This newscast is updated weekdays at 6am An 83-year-old well is gushing a mixture of crude oil and natural gas into coastal marsh in Plaquemines Parish The United States Coast Guard ramped up efforts to contain it on Thursday assuming federal control over the response and clean up there’s spills and releases throughout the year This would be a major spill considered on a federal level basically,” said Patrick Harvey the director of Homeland Security for Plaquemines Parish He added it’s not as big as the BP oil spill that occurred 15 years ago The Coast Guard said it doesn’t know yet what caused it to leak The agency said it doesn’t yet know how much oil and gas mixture has been spilled but it has collected about 50,000 gallons of oily water so far It has also deployed more than 15,000 feet of containment boom to allow their vessels and skimmers to collect liquids It is also using 740 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands Phillip Vanderweit said the leak has been difficult to stop because it’s hard to reach the well and the well is so old there's a lot of unknowns particularly beneath the surface,” he said The well has changed hands over the decades which has been deemed the responsible party is working with the Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office as part of a unified response an advocate with True Transition who worked on oil rigs for nearly a decade said he is worried about what impacts the spill will have on the waterfowl “ It's just pristine wetlands as far as you can see It's like a gaping wound from the pictures I've seen It’s just reminiscent of what happened 15 years ago during the BP drilling disaster,” he said He’s also worried about potential methane pollution that isn’t visible to the eye and how the spill will impact people who live nearby The Coast Guard said it is still assessing the environmental impacts It said the results of air monitoring have not raised any immediate concerns “Although we are working feverishly to secure the source we are fully committed to the long-term environmental remediation that this release of oil to the environment is going to have,” said Vanderweit The Coast Guard encourages people to report any impacted wildlife to the Wildlife Hotline at 832-514-9663 Mariners are encouraged to report any observations of oil to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802 Individuals or businesses who are directly impacted by the spill should call 1-866-601-5880 A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States A small lock or https:// means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website Share sensitive information only on official An overflight displays the affected area of marsh environment near Garden Island Bay A safety zone has been enacted in the area and boom has been placed to contain the released product NOAA’s National Ocean Service is aiding in response to an oil and natural gas release in a marsh environment near the Spectrum OpCo Garden Island Bay Production Facility company's well in Plaquemines Parish NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration is providing on-scene scientific support including providing oil spill trajectory analyses and forecasts and integrating aerial and on-water observations into spatial maps for use by responders NOAA Satellites is providing remote satellite support to NOS and the U.S Press Release - May 4, 2025 Press Release - May 3, 2025 Press Release - May 2, 2025 Press Release - May 1, 2025 Press Release - April 30, 2025 Press Release - April 29, 2025 Press Release - April 28, 2025 Press Release - April 27, 2025  Interested media may direct inquiries to the U.S. Coast Guard at well59response@gmail.com How to cite this article gas and water sprays from a 82-year-old well near Garden Island Bay in the Bird's Foot Delta in southern Plaquemines Parish on Thursday Coast Guard has enacted a safety zone in the area and almost three miles of boom has been placed to contain the released material owned and operated by Spectrum OpCo only since last year was shut in by a previous owners in but was not permanently plugged Some of the nearly three miles containment boom corral spilled oily water in coastal marshes in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River as skimmers and other vessels work to clean up the product Thursday Absorbent bales can be seen around marsh islands and shores gas and water is spewing from an 82-year-old oil well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish and two guide boats use boom to collect oil on the water surface Thursday near a small marsh island in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River in southern Plaquemines Parish Absorbent bales can be seen around the marsh island gas and water is spewing from an 82-year-old oil well near Garden Island Bay lays out the scene of an uncontrolled release from an 82-year-old well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish gas and water sprays from in the Bird's Foot Delta of the Mississippi River in southern Plaquemines Parish on Thursday Coast Guard has enacted a safety zone in the area and almost three miles of boom was placed by Thursday to contain the released material An 82-year-old oil well drilled before the Allies turned the tide of World War II was spewing an undefined amount of oil gas and water skyward and into the coastal marshes of southern Plaquemines Parish for more than a week First reported by the operator as a "blowout" on the afternoon of April 26 near Garden Island Bay, the incident that the U.S. Coast Guard described for days as an "uncontrolled discharge" was coming from an oil well that had been put in inactive status nearly a decade ago by a previous owner Well 59 was never permanently plugged by that or successive owners Owned by Spectrum OpCo LLC since last summer the well began sending oily product skyward late last month after years of sitting dormant The Coast Guard says the cause remains under investigation Coast Guard officials have been unable so far to say how large the oily slick is from the well but say crews had collected more than 60,700 gallons of oily product through Friday The well's location in the marsh and shallow water of the Mississippi River Bird's Foot Delta has complicated the response Contractor Wild Well Control must carve a channel through shallows that parish emergency officials say are about 3 feet deep in spots to bring in a large barge that holds a crane and heavy equipment to cap the well "This has presented some challenges that have required dredging and jetting operations to create enough depth to safely operate required source control operations and storage equipment has mobilized intervention equipment," Coast Guard officials said Friday afternoon Wild Well Control is planning to use a large crane and a heavy piece of equipment known as a capping stack to place it on top of the uncontrolled well and cut off the flow a University of New Hampshire professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering said similar technology was developed to shut the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill 15 years ago though that happened in far tougher conditions 5,000 feet underwater Capping stacks have gained wider use and refinement since the Deepwater Horizon spill Their use in shallow conditions like this one isn't uncommon but the crane has to be brought in close to the well you need a fairly hefty piece of equipment and it's not like that equipment can be carried in by people and so you have to have a crane to lift it into place," Kinner said Coast Guard officials said that ensuring Wild Well Control's plan to use the capping stack succeeds will be the most critical element of the response in the coming days "Dredging/jetting operations are a critical part of source control operations; however Cutting and capping planning is being refined