Houma’s happiness tops 2014’s big headlines

1. Houma residents’ self-report elevates area to 2nd happiest city in America

A working paper from Harvard University professors examining the happiness of United States cities based on a Center for Disease Control study, weighted by demographics and income, concluded that the five happiest cities all came from Louisiana.

Lafayette was ranked at the top, followed by Houma, Shreveport-Bossier City, Baton Rouge and Alexandria. Lake Charles was also ranked in the top 10.

Houma Travel Communications Manager Joey Pierce and Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet believe the Houma area’s happiness derives from the Cajun culture, the joy, or as Cajuns like to say, “joie de vivre,” which means “joy of life.” For those reasons, people choose to live here, they contend.

“You get vaccinated with it, and it is hard to get it out of your system,” Claudet said. “I know so many people from high school or college who moved and managed to find their way back to our area.”

Pierce has been in the tourism industry for nine years and started as a tour guide. From his personal experience, he has known people who have visited the areas and then, two or three years later, return to find a permanent location in Louisiana.

“Culturally, we do have a tendency to not meet new strangers, but we meet new people and they take a genuine interest and find out why people come here and what those people want to see here,” Pierce said. “People see that and there is a genuine interest. The interest draws people in a lot.”

“I don’t know what exactly it is, but it is my belief that once they get a taste of the people, the hospitality and the joy of life that we have, then it is a wonderful thing,” Claudet added. “All you need to do is look around and you can see how happy we are.”

– By MICHAEL HOTARD

2. Child killer dad judged insane

The Thibodaux man who sawed off his son’s head will not be punished.

Jeremiah Wright, judged as not guilty of first-degree murder by reason of insanity Feb. 14, will instead be confined at a state mental health facility indefinitely. Medical experts retained by the defense and by the prosecution concurred in their professional judgments that Wright was psychotic when he beheaded 7-year-old Jori Lirette and that the 32-year-old remained psychotic. It was repeated by both sides multiple times Wright had a “major mental disorder that prevented him from knowing right from wrong” when he killed Jori.

To some, like Jori’s grandfather Dale Lirette, this conclusion to 2 ½ years of slow-moving criminal proceedings is unsatisfying. The family does not feel justice was served, Dale Lirette said. Should Wright’s mental illness be cured five, 10, 30 years from now, which would require the state to release him, Wright will have gotten away with murder, Dale Lirette said.

“It’s just tragic. It’s so unfair,” Dale Lirette said.

Dale Lirette said he’s concerned Wright will be released one day and offered the opinion Wright faked his illness to navigate the court system, a theory expressed throughout the criminal proceedings but shot down by experts.

“Justice was done today in a way the system was designed for justice to be,” said Kerry Cuccia, director of the Capital Defense Project of Southeast Louisiana. “Whether you call it the best- or worst-case scenario, it is the result that the law ordains.”

– By ERIC BESSON

3. ‘Devil’s works,’ angel’s words

Beverly Shephard stretched one hand over the flower-decked, white coffin bearing the remains of her 14-year-old grandson and made a quiet but firm pronouncement.

“This is the work of the devil,” she said, referring to the conspiracy of tragedies that resulted in Cameron Tillman, an Ellender High honor students, being shot to death by a Terrebonne Parish deputy at the doorstep of an abandoned Village East home known as a teen hangout.

Multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to The Times that the deputy was Preston Norman, a 7-year veteran with a clean record.

Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said that Cameron had a realistic pellet gun in his hand when he came to the door of the abandoned house following a deputy’s knock, likely thinking that a friend rather than law enforcement was on the other side.

Norman, Larpenter said, was in fear for his life and fired. Law enforcement sources say there were four shots, three of which struck Cameron in the chest. Another shot went through the teen’s shoulder, according to sources with direct knowledge of the case, and went through the open door behind him.

Louisiana State Police is investigating the shooting, and local law enforcement officials maintain it will be justified, however tragically so. Results of the investigation remain pending.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

4. Boy’s death sparks bully furor

A Galliano teen’s self-inflicted death became the catalyst for an unprecedented public outcry against school bullying, sparking students to break self-imposed silence and parents to demand that school officials pay attention.

