News Releases - September, 2008

Man arrested after allegedly trying to cut off neighbor’s head with 4-foot metal sword Sep 30, 2008 - A Chalmette man was booked with aggravated assault on Sunday night, Sept. 28, for allegedly trying to hit a neighbor and cut off his head with a 4-foot metal sword during an altercation, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.   Leslie Wilson, 57, of Chalmette, booked with aggravated assault for allegedly trying to cut a neighbor's head off with a sword No one was injured. Leslie Wilson, 57, 4019 Jupiter Drive, acknowledged to sheriff’s deputies he tried to go after neighbor Albert Estopinal III, 32, 4021 Jupiter, with the intent of cutting his head off, saying Estopinal threatened him first, the sheriff said. Both Wilson and Estopinal were booked with disturbing the peace in the 8 p.m. incident on Jupiter Drive near the corner of Atreus Street. Wilson was also booked with attempted simple escape by somehow getting out and walking away from the sheriff’s car he had been placed inside, while handcuffed, but was immediately stopped and put back in the vehicle. Estopinal also was booked on an outstanding arrest warrant charging him with felony theft over $500. Both are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison; Wilson on bond of $13,500 and Estopinal on bond of $11,000. A sheriff’s deputy recovered he sword, which he said he saw through an open door was on the living room floor of Wilson’s residence, Sheriff Stephens said. Estopinal told deputies he went to Wilson’s residence to confront him over something and they got into a physical altercation, at which time Estopinal said Wilson broke free, ran into Wilson’s residence, and came out with the sword, the sheriff said. Wilson followed Estopinal to the street where Wilson allegedly swung the sword at the man, who dodged the attempted strikes by jumping away, Sheriff Stephens said. The sheriff said the men were still outside when deputies arrived but the sword was gone, soon recovered in Wilson’s residence. Wilson’s wife, Helen Wilson, told deputies her husband went after Estopinal with the sword as a means of protecting her, the sheriff said, but the woman was inside during the incident. St. Bernard Sheriff's Office asks for public's help in finding juvenile runaway who is without her medication   Kaylynn Nasworthy, 14-year-old runaway in St. Bernard Parish Sep 29, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish authorities are asking the public’s help in finding a 14-year-old girl who has apparently run away from home, leaving her medication for hypoglycemia, which she hasn’t taken since before her mother last saw her on Friday, Sept. 26, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Anyone who has seen Kaylynn Nasworthy of Meraux is asked to call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501. Her mother said the girl disappeared the night of the 26th and hasn’t been seen since. A friend of the teen-ager said the girl called her to say she was at a residence but didn’t know where she was, Sheriff Stephens said. The 14-year-old is about 5-4, weighs about 100 pounds and has shoulder length auburn hair, authorities said. Man gets 22-year prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute cocaine Sep 26, 2008 - A 22-year prison sentence has been given a New Orleans man who was part of a narcotics trafficking network that distributed multi-pounds of cocaine until dismantled by St. Bernard Parish and federal law enforcement agencies over a 3-year period.   Vernon Cook, given 22-year prison sentence for cocaine trafficking in St. Bernard Parish Vernon Cook, 37, jailed since February 2007 when he was arrested in St. Bernard, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 23, to possession with intent to distribute 4.5 ounces of cocaine. The cocaine had a street value of about $1,500 an ounce. State District Judge Wayne Cresap sentenced Cook, formerly a St. Bernard resident, to 22 years in prison after his guilty plea, an unusually long sentence. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens, who has stressed  enforcement of narcotics laws is a cornerstone in preventing murders over the drug trade, said he welcomes the lengthy prison sentence for Cook and hopes for the same for others in the drug organization he was involved in. “We are pleased the District Attorney’s office and the judicial system is taking a hard stand in dealing with narcotics traffickers and are handing out harsh sentences,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. “Drugs are a major cause of both crimes against persons and property crimes.’’ The sheriff added, “We are trying to send a message that if you come to St. Bernard Parish and deal drugs you will be caught and will go to prison.’’ Sheriff Stephens also said about 30 people from the crime organization that included Cook have been arrested in the last three years by the St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s Special Investigations Division headed by Col. Chad Clark or federal drug enforcement agents. “This group was moving narcotics, including cocaine, of significant weight all throughout this region including Mississippi,’’ the sheriff said. He said many members of the group are currently serving prison sentences or still face prosecution, adding the investigation is continuing. Sheriff Stephens said he encourages anyone who knows of drug-dealing or use to call the Sheriff’s Office drug tip line at (504) 271-DOPE. Information can be left anonymously, he said. Man gets 5-years in prison for theft of flower vases from a Chalmette cemetery that were sold to a scrap metal dealer Sep 26, 2008 - A Chalmette man was sentenced to five years in prison for the theft earlier this year of brass vases from gravesites in a St. Bernard cemetery, some of which were sold to a scrap metal dealer but later recovered. Patrick Centorbi, 22, pleaded guilty to theft of vases on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and was sentenced to five years in prison by state District Judge Wayne Cresap in Chalmette. Centorbi, who lived at 2524 Pecan Drive, Apt. A,  when he was arrested last April by St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies, was booked with theft, possession of stolen property and desecration of graves  in an investigation of some 200 reported missing vases from gravesites at St. Bernard Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 701 West Virtue St., Chalmette. Authorities recovered 148 of the vases, which sold for about $600 retail through the cemetery but commanded only a fraction of that amount when about 50 were sold on the scrap market before their recovery. Centorbi was among four men arrested in April in connection with thefts that happened over a period of weeks and it appeared several of them were acting separately because only two of them knew each other, St. Bernard Parish Jack Stephens said at the time. Centorbi is the first case in court. Brian Boudreaux, 22, both of Chalmette, was booked with possession of stolen property in connection with the case. Shortly after the arrests of Centorbi and Boudreaux, whom Sheriff Stephens said didn’t know each other, some 50 vases were recovered at a New Orleans scrap metal yard.   