so that it can be done correctly at the first attempt," officials said The Coast Guard announced Sunday night that its well intervention team regained control of the well As the response continues and a growing numbers of oil skimmers and workers — close to 200 — are being directed to the spill Coast Guard has also moved to take full control of managing the response by supplanting Spectrum OpCo The Coast Guard federalized the response late last week and hired its own primary response contractor Coast Guard officials said they also began accessing federal emergency dollars from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund "This decision ensured continuity of operations and allowed for the continued rapid mobilization of resources necessary to secure the source and mitigate environmental threats," they said which is the owner/operator and remains the responsible party had originally been a part of the unified command for the response with the Coast Guard and state but no longer was once the Coast Guard took full control on Thursday It's not clear what role the company has at this point Company officials have not responded to requests for comment The spill trust fund is financed primarily with a 9-cents-per-barrel tax on domestic and imported crude oil Environmental Protection Agency records say that agency can tap the fund when the responsible party isn't known or refuses to pay When asked about Spectrum's finances and the use of the trust fund Coast Guard officials said their decision was "in response to the ongoing oil discharge and associated environmental risks." They referred questions about Spectrum to the Houston, Texas, company, which has a website with one page only and no contact information on it The webpage has a handful of seasoned oil and gas executives listed as the leadership with links to their LinkedIn pages an LSU professor who specializes in energy law said the Coast Guard "can take over the response if the responsible party is not responding or the Coast Guard thinks it is better prepared to respond." He added if the Coast Guard uses trust fund dollars the federal government can seek to recoup them later from the responsible party As daily aerial photos showing some marshes surrounding the well becoming stained with darkening shades of brown and black despite containment boom and absorbent bales the oily release and necessity for the Coast Guard to step in has already led to criticisms from environmental groups and one of Louisiana's Democratic congressmen They say the incident is an example of at least two things: Louisiana's insufficient measures to shut thousands of aged wells permanently and the shortsightedness of Trump administration cuts to federal government agencies that protect the public and environment said the Trump administration's DOGE cuts have laid off or forced into early retirement more than 1,000 workers with the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration including some from the unit in its Emergency Response Division that handles oil and other spills "As oil shoots 30 to 40 feet into the air from a well that should have been permanently sealed years ago, we are left scrambling to contain a disaster with fewer people, fewer resources, and fewer answers. This week marks 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon tragedy Republican congressmen and Trump officials have largely celebrated the cuts by DOGE for rooting out a few hundred billion dollars in waste and fraud Critics have questioned the size of the savings estimates Well 59 was first drilled in the final months of 1942 to nearly 6,900 feet deep in the search for oil It has had multiple owners through the decades and was significantly reworked in 1989 and 1994 it continued to change hands before an affiliate of Spectrum Energy with common ownerships bought it and 291 other wells last year for about $3.9 million Coast Guard officials said the shut-in well was being kept closed with valves the well passed a state safety inspection in June 2023 who works for the Center for Biological Diversity alleged oil companies often use the promise of future production to shut-in wells and avoid more costly plugging and abandonment unplugged wells like this one are clearly a recipe for disaster" and suggested the problem was a reason to halt expansion of offshore drilling "For the sake of Louisiana's communities and sensitive coastal environment government officials should stop letting oil companies skip out on their well-plugging responsibilities," he added in a statement spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Natural Resources said the department has taken a variety of steps over the past decade including increasing financial security requirements and well inspections to incentivize owners to do something with their wells "Either get them in production or plug them and clean them up like you should," he said especially the smaller operators who are like The wells then become "orphans" that are the state’s responsibility Courreges argued the department is riding a fine line between pushing operators and unintentionally driving up the number of orphan wells which the Louisiana Legislative Auditor recently found would cost about $543 million to plug permanently Auditors have also recently found the state wasn't requiring enough security to cover plugging costs and has underfunded its plugging program Auditors have also separately questioned the spending by and oversight of a third-party agency that offers smaller drillers financial security for plugging Department officials have said they are trying to address the auditors' findings and have pushed new laws to tighten the rules David J. Mitchell can be reached at dmitchell@theadvocate.com Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:nolanewstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBATON ROUGE (WAFB) - A stolen 4-wheeler has been recovered and returned to its owner Detectives with the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Dontrell Wesley after receiving an anonymous tip about the stolen ATV investigators were able to link Wesley to the crime leading to his arrest for illegal possession of stolen things Wesley was arrested on an outstanding warrant for 2 counts of illegal possession of stolen things Click here to report a typo Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox Department of Justice on Tuesday dismissed a decades-old school desegregation case against Plaquemines Parish Department of Justice dismissed a decades-old school desegregation case against Plaquemines Parish on Tuesday ending an integration order that local leaders forcefully resisted in the 1960s before ultimately complying The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in 1966 after Plaquemines Parish, led by political boss and staunch segregationist Leander Perez a federal judge said that the parish school board had ended its system of racially segregated schools yet the case remained open for another 50 years according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill who said her office worked with the federal government to have the case dismissed Jeff Landry are urging the Justice Department to close all remaining desegregation cases in Louisiana “DOJ’s decision marks an important step forward not only for the Plaquemines Parish School Board but also for school boards across the State that can now follow suit,” Murrill said in a statement Tuesday About 30 of Louisiana's 69 traditional public school districts were still under desegregation orders as of 2020, according to an analysis by The Century Foundation Federal courts have imposed "unnecessary requirements" on those districts costing schools "tens of millions of dollars," Landry said in a statement activist federal judges," should make important education decisions "For those school systems still under desegregation