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BATON ROUGE, La. – On Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards unveiled a new website to help Louisianans learn about the projects and opportunities in their communities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The “Building the Bayou State” website features a dashboard with an interactive map to provide details on awarded BIL projects across the state.
The map can be filtered by category, program, agency, parish and congressional district. The site also features BIL implementation progress and priorities, resources and guidelines on how you can become involved, an archive of news and announcements, reference tools for upcoming events, and deadlines for open funding opportunities.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment, and I’ve tasked my cabinet officials with doing everything they can to ensure Louisiana is taking full advantage of this historic funding opportunity,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “These investments will create jobs and transform Louisiana by improving our roads and bridges, delivering broadband internet to underserved communities, ensuring resilient coastal infrastructure, updating water systems, addressing legacy pollution issues like orphaned wells, and advancing Louisiana’s Climate Action Plan. I want to thank President Biden, Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Troy Carter for supporting the BIL and making this possible.”
To view the website, go to infrastructure.la.gov.

December 27, 1929 ~ March 21, 2023

ABBEVILLE – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Ann Guarino, 93, will be celebrated on Friday, March 24, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana. She died peacefully at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at her home after several years of declining health. Father Louis Richard, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, will be the celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Burial will follow in St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. until the time of services on Friday, March 24, in St. Mary Magdalen Church. A Rosary will be prayed by Deacon Billy Vincent at 9:30 a.m.
Serving as pallbearers will be Nathan Thibodeaux, Jose Montero, Matthew Devenport, Don Frederick, Edward Thibodeaux, and Evan Chaisson. Diana Frederick and Renée Chaisson will proclaim the Scripture readings. Cherell and Emile Thibodeaux (Mary Ann’s Godchild) and Natalie Scott will serve as gift bearers.
Mary Ann Guarino was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, on December 27, 1929, as the youngest child of Salvatore “Sam” Guarino and Jennie LaBruzzo Guarino. She graduated from Abbeville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Louisiana Institute. She then taught English at Abbeville High School, taught English and was the librarian at Henry High School, became the librarian at Erath High School, and retired after serving as the librarian at Abbeville High School. For several years she and her sister Rita helped to decorate St. Mary Magdalen Church for Christmas. She also enjoyed working with the gardener at the church. Mary Ann used her writing skills often at the schools at which she was employed, and after she retired she wrote several children’s books. She loved dogs and cared for several, including Charlie, Joe, Tony, and Paisano. After she and her siblings donated the family blacksmith shop to the City of Abbeville, she served on the board of the Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum. She spent much of her time locating and preparing pictures and artifacts and writing most of the articles about the blacksmith shop and the Guarino family for the museum. She was proud of her Sicilian heritage and of her parents’ accomplishments.
Survivors include her niece, Clevie Thibodeaux of Erath; her niece, Sonia Cahanin of Erath; her nephew, Samuel Thibodeaux, D.V.M., of Erath and his partner, Jose Montero; as well as several cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Anthony “Tony” Guarino and his wife, Enid; her infant sister, Laura Guarino; her sister, Josephine Guarino; her sister, Elizabeth “Bessie” Guarino Thibodeaux and her husband, Cleve; and her sister, Rita Guarino.
The family is grateful to Sylvia Willis, Amekia Hall, and Lorinda Bailey. They were patient, loving, and kind caregivers who made Mary Ann’s last few years comfortable and peaceful. The family also thanks Kerry Schexnaider, M.D.; the staff of Concepts of Care, especially Julie and Ray; the staff of Hospice of Acadiana, especially Seth, Sheena, and Deacon Dan Dedier; and Father Louis Richard, Father Charles Esuaiko, Deacon Billy Vincent, and Mrs. Marguerite Landry.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, St. Mary Magdalen Church, or the Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum.
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.

