Enoch Pratt, 6, nephew of the late Elmer Gerard “Geronimo” Pratt, proudly holds a program from a memorial service for his uncle while standing next to the late Morgan City native’s photo. Family, friends, local government officials, as well as a Black Panther official, gathered Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium for a memorial service. Pratt’s remains had been cremated and spread on Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where he had lived for at least the last six years.

Building a new deck and wheelchair access ramp for Raymond Verdin on Pine Street was just one of about 15 residential repair projects across western St. Mary completed this week by high school students from United Methodist churches in Arlington and Saginaw, Texas. The students are part of 3,500 participants in southern Louisiana this week with UMC’s Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission. Their enrollment fees fund all building materials used on the projects as well as their living expenses. First United Methodist Church of Franklin was the host for the local group. The students were given a tour of Grevemberg House Thursday by the Landmarks Society in appreciation of their good works.

ABBY BRAUS CEFALU of Morgan City received her doctor of veterinary medicine degree at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine’s 35th annual commencement exercise on May 16. The school conferred 75 doctor degrees, senior awards and internships. Cefalu received a LSU Veterinary Business Management Association Certificate and an Oncology Certificate of Merit Award, as well as the recipient of the 2011 American Animal Hospital Association Senior Student Award. This prestigious award is presented to a Year IV student who is judged by the companion animal faculty to be the most proficient in small animal medicine and surgery. She is a 2004 graduate of Central Catholic High School.

The second annual Water Safety Awareness Program Event was held Saturday at Lake End Park in Morgan City. The many adults and children in attendance were given loads of safety information and pointers about boating and swimming. A U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant helps one of several children into a Coast Guard boat the event.

George Lange, owner of Lange’s Towing in Morgan City, mans this tug boat, Carrie Mae, as he steers one of his barges through Berwick Bay to his Front Street business after the harbor was opened for vessel traffic as floodwaters continued to fall back toward their banks. Lange stored the barge at a dock near Dune Energy during the high water period. While the water was high and north-south vessel traffic was not allowed through Berwick Bay, Lange helped boats navigate the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from 20 Grand Point in Morgan City to the Wax Lake Outlet just west of Patterson.

A new spray park opened Saturday at the Siracusaville Recreation Center for area children to enjoy. The park was funded by property tax collected by St. Mary Parish Recreation District 2. Francise Horticultural Services built the park for $195.000. The park is open for infants and children ages 0 to 14. Admission is $2 per child; anyone under the age of five must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older and will be charged an additional $1. The park hours are not set yet, but will be announced soon. Grand opening is scheduled to take place Saturday, July 1. For more information and temporary park hours, call recreation director Leroy Trim at 385-4224. Above right, Teiance “Toot” Johnson, 6, and Desarae Young, 8, are pictured getting soaked by a bucket full of water suspended overhead on the pole behind them. The bucket spills the water when it reaches its tipping point.