cases I want you to know there is an end in sight," he said "and I encourage you to reach out to the Attorney General." Filed Tuesday the "joint stipulation of dismissal" by the federal government Murrill's office and the Plaquemines Parish School Board formally closes the desegregation case and ends court oversight of the district Board President Niko Tesvich and Superintendent Shelley Ritz Board called it a "truly historic day." "This dismissal confirms that the court’s supervision of the School Board has ended and that the elected school board members have full control of the Plaquemines Parish School System," they said "The School Board reaffirms its commitment to continuing to provide quality educational services to all students in a non-discriminatory manner." Supreme Court declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in its landmark 1954 case But school systems and state Legislatures across the South spend years fighting integration Plaquemines Parish made national headlines as Perez helped lead white resistance to school integration During the New Orleans school desegregation crisis of 1960 he told residents to “take action now," which contributed to a mob of thousands storming City Hall After the federal government sued to force school integration in Plaquemines Parish Perez represented the parish in the legal case Newspapers quoted him as saying that integration would be a “worse catastrophe than Hurricane Betsy.” District Court Judge Herbert Christenberry issued a desegregation order in 1966 which prevented Perez and other officials from interfering and warned that the FBI would act if they didn’t comply Still, the resistance continued. After the school board sent about 30 Black students to all-White Woodlawn High School the school's teachers quit and the school closed the court ruled that Plaquemines Parish had taken sufficient action to integrate the schools and eliminate "the effects of past discrimination,” and the case was "administratively closed." After that time, there were no further actions in the case, according to government "That ended today," the Justice Department said in a news release Tuesday Dhillon "righted a historical wrong" by closing the case “No longer will the Plaquemines Parish School Board have to devote precious local resources over an integration issue that ended two generations ago,” Dhillon said in a statement Email Christopher Cartwright at christopher.cartwright@theadvocate.com News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Mayor JB Barker announces partnership using AI technology to advance Plaquemine servicesPost SouthMayor JB Barker has initiated new contracts with South Central Planning and Development Commission and Obney.ai to provide more efficient operation of city services new grant opportunities and AI training for city employees This innovative partnership is new to Louisiana and will serve as a model for other cities South Central Planning will provide a variety of services to the city that will greatly enhance and modernize city services along with providing a more user-friendly experience for customers Through South Central’s proprietary software customers will be able to initiate code enforcement South Central Planning also will provide community and economic development planning assistance grant assistance and best practices consulting will use AI technology to provide the city with grant funding opportunities AI training for employees that includes real-world application The two agencies will be working together to use AI technology to modernize city operations find a multitude of grant opportunities that match city needs much faster than in the past and creating more efficient work flows “This provides us with services we need to operate more efficiently and uses the latest technology to improve our city,” Barker said “We are excited about the many benefits that the city will reap from this pro-active and progressive approach.” Barker proposed the strategic partnership to the City Board of Selectmen “Mayor Barker’s approach is unique in combining current operational excellence with future focused innovation His vision unprecedented in Louisiana,” said Justin Obney Plaquemine is demonstrating how municipal government can evolve strategically without disruption.” PLAQUEMINE - The city of Plaquemine is partnering with multiple organizations to use AI technology to advance city services The two organizations involved in this partnership are the South Central Planning and Development Commission and obney.ai The three involved say that this innovative partnership is new to Louisiana and they feel that it will serve as a model to other cities and municipalities who became enamored with AI two years ago when using ChatGPT I ended up jumping all the way into the AI piece to see how we could make a difference from our background in systems engineering and how we could kind of coordinate that to bigger pieces with bigger organizations," Obney said Plaquemine Mayor JB Barker was one of the first to reach out to see how this technology would allow them to compete with bigger cities obney.ai will use the AI tech to help the city find out which grants would help the city the most "The component for us is working with the staff to understand where to use AI and how you can really plug that in to really have a tangible effect That component is great for the education and workforce development component." Another thing the AI tech will be able to do is take what's said in Plaquemine city council meetings and summarize it for the public "Hopefully better communications back to the citizens so you look at things like meetings and city councils if we can use it to get meeting minutes and drafts of what happened out quicker to the citizens," Obney said The Planning and Development Commission aims to provide a variety of services to Plaquemine that will greatly enhance and modernize city services They'll use software they created to help provide citizens with initiating code enforcement We pride ourselves on hopefully next-day inspections they should be able to receive in a fairly short amount of time we're talking days," SCPDC CEO Kevin Belanger said The SCPDC also has 16 certified building officials who will be able to help with answering questions about topics like building permits and inspections "We work with the United States Department of Commerce we will be able to best advise the city on how best to approach any particular project," Belanger said Belanger says the contract for them coming into Plaquemine to do software and code enforcement is around $75,000 "They will be able to go into the office and be able to use it that's going to take some time to be able to get all of the connections and credit cards situated but I think in a fairly short amount of time we'll be able to get that rolling," Belanger said "This provides us with services we need to operate more efficiently and uses the latest technology to improve our city," Mayor JB Barker said "We are excited about the many benefits that the city will reap from this proactive and progressive approach." 