Local briefs

Ark. man’s cause of death identified
The cause of death of a 44-year-old Arkansas man found Monday near a Berwick boat landing has been preliminarily determined to be a drowning, said St. Mary Parish Coroner Dr. F.H. “Chip” Metz.
At 10:18 a.m. Monday, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received information that bystanders located a body in the Intracoastal Waterway near a boat landing in Berwick, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The deceased was identified as Michael C. Proctor, 44, of Piggott, Arkansas. Proctor was reported missing from Piggott, Arkansas, on Nov. 20.
This morning, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Capt. Sennet Wiggins said sheriff’s investigators have still not found any signs of foul play in Proctor’s death. Investigators located Proctor’s vehicle in Iberville Parish off I-10 under the Whiskey Bay overpass, Wiggins said. There were no “obvious” signs of foul play where the vehicle was found, Wiggins said.

Free car seat inspection Dec. 10
The Morgan City Police Department will offer a child car seat inspection from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Morgan City.
The inspection is free of charge. Bring your car seat and child, if possible, to ensure that the seat is right for your car.
Proper child restraint use can reduce the risk of serious injury or death of your child by up to 82 percent, police said.
Morgan City police officers Chad Ledet, Lee Mikeska and Matthew Strickland have been certified and included as members of the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force. The training is provided by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Child Passenger Safety Board and Safe Kids Worldwide.
If you have any questions, contact the Morgan City Police Department at 985-380-4605.

Hanagriff to speak at SMIG meeting
St. Mary Parish President-Elect David Hanagriff will speak at noon Monday during the St. Mary Industrial Group’s monthly luncheon meeting. It will be at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City.