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 TROPICAL UPDATE FROM US NWS LAKE CHARLES 7/6/2020 1 PM:

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a small low pressure area
off the southeast Louisiana coast. While it only has a low 20% chance
for development in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico today and tomorrow,
the threat increases to a medium 40% chance off the southeast US coast
later this week.

This system poses no threat for our region.

Roger Erickson
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service
Lake Charles, LA

ST MARY PARISH VIRTUAL HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS MEETING


On Tuesday, May 19th the Port of Morgan City hosted our first Virtual Hurricane
Preparedness Meeting along with NOAA, National Weather Service, St Mary Parish
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, U. S. Coast Guard MSU
Morgan City, St. Mary Levee District, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Mary Parish
President David Hanagriff and St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith. Thanks to all
of you for making this event a success.

U. S. Senator Bill Cassidy joined the meeting to provide a special welcome. Many
thanks to Senator Cassidy for taking time out from his busy schedule to welcome everyone.

We also want to thank everyone who joined in with us. Over 100 people were in attendance.
Presentations and a recording of our Zoom meeting are available on our
Hurricane Info Page on our website.
https://www.portofmc.com/.../a.../news-press/hurricane-info.html

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DRIVE-THROUGH COVID TESTING BEGINS TUESDAY AT MORGAN CITY WALMART

A COVID-19 drive-through testing site will open on Tuesday, June 23, at the drive-through pharmacy
window of the Walmart Neighborhood Market, 1002 La. 70, Morgan City.

The site is supported by Walmart, Quest Diagnostics, and state and local officials. Testing is available
for adults who meets Centers for Disease Control and state and local guidelines on who should be
tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19.
Please note, testing is not available inside Walmart stores.

"Walmart is part of the community, and we are proud to help support the expansion of COVID-19
testing in Morgan City during this time," said Tice White, Walmart public affairs director for Louisiana.
"We are grateful to our pharmacists and associates who are supporting these testing sites, and to
Quest Diagnostics and local officials as we work together to open the site and help our community."

Details regarding the testing site:
—Located at the Walmart Neighborhood Market pharmacy drive-through window at 1002 La., 70,
Morgan City.
—The site is open 8-9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays weekly, weather permitting.
—Testing is for adults who meet CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including
first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19.
—Individuals must be 18 years and older.
—The testing site will require an appointment through Quest's MyQuestTM online portal and app,
www.MyQuestCOVIDTest.com (link is external), which will screen and schedule appointments for those
individuals that meet medical eligibility for the testing sites.
—Once on site, those being tested will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of
eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test
site is not available to those who walk up.
—The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their
own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical volunteer to ensure the sample
is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.
—Quest Diagnostics will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested
and applicable departments of health.
—Any questions regarding testing and appointments, please call Quest's dedicated COVID-19 line at
866-448-7719, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
The site will be staffed by Walmart pharmacists and associates.
—While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow CDC guidelines and take steps
to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.
For information on how Walmart is supporting COVI9-19 Drive-Thru Testing,
visit https://corporate.walmart.com/covid19testing
)

COVID-19 PRESS RELEASE:


LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELEASES 2020-2021 SCHOOL REOPENING GUIDANCE IN CONCERT WITH LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND RESILIENT LOUISIANA COMMISSION
Jun 25, 2020
Guidance outlines how systems can safely serve Louisiana's children amid various phases of COVID-19 pandemic

BATON ROUGE, La. -- In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Resilient Louisiana Commission, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released guidance today for how schools across the state can reopen for the 2020-2021 school year by taking actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

While each district will ultimately decide how schools will operate, the guidelines offer best practices that encourage districts to prepare for three possible reopening scenarios: traditional, hybrid or distance/remote learning. In addition, they explain how health requirements will change based on the three reopening phases. The resource offers an outline for what to expect and how to respond to a COVID-19 positive or presumptive positive case on campus.

"We developed this guidance by engaging experts on the virus - public health officials - and experts on what this guidance looks like when put into practice - school leaders and educators," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. "We understand next year will be a new challenge for all of us as we educate through COVID-19. I have confidence in our collective talents to overcome these challenges. We will depend on each other for innovative ideas, best practices and the promise of a quality education for every child."

Strong Start 2020: Guidelines and Resources for School Reopening (link to the guidelines here) (will open in new tab) is available now on the LDOE website and includes a number of guidelines and best practices for districts including the following:

Bus capacity and student group size
Student symptom monitoring
Face coverings
Food prep and meal service
The LDH memorandum outlines baseline health and safety requirements for schools to follow when reopening facilities to students. The LDOE offers supportive guidance and resources for schools as they implement these health guidelines, as well as best practices for academic instruction. The resource also includes planning templates and reopening checklists for district leaders. The Department will also publish a running list of frequently asked questions and additional best practices on its website.