75 near Mendoza Road in Plaquemine left one person dead on the morning of April 30 spokesman for Louisiana State Police Troop A According to the preliminary investigation a 2008 Pontiac Torrent driven by Hall crossed the centerline in the northbound lane of La crossed the centerline and collided with the Mack truck PLAQUEMINE - A man was arrested after a stolen four-wheeler was recovered according to the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office was booked for illegal possession of stolen things as well as two outstanding warrants for the same charge Officials said an anonymous tip was given regarding the location of a stolen four-wheeler leading to the vehicle's recovery and deputies linking Wesley to the crime Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPLAQUEMINE (WAFB) - Some residents in Plaquemine will temporarily lose power on Friday this is due to a planned power outage Entergy Louisiana is doing as part of reliability improvements in the area The outage is expected to last between 9 a.m Officials said it will impact 63 customers in the Homestead An aerial image taken from an overflight on April 28 shows marsh affected by a leaking oil well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish The Coast Guard has implemented a safety zone in the area and crews have installed containment and absorbent boom to contain the oily liquids leaking from the Spectrum OpCo well that was drilled 82 years ago An aerial image taken from an overflight on April 28 The Coast Guard has implemented a safety zone in the area and crews have installed containment and absorbent boom to contain the oily liquids leaking from the Spectrum OpCo LLC well that was drilled 82 years ago under different ownership during a state inspection The 82-year-old well near Garden Island Bay in southern Plaquemines Parish began leaking oily material on Saturday the then-well owner was cited for a lack of signage but passed in all other respects Contractors on Tuesday worked to try and control an 82-year-old oil well that is leaking into the marshes of southern Plaquemines Parish as response workers set up absorbent booms and deployed other measures to try and contain the spill Around 150 response workers had recovered 9,492 gallons of oily liquids, or approximately 226 barrels, leaked from the well into Garden Island Bay near the mouth of the Mississippi River Coast Guard officials said in an update Tuesday afternoon There have been no reports or observations of affected wildlife The leak of oil and gas from the Spectrum OpCo LLC's Garden Island Bay production facility was reported to the Coast Guard in New Orleans at 4 p.m An overflight by an air crew from the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office later confirmed the leak Coast Guard officials have not described the size of the leak and said that crews have not determined the flow rate of the leak or how much oily liquid has escaped from the well so far The cause of the leak remains under investigation Spectrum OpCo LLC took ownership of the well and 291 other wells in Garden Island Bay from Whitney Oil and Gas LLC in August 2024 the leaking oil well was among many that has changed hands several times through the years 59 was reworked in 1989 and 1994 in an attempt to access different oil-bearing zones thousands of feet underground but has been shut in since 2015 With the exception of missing signage in 2008 and 2023 the well had passed several state inspections during that period Spectrum OpCo officials have not responded to a request for comment since Monday The company has been deemed the responsible party and has formed a unified command with the Coast Guard and state Oil Spill Coordinator's Office to manage the response The company has hired response and other contractors under a state and federally approved plan the Coast Guard has restricted flights for up to 2,000 feet high within 2 miles of the leaking well as response workers operated 10 skimmers and deployed a variety of recovery storage equipment Workers had also put out 7,800 feet of 18-inch-thick containment boom and 382 bales of absorbent boom aimed at preventing oil from contaminating nearby islands a Delaware-based company with New York state ownership is one of two companies with active wells in the Garden Island Bay field state business and oil and gas records show Editor's Note: This story was updated to provided new details on the extent of response efforts PLAQUEMINE - A man died after a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Louisiana Highway 75 and Mendoza Road crossed the centerline and collided with a Mack truck in the other lane Hall was pronounced dead on the scene and a juvenile passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries The days of law enforcement operations from a repurposed swimming pool bathhouse have come to an end for the Plaquemine Police Department Full operations retuned to the location on Railroad Avenue at Court Street last week after a longer-than-expected “temporary” relocation to its training center at Plaquemine City Park on Ferdinand Street “It feels great to be back home,” said Police Chief Stephen Engolio as he sat at the new desk in his office at the headquarters “I’m just happy top back where we can have the private conversations that are always a part of this job.” The work list on the $2 million project included roof repairs and replacement It also called for upgrade of the HVAC systems The new building also will include private rooms for interrogations and other issues mildew and leaks in the main building forced the relocation in early 2023 but  work windows and other items on the building believed to have been built in the late 1800s or at the early part of the 20th century forced postponement for the return to the two-story building on the corner of Railroad and Court Street which has Plaquemine Police operations since 1996 when C.J The delays were frustrating for Engolio and others on the force but he said the finished product was well worth the way Aside from being in a more spacious environment in a two-story building the return puts the Plaquemine Police Department back where it belongs “We’re a short walk away from City Hall and very close to the courthouse,” Engolio said The temporary site originally served as the bathhouse for the public swimming pool until it was closed in 1963 It later served as a facility for the Iberville Parish Council on Aging The Geaux Jobs Center is once again hosting its annual career expo and job fair in collaboration with the Iberville and West Baton Rouge Chambers of Commerce The event is open to the public from 9 a.m there will be over 87 vendors from several industries and connect with educational institutions offering career advancement programs Organizers suggest job seekers bring a copy of their resume and dress professionally Geaux Jobs reports nearly 1,000 people attended the career expo last year Westlake Chemical and DOW are among the many companies sponsoring the event Shreveport artist William Joyce created the Louisiana "I voted" stickers for the 2024 election. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com) John "J.B." Barker has been elected as the newest mayor of Plaquemine powering past opponent Timmy Martinez on Saturday the current mayor pro-tem of the city's Board of Selectman Barker will follow three-term mayor Edwin "Ed" Reeves Barker is the owner of a local plumbing business and previously served as executive director of the Louisiana State Plumbing Board under three governors and served as the Iberville Parish Director of Solid Waste Martinez is a retiree following more than 40 years in the petrochemical industry He also served for more than 16 years on the city's Board of Selectman Plaquemine also had two runoff elections Saturday for posts on its Board of Selectman Independent Brent Barbier received 67% of the vote to beat out Democrat "Lin" Rivet for the District I seat took 72% of the vote to win the District II seat over Jasmine "Jazz" Carter in a battle of Democrats Louisiana voters weighed in on constitutional amendments a new Baton Rouge mayor president and more over the weekend Louisiana voters went to the polls Saturday to cast their votes for a number of constitutional amendments and local races job seekers can meet with nearly 90 employers at the annual Career Expo and Job Fair in Plaquemine The Geaux Jobs Center partners with the Iberville Parish and West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce to host the annual Career Expo and Job Fair which brings employers and prospective employees together. Last year more than 87 companies in various fields