The 49th Annual Vermilion Parish 4-H Livestock Show and Sale was a huge success. It involved 133 young people who exhibited 271 head of livestock (beef, sheep, goats, dairy, swine) and 85 poultry entries. This event is organized by the LSU AgCenter Extension Service and was held January 13-14, 2023, at the Cecil McCrory Exhibit Building in Abbeville.
ST. LANDRY PARISH – On January 16, 2023, shortly after 9:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 49 near mile marker 22 in St. Landry Parish. The crash claimed the life of 17-year-old Jaquanta T. Jason (female) of Washington.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed Jason, who was unlicensed, was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry south on I-49 at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, the Camry rear-ended a 2015 Volvo 18-wheeler pulling a sugar cane trailer.
The Sheriff’s SWAT Unit made their way to the front door of the home and looked inside and then walked away.
After hours of negotiating, an Abbeville man ended a standoff by walking out the front door peacefully.
Neighbors and family members waited patiently as law enforcement tried to convince a male subject to end a standoff Monday afternoon. Finally, law enforcement told the man that his father was here to speak with him and bring him to a local hospital to seek help.
Minutes before the man gave himself up, the Sheriff’s SWAT Unit walked up to the front door, looked inside the home, and then backed off by walking away.
New Boys & Girls Club Director Kimberly Bessard speaks during a recent city council meeting.
There is a is a new face overseeing the Boys & Girls Club in Abbeville, albeit a familiar one.
Kimberly Bessard is the new director of the local club, which is located at A.A. Comeaux Park. She has been with the club for several years.
Bessard recently attended an Abbeville City Council meeting to introduce herself to local officials. Councilwoman Terry Broussard invited Bessard to the meeting.
“I was born and raised here,” Bessard said proudly.
Each year, the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission (VPTC) compiles tourism figures from several sources and compares these numbers to previous years to measure the success of their marketing efforts to grow tourism in the parish. After being down for a couple of years, tourism began to slowly pick up in 2021 and has continued that trend in 2022.
“Having all of our major festivals return in 2022 and hosting several large tournaments at AA Comeaux and Quality Sports Authority helped our tourism industry recover during last year,” stated Alison Miller, VPTC Executive Director.
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