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There’s the old saying that nothing good happens after...
Well, everyone has an opinion on that time.
However, the idea is that if you find yourself home by a certain time of night, you won’t find yourself in trouble.
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr.’s idea to help keep minors out of trouble, and in turn, curb crime and other issues that have occurred in Abbeville, is to implement an earlier curfew for anyone under 18.
“We have to give more teeth to the ordinance in reference to a curfew for our kids who are minors,” Touchet said.
During an ordinance committee meeting on Tuesday, Touchet proposed a change that would see unaccompanied minors be off the streets by 8:30 p.m., until 5 a.m., on Sundays through Thursdays and from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The ordinance currently calls for a 10 p.m. curfew on Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight on weekends, for those 17 and under. Along with changing the time, Touchet’s proposal included adding fines or community service for parents and guardians whose children are found in violation of the ordinance.
Council members approved that proposal with a 5-0 vote during the committee meeting. The proposal will go before a vote at the next regular city council meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on April 4. A public hearing will be held prior to a vote. The ordinance would not go into effect until 30 days after it is passed.
“This is not about going and trying to hurt any individual,” Touchet said during the committee meeting. “This is about public safety. We want to make sure the kids have supervision.”
Accountability for parents and guardians is a key component of the proposed changes, Touchet stressed. Fines would begin at a minimum of $50 for the first offense, a minimum of $75 for the second offense, and then climb from there.
“It will increase $25 thereafter,” Touchet said. “That is what we hold parents to.”
Mayor Roslyn White agreed with the addition of a fine.
“We should have a minimum fine,” White said. “Even if we let the judge have some discretion, we need to have a minimum fine set so that they can charge at least that. We made sure that the parents are held accountable for having their children in the street.”
White pointed out that the curfew discussion is not limited to minors on foot.
“They can’t be driving a car after hours either,” White said. “It’s not just walking and biking. So if a cop sees a young person driving a car after curfew, it’s still a violation.”
There are exceptions for minors coming home from school activities, sporting events, and work.
“Of course coming from school events,” White said, “or a 17-year-old who has a job, the cops will have some latitude in those cases.
“We allow for that in our ordinance.”
The ordinance also states that minors simply being with an adult, 18 or older, does not suffice.
“It’s not just being accompanied by an adult,” White said. “We know that a lot of these minors who are getting in trouble are accompanied by adults, adults who are encouraging them to commit crimes. So it says the minor needs to be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another adult who has the minor’s care and custody.
“It cannot just be an adult.”
Councilman Carlton Campbell said there could be some concerns for parents and guardians unable to pay the fines.
“I think the suggestions are great,” Campbell told Touchet, “but some of these parents will not be able to pay the fine. Most of them are working parents and have trouble meeting their bill obligations.
“If someone gets hundreds of dollars in fines, we would never collect that, as far as I’m concerned.”
White suggested the addition of community service as an alternative.
“That might be a compromise,” White said, “but I would still suggest a minimum so that we have it in writing that we expect this minimum penalty.”
Councilwoman Terry Broussard said she is in favor of the proposed changes.
“I think most people understand that this is truly about public safety,” Broussard said. “It’s definitely something we need in our city to put a stop to what’s been going on.”
Late last month, Chief of Police Mike Hardy implemented a citywide curfew following a shooting on Veterans Memorial Drive that resulted in multiple injuries. After three days, the city lifted that curfew. Some responding positively to the curfew, while others said it restricted law-abiding citizens.
“We’re not going to put a curfew on a responsible adult,” Touchet said, “but we’re going to put a curfew on a minor, someone under 18.”
Touchet said the bottom line is the safety of everyone in the city.
“We are trying to fight the things happening as far as crime,” Touchet said. “We are doing some things and making some ground. This is going to move us further along.”
White agreed.
“The public is asking us to do something about these problems,” she said. “This is something we can do to try to fix the problem. I know if I was picked up at 16 by the police and my parents got fined $50, there would have been consequences at home.
“Hopefully, by putting this in place, those parents start administering consequences within their own household.”
Talitha Boudreaux, who operates Teen Court in Vermilion Parish, said she feels more accountability on parents is appropriate.
“I’m a single parent,” Boudreaux said. “I know what it is to work long hours, but if we keep putting excuses for parents, they’re never going to get it, and our children will continue doing what they’re doing.”
Boudreaux said kids might now view things differently.
“Making the parents pay for this may teach these kids,” Boudreaux said. “They will think, ‘I don’t want my mamma to keep paying for that. This may work, it may not, but we have to try.
“If you love your parent as much as you say you do, you’re not going to allow your parent to keep spending $50 and $100. You’re going to be home.”

Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau Federation is pleased to announce that Hannah Hebert was selected as the 2023 Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
Hebert is a 6th grade teacher at Rene Rost Middle School in Kaplan.
The AITC mission statement is “To educate and increase understanding of agriculture and instill an appreciation for our renewable food, fiber and fuel systems. Louisiana Ag in the Classroom provides resources and training for teachers to integrate agriculture across the curriculum. We do not ask teachers to take time out of their very busy instructional day and teach a lesson on agriculture. Instead, we provide lessons designed to support core subjects by integrating agriculture into lesson plans and upholding the Louisiana Department of Education Grade-Level Expectations. “
Hebert is utilizing the resources and trainings provided by Ag in the Classroom and so much more. In addition to incorporating agriculture into her world civilization and science lesson plans Mrs. Hebert’s class cares for the school garden and hosted the First Ever Pirate School Garden Cook-off. Students and community members formed teams of four to compete using at least two items from the garden in their entrée. The cook-off was a fundraiser to help grow and maintain the school garden.
Hebert also teaches a STEAM class which is a mixture of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics. The main focus of this class is agriculture and maintaining the garden while teaching lessons from the Seeds to Success and Ag in the Classroom curriculum. Her students wrote short stories about plants and published their very own book.
Hebert has been involved in providing agriculture in her lessons plans during her ten year teaching career at other schools in the parish.
The prize package for this award includes a trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Orlando, Florida, an iPad, a cash prize and a trip to the LFBF Annual Convention in New Orleans. For information on how to apply for the Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year visit www.aitcla.org.
Submitted by: Gwen Broussard, Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau Federation Assistant

April 23, 1929 - March 17, 2023

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Mr. Richard Lloyd Belaire, 93, at 1:00PM on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with Fr. Louis Richard officiating. Interment will follow in St. Paul Cemetery with Military Honors.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Saturday, March 25, 2023 beginning at 9:00AM until the time of services with a recitation of the rosary at 12:00PM lead by Darryl Rabasso.  
A native of Sulphur, LA and a resident of Abbeville, Richard passed away on Friday, March 17, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.  
Richard always shared very interesting stories and lived life to the fullest.  He loved to speak French and share many tales of his life and profession.
As a supervisor for the Louisiana State Highway Department for 30 years, Belaire helped with many large projects.  One particular accomplishment he always reminisced about was being a part of completing the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. He often blamed his hearing loss on being around the banging of the pilons that form the bridge for many years. He helped engineers by leading many bridge projects at Pecan Island, Lake Arthur, and Baton Rouge.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Richard assisted in guiding many hunters at the Amaco Camp at White Lake in Gueydan after retiring.
One of his favorite weekends was guiding President Lyndon B. Johnson and the First Lady (Lady Bird). Belaire told the tale of when the First Lady forgot her fur coat at the Amaco Camp, it was he who transported her coat quickly to the airport in his pickup truck. He was also given a beautiful gold pen by the Secret Service guards, which he displayed. He recently found a note in his keepsake box with a card from that same Secret Servant guard, who is still around and owns a bank in Texas.
He was born in Sulphur, Louisiana to Narcisst and Agnes Rodriguez Belaire. The Belaire’s purchased a farm in Henry, Louisiana. At a young age, in middle school, Richard's father suffered a stroke on the farm, and Richard had to grow up fast with his father being unable to work the farm. Richard had to work the farm and go to school. It was then when Richard learned to never be afraid of hard work. A strong work ethic was one blessing which Richard always made sure to guide his children and grandchildren with. His favorite saying was, "When you do the right thing, you can never go wrong."
Richard met his beautiful bride, Audrey Doucet Belaire, at the Airport Club and had three children: little Lisa Gayle, who died at the tender age of 3 years old, due to heart complications, Lori Ellen Belaire Booth and Richard Scott Belaire. Later, the two newlyweds relocated Richard's parents off the Henry Farm to a home next-door to them, to help take care of both sets of their parents, so they could reside -one set on each side- of the Belaire’s.
From delicious Cajun meals, family gatherings, fixing car issues, plumbing problems, doctor visits or boiling the crawfish for their parents, Richard and Audrey were always around to see that their parents were well taken care of.
Richard was proud to say he had not been in the hospital in over 12 years. He enjoyed going to construction job sites with his son and giving his opinions on how they use to do it with the engineers.   He loved hearing his grandchildren’s stories of their football games, peaking in door waiting to hear the score when they drive up, or running to get his Abbeville Meridional so he can read all about the games. He was extremely proud of his grandboy getting the opportunity to be part of the UL Ragin Cajuns baseball team and listening to their college adventures.  He was also very proud of his son in law being an F16 Fighter Pilot and enjoyed hearing the stories of his grandchildren traveling all over the world. Richard was an extremely proud father and grandfather.
Richard and his wife were devoted Catholics of St. Mary Magdalene Church. Richard also prayed a Holy Hour every Thursday in church at 11 pm. You can find him daily on his swing saying the catholic rosary for all his family members. He and his wife were dedicated members of the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary of Abbeville. He enjoyed cooking for many events with the KC Auxiliary.
“When you go right, you can never go wrong.” - Richard Belaire
He is survived by his son Richard Scott Belaire and his wife Sharon, along with his grandsons, Richard Austin Belaire and Ashton Edward Belaire. Also, grandchildren Madison Grace Booth and Logan Alexander Booth along with their father Eugene Beau Booth of Niceville, Florida; sisters-in-law, Dorothy White of Lafayette and Janelle Hebert and her husband Jim, along with his Godchild Kim Hebert Hammett of Baton Rouge. His cousin, Deanna Comeaux Broussard of Abbeville, who helped care for Richard over the years and many holidays.
Belaire is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Audrey Doucet Belaire, daughters little Lisa Gayle Belaire and Lori Ellen Belaire Booth, his parents Narcisst and Agnes Rodriguez Belaire, and in-laws Odey and Annie Comeaux Doucet.
Serving as pallbearers will be Scott Belaire, Austin Belaire, Ashton Belaire, Brent Hebert, Logan Booth, Eugene Beau Booth, Scott Menard, and David Potier.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Menard, Clay Menard, Gus Orellana, Chris Broussard, Mark Leblanc, Kelly Escanelle, and Michael Escanelle.
Serving as readers will be Kim Hebert Hammett, Godchild of Belaire, and Hailey Gunter.
Music will be provided by St. Mary Magdalen vocals and organist with the songs Amazing Grace, Ava Maria & Eagles Wings.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dianna Ducote with Abbeville Hearing & Speech for in-house speech therapy over the years for swallowing correction. Praying friends Sylvia Putnam and Flo Veazey of St. Mary Magdalen Church who delivered Eucharist the 1st Friday of every month. And all of his family and friends who continue to keep him in prayer.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville 2600 Charity Street (337) 893-3777 is in charge of the arrangements.

