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North Vermilion senior Emma Hebert is doing her part to make Hwy. 167 safer between Maurice and Abbeville.
Hebert is a 17-year-old North Vermilion student taking a dual enrollment English class from LSU.
She was also a best friend of NV senior Ramsie Baumgardner, who recently died in a car accident on Hwy. 167.
Hebert is writing a college English paper on why more lights need to be installed in hopes of preventing vehicle accidents. This paper requires that students make a claim, support it with credible evidence, and persuade their audience to take action. The final paper is due at the end of the month.
“I decided something needs to be done,” said Hebert. “I am writing my paper to state officials such as the head of Louisiana DOTD (Department of Transportation and Development), state representatives, and the state senate. I urge these individuals to realize how unsafe Highway 167 is and act so that tragedies like Ramsie’s do not occur again.”
In the introduction to her paper, Hebert names the four people killed on U.S. Hwy. 167 because of a head-on collision.
She names Alana Duhon and Sydney Colomb, North Vermilion students who died in a head-on collision in 2018.
Also mentioned is Brandon Isaac, who died in the Baumgardner head-on collision. Isaac was the driver of the car that hit Baumgardner head-on.
Her paper is titled: “Be the Light. Lighting Down on La. 167”
Here is part of her paper:
“Alana Duhon, 16. Sydney Colomb, 15. Brandon Isaac, 31. Ramsie Baumgardner, 18. Who are these people, you might ask? These are the names of individuals who were killed in head-on collisions on Louisiana Highway 167 in the past six years. Three of the four were students at my school, North Vermilion High School.
Alana Duhon was in her early sophomore year and had just gotten her driver’s license; she was overcome with excitement and couldn’t wait to drive.
Sydney Colomb was a freshman who had a large group of friends; she had her whole life ahead of her.
Brandon Isaac’s six-year-old daughter, Annelise, was left without a father; her dad won’t be there to guide her through life or walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
Ramsie Baumgardner was my best friend. She had turned 18 ten days before her death. In just four months, she was going to cross the stage at graduation and receive her high school diploma. Ramsie had plans to move to Orange Beach; she wanted to live life soaking up the sun and feeling her toes in the sand.
With a long and full life ahead of them, all of these people were gone in a moment due to an unsafe roadway, Highway 167. The lack of lighting and signage on this roadway makes it perilous, and Louisiana officials must take action to prevent head-on collisions. Although this won’t bring her back, help me make this Ramsie’s legacy.
Hebert set up a survey online asking about how safe is Hwy. 167 between Maurice and Abbeville. Thus far, 1,122 people have taken her survey. Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/KvJkBQUAGEqc8B7
Here are the questions being asked on the survey.
One question is the age bracket you fit in with a possible five different age brackets.
What city do you live in?
Do you feel safe driving down .167 during the day? If no, why not?
Do you feel safe driving down 167 at night? If no, why not?
Update on Police Jury about making Hwy. 167 safer.
Todd Vincent of Sellers and Associates gave the police jury what it would cost to have two J-turns installed at the intersections of La. 696 and La. 697. The cost would be $4.63 million to establish two J-turns at the intersections.
The police jury took no action on J-turns. Instead, the police jury agreed to wait on DOTD to complete a study on how to make Hwy. 167 safer. The DOTD study is expected to be completed at the end of April.

MAURICE — Mayor Wayne Theriot has declared Wednesday, March 23, 2022, as Catherine Brookshire Blanchet Day in Maurice. The Maurice Museum will host a public celebration of Catherine’s contributions to Vermilion Parish from 10:00 until noon. There will be singing and dancing in the round.
As music supervisor for Vermilion Parish schools in the 40’s and 50’s, Catherine saw the value of the folk music and customs she discovered as she traveled from school to school. She documented and preserved folksongs and the round dances in French by recording children and adults. In 1955, she published Les Danses Rondes, an instruction manual for singing and dancing. In 1970, she gathered all of her research in her master’s thesis, Louisiana Folksongs among Children in Vermilion Parish, 1942-1954. Catherine learned from her students and then passed on that knowledge to many more.
“Our goal is to encourage Mrs. Blanchet’s many students to once more sing the songs she taught them, especially for their grandchildren,” says Earlene Broussard, one of the facilitators. Broussard, a native of Kaplan, studied with Blanchet when she taught French at Abbeville High School in the 1990’s. “We are also wanting to connect with the descendants of Catherine’s informants, the children who sang for her, the ones she recorded,” adds Broussard. “More than sixty people from Vermilion Parish are documented in Catherine’s research. We want to connect with their families.”
The Acadian Museum of Erath is sponsoring this Passing It On program in Vermilion Parish. There will be more celebrations in Gueydan, Erath and Abbeville. These are funded by the Louisiana Folklore Society, the National Endowment of the Arts, the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
“We are very excited to recruit a new generation from Vermilion Parish,” says Warren Perrin, president of the Acadian Museum of Erath. “We need young Cajuns to learn the songs and dances Catherine saved for us. Vermilion Parish is the most Cajun place in the world and still has many people who speak French. Plus, there’s French immersion in school. We can pass on our traditions.”
Catherine Brookshire Blanchet documented over sixty Vermilion Parish children and adults in her two publications. A list of her informants follow.