Then, State Police and the New Orleans Police Department, culminating an undercover investigation, arrested six people at two New Orleans scrap metal businesses for allegedly not following the law in purchasing scrap metal. One of those businesses, Poland Scrap Metal Works, had purchased a total of 50 brass vases allegedly from Centorbi and Boudreaux and all were recovered, authorities said. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana National Guard assisted with that undercover case. A week before the arrests of Centorbi and Boudreaux, two other men, Val Terry, 41, and Joseph Scorsone, 42, also both of Chalmette, were arrested April 5 in connection with thefts from the same cemetery. At the time of their arrests 98 stolen vases were recovered in a pickup truck in Chalmette. Sheriff Stephens praised the work of an alert cemetery employee who called the Sheriff’s Office after seeing a suspicious-looking pickup truck being driven from the grounds on April 5 and locating the truck himself in a nearby driveway. The sheriff also said the cemetery cases “makes you wonder how low people can sink. Someone goes into a graveyard to steal items’’ placed there to honor the dead, he said. “It shows the worst side of human nature.’’ St. Bernard Parish to rededicate the Katrina Monument on Saturday, Oct. 11 Sep 26, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish will hold a brief rededication ceremony Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 a.m. to mark the updated monument honoring the victims of Hurricane Katrina at Shell Beach. The event that was to be held on the anniversary on Aug. 29 had to be postponed because of the impending threat of Hurricane Gustav. However, Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. said it would be respectful to hold a small event to remember the victims and to have a public viewing at the Shell Beach memorial site on the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. It now has a black granite face with 163 names of St. Bernard Parish victims Hurricane Katrina who died as a result of the storm, whether it was during the actual event or because of the evacuation. The newly engraved and corrected monument includes about 20 more names and corrected spellings for several of the initially listed victims. A few names were removed because the people originally were listed as missing, but they indeed survived. Since Taffaro began the effort to update the monument in early 2008, relatives of victims called to provide death certificates to prove their loved ones should be added. Also, Coroner Bryan Bertucci provided a list from a combination of sources updated since the initial monument was erected for the first anniversary in 2006. Unified Recovery Group, the parish contractor for demolition and debris removal, funded the costs of updating the monument. The theme of this year’s anniversary events has been to focus on the community’s spirit and the ongoing recovery. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Department will direct traffic to park in an off-street parking area near the Yscloskey Bridge, and a St. Bernard Urban Rural Transit bus will bring visitors directly to the monument at the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Man booked with felony battery for striking and choking wife; woman arrested for leaving young kids in vehicle Sep 26, 2008 - A Violet man was booked with felony second-degree battery on his wife for allegedly striking her several times to the face with a closed fist during an argument at their home and allegedly choking her unconscious after she fell to the floor, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. In a separate case, a woman from the Kenilworth community in eastern St. Bernard was booked with child desertion for allegedly placing and leaving her two 2-year-old children in their father’s vehicle, apparently without his knowledge, the sheriff said. Donald W. Rush, 49, 1905 Tino Lane, was arrested late Thursday night, Sept. 25. He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $11,000 bond. Rush allegedly broke numerous items in their FEMA trailer during an argument with his wife, then as she tried to walk out he struck her to the face, knocking her down on the porch area, the sheriff said. The man then went to her and began choking her as she lay dazed on the ground until she was unconscious, the woman told investigating sheriff’s deputies. The woman had abrasions to the face, jaw injuries and abrasions on her neck and shoulders, a sheriff’s report of the incident said. When she awoke she left to call the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found the FEMA trailer in total disarray, Sheriff Stephens said, and arrested Donald Rush, who was inside. In the other unrelated incident, Nicole Lefebvre, 32, 2817 Kenilworth Drive, was booked on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with child desertion and domestic violence. She posted $2,000 bond at St. Bernard Parish Prison but was being held on arrest warrants from the state of Kentucky. The two 2-year-old twin children who had allegedly been put in their father’s vehicle outside his mother’s home on Heights Drive in Poydras weren’t injured, Sheriff Stephens said. The father, Michael Vicknair, 31, told sheriff’s deputies he saw Lefebvre arrive by vehicle but went into his mother’s home where he was staying. He said she cursed at him through the door