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Lance J. Clark

ABBEVILLE – A Celebration of Life for Mr. Lance J. Clark, 39, will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Victory Lighthouse Church with Rev. Dylan Smith officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Victory Lighthouse Church on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of the services.
Native of Gueydan and a resident of Abbeville, Mr. Clark died at 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at his residence. Lance was a people person and was known for his sense of humor.
He is survived by his parents, Julien Richard of Gueydan and Elizabeth Clark of Abbeville; five brothers, Jarrett Clark, Terence Meaux, Jacob Richard, Cameron Richard, and Adrien Richard; a sister, Tonya Broussard; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jarrett Clark, Terence Meaux, Blaine G. Broussard, Shane McDaniel, Billy Stewart, and Keenen Broussard.
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

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Guy Paul Boudreaux

September 21, 1944 ~ March 12, 2023

ABBEVILLE —  Guy Paul Boudreaux, 78, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. A rosary and memorial service will be held in his honor on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 starting at 9 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville. The Rev. Msgr. Keith DeRouen, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, will officiate the services. A private mausoleum service will be held for immediate family.
Guy, was born on September 21, 1944 in Abbeville, Louisiana to Frank Louis and Leyon Hebert Boudreaux, he was the youngest of three children.
Guy grew up and was educated in Abbeville where he met and married the love of his life, Cheryl Ann Theriot on September 18th, 1965, where they had and raised three loving children. He served in the Army National Guard of Louisiana for six years and was honorably discharged. Guy started working on the docks at Broussard Brothers, Inc. at the young age of 19 where he retired as President 49 years later. He and his wife also owned and operated a very successful oilfield service company. 
Guy was an amazing and generous husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all.  Guy had a passion for traveling, golfing and spending time with his family and friends.  He was a brilliant and vivacious soul who was always laughing and telling the best stories. He touched many lives with his big heart and generous nature. 
Survivors include his children and their spouses, Kathryn and Sam Hoffpauir, Kevin and Heather Boudreaux, and Lisa and Ken Alexander; seven grandchildren, Jarrod Motty, Lauren and Brady Broussard, Andrew Hoffpauir, Zachary Boudreaux, Jake Hoffpauir, Jean-Paul Boudreaux and Anne-Marie Alexander; four great grandchildren,
Jarrod-Michael Motty, Jonathan Motty, Talon Broussard and Ava Broussard; and sister-in-law, Celeste Hebert Boudreaux. 
Preceded in death by his beautiful and loving wife, Cheryl Theriot Boudreaux; his parents, Frank and Leyon Boudreaux; his brothers, Frank L. Boudreaux, Jr. and Alfred J. Boudreaux; and sister-in-law, Darleen Place Boudreaux. 
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 9 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. A rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

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Blanche Calhoun Gary

A Celebration Life with a graveside service for Mrs. Blanche Calhoun Gary, 98, will be held at 1 p.m. at St. Paul Cemetery in Abbeville, LA with Deacon Tim Marcantel officiating on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Mrs. Blanche Gary, 98, resident of Delhi, LA since 2017 and a former resident of New Iberia, LA was born August 11, 1924, in Forest Texas. Mrs. Gary was raised in Lake Providence, LA and passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Delhi, LA.
Mrs. Blanche Gary was preceded in death by her late husband Joe Gary; two sons Sonny Holmes and Dickie Holmes; her parents, Mamie Edna Rushing Calhoun and Jack Calhoun; two sisters, Eddie May Calhoun Murray and Ruby Calhoun Naff; and a brother, R.C. Calhoun.
Survivors are three grandchildren; Theresa Holmes and Spouse Jason, Rhonda Holmes, and Stephanie Holmes; and numerous great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. 
A special thanks to the staff of Deerfield Nursing; Rehab Center, Richland Parish Hospital staff, and to her doctor Dr. Corey Albritton.
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

LDWF to Remove Illegal Nutria Pet From Owners, Plans to Turn It Over to Baton Rouge Zoo

