District No. 2 board.

Passage of the bond issue would not increase taxes.

—Recreation District No. 4 in the Patterson area is seeking a 10-year renewal of a 2.24-mill tax for “the purpose of maintaining, operating and improving recreational facilities in the District. …”

Voters rejected a previous attempt to renew the tax, so board members are trying to send the message that the tax bill is small and is not a new tax.

—Water and Sewer Commission No. 2 in the Bayou Vista area hopes to renew the current 11-mill property tax “for the purpose of constructing and acquiring improvements and extensions to the water works systems and sewerage systems and related facilities of the Commission and operating and maintaining said systems. …”

Four amendments to the Louisiana Constitution are also on the ballot. Click here to find out more about the proposed amendments.

Morgan City police make burglary, domestic abuse arrests

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 10:26am

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 police reported arrests Thursday on burglary and domestic abuse charges.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 44 calls for service within the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
—Saul Xavier Garcilazo, 22, Todd Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:32 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging domestic abuse battery (strangulation).
—Fredrick Calloway, 18, Susan Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 8 p.m. Thursday on charges of simple burglary, un-authorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of tobacco by a person under 21.
—Honey Rose Donati, 38, Second Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Thursday on a 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrant alleging failure to appear for arraignment Aug. 2.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 33 complaints and reported this arrest:
—Herman Ross, 58, Gray, was arrested at 3:08 p.m. Thursday by the Narcotics Section on charges of brake light out, speeding and no driver’s license. Ross was released on a summons to appear Feb. 3.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the past 24 hours and made this arrest:
—Bernard Babino, 47, Ninth Street, Franklin, was booked Thursday on a war-rant dated Nov. 2 alleging stalking and second-degree battery. He was already incarcerated at the Franklin Police Department. Babino was booked, processed and held on a $40,000 bond.

Morgan City police radio logs for Nov. 3-4

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 10:24am

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, Nov. 3
6:07 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
8:45 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
9:14 a.m. 100 block of Eleventh Street; Animal complaint.
9:36 a.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
10:47 a.m. 200 block of Ann Street; Complaint.
10:50 a.m. 400 block of Brashear Avenue; Welfare concern.
11:03 a.m. Justa Street; Animal complaint.
12:58 p.m. 6800 block of La. 182; Arrest.
1:39 p.m. Marguerite Street; Stalled vehicle.
1:58 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Crash.
2:12 p.m. 500 block of General McArthur Street; Complaint.
3:29 p.m. 600 block of Shannon Street; Complaint.
3:36 p.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Alarm.
4:09 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
5:18 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Crash.
7:23 p.m. Area Aycock Street; Stalled vehicle.
8:08 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Traffic stop/arrest.
8:37 p.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Drunk/arrest.
8:43 p.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Juvenile problems.
9:33 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Animal complaint.
10:54 p.m. 700 block of Freret Street; Alarm.
11:19 p.m. 600 block of Michigan Street; Complaint.
Thursday, Nov. 4
12:45 a.m. 400 block of First Street; Medical.
4:03 a.m. Area Front and Onstead streets; Complaint.
4:09 a.m. 1800 block of McDermott Drive; Medical/death.
6:38 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Alarm.
7:38 a.m. 1600 block of Walnut Drive; Complaint.
10:20 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Complaint.
10:54 a.m. 1800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
11:01 a.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Complaint.
11:34 a.m. 1100 block of General Clark Street; Lost and found.
11:58 a.m. La. 182; Traffic incident.
12:29 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Juvenile complaint.
12:35 p.m. La. 182; Stalled vehicle.
1:19 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Com-plaint.
1:41 p.m. 500 block of Franklin Street; Com-plaint.
3:12 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Welfare concern.
3:26 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Disturbance.
3:58 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
4:19 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
5:05 p.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Patrol.
5:57 p.m. 900 block of David Drive; Hit and run.
5:57 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:01 p.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
7:11 p.m. 500 block of Aucoin Street; Fire.
7:40 p.m. 1500 block of Sixth Street; Vehicle theft/arrest.
9:28 p.m. 400 block of Canton Street; Inmate transport/arrest.
10:28 p.m. Area Park Drive; Complaint.
11:39 p.m. Area U.S. 90 West; Reckless driver.