Lafourche Parish school officials are investigating allegations that 15-year-old Garyn Strong was bullied by schoolmates and allegedly harassed by teachers at South Lafourche High School.

Garyn hanged himself Jan. 17.

School officials were confident policies on bullying were being followed and that there was no need to review or consider revisiting them. They added the topic and the process are complex and often difficult for parents or children to fully understand.

Garyn’s parents and friends said the investigation came tragically late, and more should have been done prior to his death.

“Whatever policy they have in effect, it doesn’t work,” said Maureen Strong, Garyn’s mother. “They are not enforcing it. And it is not just at the high school. When they go to complain, they are turning a blind eye and they are blaming the ones who are complaining. The kids are made to feel like they are the ones at fault.”

Experts on teen behavior say there is never a way to truly know why a youngster might have chosen an irreversible, fatal course of action. His death and the seeming link to allegations he was bullied struck a chord in southern Lafourche Parish.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

5. HTV segment fuels divide between store, pro-veteran groups

The tale spread quickly through Terrebonne Parish of disrespect and foul words directed at a “highly decorated veteran” by a convenience store clerk.

For most locals, word came from a trusted television personality, HTV owner Martin Folse, during an hour-long rant Nov. 10 on “Bayou Time.” Unvetted, relying on a single source initially unidentified, the story grew legs, chafing sensibilities of veterans and their many supporters, while frightening other people.

Folse related information he said was told to him by Dr. Phillip McAllister who, at around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, became engaged in a cross conversation that ended with unfortunate language at the Road Runner on La. Highway 311 at St. Charles Boulevard.

Folse urged viewers to boycott the station and erroneously labeled the store owner and operator of having Middle Eastern descent. The clerk is from Nepal and is Hindu, and the owner is from Vietnam and is Buddhist.

Journalism ethicists and civil rights advocates noted that ethnicity should not matter at all and called Folse’s program nothing less than hate speech, appeals to the worst fears of locals.

As promised by a caller to the Nov. 10 show, 40 flag-waving, sign-waving veterans and their supporters showed Nov. 12 at the convenience store.

The store’s owner closed that day, expressing fear that things might go too far and someone could get hurt.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

6. Houma woman Miss USA 3rd runner-up

Miss Louisiana USA, Brittany Guidry, won the title of third runner-up at the Miss USA Pageant, where the Houma native received a thunderous applause for her response to the recent release of five Taliban terrorists in exchange for United State soldier and Prisoner of War Bowe Bergdahl.

Judge Ian Ziering asked the current events question to Guidry during the question and answer portion of the competition. “In recent weeks the U.S. has released five detainees from Guantanamo in exchange for one U.S. soldier held captive in Afghanistan. The U.S. policy is to leave no soldier behind. Do you think it’s fair to sacrifice or swap lives in order to uphold this policy?”

Without hesitating, relied and her answer was met with applause. “I am glad that we got our guy back. However, I do not feel it is right that we subject ourselves to these acts of terrorism. I do agree with our guy being back, but, however, but I do not think that we should subject ourselves. Thank you.”

Since delivering her response, many have credited Guidry for respectfully handling one of the most difficult questions of the night, as another contestant was asked what set her apart from the other contestants.

A 2011 graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School, the 21-year-old went on to study public relations at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She took a year off to pursue modeling opportunities and serve her role as Miss Louisiana USA. Guidry plans to finish her degree in the future.

– By CHANNING PARFAIT

7. 12.7 percent OK tax hike for Laf. jail

After years of anxiety the Lafourche Parish Law Enforcement District secured a revenue stream to construct a new jail and thus replace the parish’s antiquated, overcrowded and fatigued detention center.

Voters approved by a 16-point margin the levy of a 0.2-percent sales tax for 30 years effective July 1 that dedicates revenue to construction, acquisition, improvement and operation of parish jail facilities. Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said the goal is to open within three years a jail that can hold roughly 600 inmates at once.