and walked away, the sheriff said. Several minutes later a neighbor yelled to him that she had placed two children in his vehicle and left, and he found them there, Vicknair told deputies. He said he didn’t know their mother had placed them there. Lefebvre, when found by deputies, said she yelled through the door to Vicknair, after she saw him watching her through a window, that she was leaving the children in his vehicle, the sheriff said. Sheriff Stephens said the neighbor told deputies after the woman left he saw the children in the vehicle and told their father. Two arrested in murder of Chalmette man killed in a hail of gunfire through a door; victim wasn’t the intended target   Lavell Cross, booked with second-degree murder in st. bernard parish Sep 24, 2008 - Two men, both from Plaquemines Parish, have been booked with second-degree murder in the death of a 20-year-old Chalmette man killed in a hail of gunfire through a door while he was visiting his half-brother the night of Monday, Sept. 22, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. And authorities revealed the victim, Vantrel Bienemy, 413 Pierre St., who was shot three times about midnight, Sept. 22 at 503 Dubarry St. in Chalmette, wasn’t the intended target. The half-brother, who lived at the residence where the shooting took place, was apparently the target of the two men in retaliation for a physical confrontation the night before the shooting between the half-brother and the older of the two arrested subjects, according to Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann. That confrontation had apparently been over drugs, Pohlmann said. “It’s sad’’ that a young person would be killed over something he apparently had nothing to do with, Pohlmann said. Bienemy, also a native of Plaquemines Parish, had moved to St. Bernard Parish in May from Atlanta where he lived after Hurricane Katrina. “All of the people involved were ...(Click here to read the rest of the article) St. Claude Avenue Bridge will have lane closures Sept. 23-25 Sep 24, 2008 - The St. Claude Avenue Bridge across the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal will be closed to vehicular traffic as follows so that major maintenance can be made. This maintenance work has been coordinated to coincide with the Corps of Engineers' major maintenance of the lock, which has taken the lock out of service for maritime vessels until October. Having the bridge repairs coinciding with the lock repairs means the bridge will not be raised during this time. The Port of New Orleans has also planned this work with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development so that the Judge Seeber (Claiborne Avenue) bridge will not have any maintenance work scheduled during this time. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be restricted as follows: Closure of one eastbound lane and one westbound lane from 6 am Tuesday, September 23 to 6 pm Thursday, September 25 There will be closures of both eastbound lanes for short intervals between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm for positioning a crane at the bridge. Alternate route for motorist is the Judge Seeber Bridge at Claiborne Avenue. The Florida Avenue bridge is not open to vehicular traffic yet because repair work on the approach roadway is still underway since Hurricane Gustav. Chalmette man shot in brother’s home and pronounced dead at hospital; investigation underway Sep 23, 2008 - A 20-year-old Chalmette man was pronounced dead at a hospital early Tuesday, Sept. 23, after he was shot inside his brother’s home by one or more intruders who fired numerous times through the front door when he answered several knocks and then quickly closed the door, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Vantrel Bienemy, 413 Pierre St., was shot three times in a home in the 500 block of Dubarry St., just off Paris Road, just before midnight on Monday, Sept. 22 and later was pronounced dead at University Hospital in New Orleans, the sheriff said. The victim was shot twice in the stomach area and once in the buttocks. No arrest has been made or a motive discovered but sheriff’s detectives are investigating, Sheriff Stephens said. He said the victim, who had moved back to St. Bernard Parish in May from Atlanta where he lived after Hurricane Katrina, was visiting his brother, whose name wasn’t released. An unknown number of people came to the brother’s door and knocked just before midnight, the sheriff said. The brother asked who it was and got no response. There was a second knock on the door and Vantrel Bienemy, who was on a cell phone and walking toward the door, answered but quickly closed the door, Sheriff Stephens said. Numerous shots were fired through the closed door, striking the victim, the sheriff said. It was the third homicide of the year in St. Bernard Parish. On Feb. 24 a Chalmette man allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide and on Jan. 13 an elderly Arabi man was bludgeoned in the backyard of his home. Chalmette man surrenders after 8-hour standoff in his home in which he threatened to kill himself Sep 23, 2008 - A Chalmette man surrendered peacefully to sheriff’s deputies about 7 p.m. Monday night, Sept. 22, after an eight-hour standoff in which he locked himself inside his home and threatened suicide after deputies tried to arrest him on warrants out of New Orleans, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. The all-day incident, which began about 11 a.m., forced the evacuation of two neighboring homes in the 2600 block of Chalona Drive – just off East Judge Perez Drive - and closure of a section of the street for much of the afternoon. Lance Webb, 29, who had taped a kitchen knife to each wrist and threatened to kill himself, spoke for hours with sheriff’s negotiators through a window before agreeing to come out,  said Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann. Webb was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison on misdemeanor charges of illegal carrying of weapons, resisting arrest and resisting arrest by flight from an officer. He was being held on bond of $17,500 that was set on Tuesday morning, Sept. 23. He also faced four charges in New Orleans, where he was wanted on warrants for his arrest. Sheriff’s deputies went to Webb's home about 11 a.m. on Sept. 