John Flores: Waterfowl season preview -- what you see is what you get

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:50am

JOHN FLORES

For the past two years, due to COVID-19 and its family of variants, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey has been canceled. The survey, which up until last year was conducted every year since 1955, is the most definitive wildlife study conducted in the world. Its information, when compiled, becomes the vital framework that flyway biologists use to set seasons and manage waterfowl in the United States and Canada.
In 1995 the USF&WS established Adaptive Harvest Management, which became the structure for decision making when it came to setting flyway-specific seasons, bag limits and dates.
AHM took into consideration four uncertainties across the landscape when regulating waterfowl harvest. Those four things were environmental variation, partial controllability, partial observability, and structural uncertainty.
The annual change in pond numbers would be an example of environmental variation. Hunter participation, weather conditions, and timing of the migration are things that relate to partial controllability. Estimating accurately waterfowl populations is the key to partial observability.
Structural uncertainty is trying to understand whether duck harvest is additive to other sources of waterfowl mortality or do populations compensate for the hunting losses. This uncertainty is perhaps the most debatable of the four inputs to AHM.
Ultimately, what all this science and jargon boils down to is whether waterfowl hunters will see a restrictive, moderate, or liberal season.
For the past 27 years, including this year, Louisiana duck hunters have had liberal 60-day seasons with 6 duck bag limits.
You only have to go back one year to realize something is wrong. A year ago, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries aerial survey estimated 855,000 ducks, which was the lowest November estimate since the survey began in 1969.
This week I reached out to my waterfowl hunting friends on Facebook asking them what they are seeing duck-wise. Waterfowl season opens Saturday for youth and veterans only in the West Zone, which encompasses much of coastal Louisiana, including St. Mary Parish.
There was nothing scientific about my request. I knew it would be all anecdotal. But, I felt it would be interesting to know what the guys were seeing leading up to the opener and how it will compare to the LDWF aerial survey, when it’s flown next week.
Bill Lake of Houma said, “No ducks on my lease!”
Hunter Andras of Chackbay said, “Comparable numbers to last year, which isn’t the greatest.”
Bubba Charpentier of Franklin said, “I saw a few flocks of ducks flying around Indian Creek this past week. Too far to tell what they were, but I think it was probably some divers.”
Brent Sawyer of Jennings said, “Good numbers of ducks in isolated places in southwest Louisiana. Some geese in the area. Again, isolated locations.”
Ty Barbier of Thibodaux said, “Marshes north of Venice holding substantial amounts of birds. Mostly Blue-winged Teal — big birds definitely starting to show up.”
Dale Bordelon of Avoyelles Parish said, “Saw several bunches while brushing duck blinds last Saturday.”
Mike Hepler of Morgan City said, “I’d bet a lot of money we ain’t gonna kill much this season. Lowest numbers I’ve ever seen in our area. But, it may work out good for us and kill the pressure.”
Aaron Snatic of Elizabeth said, “Saw two small flocks of specks and heard a group of high snows on Saturday when finishing up work on blind in Central Louisiana.”
Jeff Benhard of Palmetto said, “Specks are definitely moving into south Louisiana. I hear them every night and have seen quite a few between Crowley and Creole.”
Jack Cousin of Gueydan said, “We’re starting to see some geese for sure and we still have a lot of rice that hasn’t been cut yet. Duck-wise we still have some Blue Winged Teal around and some Mottled Ducks. We’ll see what it’s going to be like this weekend when the goose season opens.”
This was just a sample of my anecdotal Facebook survey. Essentially, it doesn’t reflect anything that would make you want to run out and buy a few extra boxes of steel shot.
What’s interesting is the early teal season back in September was pretty darn good across the state for both private and public land duck hunters. But, Blue Winged Teal are a species, along with Northern Shovelers that migrate early and seem to move when the days start getting shorter.
The biggest concern this year isn’t biologists making flyway decisions based essentially on “no data” the last two years, it’s the severe drought up on the prairie pothole regions of the upper Midwest and Canada.
The “Late-Summer 2021 Waterfowl Production Outlook,” prepared by Ducks Unlimited, stated the prairie pothole country of southwestern Manitoba remained in the grips of severe drought, with many wetlands showing exposed mudflats completely dry. For north-central U.S. the outlook stated wetland conditions continued to deteriorate across the Great Plains states, with much of the eastern Dakotas and northeastern Montana experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.
Other regions in the outlook reportedly were fair or marginal with some duck production expected. Nonetheless, there is a reason the prairie pothole is called the “duck factory.”
Every duck hunter knows what’s happening on the prairie with respect to farming practices and the impact that ethanol has had, where farmers are no longer applying for Conservation Reserve Program grants. They also know that winters, due to climate change, have been less severe.
Essentially, ducks and geese are obligate species and where there’s available food, open water, and little pressure, they aren’t in any hurry to migrate further south.
The question is, why is the USF&WS setting yet another liberal duck season during severe drought and two years of little to no data?
With low duck production this year, every hen that is shot during the 60-day 6 duck liberal season will mean one less bird returning to the breeding grounds next year.
What’s more, no one knows how long the current drought is going to last.
It may be time for the USF&WS to evaluate how they’ve been managing waterfowl. But, for the upcoming season, what duck hunters see is in all likelihood what they’re going to get.