At the time of the vote, the Lafourche Parish Detention Center had an inmate capacity of 244, and the parish’s average daily population was 351 in 2013.

Bond writers estimate the tax will raise $2.9 million per year. Over 30 years, without accounting for inflation or changes in spending habits, the revenue source at that estimate would generate roughly $87 million.

“I am ecstatic, and that is an understatement,” said Webre. “I’m so proud of the workers of the sheriff’s office who came together and were unified behind the support of the proposition, recognizing that it benefits not only every member of the organization, but more importantly benefits the people of Lafourche Parish. I’m equally proud of the voters who recognized the need and made the very difficult decision to impose a tax upon themselves for the next 30 years.”

The vote came on the heels of the failed library-jail tax swap in November 2013.

– By ERIC BESSON

8. For newest judge, landmark is bench itself

For the first time in its history a black judge will be seated in Terrebonne Parish’s district court.

But Juan Pickett – while cognizant of the significance – said his chief concern is simply doing the job to the best of his ability.

“To me it is an accomplishment to become the next district court judge,” Pickett explained. “My goal is not to be the next district court judge and stop there. I want to be the best district court judge.”

Pickett will continue serving as the prosecutor in Division C under District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. until his January swear in.

Pickett’s candidacy for the Division C bench was unopposed. The bench opened up when Judge Timothy Ellender announced that he would be resigning due to Louisiana’s law mandating that judges 70 and older not seek new terms.

He grew up in Virginia and attended college at Virginia Union University, clerking later at a Richmond law firm and attending law school at Southern University in Louisiana.

Local civil rights leaders, while mindful of Pickett’s accomplishment, say that the landmark ascension does not alter their plans to continue litigating a federal suit seeking to change how Terrebonne Parish judges are elected. Electing all judges parish-wide, the suit alleges, violates Section 2 of the deferral Civil Rights Act by diluting the vote of black people. It is being heard in Baton Rouge federal court.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

9. Houma 4-year-old girl killed in pit bull attack

The death of a 4-year-old Houma girl attacked by her family’s 130-pound dog – and the mauling of her mother by the same animal – sent shockwaves throughout Terrebonne Parish as well as more distant communities where the tale was told.

The attack happened at around 7 p.m. March 25 in an apartment at the Houma-Highland complex on South Hollywood Road.

Police initially responded to a report of a disturbance and learned that the dog, a pit bull, had attacked the child, Mia Derouen, as well as her mother, identified as 27-year-old Megan Touchet, who tried in vain to fight it and save her daughter’s life.

The distraught and injured mother grabbed her child and the two cowered behind a closed bedroom door; Megan handed Mia to medical personnel through the window. Life-saving efforts were not successful.

Officers fired a total of 12 shot at the dog described by Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis as “a monster.”

In July, the Terrebonne Parish Council passed an ordinance to increase the license fee from $10 to $150 plus a $150 fine for owners of dogs deemed dangerous.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

10. Ex-coach allegedly exposed student to AIDS virus

A Terrebonne Parish grand jury will likely have the final word on whether enough evidence exists to prosecute a high school teacher and track coach in connection with allegations that he had a sexual encounter with a student and exposed the boy to the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Derrick Nesby, 37, was held at the Terrebonne Parish jail in lieu of a $1 million bond following his arrest earlier this year.

Nesby had served for less than a year as a track coach and science teacher at H.L. Bourgeois High School, the latest venue in a career that saw him teacher or coaching in eight schools over a period of as many years, in Louisiana and Georgia.

Initially, he was booked for carnal knowledge of a juvenile. A charge of “intentional exposure to the AIDS virus, which carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, was added.

The carnal knowledge charge was then upgraded to the crime of molestation by educator, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.

The law barring exposure of a person to the HIV virus without their consent does not require transmission, only the exposure.

Terrebonne Parish Schools Superintendent Philip Martin confirmed Nesby has been fired from his position.

– By JOHN DeSANTIS

Jeremiah Wright