22 to arrest him on domestic violence charges from New Orleans, Pohlmann said. No one answered the door, but Webb drove up a short time later, Pohlmann said. Deputies stopped his car in the street, but Webb bolted into the house, locking the front door behind him, Pohlmann said. He said officers didn’t believe he had a gun, but they evacuated two adjacent homes as a precaution. Chalmette man booked with indecent behavior with a juvenile girl Sep 19, 2008 - A Chalmette man was booked with indecent behavior with a juvenile, a 16-year-old girl he allegedly touched inappropriately and kissed several times, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Vega Ramiro, 47, 2421 Lena Drive, was arrested Wednesday night, Sept. 17, and is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond of $50,400. The incident allegedly happened after the girl had come to Ramiro’s home looking for his son, Sheriff Stephens said. The girl left the residence, went to a nearby home and told a woman there what had allegedly took place, then the Sheriff’s Office was called. Ramiro was stopped for questioning later while driving a vehicle in the neighborhood, the sheriff said. Sheriff Stephens said the suspect acknowledged he made a suggestive comment to the girl but said he was joking with her. Asked if he had touched or kissed her, Ramiro replied that he was drunk and didn’t remember, the sheriff said. 16-year-old accidentally shot himself while using stolen gun; he and two others arrested  Sep 19, 2008 - A 16-year-old Chalmette boy accidentally shot himself inside his mother’s apartment on Tuesday, Sept. 16, while handling a gun stolen in a residence burglary that day and both he and two others teens have been arrested for the break-in, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. The shooting victim, who shot himself to the side of the head, was hospitalized for two nights and was arrested on a burglary charge on Friday, Sept. 19, a day after his release, the sheriff said. Also booked with burglary were two other ...(Click here to read the rest of the article) FEMA Expands Public Assistance Program Assistance to 25 Parishes, at Request of Governor Jindal Sep 17, 2008 - At the request of Governor Jindal, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) amended its disaster declaration for Hurricane Gustav to add all remaining categories of Public Assistance (PA) for 25 parishes. The following parishes are now eligible for the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) program for categories C-G, which includes repairs to damaged public facilities: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Catahoula, East Baton Rouge, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, La Salle, Lafourche, Livingston, Natchitoches, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, Tangipahoa, Vernon, Washington, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, and Winn. The Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is conducting Public Assistance Applicant Briefings throughout the state for applicants. The Governor requested that all 64 parishes be provided federal assistance following Hurricane Gustav, and is continuing to work with the federal government to add additional parishes to their declaration for assistance. Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Estimated Homes Flooded During Ike Sep 17, 2008 - So far, parish officials are reporting to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) approximately 24,774 homes flooded as the result of Hurricane Ike. While these are estimated and preliminary numbers, here is the breakdown:  *  Jefferson  2,500  *  Lafourche   24  *  St. John 100  *  Terrebone  15,000  *  Calcasieu  1,500  *  Cameron  3,000  *  Iberia  1,000  *  St. Mary  450  *  Vermilion  1,000  *  St. Tammany  200  *  Tangipahoa  60  *  St. Bernard  22                        Tangipahoa Parish also reports four (4) businesses and one (1) fire station flooded during Hurricane Ike. Damage assessments are ongoing at the local, state and federal levels. Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Governor Jindal Visits St. Bernard Parish  Sep 16, 2008 - Gov. Bobby Jindal addressed a meeting of the St. Bernard Parish Council and Parish Preesident Craig Taffaro Jr. on Tuesday, Sept. 16 after visiting the parish's food stamp distribution center set up to aid storm victims. The governor, who also visited St. Bernard immediately after Hurricane Gustav, said he is fighting for coastal restoration money to help cut down the impact of hurricanes on the state's coast and noted St. Bernard's tenacity in the face of the storms it has faced. President Taffaro and Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann met with the governor and thanked him for the resources committed to the parish during and in rhe aftermath of recent storms including the National Guard and State Police, which they said have worked well with parish government and the Sheriff's Office.             Sep 16, 2008 - Gov. Bobby Jindal, seated at right, holds an impromptu discussion about St.Bernard Parish with Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, left, and Parish President Craig Taffaro Jr. on a bus while going to visit the parish's food stamp registration area in Violet on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Seated behind them are Maj. Kenneth Baillie, of Joint Forces Headquarters, Louisiana National Guard, and St. Bernard Fire Chief Thomas Stone.                             Sep 16, 2008 - Cpl. Brandon Licciardi, left, and Lt. Chris Cousins, shaking hands with Gov Jindal.  Both are members of the sheriff's Street Crimes Unit, and were assigned to the parish's food stamp distribution area set up to aid victims of the recent storms when Gov. Jindal came to visit on Tuesday, Sept. 16                             Sep 16, 2008 - Governor Jindal speaks with a registrant at the St. Bernard food stamp distribution center in Violet Sheriff’s Office investigating non life-threatening shooting of teenager Sep 16, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives are investigating a non life-threatening shooting of a teenager that happened near Andrew Jackson Elementary School in Chalmette on Tuesday, Sept. 16, but emphasized it had nothing to do with any students or the school, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. A male in his late teens was shot to the side of his head inside an apartment in the 200 block of Eighth Street down the street from the entrance of the school. He was conscious when taken to a hospital for treatment of the non life-threatening injury and wouldn’t say who shot him, Sheriff  Stephens said.  