"Ensuring a strong start for students and educators this fall means equipping school districts with the resources they need to develop a solid reopening strategy," said Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education President Sandy Holloway. "The tools and guidance released today, created in partnership with state health officials, will help school systems expand their existing academic plans to accommodate the operational changes necessitated by COVID-19 and strengthen the foundation for continuous learning going forward."

Collaborative Process
The LDOE and LDH collaborated over the past month to develop these public health guidelines and best practices to support school reopening, building from previously released guidance (will open in new tab) for safely operating summer schools and camps. They earned approval from the Resilient Louisiana Commission and the LDH state health officer and assistant secretary.

The guidelines were developed with input from public health officials, education leaders, and other key stakeholders. That collaboration includes consultation with the Southern Regional Education Board, a superintendent's advisory group of 13 district leaders from across the state, and a 20-member public health response team of medical professionals, public health officials and education leaders.

District and School Supports
Along with the resources released today, schools and districts will have access to additional support. The LDOE previewed the guidance for system leaders yesterday and will offer another similar webinar next week.

The LDOE is also partnering with Children's Hospital New Orleans to offer a hotline and regular town hall webinars for educators. The hotline will be staffed by skilled nurses who can advise school staff on medical questions about students and team members related to COVID-19. School nurses and other school administrators can call 504-837-7760 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In the town hall webinars, experts will discuss topics like COVID-19 transmission basics, preventative measures and sanitation best practices, and additional tips for guideline implementation. There will also be an opportunity for open Q&A. These will be offered every two weeks starting in July. While the hotline and town hall webinars are for education professionals, Children's Hospital New Orleans currently offers online COVID-19 resources for families (will open in new tab) and is developing additional family supports.

This is the latest resource the Department has provided districts to help ensure a Strong Start to the 2020-2021 school year for every student. A suite of resources were released in May, which ranged from diagnostic assessments and mental health supports to services for diverse learners and teacher training.

# # # # # #






NOTICE

Please be advised that Misdemeanor Arraignments scheduled for
Monday, May 18, 2020, at 9:00 am, in Franklin, St. Mary Parish,
Louisiana are being continued. You do not need to appear in court
on Monday, May 18, 2020. Misdemeanor arraignments will be refixed
for Thursday, June 11, 2020. Notice of this new date will be forwarded
to all interested parties by U.S. Mail.

NOT ALL CASES ARE SET FOR THE SAME TIME.

It is important that read the notice of fixing because your notice will have
a specified time for you to appear. Do not appear earlier than 15 minutes
prior to your appearance time because your hearing cannot be taken up
earlier than the time indicated.

Because you will be receiving your notice by mail, it is important that your
address provided on your bail bond, summons or citation be your correct
mailing address. If your address has changed recently, you need to contact
the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court (Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or
phone: 337-828-4100 Ext 200) so that they may assist you in changing your
address for notice purposes. If you do not appear in court because you failed
to provide a valid address for service by mail may result in the issuance
of a warrant for failure to appear or suspension driving privileges.

Be advised that only those persons who have been noticed to appear for
court will be allowed entry. Those accompanying these individuals will be
asked to remain outside of the courthouse. Persons entering the courthouse
are encouraged to wear facemasks and upon entering will be expected to
maintain social distancing while in the courthouse. Your court notice will
include a sheet on this and other courtroom policies.




















FROM ST. MARY PARISH SCHOOLS:

Meals-to-You Program Extended

Posted by District on 4/28/2020

From Ms. Claire Guarisco, Supervisor of Child Nutrition:

The Meals-To-You program has been extended until June 30 for any
student that enrolled during our open enrollment period
(March 26 - March 31).

Parents/guardians with questions or problems with shipping
and/or delivery should email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for assistance. 

FROM ST. MARY PARISH SCHOOLS:
April 24, 2020
RE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

School system personnel have developed plans for completing the school year
and finalizing student grades in response to the governor's extension of school
closures. Throughout the remainder of the school year, students will continue
to complete instructional programs corresponding to their grade level and
course requirements in order to receive credit and meet promotion guidelines.
Traditionally, students were required to attain four quality points as measured
by report card grades, in order to meet promotional standards. Unfortunately,
the extended closure of schools will prevent students from receiving direct
classroom instruction for the final nine weeks grading period and quality points
will be adjusted accordingly. Course passage or promotional guidance will
instead be dictated by the attainment of three quality points as opposed to
the standard four quality points in order to account for school closures.