November 3, 1939 - March 10, 2023

Services honoring the life of Clara Dean McCoy, 83, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville.
Interment will take place at St. Paul Cemetery.
Clara Dean McCoy was born to the union of the late Fred Green and Melva Comeaux Montgomery of Erath, La., on November 3, 1939. On March 10, 2023, an angel from above whispered, “Come and receive your Heavenly reward.” Clara has fulfilled her life’s purpose here on Earth. She shall rejoice with God and the love she shared with us.
She worked at Abbeville General Hospital for several years until she retired. Clara was a faithful member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, where she was a member of the Gospel Choir. She also received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award in 1996 for her outstanding service to the church and the community. She was a Eucharistic Minister for the elderly and homebound. She was also a member of the Women’s Alter Society. She was an adorator for the Adoration Chapel at St. Theresa. She was also a member of her son’s gospel group, Raphael & the Voices of the Lord.
Clara leaves to cherish her memories; four sons, Farrell Campbell of Houston, Texas, Raphael (Sarah) Campbell, and Keith Campbell, all of Abbeville, La., and Randy Campbell of Miami Lakes, Florida; three daughters, Debra Campbell, Marian Campbell and Erica McCoy, all of Abbeville, La.,; four sisters, Velma Captiville of Baton Rouge, La., Lillian (James) Williams of Abbeville, La., Linda Jones of Port Arthur, Texas, and Betty (Antoine) Broussard of Ridge, La.; one uncle, Larry Boudreaux of Abbeville, La.; 26 grandchildren, 79 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her late husband, James McCoy; mother, Melva Comeaux Montgomery; father, Fred Green; two sons, Patrick Campbell and Mark Campbell; her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Green; maternal grandparents, Ms. Olivia Davis and Mr. Paul Boudreaux; three sisters; three brothers; and a host of aunts, uncles, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Raphael Campbell III, Michael Campbell, Randon Campbell, Kiley Green, Brandon Rattan and Shawn Campbell.
Honorary pallbearers will be Farrell Campbell, Randy Campbell, Farrell St. Julien, Jonathan Green, Tyler Rattan, Raphael Campbell Jr., Keith Campbell, Marlon Campbell, Randy Dawson and John Darby.