A family's pet nutria is set to be removed from the home of a New Orleans couple and moved to the Baton Rouge Zoo to be part of an educational exhibit, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced Thursday.
It is illegal to have a wild animal as a pet, especially a nutria.
LDWF discovered the existence of the pet nutria after stories about the animal appeared this week in New Orleans area media. Once the status was made public, the department recommended its removal. The department also started communications with the Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission which operates the Baton Rouge Zoo, to find a means of saving the animal.
BREC and Zoo officials agreed Thursday to accept the animal.
After those arrangements were completed, LDWF agents contacted the owners and told them that the animal will be removed and that arrangements have been made with the BR Zoo. In most cases, the animal would be placed back into the wild. However, LDWF biologists and Zoo officials said that because the animal has been habituated to humans, it would not be able to survive in the wild.
It is against the law in Louisiana to possess injured or orphaned mammals without an LDWF Rehabilitation permit, even if there is a plan to release them. It is illegal to possess wildlife as a pet or for the pet trade. There is no permit for this activity, and no permit will be issued for it.
In a statement issued Thursday, Zoo officials said it "plans to take in the nutria into our animal family…The nutria will join our Ambassador Animal Program.”
"The Zoo's professional staff will care for the nutria as they would all other animals within their skilled care and looks forward to bringing a new member into the zoo animal family."
LDWF appreciates the owner's affection for the animal and their understanding of the rules regarding its removal. LDWF discourages the public from housing wild animals as pets.
For more information about nuisance wildlife or the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife visit: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/injured-orphaned-wildlife.

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John Roberts

Kaplan’s Roberts elected LA FCCLA State President

As students return from the Louisiana Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) 2023 State Leadership Conference, one Vermilion Parish student is coming back to Kaplan High School with a new role to fill for the next year. John Roberts, son of Johnny and Kathy Roberts, was elected to serve as the Louisiana Association of FCCLA State President.
To become a state officer, Roberts underwent an extensive process that included an interview with the nominating committee, a networking session with voting delegates, and a public speech for the state delegation. When questioned as to what motivated him to run for office, Roberts states, “At my very first FCCLA meeting, I saw several state officers in their official red blazers giving speeches and interacting with FCCLA members from around the state. I aspired to be in that position and I set a goal to one day be on the State Executive Council. I am truly honored to serve Louisiana FCCLA in this capacity!”
“To see one of my students answer the call of leadership is humbling and very exciting. I look forward to the leadership that John will bring not only to our FCCLA chapter at Kaplan, but throughout the State of Louisiana” says Katelyn Bares, Kaplan High School FCCLA Chapter Adviser.
Roberts will attend the 2023 National Leadership Conference this summer in Denver, Colorado to represent the Louisiana Association. Throughout the next year, Roberts, along with the other State Executive Council members, will plan and execute the two state events including the Fall Leadership Rally and the 2024 State Leadership Conference. Additionally, Roberts will travel across the state and meet with other FCCLA chapters to promote the organization along with Family and Consumer Sciences and Career and Technical Education. When asked about goals for his term, Roberts stated, “As the newly elected President, my main focus is increasing awareness of our organization in schools and in the community. I would like to increase the number of affiliated chapters and members throughout the state. I want to assist in developing partnerships with other organizations, companies, nonprofits, and corporations that can directly benefit from the knowledgeable and skilled students that FCCLA produces.”
Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic and effective national career and technical student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, career, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences Education. FCCLA is unique among youth organizations because it is the only national in-school organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.