Parents and students have received instructional packets or assigned high
school course recovery programming that will be used to gauge passage of a
given class or for grade promotion. A May 8th deadline has been set for the
submission of instructional packets in order to provide adequate time for
teacher feedback and supplemental instruction that will support students
in meeting the adjusted passing standards. Schools will be contacting parents
and students to make specific arrangements for instructional packet turn-in
times and teachers will be continuing their communication efforts to answer
questions and support students in the process.

Additionally, schools may set parent conferences via teleconferencing or
phone calls to discuss promotional considerations as the year draws to a close.
The school system is also working to build summer learning opportunities for
students utilizing resources already available including AR360, Edgenuity, and
Clever. As more information is released regarding any adjustments to the
"stay-at-home" order, schools will be announcing schedules for parents and
students to retrieve personal items from classrooms and lockers as well.

Several area high schools have held senior spotlight nights to recognize the
Class of 2020 and preparations for formal graduation ceremonies remain
ongoing as the district awaits announcements on phase one of the state's
re-opening of public areas. Although setting dates for graduation ceremonies
may be tentative, the district anticipates being able to offer more details
very soon











4/17/2020

TERESA T. BAGWELL, Ed. D.
MICHAEL E. TAYLOR SUPERINTENDENT PEARL B. RACK
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT
St. Mary Parish School Board
April 17, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PARISH SCHOOLS TO REMAIN CLOSED

Governor John Bel Edwards has officially proclaimed that schools will stay
closed for the remainder of the academic year. Students in St. Mary will
continue their educational studies through the use of school-issued,
instructional resource packets provided to parents in two prior phases
with an additional phase to be released in the upcoming weeks. The school
district also has an array of online instructional options presented by
grade level on the "Learning at Home" page on the district's website.
Further, K-8 students may log into the online portal, "Clever," to
access various English language arts and math programs as they
would during the normal school day.

Parents can expect frequent communication from schools and
announcements from the district as the school year draws to a close.
An organized release of information will encompass important areas
such as, graduation, promotion, summer programs, etc. and will be
immediately released as decisions are finalized. St. Mary Schools
fully intends to make every effort in sustaining learning for students
throughout this time and will continue to provide resources for
parents in order to fulfill that commitment.

Additionally, immediately upon the governor's statement of presumed
closure, St. Mary officials contacted the "Meals to You" program to
extend the meal delivery deadline to May in order to secure a supply
of breakfast and lunch items through the normal close of school.
The immediacy of this request will place the parish in a position to
support uninterrupted meal delivery services for those who elected
to enroll in the program.

Although the governor's proclamation was anticipated, it is a bittersweet
end to the school year and for students who miss crucial face-to-face
classroom instruction, social time with peers, and the caring stability
that daily school attendance brings. Every teacher, principal, and district
official empathizes with the impact that this necessary closure has on
children albeit crucial to public health, and are devoted to offering students
a mechanism to diagnose and recover essential learning beginning on
the first day of the new school year.






4/14/2020
REPOSTING FROM STMARYK12.NET:

Open Letter from the Superintendent (April 14)
Posted by District on 4/14/2020

From Dr. Teresa Bagwell, Superintendent of St. Mary Parish Schools:

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that schools will remain
closed for the remainder of the academic year. Students in St. Mary
Parish Schools will continue their educational studies through the
use of school-issued instructional resource packets and online
options presented on the Learn-at-Home page on the district's website.

Parents can expect continued communication from schools and
announcements from the district as the school year draws to a
close. Information about important areas such as graduation,
promotion, and summer programs will be immediately released
as decisions are made. St. Mary Parish schools fully intend to make
every effort in sustaining learning for students throughout this time
and will continue to provide resources for parents in order to fulfill
that commitment.



4/9/2020







NEWS RELEASE ON NURSING HOME POSITIVE TEST RESULTS

WE WERE MADE AWARE OF THE RESULTS LATE YESTERDAY
ABOUT RESULTS OF 3 PATIENTS HAD CAME BACK POSITIVE.
WE HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH OUR REGIONAL MEDICAL STAFF.

WE FOUND THAT PROTOCALS ARE IN PLACE WITH THE CDC STANDARDS
AND WILL STAY THAT WAY. WE HAVE CHECKED TO ENSURE THAT THE
NURSING HOME HAS ON HAND PPE SUPPLIES.