ranging from healthcare and education to law enforcement and government will have tables at the event Gerald Berret Boulevard near Plaza Drive from 9 a.m Organizers said early admission for veterans begins at 8:30 a.m Participants are urged to bring resumes and dress professionally Anyone interested can sign up by scanning the QR code on the flyer Plaquemine voters elected John “JB” Barker in a runoff Saturday night to become the city’s next mayor Voters also elected Brent Barbier to serve as the District 1 member on Board of Selectmen while District 2 voters gave Mark Carlin another four years as their Selectman Barker drew 67 percent of the vote in his victory over former Selectman/Mayor Pro-Tem Timmy Martinez according to the unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office and I’m humbled that people had the faith in me to move this city forward and change the direction,” Barker said Barker won by the same percentage during early voting in which he had 534 votes against Martinez’s 264 votes Reeves had previously served terms on the Plaquemine Board of Selectmen and later held a seat on the Iberville Parish Council a lifelong Plaquemine resident and owner of a local plumbing business previously served as Executive Director of the Louisiana State Plumbing Board under three governors and as the Iberville Parish Director of Solid Waste District 1 — Brent Barbier unseated six-term District 1 Selectman Lin Rivet Barbier drew 333 votes against 166 for the incumbent candidate He picked up 157 votes in the early voting cycle District 2 — Mark Carlin landed a second term in Board of Selectmen with 181 votes against 71 for Jasmine “Jazz” Carter Carlin garnered 85 votes in the early voting phase and Carter had 27 Barker said during his campaign he would establish a code of conduct for the Board of Selectmen and would demand courtesy and professionalism His platform included plans to utilize his experience in public works to help with improvement of the Plaquemine infrastructure which he cites as one of the biggest obstacles in the city’s growth He said during his campaign he would work to make Plaquemine more conducive to small business and develop ways for them to persevere in an era of “big box” retailers Growth in economic development will provide alternative sources of revenue to provide relief from high utility bills He also said he wants the city to implement steps that would make Plaquemine a “model city” for communities its size and to develop it into an area where residents do not stress over safety Barker said he wants both the state and nation to see Plaquemine as a great place to live The Mississippi River — one of Plaquemine’s attractions — could figure in the plan to bring Plaquemine recognition statewide and across the nation Plaquemine voters will decide their next mayor in a Dec as well as two members of the Board of Selectmen the city’s Mayor-Pro Tem on the Board of Selectman will square off to determine the successor to three-term officeholder Edwin M Barker is owner of a local plumbing business previously served as executive director of the Louisiana State Plumbing Board under three governors and served as the Iberville Parish Director of Solid Waste Martinez is a retiree who worked 44 years in the petrochemical industry He has served 16 years on the Board of Aldermen and currently serves as Mayor Pro-Tem Barker emerged as the frontrunner in the Nov 5 primary when he drew 1,569votes (44 percent) while Martinez had 983 (28 percent) — just 33 votes more than Tonya Harmason the seats for districts 1 and 2 also will be up for grabs on the ballot Selectman Lin Rivet hopes to keep his seat another four years in a race against Brent Barbier who outdrew the four-term incumbent 338 (47 percent) to 213 (30 percent) will vie for a second term against Jasmine “Jazz” Carter Carlin had 227 votes (47 percent) against Carter’s 96 (20 percent) Jennfier Bezet trailed Carter by eight votes Plaquemine’s 2025 baseball season reached the end of the road after consecutive losses April 18 and 19 in a first-round Division II non-select series at Pearl River The Green Devils held the home team to a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth when a single on a bunt to third yielded two more runs for Pearl River Jackson Jeansonne and Tre Dailey posted the two Plaquemine hits The Green Devils mounted a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when J Mellieon scored on an error by the catcher but Pearl River piled five runs in the top of the second en route to a 13-3 win Jackson Jeansonne scored off a Tre Daley double in the bottom of the second but Pearl River scattered eight runs in the last three innings to eliminate the Green Devils Daley also scored in the bottom of the seventh off a Chris Lee two-bagger A lawsuit filed Thursday by the third-place candidate in the Plaquemine mayoral primary seeks a state court order to enjoin or halt the Dec The suit lists Secretary of State Nancy Landry and Iberville Parish Registrar of Voters Kirsha Barker as defendants in the suit Lurry will preside over the hearing at 9 a.m at West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse in Port Allen Harmason missed the runoff against frontrunner JB Barker and Plaquemine Selectman Timmy Martinez in the four-candidate race She alleges in the suit that several active voters at two polling locations notified various poll waters of their names being removed form voter logs in the polling location where they have voted in the past not being able to cast their votes,” Harmason said Martinez tallied 983 and Harmason garnered 950 Fourth-place candidate Terry Higgins had 29 Harmason alleged in the suit that more than 30 individuals that voiced their concerns to various polls watchers about not being able to vote at the locations the voter had used for more than 10 years She alleges gerrymandering took place and that voters were unaware of it Harmason claimed the voters who were turned away were black voters which she cited as a violation of the Voters Rights Act of 1965 “These voters would have impacted a highly contested and unconventional Mayor’s race in Plaquemine,” she said in the lawsuit “Those votes would have made a difference.”  (WAFB) - The Plaquemine High School Marching Band has been selected to march in the official National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C School officials said this is the band’s second invitation to perform during the parade The Green Machine successfully took the trip to D.C “This is an amazing honor for our students and community,” said Plaquemine High School Band Director and the long-lasting effects of our performances are demonstrated by their recognition and invitation to return.” The band is starting a fundraising campaign to pay for their trip and people in the community are invited to donate so that students can participate in the event To contribute to the Plaquemine High School “Green Machine” or for additional information please email AnthonyHollins@ipsb.education or call 225-687-6367 PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating a shooting that took place Wednesday night at a gas station Officials describe it as a “shootout” given the amount of shell casings left on the scene at the Jubilee Gas Station on La 1 in Iberville Parish when it appears multiple people started shooting at each other No one was hit and everyone fled the scene Iberville deputies are investigating and no further details are have been released It’s also unclear what led up to the shooting Officials are asking for any help or tips that could help deputies Anyone with any information is asked to call the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office at 225-687-5100 Download the Unfiltered with Kiran app from the Apple App Store and Google Play to stay updated on the latest news across the Capital area Help support UWK and