The gun wasn’t recovered at the scene and an investigation of the incident is continuing. The teen, whose name wasn’t released, was in his mother’s apartment while she was at work and he was shot about 3 p.m., about when Andrew Jackson Elementary would close for the day. The first sheriff’s deputies on the scene, out of an abundance of precaution, notified school officials and the school was locked down  until the incident was investigated. This caused a delay for parents waiting to pick up their children but it couldn’t be avoided, Sheriff Jack Stephens said, because of safety concerns for the students. The sheriff and Schools Superintendent Doris Voitier said the lockdown was strictly according to emergency plans designed to ensure the safety. “It went according to procedure,’’ Voitier said. “There was good cooperation between the school and the Sheriff’s Office.’ Blue Roof Sign Up at the Community Center of St. Bernard Sep 16, 2008 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisiana Recovery Field Office in Baton Rouge will have a Blue Roof Right of Entry collection site at the Community Center of St. Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi, on Wednesday Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents who want to enroll in the program should: Have a photo ID such as driver's license or proof of residency at the location. Know the kind of roof you have. Structures with flat roofs and tile roofs consisting of clay, slate or asbestos (transite) do not qualify. Mobile homes and roofs consisting of metal will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The roof must have less than fifty percent structural damage to be eligible for the program. The structure must be assessed as habitable once the blue roof is installed. All debris must be removed from the roof for it to qualify. The applicant has to sign a right-of-entry form. A temporary Blue Roof is generally good for 30 days. For more information about the Blue Roof Program, please phone 1-888-766-3258. Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Previously Ineligible Individuals and Families May Apply for Disaster Food Stamps Sep 15, 2008 - As of 3 p.m. today, more than 255,000 Disaster Food Stamp applications have been processed by the Department of Social Services. Nearly 30,000 of those were taken today. This comes on the day the USDA Food and Nutrition Services approved Louisiana’s request to give some individuals and families a second opportunity to apply for benefits after they were determined ineligible to receive Federal Disaster Food Stamps. “This is great news for impacted residents and we strongly encourage them to return to the nearest ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Sheriff’s Office assisting Assumption Parish, which was hit hard by Hurricane Gustav Sep 12, 2008 - Sheriff Jack Stephens said the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has been assisting authorities in Assumption Parish – hard hit recently by Hurricane Gustav – by sending four deputies and vehicles to help with security as part of a reciprocal agreement through the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, which helped St. Bernard after Hurricane Katrina. The arrangement is temporary but should give some aid to the Assumption Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Stephens said. Assumption, near Baton Rouge and includes the city of Napoleonville, was in the path of Hurricane Gustav on Labor Day. The hurricane didn’t cause heavy damage in St. Bernard. “We’re grateful for the help our parish received after Katrina and wanted to repay the favor,’’ St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. Sheriff Airboat Used to Evacuate Residents from Lower St. Bernard    Sep 12, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens talks on a phone while on an airboat at the scene of flooding from Hurricane Ike at Verret on the Lousiana 46 Extension in the eastern part of the parish on Friday, Sept. 12. The sheriff, with flooding on the highway shown behind him, said the high water outside the hurricane levee protection system was probably worse than expected. "It was surprising how high the tide came up,'' Sheriff Stephens said, saying it's another reminder of the loss of marshlands over the years on St. Bernard's coastline. The sheriff's airboat was used to evacuate more than a dozen residents trapped in the lower end of the parish after a voluntary evacuation was called for by parish government. Eastern St. Bernard Parish affected by Hurricane Ike Sep 12, 2008 - Hurricane Ike didn’t strike a direct blow to St. Bernard Parish but its sustained high winds and gusts up to 80 mph in easternmost parts of the parish was responsible for pushing tides that inundated fishing villages outside the hurricane protection levee system, reflooding areas affected just two weeks ago by Hurricane Gustav. There was heavy flooding on Louisiana 46 Extension, past the junction to Shell Beach – Delacroix Island – and nearly ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Dusk to Dawn Curfew Issued for All Communities Outside Hurricane Levee Protection System Sep 12, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens has announced a Dusk to Dawn curfew for all communities outside the Hurricane Levee Protection System in St. Bernard Parish.  