OUR REGION HAS 24 OF THE 31 NURSING HOME WITH
POSITIVE PASTIENTS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE ONLY 1 OUT OF 3
NURSING HOMES WITH A POSITIVE.


4/4/2020



4/3/2020
South Central Planning and Development Commission, in an effort to curb the economic effect of federal and state COVID 19 guidelines and closures, is offering small business bridge loans to businesses in the Region. Funding is limited, and we are focusing our efforts on businesses forced to close due to guidelines, current borrowers, and regional referrals.

The application will be available online on Thursday, April 2nd. We ask that you take the time between now and then to gather your paperwork and prepare to upload it as soon as the application becomes available online. A completed application must include the following (to be uploaded with the application):

1. Online application (available Thursday, April 2nd)
2. Most recent 3 years business taxes
3. YTD P&L (and 2019 if you haven't filed taxes yet)
4. Proof of ownership structure
5. For each owner 20% or more:

i. Most recent 3 years personal taxes
ii. Credit authorization (form attached)
iii. Individual profile form (form attached)
iv. Personal financial statement (form attached if needed)
v. Copy of government ID

We are working to assist our Regional small businesses as we lead
up to greater recovery efforts as the COVID 19 disaster progresses.
Offering this bridge loan is a small step in what will hopefully become
a large-scale response as we anticipate working with our State
and Federal partners to participate in future comprehensive recovery
funding related to small business loans. Please note that we are using
our existing loan funds (which are somewhat limited) to offer these
loans, and we do not have the financial backing of the Federal Government.
These loans are not associated with SBA and are NOT forgivable, and
we are unsure as to how this may trigger duplication of benefits related
to SBA loans. They are meant to be a "bridge" to get you to the next phase
of funding.

The following ELIGIBILITY items must be met:

1. In business 3 years evidenced by tax filings
2. No more than 30 employees
3. 600 minimum credit score
4. $25,000 average annual gross revenue over the last 3 years
5. Occupational license (or equivalent)
6. Completed application and supporting documentation (listed above)
7. Other analysis and underwriting to take place internally

Reposting from St. Mary Parish School Board's Website..   www.stmaryk12.net

Meals-to-You Replaces Grab-and-Go
Posted by District on 3/27/2020 10:00:00 AM

St. Mary Parish Schools endeavors to provide food and nutrition to our students
even during this time of emergency school closure. As such, the school system
is announcing a new program that will deliver meals to the doorstep for free.
This program is called Meals-to-You, and it is a partnership between St. Mary
Parish Schools, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Baylor University.

For a family to participate, at least one child in the household must:

attend a CEP School:
Aucoin Elementary
B. Edward Boudreaux Middle
Bayou Vista Elementary
Berwick Elementary
Centerville High
Foster Elementary
Franklin Senior High
Franklin Junior High
Hattie Watts Elementary
LaGrange Elementary
Maitland Elementary
Morgan City High
Morgan City Junior High
Norman Elementary
Patterson High
Patterson Junior High
Raintree Elementary
West St. Mary High
Wyandotte Elementary
OR be designated as free or reduced-priced meals eligible at non-CEP schools
Berwick High
Berwick Junior High

When parents or guardians sign-up for Meals-to-You, every other week they will
receive a Meals-to-You box delivered to their home for each child ages 1-18.
Each box will include 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches/suppers, All foods items
are shelf stable and packaged securely. Contents do not have to be refrigerated
immediately, and a friend or neighbor can retrieve the packages for you if you
are not home at delivery time.

With Meals-to-You, kid-friendly meals are delivered—for FREE—directly to the
family, avoiding extra trips to the grocery store, extra money spent on food,
and extra time planning meals that kids will like. This benefit will NOT affect
any existing benefits.

All parents/ guardians will need to complete an online application form and submit
it by Monday, March 30th. Access to the online form is available at the following link:
https://mealstoyou.org/emergency-meals-to-you-application/.


Meal boxes will be provided on a first come, first served basis, so parents/guardians should
sign up online as quickly as possible.

 

 

 

The United States Army Corp of Engineers is on site at the slide on West Atchafalaya
Basin Levee. They are installing protective measures over the slide area until the water
goes down and they are able to make a permanent repair. This location will be closely
monitored throughout the high-water period and poses no threat to the community.
If you have any questions please call the office at 985.380.5500.