their mission to continue providing you “The News You Deserve. Unfiltered.” Sign up to become a monthly patron via Patreon well if they get them our Da tony clayton needs to start doing his job by prosecuting them in stud of letting them go and website in this browser for the next time I comment Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to follow up Let's ConnectFollow along on your favorite social media platform and get the latest updates directly in your feed Download our app or join our newsletter for instant access to breaking news and in-depth stories from anywhere The Krewe of Comogo brought it's Mardi Gras flair to Plaquemine on the evening of March 2 A rider dangles Mardi Gras feathers from a float before tossing them into the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A mother and her children wave as a float approaches their spot along the route during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A Veteran tosses a ball into the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A rider grabs a necklace to throw during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A float slices through the crowd at the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A rider hands out a special item to someone in the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A rider hands a little girl a gift during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A rider tosses a handful of beads to the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday Riders toss beads and other goodies to the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A float at the 2025 Krewe of Comogo rolls through the crowd on Sunday Riders toss beads to the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A rider gets read to hand beads to spectators during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A cymbal player performs with the Plaquemine High School Marching Band 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday Spectators wait to catch the beads flying over head during 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A big-head Mardi Gras costume marcher walks the route during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday Parade goers get set as the 2025 Krewe of Comogo begins along LA-1 on Sunday A women uses a net to catch items at the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday A riders hands a cup to a girl in the crowd during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday Riders toss beads as the crowd goes crazy during the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday Plaquemine Fire Department Engine 5 navigates the route early in the 2025 Krewe of Comogo on Sunday and other liquids including biofuels and natural gas liquids and projections integrated across all energy sources Financial market analysis and financial data for major energy companies and resources related to energy disruptions and infrastructure Regional energy information including dashboards Come test out some of the products still in development and let us know what you think Forms EIA uses to collect energy data including descriptions Sign up for email subscriptions to receive messages about specific EIA products Subscribe to feeds for updates on EIA products including Today in Energy and What's New Reports requested by congress or otherwise deemed important Retail prices for regular grade gasoline in California are consistently higher than in any other state in the continental United States often exceeding the national average by more than a dollar per gallon Several factors contribute to this high price crude oil prices generally decreased while U.S refinery margins initially increased before decreasing in the final month of the quarter we review petroleum markets price developments in 1Q25 and structurally lower debt needs have contributed to lower interest expenses for some publicly traded U.S despite the level of interest rates across the economy being relatively high imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 to average 1.8 million b/d exports of total petroleum products increased to a record 6.6 million barrels per day (b/d) annual average petroleum product exports increased by 495,000 b/d as U.S while exports of total motor gasoline decreased decreased by 210,000 b/d in 2024 compared with 2023 The TIE was reposted to correct a data point In 2024, pipeline companies completed five pipeline projects to transport petroleum liquids in the United States, according to our recently updated Liquids Pipeline Projects Database The five projects consisted of three hydrocarbon gas liquid (HGL) pipelines and two petroleum product pipelines U.S. marketed natural gas production remained relatively flat in 2024, growing by less than 0.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) compared with 2023 to average 113 Bcf/d, according to our latest Natural Gas Monthly Production growth in the Permian was offset by declining production in the Haynesville and relatively flat production in Appalachia U.S. crude oil production grew by 270,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 to average 13.2 million b/d, according to our Petroleum Supply Monthly Almost all the production growth came from the Permian region U.S. energy consumption decreases in the next several years before increasing again in the early 2040s through 2050, according to our recently published Annual Energy Outlook 2025 (AEO2025) energy consumption in 2050 is lower than in 2024 in most of the scenarios we explore in AEO2025 but the range of outcomes varies significantly based on the underlying assumptions has hovered around 1.1 million barrels per day (b/d) since 2020 and we forecast it will remain about the same through 2026 crude oil exports in 2024 surpassed the previous record set in 2023 exceeding an annual average of 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d) crude oil export year-over-year growth slowed to 1% in 2024 One of Iberville Parish’s most beloved landmarks soon will reopen to fanfare A ceremony June 13 will celebrate the reopening of the Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site where the Plaquemine Locks operated from 1909 until its closure in 1961 parish and local officials will be in attendance for the ceremony along with food and drinks to be served after the ceremony Hebert Memorial Lockhouse has been closed to the public since January 2024 for upgrades and renovations The project marked the first substantial work on the building in more than 40 years the Lockhouse will feature a modern interactive exhibit that will not only tell the story of the Lock but also engage visitors with interactive and hands-on exhibits The repairs and renovations implemented to the Lockhouse included the repair of leaks and cracks waterproofing the building and upgrades of the electrical system an ADA-compliant restroom and handicapped-accessible ramps inside the Lockhouse It also includes drainage improvements to the grounds and upgrades to the restroom building on the grounds The work was spearheaded by Friends of the Plaquemine Lock the non-profit organization that serves as guardian of the Lock site to ensure is upkeep and promotion to the public Realizing that a major renovation was needed the Friends group began work in 2022 on a plan to raise the funds and begin the much-needed repairs and renovations to the Lockhouse and grounds Friends of the Lock had raised funds and made repairs throughout the years and had received financial backing from Iberville Parish Government and the City of Plaquemine but the upgrades and renovations carried a much higher price tag Caleb Kleinpeter of Grosse Tete secured the first significant funding — $500,000 in state Capital Outlay funds during the 2023 Legislative Session Since that time they secured another $40,000 The Iberville Parish Council doled out an additional $100,000 in 