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Norma Jean Armijo

September 11, 1931 ~ February 5, 2023

ABBEVILLE — Graveside services will be held at St. Paul Cemetery in Abbeville, Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. honoring the life of Norma Jean Armijo, who died Sunday, February 5, 2023 at the home of her daughter Elizabeth, with her 3 daughters and her dog Barkley at her side. She was a 23 year member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church.
She is survived by her children Elizabeth Hare of Lafayette, Katherine (Bob) Cormier, of Abbeville, and Pamela (Chris) Flood of Prescott Valley, AZ. Her grandchildren Audra (Andy) Alvarado, of Magnolia, TX; Noel (Samantha) Cormier, of Maurice; Jared Elkins of Blythe, CA; Mitchel (Amy) Cormier, of Youngsville; Brian (Taylr) Flood of Prescott, AZ; Vickie Flood, of Prescott Valley, AZ; Mary (Jacques) Migues, of New Iberia. Her great grandchildren Cameron Etie’, Aryelle Cormier, Ethan Alvarado, Andrew Alvarado, Jaxson Newsom, Blake Migues, Ellieanna Newsom, Philip Cormier, Elijah Cormier, Frank Migues, Remington Flood, Austin Flood, Abram Cormier, Nora Jean Cormier, Jameson Flood and Abigail Cormier.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Armijo Jr.; her son Martin Armijo; her son-in-law Daniel Elkins; her great granddaughter Kailey Ryan Flood; her great grandson Colt Mathue Flood.
Her daughters would like to thank Karen Stelly R.N., her caregiver Clarissa Starland, Valerie Dore’ her Social Worker and Pastor Mark all of Community Hospice. Her neighbors Keith and Jackie Foreman and Dave and Brenna Suter, and all who brought meals and treats for her and her family during her illness.
“Sometimes it’s hard for us not to wish for one more day, one more word, one more chance to say goodbye, but rest assured that you were a joy to your family every day of your life.”

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Messiah Darenburg, 16, ran away on March 7, 2023.

Abbeville Police looking for information to help locate runaway teen

The Abbeville Police Department is requesting help to locate Messiah Darenburg, 16 ,who ran away on Tuesday March 7, 2023.
Messiah is 5'7" tall, weighing 120 pounds.
Anyone with information should contact the Abbeville Police Department.
Chief of Police Mike Hardy urges the public to provide any further information regarding this by calling the Abbeville Police Department at (337) 893-2511. You may also contact our "Tips" line at (337) 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Vermilion by calling (337) 740-TIPS or the P3 app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or at Google Play Store.

Down the Rabbit Hole: The Fed just guaranteed $230 billion of uninsured deposits at two banks