Wheel House for Nov. 5

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:46am

CHRISTMAS BIKE
Ride at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Morey Park, Patterson. Sponsored by City of Patterson.

CANCER SCREENING
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center offering colorectal and prostate cancer screenings 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Skinner’s Barbershop, 1001 Railroad Ave., Morgan City. Appointments and masks required. Free if you have not been screened in 12 months. Colorectal screening consists of distribution of home colorectal kit for stool collection and mailing. For info or an appointment, call 985-239-5739.

Around Town for Nov. 5

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:45am

Happy birthday Tyrone Green, happy birthday Saturday to Donnie Joseph and Edna Clark, and belated happy birthday Mary Cabiness and Chalon Maize from family, friends and Ira.

ROY PAUL ARCENEAUX JR.

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:43am

July 11, 1962 — November 2, 2021
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
Roy Paul Arceneaux, Jr., 59, of Gibson, Louisiana, passed away at his home after a long journey with cancer on November 2, 2021.
He was born on July 11, 1962 to parents, Roy Arceneaux Sr. and Eula Mae Bailey Arceneaux of Gibson, Louisiana. He graduated from H.L. Bourgeois High School and spent a number of years working throughout the country in the oil industry. Besides spending time with family and friends, he was an avid reader and Western movie fan.
Roy was predeceased by his paternal and maternal grandparents and his brother, Jeremy Arceneaux. He is survived by his parents, brother, Carl Arceneaux and wife (Gina), sisters, Tammie Kirby and husband (Mike) and Cherie Pinac and husband (Gillis) and grandmother, Alma Glavin and several nephews and nieces and family and friends.
A private family burial service will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery on Friday, November 5, 2021. The family wishes to thank Heart of Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

JANICE KAYE ARDOIN

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:41am

Janice Kaye Ardoin, 68, a native of Mamou and resident of Berwick, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, at her residence.
She is survived by two sons, Shane Leonard of Berwick and Chad LeJeune Sr. of Arnaudville; five grandchildren; and four sisters, Margretta Haas of League City, Texas, Deanna Daigle of Labadieville, Susan Ardoin of St. Marys, Georgia and Brenda LeBlanc of Houma.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Graveside services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jeremy Alford: La. Democrats reach out to new voters