The curfew is from Dusk to Dawn and include all communities outside the Hurricane Levee Protection System including the communities of Verret, Yscloskey, Hopedale, Delacroix Island and Shell Beach. Food Distribution Program to Begin Monday Sep 12, 2008 - Due to unsafe weather conditions, the Food Stamp Distribution Program will begin in St. Bernard Parish on Monday, September 15, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The program will run Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Program will be located at the Christian Fellowship Church, 5816 E. Judge Perez Drive, Violet, LA. Click Here to View Map Source: St. Bernard Parish Government State Government Offices Closed In 14 Parishes Friday Sep 11, 2008 - Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced today that because of threats posed by Hurricane Ike, state government offices will be closed on Friday, September 12th, in the following parishes with voluntary and mandatory evacuations: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion All agency heads are responsible for determining those essential personnel who should remain on duty. State employees should monitor and heed media updates regarding mandatory and voluntary evacuations. They should also monitor media for updates on office closures as well as announcements of when offices are scheduled to reopen. Those announcements will be made by the Commissioner of Administration. In addition, employees should be aware of the 800 number and the local phone number, which will be updated with information regarding office closures. The numbers to call: 1-800-360-9660 or 225-342-0498. For the latest information on hurricanes Gustav and Ike, visit emergency.louisiana.gov. Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Voluntary Evacuation Order Continues for Areas Outside Hurricane Protection Levees Sep 11, 2008 - St. Bernard Sheriff's Office Deputies continued to man the checkpoint set up as floodwaters rose due to Hurricane Ike Thursday in the communities of St. Bernard outside the hurricane protection levee.  The call for the voluntary evacuation was a response to a National Weather Service update on Wednesday.  According to the National Weather Service, areas outside the hurricane protection levees in St. Bernard Parish could experience a storm surge of 4 to 6 feet. Sheriff's deputies spoke with motorists at the checkpoint.  Chalmette man arrested after heroin-related death of another man Sep 11, 2008 - A Chalmette man was booked with obstruction of justice and possession of drug paraphernalia after the heroin-related death of another man, Sheriff Jack Stephens said  Michael Armstrong Jr., 33, 2501 Victor Drive, was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 10 after the death of Jimmy Ragas, 33, 2417 Lena Drive, both of Chalmette, the sheriff said. According to sheriff's Special Investigations Divison, Armstrong brought Ragas home after Ragas apparently began to suffer seizures after the two had used heroin.  The investigation found Ragas’ father called for an ambulance and when emergency medical technicians arrived Ragas was pronounced dead. Armstrong stayed at the scene.  Investigators found found drug paraphernalia in Armstrong’s vehicle. Armstrong and Ragas allegedly went to New Orleans, purchased heroin and used the drug there, then returned to 2501 Victor Drive in Chalmette before Ragas began having seizures and Armstrong brought him home.  Armstrong is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $25,500 bond. Death of woman ruled a drowning Sep 11, 2008 - Drowning was the cause of death of a St. Bernard Parish woman whose body was found Wednesday, Sept. 10 in waters just off the end of Yscloskey Highway at Shell Beach, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Sarina M. LeBouef, 38, of the Poydras area, was found just offshore in the Mississippi River – Gulf Outlet, near where it intersects with Bayou Yscloskey, within feet of the monument to Hurricane Katrina victims at the end of Yscloskey Highway at Shell Beach. An autopsy found the cause of death to be an accidental drowning with no signs of a struggle or other evidence of foul play. She was found in the water about 9:45 a.m. by utility workers. It appeared she had been sitting at the edge of the water when she slipped in, based on evidence her purse and cell phone were there and her vehicle parked nearby. ST. BERNARD PARISH ANNOUNCES DISASTER FOOD STAMP PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION CENTER Sep 11, 2008 - Residents will now be able to fill out applications for Disaster Food Stamps in St. Bernard Parish, beginning Saturday, Sept. 13, if winds from Hurricane Ike subside. The location at Christian Fellowship Church, 5816 E. Judge Perez Drive in Violet will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Saturday, Sept. 13. It will be closed on Sundays. If you receive aid in the form of Food Stamps right now, you will automatically be given ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Five Business Counseling Centers Open Today to Help Hurricane-Impacted Businesses Sep 11, 2008 - Louisiana Economic Development (LED), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network (LSBDC) and regional economic development partners today announced the opening of five Business Counseling Centers, created to assist businesses adversely affected by Hurricane Gustav. The centers, located in Baton Rouge, Metairie, Thibodaux, Carencro and Alexandria will provide free, one-on-one consultations with ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Source: emergency.louisiana.gov St. Bernard Parish President and St. Bernard Parish Council Announce Voluntary Evacuation Order for Areas Outside Hurricane Protection Levees Sep 10, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. and members of the Parish Council held a press conference Wednesday to announce the details of the voluntary evacuation of the area of St. Bernard Parish outside the hurricane protection levees. The call for a voluntary evacuation is a response to the National Weather Service update at 4 p.m. today, September 10, 2008. During the update, the National Weather Service stated that St. Bernard Parish could experience storm surge of 4 to 6 feet.  