Amid a spectacular banking crash over the weekend, the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury have intervened to guarantee $230.6 billion of uninsured deposits at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) totaling $151.6 billion in California and Signature Bank in New York totaling $79 billion.
It goes without saying this is a terrible precedent. There are $44.8 trillion of uninsured checkable and time and savings deposits—that is, those in accounts above the statutory $250,000 limit for Federal Deposit Insurance—in U.S. affiliated banks as of March 9, according to the latest data compiled by the Federal Reserve.
Are the Fed and Treasury planning on guaranteeing all of those deposits, too? Because that’s the door they just opened, without any vote in Congress, utilizing authority from the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial takeover legislation, in particular, 12 U.S. Code Section 5463, “Designation of systemic importance,” which provides that the “Financial Stability Oversight Council… on a nondelegable basis and by a vote of not fewer than 2/3 of members then serving, including an affirmative vote by the Chairperson of the Council, shall designate those financial market utilities or payment, clearing, or settlement activities that the Council determines are, or are likely to become, systemically important.”
This is exactly what Americans for Limited Government warned would happen back in 2010 in a backgrounder on the Dodd-Frank financial legislation I authored, “Down a Rabbit Hole: The Threat Posed by the Dodd Bill to the Private Sector,” which stated, “the Fed and Treasury Secretary would… have the power to determine which companies fall under the terms of the legislation, and which do not, depending on which activities they together determine to be financial in nature, or incidental thereto. Because of the broad authorities involved, any company or institution in the entire country could be deemed ‘financial’ in nature and subject to seizure by the FDIC because it might default at some point in the future.”
Now, SVB Bank and Signature Bank will be “resolved” by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), according to the March 12 joint statement by the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve and the FDIC: “After receiving a recommendation from the boards of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve, and consulting with the President, Secretary Yellen approved actions enabling the FDIC to complete its resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California, in a manner that fully protects all depositors. Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13. No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer. We are also announcing a similar systemic risk exception for Signature Bank, New York, New York, which was closed today by its state chartering authority. All depositors of this institution will be made whole.”
The statement added, “As with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank, no losses will be borne by the taxpayer. Shareholders and certain unsecured debtholders will not be protected. Senior management has also been removed. Any losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund to support uninsured depositors will be recovered by a special assessment on banks, as required by law.”
So, the losses will not be borne by taxpayers via votes in Congress, but by “a special assessment on banks, as required by law.” Those assessments under Dodd-Frank come to institutions with $50 billion or more of assets, you know, the ones you have your own savings and investments currently parked at.
What will happen is what always happens when costs on businesses go up—such as when the Federal Reserve hikes interest rates on banks as has become necessary to cool down inflation—they will be passed on to customers via higher fees and higher interest rates on loans.
So, Congress won’t get the bill, but you will. As if getting charged by private financial institutions to pay for socializing the risk of these bailouts makes it any better. At least you can vote a member of Congress out of office when they raise your taxes.
In this case, if you all try to move your assets to a different bank or your mattress, you’ll likely only be contributing to the problem, and if you choose another financial institution, invariably you’ll end up paying the same fees and higher rates. There is no escape under the law. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
On one hand, it is possible that for the duration of the imminent recession—of which bank failures are almost certainly yet another red flag—that the SVB Bank and Signature Bank failures were the only systemic risks that were posed. But now, that the door is open, other institutions, likely even larger ones, could be seeking additional ways to shore up their own balance sheets as depositors are almost assuredly spooked—especially at institutions that were overexposed to areas such as cryptocurrency, which have been down amid continued U.S. dollar strength.
The danger are that the assessments made under Dodd-Frank would not be nearly enough to forestall a much larger bank run that would threaten the larger institutions.
Unfortunately, under Dodd-Frank, there is no theoretical limit to which financial and non-financial companies will be deemed systemically important in the new 2023 financial crisis. By opening up the Fed’s unlimited capacity to create reserves and credit windows—it just created the so-called Bank Term Funding Program—the entire $44.8 trillion is now on the table, thanks to the Federal Reserve and Treasury’s determination to guarantee just 0.5 percent of it to politically favored financial institutions.
We are fully down the rabbit hole now. Curiouser and curiouser!

Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government Foundation.

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Abbeville Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. and Mayor Roslyn White listen to concerns from Abbeville citizens at a recent town hall meeting.

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Abbeville Chief of Police Mike Hardy

8 p.m. curfew for minors in Abbeville?

Abbeville councilman wants minors off street at 8 on weekdays and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday

With summer fast approaching and daylight lasting longer, children are expected play outside longer. On Tuesday, Abbeville Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. is looking to change the hours for the city’s curfew ordinance for minors, coupled with attaching a fine that the parents or legal guardian must pay if their child is caught breaking the curfew.
The curfew ordinance for minors states that minors under 17 have a curfew from Sunday through Thursday at 10 p.m. They have to be off the streets from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.
On Friday and Saturday, the curfew for minors starts at midnight and ends at 5 a.m.
Because of the recent shootings involving minors and adults, Touchet would like to see the curfew for minors ordinance changed.
He wants to change the minors’ curfew time by at least two hours. Touchet would like to see the curfew for minors changed to 8 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the curfew for minors would be 10 p.m.
Also, he wants to put a minor under 18 and not 17 like the present ordinance states.
Touchet introduced his idea at Abbeville’s second Town Hall meeting, which focused on crime and public safety.
“When it gets dark, kids will be in the house, “said Touchet. “Eight o clock, you have to be at your house.”
If a minor is walking or riding a bike on the streets of Abbeville after curfew, it will not be the child that will receive a ticket from the city police; it will be the parent, under the new ordinance.
“This new ordinance will have parent accountability,” Touchet said. “We are fining the parents on the first, second, and third offense.”
Touchet said the change in curfew hours would help Abbeville Police Chief Mike Hardy and the department.
“I want to be able to allow our chief to enforce the curfew that is a law with these juveniles and to able to stop them and pick them up,” said Touchet. “Right now, he has no teeth because these times are not working for him.”
Touchet is expected to begin amending the curfew for minor ordinance at Tuesday’s city council meeting. If the new curfew ordinance for minors clears all the hurdles, it will go into effect in May, right before summer.