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:26am

JEREMY ALFORD

Republicans have enjoyed a hot streak in Louisiana, capturing most of our statewide and federal offices and tipping the scales in elected bodies like the Legislature. Democrats, meanwhile, take comfort in having a bench of marketable mayors and a governor with national sway.
Few politicos, however, would call Louisiana a Democratic-leaning state. For a while, consultants and talking heads said our home was more a shade of purple — not quite red and not quite blue. That’s another description few politicos would embrace these days.
So what should Dems do in the current political environment? The leadership of the Louisiana Democratic Party believes voter registration could be the key to building for the future, as long as it’s married to improved outreach, candidate recruitment and other activities.
These were among the topics discussed this past weekend when the party leadership presented its strategic plan to the Democratic State Central Committee.
That gathering was the first time Chairwoman Katie Bernhardt, who was elected last year, publicly discussed the blueprint that will guide the party through the 2022 and 2023 election cycles.
While the focus will naturally be on winning elections, the “Flip the Boot Blue” plan wasn’t sold to DSCC members as a cure-all. Instead, the strategic blueprint was presented as a dependable model that could help Democrats recruit and support candidates while locating new voters in a fashion “that’s more precise than ever.”
The key to the new plan will be identifying persuadable voters who either aren’t registered, aren’t hearing the right messaging or are being overlooked by campaigns for a variety of reasons.
In an interview last week, Bernhardt said the party will target 900 precincts using tens of thousands of data points in the hopes of reaching more than 150,000 unregistered Democratic voters.
Using in-house mapping technology, the party plans to engage these new voters with canvassing, text messaging, direct mail, email and other tactics.
In a state with a 92% voter registration, according to the Secretary of State’s office, the objectives are lofty — but not impossible, party diehards contend.
“Why would campaigns and donors want to work with the party on something like this?” asked Bernhardt. “It’s because our mission is to empower our partner organizations. What’s really different about this, though, is we’re inviting a new level of accountability. Our goals will be measurable. There will be measurable data points. There will be data that anyone can look at to see our progress.”
Registration efforts will begin immediately, but the party will have to raise roughly $500,000 to get the program ready for the 2022 elections. Bernhardt said there are several pots of grant monies available though the Democratic National Committee for the program. Donors will be approached as well.
“If funding is the first step, hiring a field director will be the second,” said Bernhardt.
Party officials believe the new plan has a number of built-in fundraising benefits. Bernhardt said donors will find comfort in the program’s ability to target not only precincts, but households. Each decision will be made with a certain number of voters in mind. “Over the long run, this will diminish time wasted and better maximize our resources,” she added.
The “Flip the Boot Blue” plan prioritizes parishes in tiers based on how influenceable they might be.
These are parishes where the Democratic votes are heavy, or where former President Donald Trump underperformed and Gov. John Bel Edwards won in 2019.
The lower the tier number, the higher the value. Places like Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport are classified as Tier One, for example.
So is Jefferson Parish. “Jefferson is a real indication of where we can focus our attention in the future,” Bernhardt said. “We’ve studied what happened in Georgia and there are some similar trends. We’ve seen much higher turnout in Jefferson Parish lately for our candidates. The Census data really points to some changes there.”
The plan has many tentacles, from investing in candidates in new ways and communicating with no party voters to increasing turnout and building upon each and every campaign, win or lose.
Volunteers will also be needed and Bernhardt has rechartered the Young Democrats organization, which is specifically for high school students.
While there’s work underway to help organize college campuses through College Democrats, the party is also building out an arm of its strategic plan to target high school seniors.
Not to be outdone, Republicans are bankrolling similar efforts in Louisiana. In fact, Republicans have found great success in recent years in registering new voters and recruiting first-time candidates.
Whether Democrats can do the same in the Bayou State remains to be seen.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www. LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter @ LaPoliticsNow.

Full Blast Horseshoe Tournament

Fri, 11/05/2021 - 9:20am

Oct. 23 at Kemper Williams Park

Class A: First place, Pat Pertuit (tournament champion), Marrero, 5-1, 47.9 ringer percentage; second place, Al Dodson, Morgan City, 4-2, 47.1; and third place, Wanda Lantz, Marrero, 2-3, 42.0.
Pertuit defeated Dodson in a 40-shoe playoff after being tied in regulation.

Cl;ass B: First, Mary Begnaud, Lacassine, 5-0, 41.0; second, Louis Gaudet, Lake Charles, 3-2, 33.0; and third, Ricky Richard, Church Point, 3-2, 33.0.

Class C: First, Jimmy Caillouet, Houma, 4-1, 15.5; second, Travis Bourdier, Patterson, 3-2, 17.0; and third, Randy Giroir, Berwick, 3-2, 24.5.

Class D: First, Bobbie Richard, Church Point, 5-0, 21.9; second, Hilton Rhodes, Bayou Vista, 4-1, 14.4; and third, Clay Weaver, Lacassine, 3-2, 9.4.

Class E: First, Joe Primeaux, Broussard, 4-1, 8.8; second, Matthew Strickland, Morgan City, 3-2, 7.5; and third, Charles Benoit, Lake Arthur, 3-2, 1.9.bhyy