The situation could be worsened with the expected high tide tomorrow around midday. The high tide could raise the water level 2 feet, and then the surge could build on top of that high tide. As of 6 p.m. today, September 10, 2008, Taffaro called a state of emergency for the areas ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Office Of Coastal Protection And Restoration Officials Working With Levee Districts, Corps In Advance Of Ike's Landfall Sep 10, 2008 - The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration (OCPR) is coordinating with levee districts across Southeast Louisiana as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to close floodgates and direct the necessary resources to reinforce storm protection systems in advance of the approach of Hurricane Ike to the western Gulf of Mexico. Storm surge gates have been closed at the following locations: Bayou Bienvenue in St. Bernard Parish The Harvey Canal on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow Bayou Little Caillou in Terrebonne Parish Bayou Terrebonne in Terrebonne Parish The OCPR has also directed resources to the east end of Grand Isle to add additional rock shoreline protection to areas near Barataria Pass that experienced significant scour erosion during Hurricane Gustav's landfall on Monday, Sept. 1. OCPR levee and wetland officials worked with levee districts and the Corps of Engineers well in advance of Gustav's landfall and have since been directing the necessary resources to repair any damages in preparation for Ike. Ike is forecast to make landfall along the central Texas coast as a major Category 3 or possibly Category 4 hurricane either late Friday, Sept. 12 or early morning Saturday, Sept. 13. Tropical storm condit! ions are expected across the Louisiana coast as early as Thursday, Sept. 11 with offshore waves reaching as high as 25 feet in some locations. Storm surges could reach five feet or higher in parts of central and western Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service. More information about flood gate closures will be made available as it is obtained. For more information about flood protection efforts in the wake of Gustav and in preparation for Ike, please contact Chris Macaluso at 225-229-2051. Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Elderly or disabled persons who qualify for “Power to Care” energy assistance may apply for help with repairs for electrical meter pans damaged by Hurricane Gustav Sep 10, 2008 - Elderly or disabled persons who qualify for “Power to Care,” energy assistance, which used to be called “Helping Hands,” may apply for help with repairs for electrical meter pans damaged by Hurricane Gustav. Those people may apply for assistance from the St. Bernard Parish Council on Aging, but they must call 504-278-4335 to make an appointment. The office at 8201-W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Six arrested in St. Bernard hurricane-related looting cases Sep 9, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives have arrested five men and a 16-year-old boy and recovered numerous stolen items in connection with looting cases during the period of Hurricane Gustav, and more arrests are expected, Sheriff Jack Stephens said on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Most of those arrested, between Friday, Sept. 5 and Monday, Sept. 8,  were from a ring operating in the Violet area, the sheriff said. He said one business burglary and eight residence burglaries were cleared with the arrests. “It’s unfortunate that some thugs wanted to take advantage of the situation in which St. Bernard residents ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Louisiana Department Of Revenue Announces Additional Filing Extensions Related To Hurricane Gustav Sep 9, 2008 - The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) has granted extensions on the filing and payment deadlines for more than a dozen state taxes in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. The extensions are available in the 36 parishes declared federal disaster areas by President Bush. They are: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Vernon, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. If additional parishes are declared Gustav disaster areas by President Bush, they will receive the same relief. The extensions are available for state excise, sales, and severance taxes with filing dates between Sept. 1, and Sept. 30, 2008. The disaster-related filing deadline is October15. In order to claim the filing extension, write "Hurricane Gustav" in BLACK at the top of your return. For more information about hurricane-related tax filing extensions, visit www.revenue.louisiana.gov. For the latest information on the recovery from Hurricane Gustav, visit emergency.louisiana.gov or call the state's emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 to listen to a recorded message with the most up-to-date information. Source: emergency.louisiana.gov Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are encouraged to register for assistance Sep 9, 2008 - Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by Hurricane Gustav are encouraged to register for assistance by calling the toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (TTY 1-800-462-7585) which is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Applicants also may register on-line at www.fema.gov Currently there are no Disaster Recovery Centers scheduled for St. Bernard Parish.  However, Disaster Recovery Center staff can answer questions about registration for disaster assistance and hazard mitigation, help with disaster loan applications and provide information and contacts for other programs.  Residents are encouraged to register prior to visiting ... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Source: St. Bernard Parish Government Curfew to Be Lifted; Road Blocks to End Sep 6, 2008 - Sheriff Jack Stephens has announced that all road blocks to St. Benard Parish will be lifted today, Saturday, September 6, 2008 as of 6 P.M.  Additionally as of 6 P.M., the curfew will no longer be in effect, the Sheriff said.   Courts to Resume Operating Monday Sep 6, 2008 - According to Chief Judge Jacques Sanborn, criminal and civil court will resume Monday September 8, 2008.  The courts will resume normal business hours. Any information regarding courts schedules or court business should be directed to the Clerk of Court's Office at 1101 W. St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette, Louisiana 70043.  Their office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their telephone number is 504-271-3434.  Their website is http://www.stbclerk.com/ Parish leaders breathe sigh of relief over Hurricane Gustav (Updated with Pictures) Sep 5, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish leaders breathed a sigh of relief over being spared a direct hit by Hurricane Gustav, but a parishwide electrical outage for several days created problems for residents who were allowed to begin returning home on Wednesday, Sept. 3, although power was expected to be restored to all areas shortly.   