Abbeville

Ernest Bellanger
Pries Bourque
Mrs. Asa Broussard
Lucia Broussard
James Broussard
Mrs. Antoine Frederick
Joe Harrington
Lelia LaBauve
Blanche Miller
Raywood Morvant
Mrs. Sylvan Romero
Roy Theriot
Robert Trahan

Erath

Isabelle Barras
Roland Desormeaux
Allen James Dronet
Francis Gaspard
Lilly Mae Gaspard
Jeuneus Richard
Betty Lou Robert
Annie Lee Romero
Liben Simon
Emery Toups

Forked Island

Nunia Abshire
Ophelia Bourque
John Duhon
Oscar Joseph Foster
Barbara Dean Frederick
Marlin Hargrave
Jennie Lee Hebert
Purvis Hebert
Burton Lemaire
Thomas Lemaire
Geneva Nunez
Agnes Saltzman
O’Neal Suire
Isidor Touchet
Roland Touchet

Gueydan
Evangeline Saltzman

Kaplan
Virgie Adams
Amy Broussard
Ann Katherine Broussard
Mrs. Isaac Foreman
(student) Foreman
Huey Hebert
Marie Lange
Laines Lapointe
Adam Meaux
Yvonne Meaux
Sydney Romero
Mildred Ann Simon
Mabel Touchet
Felix Trahan
Lillian

Leroy
Caesar Vincent
Meaux
Catherine Duhon
Velma Hebert
Clédus Touchet
Mrs. Clédus Touchet
Freda Touchet
Marie Hebert Touchet
Simeon Touchet
Marjorie Toups
Sidmay Touchet Trahan
Ernest Viator

Milton
Josie Mae Hidalgo

August 27, 1937 ~ March 20, 2022

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Patrick Schexnailder, 84, who died Sunday, March 20, 2022 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services and Homilist Deacon Kenneth Soignier. Serving as active pallbearers will be Chad Schexnailder, John Schexnailder, Grant Schexnailder, Keith Guidry, Tyler Vincent, and Trae Case. The readings will be provided by his granddaughter, Abby Schexnailder and his godchild, Dawn Vincent. The gift bearers will be his daughters-in-law, Amanda and Jennifer Schexnailder.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly LaBry Schexnailder of Kaplan, two sons, Chad Schexnailder and his wife, Jennifer of Abbeville and John Schexnailder and his wife, Amanda of Duson; five grandchildren, Lindsey, Abby, Grant, Kate, and Sadie; his brothers, Jessie "Jay" Schexnailder and his companion, Deanna and Maurice Schexnailder Jr. and his wife, Norma; his sister, Cynthia "Cindy" and her husband, Deacon Kenneth Soignier; two brothers-in-law, Curtis Knott and Conley Frederick; three sisters-in-law, Bonnie Schexnailder, Myrna Frederick, and Darlene LaBry; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice Schexnailder Sr. and the former Bunice Berard; brothers, Frank Schexnailder and John L. Schexnailder; and sisters, Verna Yentzen, Judy Angelle, and Rose Knott.
Pat along with his wife, Beverly and one employee began Schexnailder Sheet Metal Works, Inc. in 1972 and grew the company to a forty plus employee sheet metal fabrication and installation corporation which serves all of south Louisiana. The company continues today with second generation management and the welcoming of third generation involvement. Pat was also an avid outdoorsman who grew up hunting in the Atchafalaya basin. Over the years, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time cooking with his friends at the camp in Gum Cove and his camp in Pecan Island. He also loved visiting, drinking coffee with friends, and sharing stories with his family, especially with his dear grandchildren.
The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation for the kindness, care and support from the physicians and staff at Lamm Family Care Hospice especially Pattie, Katina, Krystal, Marisa, and Alycia.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM when the procession will depart for the church.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Schexnailder family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl R. Toups of Erath are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming sacramental marriage of their daughter, Miss Raleigh Camille Toups, to Mr. Kutter Jude Berard of Breaux Bridge. Kutter is the son of Ms. Tracey Calais Berard and the late Mr. Kenneth “Pete” Berard of Breaux Bridge. The nuptial wedding Mass will take place on Friday, May 6, 2022, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana.
Grandparents of the future bride are Mr. Scott Hollier of Abbeville, Ms. Linda Foti Hollier of Abbeville, Ms. Sable Toups Richard of Erath and the late Mr. Carson Toups of Delcambre. Raleigh is a 2015 graduate of Erath High School and a 2019 graduate of University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was an active member of Phi Mu Sorority. Raleigh graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and she is currently employed by Vermilion Parish School Board teaching Pre-K at Kaplan Elementary School in Kaplan, Louisiana.
Grandparents of the prospective groom are Mr. and Mrs. DJ Calais of Cecilia and the late Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Berard of Breaux Bridge. Kutter is a 2014 graduate of Cecilia High School and attended University of Louisiana Lafayette. He is employed by T Baker Smith out of Lafayette, Louisiana.