YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA thelafourchegazette.com
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019
Retiree checks to rise modestly amid push to expand benefits By RICARDO ALONSOZALDIVAR Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of retirees will get a modest 1.6% costof-living increase from Social Security in 2020, an uptick with potential political consequences in an election year when Democrats are pushing more generous inflation protection. The increase amounts to $24 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released recently by the Social Security Administration. Following a significant boost this year, the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2020 reverts to its pattern of moderate gains. But seniors and advocates complain that the inflation yardstick used to determine the annual adjustment doesn’t adequately re-
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
Early voting for Nov. 16 election begins Saturday
Early voting will be conducted at the Lafourche Parish Registrar of Voters Office, 307 West 4th Street, Thibodaux; at the Lafourche Parish Registrar of Voters Galliano Branch Office, 16241 E. Main Street, Suite B-23, Galliano; and at the new Early Voting Site at 4876 Hwy. 1, Mathews, from Saturday, Nov. 2 to Saturday, Nov. 9. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Voters will decide on several key races, most importantly, who will lead Louisiana for the next four years, current Governor John Bel Edwards, Democrat, or challenger Eddie Rispone, Republican. For the office of Secretary of State vot-
ers will decide between incumbent Kyle Ardoin, Republican, or “Gwen” Collins-Greenup, Democrat. Lafourche Parish residents will also be electing a new judge for the 17th Judicial District, Division C. Voters will decide between either Marla Abel, Republican or Rene C. Gautreaux, Independent. Judge Walt Lanier vacated the seat after being elected to the state appellate court. For the parish president seat, voters will decide between Archie Chaisson, III, Republican, or Luci Sposito, Republican. Voters in Recreation District No. 8 will also decide on a 9.96 mills property tax
MONDAY, NOV. 4
LADY OF THE SEA Board of Commissioners 12-Noon The Learning Center 200 W. 134th Place
WED., NOV. 6
LAFOURCHE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD 7:00 p.m. 805 E. 7th St. - Thibodaux LAF. FIRE DISTRICT #9 6:30 p.m. 2273 Hwy. 654 - Gheens
INSIDE
Arrests.........................5-B Bid Notice....................6-B Calendar of Events.....2-A
Classifieds....................4-B Engagements..............3-A Legal Advertisement...6-B
Lottery.........................2-A New In Brief................6-A
Sports.........................1-B
Jasmine Bouvier
Golden Meadow couple arrested for Child Cruelty; Victim in critical condition
MEETINGS
TUESDAY, NOV. 5
on all the property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $65,548 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year) for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2020 and ending with the year 2029, for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, improving, maintaining and operating recreational facilities for the District. To view your ballot, visit www.geauxvote.com. For any additional information, call 985-447-3256.
Dustin Naquin
See Raise Page 5-A
TOWN OF GOLDEN MEADOW 7:00 p.m. 107 Jervis Dr. - G.M.
VOLUME 54 NUMBER 8
Lafourche unites against domestic abuse
Aggie Thibodaux selects a stone during last Thursday’s domestic violence vigil in Raceland. The stones symbolize a stone that’s tossed into a bayou that creates a ripple effect for change. Dan Copp
By Dan Copp, Daily Comet Staff Writer
Pam Guedry-Lee compared domestic abuse to a stone tossed into a bayou. Like the rock, domestic violence creates a ripple effect, she said. “Domestic violence impacts our children, friends, family and co-workers,” Guedry-Lee said to attendees who gathered in Raceland last Thursday night in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, The Haven, the Lafourche District Attorney’s Office and PACT Place Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchange Center hosted the event. The annual vigil honors those who have experienced domestic violence and seeks to provide hope to those who are still suffering from it. Guedry-Lee, the PACT Place coordinator, said a child growing up in a home
with an abusive father is statistically more likely to become an abuser as well. “That is the ripple effect of domestic violence,” she said. Just in 2018 alone, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office answered 1,555 domestic violence-related calls, officials said. There were also 364 protective orders issued for victims last year in the parish. However, hope is far from lost, Sheriff Craig Webre said. The sheriff told attendees that his office is combating domestic abuse by providing resources for victims and holding perpetrators accountable. “I stand before you tonight confident, hopeful and committed,” Webre said. “I’m confident that we as a criminal justice system have made great strides in preventing domestic violence and holding offenders accountable and See Abuse Page 9-A
A Golden Meadow couple has been arrested for cruelty to a juvenile as the victim remains in critical condition. Dustin Naquin, 29, and Jasmine Bouvier, 24, have been charged with Second Degree Cruelty to a Juvenile. On Tuesday, October 22, detectives began investigating the couple after they brought a preschool-aged child to the hospital with injuries consistent with recurring child abuse. The most significant of those injuries was a broken arm and bleeding on the brain in two places. The child also had multiple bruises and other injuries across his entire body. The child remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. See Arrest Page 9-A
Thibodaux Regional Health System breaks ground on state-of-the-art Cancer Institute
Thibodaux, LA, – Thibodaux Regional Health System broke ground on a new four story, 80,000 square foot cancer care facility last week. Hospital staff, physicians, cancer survivors, patients, local and state elected officials, business leaders and community members gathered for the official ceremony. See TRHS Page 9-A