A mandatory evacuation of the parish was called for on Saturday, Aug. 30, and it was estimated less than 500 residents stayed for the storm, which parish officials said was a suceess. Two arrests were made during the evacuation for burglary and theft and, as announed in advance by ... (Click Here to Read More) Curfew Amended, Now 11 PM to 6 AM Sep 4, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens has announced that the curfew in the parish has been amended from 11 PM until 6 AM because stores and businesses are now re-opening in the parish and staying open into the evening. The Sheriff wants to allow residents time to get supplies needed for their homes. When electricity is restored parishwide, the curfew will be eliminated at that time, the Sheriff said. State government office closures by parish for Friday Sep 4, 2008 -- Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis announced the closure of state government offices on Friday, September 5, 2008, due to Hurricane Gustav, in the following parishes: Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles ... (Click Here to Read More) St. Bernard Court system put on hold until further notice Sep 4, 2008 - Neither criminal nor civil court will be held in St. Bernard Parish until further notice, by order of Chief Judge Jacques Sanborn. The court system is suspended pending restoration of electricity in the parish. Update on Businesses in the Parish Sep 4, 2008 - The following are Businesses that have reopened or shortly will in St. Bernard Parish: Winn-Dixie Supermarket on Paris Road will be open Friday, Sept. 5 from noon to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the next day on. Chevron in Arabi at the corner of Perrin and Judge Perez. This is the store only, no gasoline. Murphy Gasoline Station in the Wal-Mart parking lot on West Judge Perez Drive Home Depot on West Judge Perez Drive Main's Chalmette Market on West Judge Perez Drive The Red Pearl Restaurant on East Judge Perez Drive Walgreen's at the corner of Judge Perez Drive and Paris Road Waffle House on Paris Road Hoffer's Discount Store at Paris Road and Judge Perez, store only, no gasoline. Also, there are also 3 gas stations open on Crowder Blvd. in eastern New Orleans. Hurricane Gustav Pictures from the Parish Sep 4, 2008 - With the return of residents to St. Bernard Parish, here are some pictures of different events around the Parish.  Click here to see Pictures Individual Assistance from FEMA is now available Call 1-800-621-FEMA or go to www.fema.gov Sep 3, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. wants residents to know they can now call FEMA for help with Individual Assistance. Residents can apply by calling 1-800-621-FEMA, which is 1-800-621-3362 or they can apply online at www.fema.gov. The TTY line for hearing impaired is 1-800-462-7585. Disaster Assistance Available from FEMA http://www.fema.gov/assistance/process/assistance.shtm Click the above link to go directly to this page on the FEMA site for further information. (Will Open a New Page) On the FEMA website, you can learn about assistance available because of the disaster declaration including Disaster Assistance Available from FEMA Housing Needs Other than Housing Needs Additional Services Adullam Christian Fellowship to offer free meals in Arabi Sep 3, 2008 - Pastor Randy Millet of Adullam Christian Fellowship has announced he will offer free meals St. Bernard Parish residents at his church on St. Bernard Highway in Arabi. Dinner will be served on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 6 to 7 p.m. Starting Thursday, Sept. 5, free meals will be served at the following times: Breakfast: from 7 to 9 a.m. Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner: 5 to 7 p.m. Residents should come with St. Bernard Parish identification and come as close to 5 p.m. for dinner as possible because Sheriff Jack Stephens wants all residents off the roads by dark for curfew. Update on businesses opened in St. Bernard Parish Sep 3, 2008 - As of this time, St. Bernard Parish Government has been able to confirm the following Chalmette business openings: Main's Grocery and Gas Walgreens Home Depot The following businesses are reportedly trying to open later on Wednesday: Ponstein's, corner of Paris Road and Genie Street Hoffer's, corner of Judge Perez Drive and Paris Road Winn Dixie on Paris Road St. Bernard Parish will be opened to residents starting at 6 a.m. on Wednesday; Paris Road to be only entrance point and curfew will remain in effect Sep 2, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish will be opened to residents only beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3 but Parish President Craig Taffaro Jr. and Sheriff Jack Stephens said the only entrnace point will be on Paris Road in Chalmette, an I.D. will be required and a curfew will remain in effect. Both said residents should think about whether they really need to return at this time because there is still ...(Click Here to Read More) St. Bernard Parish will be opened to residents starting at 6 a.m. on Wednesday; Paris Road to be only entrance point and curfew will remain in effect Sep 2, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish will be opened to residents only beginning at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3 but Parish President Craig Taffaro Jr. and Sheriff Jack Stephens said the only entrnace point will be on Paris Road in Chalmette, an I.D. will be required and a curfew will remain in effect. Both said residents should think about whether they really need to return at this time because there is still ...(Click Here to Read More) Curfew Still In Effect in St. Bernard; Parish Entrances Still Closed (Updated) Sep 1, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens, while cautiously optimitist about the Parish's fate with Hurricane Gustav said the curfew is still in effect and that all parish entrances remain closed. "Anyone still in the parish must remain in their homes and not ride around the parish", said Sheriff Stephens.  The 24-hour curfew is still in effect until further notice. All entrances to the parish remain closed and neither residents or non-residents are being allowed in the parish until further notice according the Sheriff. Click Here to Return to the St. Bernard Sheriff Office Home Page