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Mavis Frugé will attend Friday’s French Table.

Organization welcomes internationally known French cultural activist Mavis Frugé at French Table this Friday

ERATH — Les Amis du Français en Vermillon (Friends of French in Vermilion) is pleased to welcome Mavis Frugé, a legend in the French speaking communities, as a special guest at La Table Française d’Erath, this Friday, March 17th!
Les Amis du Français en Vermillon will play host to La Table Française d’Erath every Friday at 11 a.m. at Erath City Hall.
Mrs. Frugé, a native of Arnaudville, Louisiana, has worked tirelessly for years to support and foster the continuance of the Acadian language and heritage. She married Mr. Richard Frugé, who had a twenty-five year career with the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Frugé served two tours in Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange and passed away from cancer at age sixty-six. As a result of Mr. Frugé’s career with the USAF, the family lived in many cities over the years. When their family would return home and attend reunions, all of the conversations were in French, and from that experience Mrs. Frugé developed a strong appreciation of her French Cajun roots.
Mrs. Frugé has been involved with the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana for years. She traveled to France, the country of her ancestors, for information on her heritage and has welcomed many French visitors to her home. Over the years, she has hosted over 400 Francophone guests. After retirement, Mrs. Frugé joined Codofil’s Théâtre Cadien. She attended Université Sainte- Anne in Nova Scotia for one semester and came home fired up about keeping French alive. She founded La Table Francaise d’Arnaudville to preserve and restore Louisiana French.
Mrs. Frugé’s efforts at preserving the uniqueness of Cajun and Creole culture have garnered her many honors and awards. She received The Opelousas-St. Landry Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year Award, as well as the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Prix de la Franco-Responsabilité award for her efforts in preserving the French language.
Mrs. Frugé was inducted into the Order of Living Legend at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville. In addition, she received the Living Legend Award, sponsored by the Acadian Museum of Erath and Mr. Warren Perrin. Recognized as one of the highest cultural distinctions offered by France to non- citizens, Mrs. Frugé was presented with the Ordre des Palmes Academiques Award.
Les Amis du Français en Vermillon Layla Melancon, Director 337.254.8522 laylamelancon@gmail.com PO Box 450; Erath, LA; 70533
Mrs. Frugé was recently appointed to Chevalier dans l’ordre National du Merité (Knight in the National Order of Merit), by the President of the French Republic. As stated by the Ambassador of France to the United States, Mr. Philippe Etienne, “This decoration illustrates the deep recognition of the French authorities for your efforts to preserve the culture and French language in Louisiana, as well as the promotion of bilateral relations between the state of Louisiana and France.”
Leading the way for cultural revitalization in Acadiana, Mrs. Frugé founded the Saint-Luc French Immersion and Cultural Campus in Arnaudville. This unique cultural institute and educational facility provides French immersive experiences in the realms of culture, economy, the arts, education and the environment.
Just like Acadiana farmers growing coton jaune (Acadian brown cotton) to preserve the heritage seeds and continue its storied tradition, Mrs. Frugé tends to her own patch of brown cotton in her backyard. She shares her interest in reviving cultural traditions, such as spinning and weaving with coton jaune, through workshops at Saint-Luc.
“Mrs. Frugé is extremely passionate about preserving Louisiana French, and it is an honor to have her as a guest facilitator at La Table Française d’Erath,” stated Layla Melancon, Director of Les Amis du Français en Vermillon. She continued, “Her gracious and humble spirit, and genuine love of Louisiana French language and culture is an inspiration to me, and I am deeply blessed to know and work with her.”

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Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

The Kaplan Herald

219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548