YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA thelafourchegazette.com
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
Sunday, May 7, 2017
Judge: Suspect in two murders unfit to stand trial
A Thibodaux judge has ruled Dayton Duet that a Golden Meadow W man accused of killing two south Lafourche residents — one with an ax — is unfit to stand trial. Dayton Duet, 20, was arrested Nov. 8 and is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in See Suspect Page 5-A
MEETINGS MONDAY, MAY 8
LAF. REC. DIST. #8 7:00 p.m. Gheens Community Center 1783 Hwy. 654 - Gheens
SO. LAF. LEVEE DISTRICT 3:00 p.m. 17904 Hwy. 3235 - Galliano AMERICAN LEGION #259 6:30 p.m. Golden Meadow
LAF. PORT COMMISSION Committee Meetings 6:00 p.m. 16829 E. Main - Galliano SOUTH LAF. QUILTERS 6:00 p.m. Larose Civic Center TUESDAY,MAY 9
LAF. PARISH COUNCIL 5:00 p.m. 4876 Hwy. - Mathews LAFOURCHE LODGE 7:30 p.m. 6542 W. Main - Cut Off
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Lafourche schools to cut positions
Blessings for a bountiful harvest …
Y
By Bridget Mire Daily Comet Staff Writer
VOLUME 28 NUMBER 36
By Garrett Ohlmeyer Daily Comet Staff Writer
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After nearly an hour of emotional testimonies from concerned resiV S MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINEdents, • LAROSE teachers, principals and stuC • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE dents, the Lafourche Parish School Board on Wednesday night voted to reduce school district personnel. The 11-2 vote came after voters on Saturday rejected a one-cent sales tax increase that would have boosted school worker salaries. Proponents said the tax would help the parish’s teacher salaries comPhoto by Babs pete with Terrebonne’s and other surFr. Henry Sebastian, pastor at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Golden Meadow, rounding parishes. Opponents, including the Chambers of Commerce, says a prayer before the 101st Annual Blessing of the Fleet last weekend. said sales taxes are already too high in Boats decorated with flags passed in Bayou Lafourche as Sebastian sprinkled them with holy the parish and claimed the increase water praying for a safe and prosperous shrimp season, which opens Monday at 6 a.m. would hurt business. Our Lady of Prompt Succor’s Blessing of the Fleet is the oldest consecutively held boat blessing The board’s response to the vote on the Gulf Coast. was to cut costs by eliminating positions, including teachers, assistant principals, librarians and others. School Board members Brooke Huddleston and Calvin Duet voted against the reduction in force. “We basically have a grocery cart with $15 worth of groceries in it and we have $12 in our pocket right now,” said board member Gregg Stall. “We’re going to have to put some stuff By MELINDA DESLATTE GOP House leaders crafted a proposal for the Associated Press back. It’s a terrible analogy, but financial year beginning July 1 that fully fisomething has to be done.” nances the TOPS college tuition program by cutEditor’s note: The following budget update from the Jo Ann Matthews, superintendent ting health services for the poor and that spends Louisiana Legislative session is as of press time Friday. of Lafourche Parish schools, said $235 million less in state tax dollars than the Things may change as the session continues. budget cuts have happened before, state treasury is projected to receive. and the board will do everything it BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administracan to make sure the school system in the Louisiana House voted Thursday tion and Democratic lawmakers say the survives. for a nearly $29 billion state operating smaller spending proposal is irresponsi“We will make sure our children budget that spurns the approach sought ble and heartless, forcing unnecessary are taken care of,” Matthews said. by the Democratic governor in favor of a reductions across agencies. “Before, we’ve had a budget cut, and scaled-back plan devised by Republicans “Their budget guts health care, chilwe will do it, even in a time of crisis.” to spend less money than available. dren’s services and veteran services to The cuts are projected to save the The 63-40 vote came after more levels that endanger the health and weldistrict nearly $6 million in its general than five hours of debate and largely fell fare of the people of Louisiana,” Edfund. along partisan lines, with Republicans wards said in a statement. supporting the spending plan and DeSee Budget Page 3-A See Schools Page 5-A mocrats opposed.
Scaled-back $29B budget wins support from Louisiana House
S.L. BEACHFRONT DEV. 6:00 p.m. South Lafourche Library 16241 E. Main - Galliano
AMERICAN LEGION #315 7:00 p.m. Hwy. 308 - Galliano
LAF. PORT COMMISSION Board Meeting 10:30 a.m. 16829 E. Main - Galliano LAF. ANIMAL SHELTER 6:00 p.m. President’s Conf. Room NSU Picciola Hall
INSIDE
Arrests.............................5-A Calendar of Events.........2-A Classifieds......................4-A
Horoscopes.....................5-A
Lottery.............................2-A News In Brief...................3-A Obituaries........................4-A
Worship Directory............6-A
Phone scams: Educate yourself and avoid becoming a victim
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre urges residents to become familiar with signs of a phone scam to avoid becoming a victim. While phone scams are most common, these scams can also take other forms such as over email. “As technology improves, con artists are finding it easier to initiate phone scams on unsuspecting individuals,” said Sheriff Webre. There are some steps you can take to ensure you don’t become a victim. It’s important to know the signs of a potential scam and share these with friends and family.” Sheriff Webre offered these examples as signs of a probable scam: You’re told to send money to receive money or prizes. You’re told to send payment “immediately” via prepaid debit card or electronic money order for any reason. The caller uses threatening, offensive, or vulgar language. See Scams Page 5-A
Sanderson Farms
7114 Hwy. 1 - Lockport 13086 Hwy. 3235 - Larose 2113 S. Alex Plaisance Blvd. - G.M. Prices Good Through Tuesday, May 9
Split Chicken Breast ¢
Lb.
.99
Family Pack
Boneless
Ribeye Steaks
7
$ 99
Lb.
Family Pack Bone In
Center Cut
Pork Chops
1
$ 99
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The Golden Meadow Knights of Columbus Council 9000 will be holding their 28th annual Kajun Coon Crawfish Boil fundraiser at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church’s LaSalette Center in Golden Meadow on Saturday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. For a donation of $25 per person, receive all the boiled crawfish and drinks you can consume, including beer. Ticket sales are limited to 400 tickets and must be purchased by May 9. For more info or for tickets, contact any KC Council 9000 member or Dale Terrebonne at (985) 475-7780 or (985) 691-7768, or Mike Callais at (985) 677-6453.
Betty Crocker
Market Fresh
Ground Chuck
2
$ 49
Lb.
Gallon LouAna
Chicken, Hamburger, Vegetable Chopped Ham or or Tuna Oil Lunchmeat Helper
10For$10
5
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Hormel Deli Sliced
3
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Lb.
Delicious, Deli Fresh
Chicken Salad
5
$ 99
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