2023 during then-Parish President J and Parish President Chris Daigle and the Council followed that with $150,000 in 2024 The Plaquemine Board of Selectmen pitched in $150,000 during the administration of former Mayor Edwin M Both Parish President Daigle and current Mayor J.B Barker have been avid supporters of the project The Friends group also has conducted a fundraising campaign for the renovation and has directed the entire renovation and new exhibit project They chose a nationally recognized exhibit company out of Washington H+R Design had produced exhibits for the Smithsonian and the U.S The new exhibit in the Lockhouse will feature new interactive experiences that will draw visitors to the site and is sure to educate and entertain them plans are underway for more use of the site grounds for events in the future A vast array of classic automotives will adorn the grounds of the Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park on Saturday Jude Car Show in Plaquemine has showcased classic cars The 26th annual show last year put the event over the top in donations The contributions from participants and other donors put the event over the $1 million mark in donations for the St The show was the brainchild of the late Joe and Fay Colletti members of the Baton Rouge Corvette Club and enthusiasts of the iconic Chevrolet model and every cent of the event goes to the St Jude Corvette Show has made the Baton Rouge Corvette Club the largest donating car club in America that supports St Don Zuelke was the top winner at last year’s event He won Best of Show for his 1948 Ford Thames a rare model that was manufactured in an assembly plant in Great Britain Voters citywide in Plaquemine will make their final decisions Dec 7 on who will serve as the city’s first new mayor in 16 years while the electorate in two districts will decide who will represent their areas on the city’s Board of Selectmen In the mayor race to succeed retiring officeholder Edwin M local businessman and public works employee J.B Barker — the frontrunner in the primary — faces opposition from Timmy Martinez who served four terms on the Board of Selectmen Work to reduce high utility bills ranks as a top priority for both candidates along with efforts for improved infrastructure and a plan to lure more business to the area previously served as executive director of the Louisiana State Plumbing Board under three governors as well as the Iberville Parish Director of Solid Waste He says his experience in public works would help with improvement of the Plaquemine infrastructure Barker also wants to implement a master plan to guarantee that Plaquemine gets the most positive impact from growth said he wants to work on strategies to put Plaquemine’s business landscape in line with towns and cities in Ascension and West Baton Rouge parishes He said he would want to hire an economic development director for the city he wants to seek ways to bring more housing to the area to keep younger residents in the city Barker emerged as the frontrunner when he drew 1,569votes (44 percent) four-term member Lin Rivet hopes to keep his District 1 seat in a runoff against Brent Barbier hopes to gain a second term in office when he faces Jasmine “Jazz” Carter in the runoff Carlin had 227 votes (47 percent) against Carter’s 96 (20 percent) in the primary race Demolition continued last week on an iconic Plaquemine landmark that served as a popular music venue for decades 1 South brought down a venue established decades ago by White Castle resident Mike Francise according to longtime Plaquemine resident Alcee Becnel — was best known as a popular dance hall that frequently featured live music and dancing courtesy and cuisine meet the requirements of the most discriminating,” according to notes provided by Plaquemine historian Burke Devillier a former Plaquemine Selectman who died in November 1967 Army soldiers were stationed in Plaquemine to guard the Locks because German submarines were discovered in the Mississippi River “It was a big thing for Plaquemine… there were always dances over there and it was opened every weekend,” he said “Teenagers back in those days spent a lot of time there."  He helped frequently at Mike’s during the Father’s Club Bingo “I’d get up on the roof and patch up a few spots,” he said putting air conditioning units in the windows… it was better for the bingo nights.” One of the units came from the old Silber Hotel (later the Lamar Hotel but Mike’s had fallen dormant for several years thereafter The club went through other rounds of management and ownership but it made a grand finale in the early 2000s before it ultimately went dormant the longtime Iberville Parish Clerk of Court and local realtor acquired the building in the early 2000s and eventually leased it to Hunter Markins and Paul Distefano The format struck a chord when they began booking a variety of live bands that packed the white concrete building on weekends Rock music cover bands such as The Chee-Weez 35-0 and Bag of Donuts performed on weekends Trent Medine and Robbie Frioux — all Plaquemine residents “They always played the night before Thanksgiving — that was our biggest night,” he said the club hosted Swamp Pop great Don Rich and area county band such as Foret Tradition “You could have a different crowd on Friday that you had on Saturday and a different band on Sunday,” Distefano said “We even had swing for the guys who grew up in the '40s and they wanted it because they wanted to listen to the music they grew up with “It’s just like all of us who grew up in the 1980s liked our Eighties music.”  It was as much about the geography as it was the genre “Our idea when we opened the bar was to hit different crowds — the Baton Rouge crowd one night the Plaquemine crowd another night or maybe the Pierre Part residents the next night,” said Markins who was only 21 when he and Distefano started running the club They even offered a “Dollar Beer Night” on Wednesday “We didn’t even make money on it,” Markins said “It just served to advertise for who was playing that weekend.” Another big part of the success stemmed from a morning radio disc jockey “Gonzo in the Morning” who made weekly visits to the club It wasn’t just the music that made it special The club had a sentimental meaning for Distefano when Hurricane Gustav wreaked considerable damage to the club but we opened it back… we had a great run,” Distefano said The advent of casinos also dealt a sour note Lucrative officers drew area bands to casinos throughout the region and quieted down many roadside clubs “When those bands went from offers of five grand up to 10 grand a night it became very hard to compete,” Markins said we were putting in enormous amounts of money — weekly and even daily — for repairs.” and people traveling less made things a lot tougher to say in business One person died Saturday night in a crash involving a bicyclist on La just north of Plaquemine near the Iberville-West Baton Rouge parish line The crash took the life of Jonathan Harris Harris and another passenger were riding a bicycle west on La according to Trooper First Class Shelby Mayfield of Louisiana State Police Troop A a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee also was traveling west on LA 1148 (Choctaw Road) in the westbound lane the Jeep struck the rear of the bicycle in the westbound lane of travel Harris sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene The passenger on the bicycle sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital The driver of the Jeep was properly restrained and was uninjured routine toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis Louisiana bicycle law mandates that cyclists must adhere to traffic regulations just like motorists cyclists are required to ride as close to the right-hand side of the road as possible Adhering to these laws not only promotes roadway