Just a reminder to the public that riding on any levee slope crown or base is a crime and
when caught you will be charged with trespassing to the maximum extent of the law.
The green area represents the only area that motor vehicles are allowed. The areas in
between the red lines are off limits to any type of motorized vehicle. You are allowed
to walk, ride a bicycle or run. Absolutely no vehicles are allowed. We are also asking
the public to stay away from the slide area completely. It is not safe to be walking
around the site. If you are caught on foot near the slide location, you will be charged
with trespassing. This is for your own safety. If you have further questions please call
the office at 985.380.5500. Thank you!

HIGH WATER ADVISORY:

St. Mary Parish OHSEP along with other agencies are currently monitoring
water levels along the Atchafalaya River.

Camp and property owners in flood prone areas need to take action now to
protect and secure property. As the water rises and the current strengthens,
it makes traveling in high water areas more and more dangerous. Don't risk
your life or potentially the lives of others by waiting until the last minute. Also,
remember that anything floating needs to be tied off properly."

Travel is prohibited on all levee roads, crowns, slopes, and bases. Those
trespassing by riding or crossing on levees in areas not designated for public
use are subject to criminal penalties. Any vehicles parked in those areas will
be towed. The St. Mary Levee District will work to protect the integrity of the
levee system.

Because of the higher level of the Atchafalaya River and surrounding waterways,
there is the potential for property damage to occur from wakes caused by boats.
Boaters in areas of high water should slow down. Be mindful of your wake and
the potential damage you could cause.

 

 

 

 

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A Message from the
St. Mary Parish Office
of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness:

Although St Mary Parish has been declared a Major
Disaster area, we have been informed that after
the State and Federal officials completed individual
assessments of the damaged properties, St. Mary
Parish fell short of the criteria used for Federal
Individual Assistance.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (S.B.A)
will be offering low interest disaster loans to those
impacted by Hurricane Barry.


Disaster #:
LA-00093
Effective Date:
7/10/2019
Incident Period:
7/10/2019 through 7/15/2019
Incident:
Hurricane Barry
States Affected:
Louisiana
Counties Eligible:
Primary Counties:
Louisiana
Allen, Avoyelles, Saint Mary
Contiguous Counties:
Louisiana
Assumption, Beauregard, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline,
Iberia, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Pointe Coupee, Rapides,
Saint Landry, Saint Martin, Terrebonne, Vernon, West Feliciana



APPLY AT: www.sba.gov
Call: 1-800-659-2955

 

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PUBLIC NOTICE:
St. Mary Parish Government has debris removal crews working along
the roads and streets in the unincorporated areas of the Parish. It is
anticipated that they will make at least two passes along the roads
and streets during the next few weeks in order get all of the debris
from Hurricane Barry removed. Please place the hurricane debris
along the shoulder of the road/street. St. Mary Parish thanks you
for your patience and cooperation in this endeavor. Citizens from
across the parish may also bring their own debris to the West End
Pick-Up Station in Franklin and to the Harold J. 'Baba' Landry
Landfill in Berwick. Regular operating hours are 7:00 a.m. to
4:45 p.m., Monday thru Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday; however, for the next couple of weeks
these facilities will be open extended hours daily until 7:00 p.m.
. You may call the Pick-Up station to confirm its hours at
337-828-4100, ext. 114 and the Landfill at 985-385-4531.
If you live within the corporate limits of Morgan City, Berwick,
Patterson, Franklin or Baldwin, please contact the respective
city hall for information concerning debris removal within
the municipalities.

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NOTIFICATION FROM AMERICAN REDCROSS  7/19/19:

The Disaster Assessment teams are in your parish today.
Here is some information that may be helpful:
• As our teams survey the affected areas, this data is being
transmitted to our DA team at HQ, located in Baton Rouge.
We should have information for you regarding numbers/percentage
complete/etc. beginning tomorrow.
• This real time data is used to determine the number of "strike teams"
assigned to St. Mary Parish. These "strike teams" are multi-disciplinary
teams that include members skilled in Casework, Health Services/Mental
Health Services, and Supply Distribution.
• Strike Teams focus will first focus on the destroyed homes and
those with Major Damage. These teams will be able to distribute
emergency supplies, provide critical financial assistance as indicated
and connect families with local resources.
• Should persons call your office in need of help due to the storm,
please ask them to call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767)

 

 

 

 

Go to this link for St Mary Parish School updates:



https://www.stmaryk12.net

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The ALERT FM app is now available for iPhone and Android devices.
Below are the links that go directly to the ALERT FM app.

iOS: https://imap.tv/2k
Android: goo.gl/qwQyU

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River Stages Lower Mississippi River Forecast Real-Time Streamflow Saltwater Tides Navagation Conditions Tidal Station National Weather Service weather.gov