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What are your plans after high school?

I plan to attend SLCC in the fall. I want to pursue a career in diesel mechanics.

Who was you favorite teacher?

I really didn’t have a favorite. I liked all of them.

Who has had the biggest influence on you and why?

I would say my dad. He and I are a lot alike and we both like the same things.

What is your favorite movie?

I would say “Stepbrothers” with Will Ferrell and John Reilly because it makes me laugh every time I watch it.

If you had a chance to have dinner with one person in history, who would it be?

I would love to have dinner with Babe Ruth. I would like to compare baseball then and now with him.

If you could go back what advice would you give freshman?

I would tell them to play every game as if it was their last because you never know when it will be taken away from you!

What was your most memorable moment for your senior year?

Homecoming

Who would you count on to uplift your spirits when you are feeling down?

I would definitely say my family. You can always count on family.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well I hope to do good in my career and own my own business someday.

Harvard University researchers and epidemiologists are at it again, warning this time that America is nowhere close to having a true picture of the Coronavirus outbreak.  Other research and civic groups are beginning to agree.

At the present, 150-thousand tests are given each day in the United States.  But one Harvard research group says decisionmakers won't have a clear picture of infection hotspots until we test 500,000 to 700,000 each day.  

Harvard then assembled a panel of 45 experts in health, science and economics who said even that rate is not enough.  How much is enough?  The panel says testing in the U.S. should be, by June, up to 5-million tests given per day.  Moreover, the report further stated, "This number will need to increase over time (ideally by late July) to 20 million a day to fully remobilize the economy." 

In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards is desperate to meet federal guidelines of decreasing new COVID cases for 14 straight days to meet the White House criteria for reaching  Phase One, the opening step to reopening all businesses.  But the World Health Organization says the test-to-positives ratio should be at a safe 10%, meaning only 1 in 10 test positive for the virus.  In Orleans Parish, residents testing positive is still topping 30%.

Governor Edwards says a myriad of parameters are being considered.

"There's a lot of different metrics out there to say when you can safely reopen," he said.  "This is not flipping a light switch and we go back to the way it was 3 months ago. We're gearing up in a month to test as many as 200,000 people per month and that depends on capacity, not just the labs but also collection kits, and to do everything it takes to take that sample, get it to the lab, and have it tested quickly and accurately."

Assistant Director of the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. Alex Billioux, added, "We're going to be looking at different measures rather than just that how many tests per thousand.  We're really going to be trying to understand what do we do to reach different proportions of people across the state."

Governor Edwards says he prefers to reopen the state all at once, not by parish or region.  Caddo residents are testing positive at a rate of about 7 percent, well within what the World Health Organization says is safe.  But Orleans and Jefferson are three times that rate and East Baton Rouge hovers at 17% testing positive for the virus.

Says Dr. Billioux, "Right now that LSU Shreveport lab is running tests for most of Region 7, most of the area around Bossier-Caddo, and is now reaching over to E.A. Conway hospital in Ouachita so they've already got the [ramped up testing] model going.  That's why you see such large volumes being reported there.  That's also the reason why we're talking about retooling the way we report that data so when you look at the dashboard, you'll have a better sense of where are the people being tested located, rather than where is that testing happening?"

In the meantime, until testing can quadruple, Governor Edwards is pleased that most Louisiana prevented a major pandemic by staying home.  The shutdown has been effective in flattening the all-important COVID-19 curve.  Louisiana Department of Health numbers show that fewer patients are being hospitalized and those needing ventilators continue to lessen.

Now the real worry is an economy in critical condition.  The Edwards administration is feeling daily pressure to lift the current stay-at-home order for nonessential employees while educators are doing their best to teach through technology.

For the first time in a century, the campus of Louisiana's flagship university that normally buzzes with 30,000 students is like every other university in the state and nation.  LSU is completely silent and barren.  

Tiger Stadium's 102,321 seats are empty, where crowds in the past have been so loud as to ping the Richter scale on seismographs.  The world's sixth largest capacity stadium now sits eerily silent, making it that much more difficult to believe it is home to America's reigning National Champions of college football.  The Louisiana squad won that victory just three months ago, right before Coronavirus paralyzed the world.

Louisiana State is not set to defend that title in just four more months.

Governor Edwards says the big question now is, when the team takes the field, will anyone be in the stands or will fans have to watch by television?  "Given the current information," he says, "we're not sure what we'll be doing.  My foremost job is to protect public safety."
 