safety but also ensures better understanding between cyclists and other road users in Louisiana The administration of Plaquemine Mayor J.B “I’ve been sitting here tonight listening to every oath and the words that stuck out to me more than anyone was 'impartial' — and that’s what our administration will be like,” he said James and Jude — and grandchildren when he took the oath of office from retired District Court Judge William C He is the son of the late Willam and Melwyn Barker who owned operated Barker’s Drug Store for decades He took the oath one week after the passing of his brother Bill Barker Barker’s speech capped the inauguration ceremony for him the Board of Selectmen and police and fire department officials in front crowd of several hundred spectators Jan along with re-elected members of the Board of Selectmen: Michael Carlin It also marked the swearing-in for Brent Barbier who won the District 1 seat in a runoff victory over longtime Selectman Lin Rivet Stephen Engolio took the oath for his first full term as police chief and Darren Ramirez was sworn in for his ninth year as fire chief a post for which the officeholder takes oath annually Engolio went unopposed in the race for police chief The members of the Plaquemine Police Department were also sworn in during the ceremony Barker promised a cordial working relationship with his Board and all other municipal officials  7 runoff over former Selectman Timmy Martinez Barker commended his predecessor for the projects that came to fruition during his two terms in office Those endeavors included the Plaquemine Community Center as well as the ongoing refurbishment of the Plaquemine Police Department which is expected to be complete by February or early March It also includes plans for a pavilion on property adjacent to the Plaquemine Depot Market on the south entrance of the city The “stewardship of the city finances” will mark the most important legacy of the previous administration Mayor Reeves is going to leave this city in the best financial shape it has been in its history,” he said Barker reiterated his campaign promise to address and bring relief to the high cost of utilities make necessary adjustments and adopt policies and procedures as they are warranted He also reiterated a campaign promise to change the image of Plaquemine “My passion is to see a transformed Plaquemine to change the composition of what Plaquemine looks like to change the structure of what Plaquemine looks like to change the character of the citizens of Plaquemine,” he said “We will all pull together to continue the changes that have happened in the last administration … we will change the appearance for a new and improved city and we will prioritize and address needs before we ever will the wants,” Barker said Barker concluded his message with the outlook he has for his first term in office “I know one thing for sure: I know myself and these people behind me will not always agree on anything we can do it professionally and courteously PLAQUEMINE - The second Plaquemine ferry will be out of service until further notice while it helps in Cameron Parish.  The Department of Transportation of Development will be moving the ferry to help the ferry system in Cameron Parish while its vessel is being repaired The remaining vessel will remain in Plaquemine to carry out regular ferry duties during modified hours until further notice.  The new Plaquemine ferry hours are Monday to Friday from 4 a.m PLAUQEMINE - The Krewe of Comogo rolled through Plaquemine on Sunday and the parade debuted the Krewe's 50th float that featured a gigantic crawfish.  Revelers said the larger-than-life crustacean was the star of the show said it took about two months to complete.  never seen it done before in the state," he said.  Comeaux says he's already thinking about ideas for next year.  PLAQUEMINE — Two people were brought to the hospital Saturday evening after a heater blew up in the front bedroom of a Plaquemine home on La An Acadian Ambulance Service spokesperson said that the two people were transported with second-degree burns and inhalation damage.  Police and firefighters also responded to the scene (WAFB) - An ongoing investigation into illegal drug activity in Iberville Parish has led to one man’s arrest According to the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office into custody after finding him in possession of methamphetamine they were reportedly executing a search warrant on Talbot Drive in Plaquemine Deputies reported seizing the illegal narcotics and charging Ridgeway with the following: (WAFB) - Plaquemine Police want to find the people responsible for circulating door-to-door fliers around the city According to a post on the police department’s Facebook page the flier contains inaccurate crime statistics as well as inappropriate content aimed at certain groups The officers behind the page emphasized that the Plaquemine Police Department is not affiliated with the distribution nor affiliated with the group or groups responsible PPD is asking the community to call them at 225-687-927 if you received the fliers and have video surveillance that could help them in their investigation An upcoming full moon will set the stage for the second installment of what a Plaquemine resident hopes to make a longstanding tradition for the city Full Moon Market will return from 6 to 9 p.m food trucks and entertainment at 58065 Main St The event will feature more than 30 vendors which is twice the total of last month’s event “We want to bring an entire community together and start a movement,” she said “I’m doing what I’ve been called and led to do “If we can get the community to come together this could open the door for our city to transform there’s no reason it can’t happen for Plaquemine.” Vendors scheduled for the event include: Be You Charms Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInIBERVILLE PARISH (WAFB) - Emergency officials are asking residents in part of Plaquemine to temporarily shelter in place after a pipeline leaked on Friday morning According to the Iberville Parish Government a pipeline leaked on Highway 75 (Belleview Road) in Plaquemine the shelter-in-place for Plaquemine High has been lifted Pecan Meadow remains on a temporary “shelter-in-place.” A section of Highway 75 *Belleview Rd.) remains closed and they are flaring the rest of the product ADDIS - Officials have identified a badly burned body that was found in a fiery sugarcane field as an 18-year-old who had been missing from Plaquemine for six days Sahajda Doc Willis with the West Baton Rouge Coroner's Office said dental records matched Ja’Morius Mitchell "We suspected danger from the start," Plaquemine Police Chief Stephen Engolio told the WBRZ Investigative Unit "He was usually very reliable with keeping in touch with his mother I just had a bad feeling on this one almost from day one." Mitchell's body was found in burning sugarcane along Sid Richardson Road in Addis on Wednesday afternoon Sources told WBRZ the victim had a gunshot wound WBRZ previously spoke with Troy Canella the farmer who first saw the fire and then found the body in the field West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputies arrived about an hour later Mitchell's death is being investigated as a homicide.  A two-vehicle collision on Belleview Road near Milly Plantation Road took the life of a Plaquemine woman Friday morning The crash claimed the life of 34-year-old Randi Daigle The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2013 Nissan Altima was traveling southbound on LA 75 (Belleview Road) a 2000 Ford F-250 was traveling northbound on LA 75 entered the northbound lane of travel and impacted the Ford The driver of the Ford also was unrestrained and sustained moderate injuries Impairment is unknown at this time; however standard toxicology samples will be taken and submitted for analysis