January 7, 1952 ~ March 20, 2023

A memorial will be held at a later date honoring the life of Roger Dale Connors, 71, who died Monday, March 20, 2023 at his residence. Interment will be at Hebert Cemetery in Perry at a future date.
Roger was an avid Dallas Cowboy fan and very passionate for the sport of football. He enjoyed being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Catherine Connors of Abbeville; daughter, Demetria Connors of New Orleans; step-son, Clay Bodin of Lafayette; granddaughter, Trisha Deserly and her husband, Lucas of Wolf Point, MT; grandsons, Graham Touchet of Baton Rouge, Gaven Touchet of Baton Rouge, Gaige Touchet and his wife, Brianna of St. Martinville, and Brannon Bodin of Abbeville; brothers, Collins “ Buck” Conner of Abbeville and Jason Hebert and wife Angie of Abbeville; and sisters, Rena Hebert of Abbeville, Kim White and her husband, Dale, Sr. of Abbeville, Dorothy Connor of Henry, Glenda Boudreaux and her husband, Ray of Kinder, and Loretta White and her husband, Dale, Jr. of Abbeville; sister-in-law, Enola Duhon Connor of Abbeville; eleven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parent, Joseph Corner and the former Agnes Turner; step-son, Troy Bodin; brothers, Percy Connor, Butch Connor, Warren Connor and Bradley Connor; and sisters, Beverly Connor and Jeanette Connor.
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.

Welcome to Willow Hammock and the Cajun Kids Adventures of Beth, Mark, Timmy, Annie, and Sam, as they explore local marshlands, bayous, wildlife, artifacts, and cultures.
“South Louisiana is my home, as you can tell from my work,” explained children’s author Chris Landry, a resident of Maurice.
He is a descendant of the original French Acadians. His wife of 40 years, Jade (Walters) Landry shares a similar heritage as the fifth generation to hunt, trap, and fish the marshes of the Atchafalaya River Basin.
“My great-great-grandfather settled that land,” she said.
Together, the Landrys taught their children to respect their Cajun heritage and their home.
On March 13, the Mom’s Choice Awards informed the Landrys that Cajun Kids Adventures was named among the best in family-friendly media, products, and services.
The Landrys received the MCA Silver Award, Honoring Excellence, after submitting their first fiction book, Mystery at Indian Point, to the committee. The Landrys launched the series Nov. 1, 2022, with their own Excaliber Publishing Services.
The Mom's Choice Awards® evaluates products and services created for children, families and educators. The program is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services, according to the MCA website.
“Until a few years ago, I had not considered becoming a writer,” Landry explained. “At the age of eighteen I graduated high school and went to work in the oilfield. For the last 43 years I worked in the oil and gas industry and even owned a small service company.”
Now, he pursues writing. In his books, Landry creates storylines based on events that Chris and Jade’s own children experienced at their camp along the mouth of the Atchafalaya River. The land his family owns is named Willow Hammock.
The Landrys’ adult children – Shelbie, Jake, Grant, Camryn, and Blake – selected the names for their own characters.
“Our children were all avid readers. They loved many of the classics, such as Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and The Boxcar Children,” Landry said.
The family’s goal is for children, as well as adults, to enjoy their Cajun Kids Adventures series, to laugh, to share in these adventures, to learn of different cultures, and to recall their own childlike joy.
“I had many fears about becoming a writer,” Landry continued, “so I began to do research to understand the craft.”
The Landrys realized that if they were going to create books about life and adventures, they must meet the challenge with courage and determination.
“We have always worked as a team with every venture we started,” Jade said, “so we locked arms and jumped right in.”
The Landrys’ book publishing enterprise is a group effort with each member involved.
Working together, Jade and her daughter Camryn produce the numerous illustrations printed inside the editions. Camryn also handles all design work and collaborates with the printers when formatting the books.
“My oldest, Shelbie, an English major, did the first edit,” Landry said. “She gifted me her copy of The Gregg Reference Manual.” Shelbie also set up their social media sites. Camryn handles online orders and shipping. The other siblings help with promotion and marketing.
“Jade works nonstop and deserves so much credit,” Chris emphasized. “In a typical day, she might organize book sales for festivals and conferences or meet with librarians and teachers.”
While creating his first manuscript, Landry’s main concern was not about creating the perfect sentence. His true fear was whether or not he had what it took to be a storyteller. 
“I needed to know that I could tell a story that engaged the reader,” Landry said.
The Mom’s Choice Award confirms that he has succeeded.
The Volume Two book, Adventure in the Wild became available this month. The Volume Three book, The Cup, The Cap, and the Ring-Tailed Monkey will follow.
Artist Steve Shaumburger created the cover illustrations.
A prolific writer, Chris Landry is now working on his eighth manuscript. He and Jade plan to promote their Cajun Kids Adventures series at the Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention, March 23-25, in Round Rock, TX, followed by conventions in South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia.
For more information, visit www.cajunkids.com.