Ronnie Miguez, 70, a life-long resident of Abbeville, Louisiana, died on April 19, 2020, at Abbeville General Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on February, 13, 1950, the second to youngest child of the marriage of Vernice Miguez and Avia Ortemond Miguez.
He is survived by this two sisters, Willie Primeaux of Abbeville and Dorothy (Dot) Danos of Meaux; two brothers, E. Paul Miguez of Meaux and Norris Miguez of Abbeville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and five brother, Eddie, Joseph (Joe), Paul, Wilmer (Cowboy) and Vernice (Kini) Miguez.
For many years, Ronnie drove 18-wheelers across the country. He enjoyed hunting, cooking Cajun dishes, country music, trucks, speaking Cajun French, and was particularly fond of his collection of cowboy hats.
In 1990, he helped a group of volunteers renovate the old Bank of Erath, which was transformed into the Acadian Museum in Erath, now one of the most-visited historical venues in Vermilion Parish.
Some of his co-volunteers included Iry J. Melancon, Henry “Lolly” Perrin, Robert Vincent, Warren Perrin, Aldon “Shug” LeBlanc and Canadians René Babineau and Wilfred Doucet.
For 18 years, he volunteered to be in charge of maintenance of the museum’s operations and he was also often called upon after hours to open the facility and lead a tour for unexpected international visitors in his native French.
In July of 2005, as part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Acadian Deportation, Ronnie was part of a delegation of board of directors of Acdian Museum that toured Canada, where Ronnie was called upon to prepare Cajun dishes for large crowds in Montreal, Quebec City, Moncton and Halifax.
His memory will live on forever in the hearts of those who loved him. “Bon voyage et merci beaucuop pour votrê soutien pour preserver notre culture Cadien.” The family wishes to thank Jimmy St. Marie and Warren Perrin for their help and support.
The family will honor his wishes and have him cremated. A memorial service may be announced at a later date. Donations may be made in Ronnie’s name to the Acadian Musuem, P.O. Box 53597, Lafayette, La., 70505.

It is no secret Rep. Blake Miguez is a straight shooter and shoots from the hip. Rep. Miguez is also not afraid to stand up for the little guy in South Louisiana.
Over the weekend, Rep. Miguez wrote a letter to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards asking him to reopen Louisiana’s small businesses. He sent it to the Governor on Sunday.
Rep. Miguez said he wrote the letter because he’s hearing depressing news from business owners who are struggling.
Rep. Miguez said, “I’ve been hearing heartbreaking stories about the devastation of our State and Local economy. Small business is the backbone of our economy. Many are fearful of losing their livelihoods if the economy continues to stay shutdown. I understand the daily sacrifices they are making to keep their employees and customers safe. The Governor needed to hear their voice and understand the pain and devastation an extension of his stay at home order could cause to our local economy. I pray and hope he considers this when he makes the tough decision on the path forward past April 30th.”
Based on what Gov. Edwards said last week, it did not sound like he was in a hurry to reopen Louisiana.
“We’re not going to get back to normal until we have a vaccine and some effective therapeutic treatments,” Edwards said at a morning, live-streamed news conference in Baton Rouge. “But, we’re not going to wait until then to start reopening the economy.”
Still, Edwards made clear that the reopening won’t be immediate. He pointed to statistics indicating stay-at-home orders and business closures have slowed the spread of COVID-19 and avoided overwhelming state hospitals.
“This is not the time to let up,” Edwards said.

Rep. Blake Miguez’ letter to Gov. John Bel Edwards

Governor Edwards:
I realize that we are living in unprecedented and unforeseen times, and I want to start by acknowledging the difficult choices you’ve had to make over the last few weeks.
We’ve lost many Louisianans—including several who were very close to us at the Capitol. In the House, we lost one of our own—Representative Reggie Bagala—who will be impossible to replace.
Our state, nation, and the world will never forget this most challenging time. Our first responders, health care workers, and all essential employees have made countless sacrifices for all of us, and we are all eternally grateful. It’s encouraging that our healthcare resources appear to be even more adequate than initially anticipated. No doubt, this is due to swift precautions and valiant efforts made by our healthcare professionals.
Every day we hear heartbreaking stories of the devastating economic impact the shutdown is having on the people of Louisiana. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They have sacrificed and been pushed to the limits to keep their employees and customers safe. Many small business owners across Louisiana have been denied promised relief from the Paycheck Protection Program due to a shortage of federal funding, making matters worse.
Now that the curve is beginning to flatten, they are eager to reopen safely.
Your current executive order expires on April 30th. I know you are trying to be diligent and steadfast in listening to advice from healthcare professionals as well as develop a plan for reopening.
On behalf of my constituents, I urge you to begin the process of reopening those businesses, on May 1st, under the phased guidelines provided by the White House. In particular, the President and his health care experts spoke about the ability to reopen our economy on a parish-by-parish basis.
I strongly believe this is the best approach to balance both the health and economic challenges we face.
Louisianans have been understanding and patient during this shutdown. But a long-term statewide shutdown is not sustainable. Continuing this universally across the entire state would cause widespread damage to the wellbeing of all our citizens.
America, and Louisiana, is a free society. We hold dear the freedoms of assembly, religion, and all other rights. In two weeks, please let us begin to reopen. Our people deserve to enjoy the freedoms bestowed upon them by both our state and US Constitution.
Louisianans are strong and resilient, and we know better days are ahead. Members of the legislature are eager to get back to work for the people of this great state. I stand ready to return to the Capitol and work with you to ensure that we set a path forward for recovery.

Sincerely,

Rep. Blake Miguez, Chairman Louisiana
House Republican Delegation