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Hi, my name is William “Bill” Spearman and I’m running for re-election as your Chief of Police.
A devoted Christian, I have been married to Marcella Mergist Spearman for 37 years, we have two wonderful children, Jessica Hebert, (Mrs. Glenn Hebert, Jr.) and Thomas W. Spearman, along with 6 wonderful grandchildren. I’m a graduate of Avon High School.
I joined the Abbeville Police Dept. as an Auxiliary Police Officer under Chief Minus Hardy. In August 1984 I became a full time officer.
In March 1985 I graduated the 35th session of the Acadian Law Enforcement Training Academy in Lafayette.
I always loved training and went though several classes including...
•FBI Hostage Negotiation School.
•Crisis Intervention Training dealing with people in mental distress both adult and juvenile.
•ASP Baton Instruction.
•POST Juvenile Officers Academy.
•School Resource Officer Training (both basic and advanced).
•DARE Officer Training Academy.
•Homicide Investigator Training.
I have many more trainings which are too many to name here.
I’m well versed and have worked almost every aspect of the Abbeville Police Dept.
I enjoy being your chief and if you feel I’ve done a good job please re-elect me.

Winning a district title at Vermilion Catholic is somewhat expected, kind of like comparing it to the University of Alabama winning a national football championship.
Well, the 2021 VC Eagles did not disappoint. They continued the streak by winning a fifth straight district title after whipping the Central Catholic Eagles, 32-20, Thursday night in Morgan City.
The Eagles complete the regular season at 7-3 overall and 5-0 in District 8-1A. Central Catholic falls to 6-4 and 4-1 in the district.
The LHSAA will announce the playoff pairings Sunday. VC will get a home game in the first round.
VC head coach Broc Prejean was thrilled that his team went from 2-3 on the year and then won five straight to claim the district title.
“As an alumnus who is fortunate to be the head coach, it means a lot,” said Prejean about winning the district title. “District titles are still important no matter what anyone says. We are proud to hold one up again this year.”
Two VC seniors are glad they can continue the tradition of winning district titles.
“At VC it is expected to win a district title,” said senior Ashton Belaire. “But our goal is higher. We want to win a state championship. So I want to take that extra step.”
Linebacker Thomas Bellaire said, “It is amazing to win the district title. As a senior, it is how you want to go out.”
Central Catholic, who last beat VC five years ago, gave the VC Eagles all it could handle in the first half. At halftime, the score was 13-12.
Tailback Jonathan Dartez had TD runs of 1- and 7 yards in the first half.
Two minutes into the third period, Dartez had a 61-yard TD run that put VC on top for at least six minutes. Central Catholic marched 77 yards and ate up six minutes on the clock, resulting in a touchdown that tied the game 20-20.
However, VC regrouped and took up shop at its own 39-yard line with 3:11 to play in the third period. Seth Nogel, who finished the game with 147 yards rushing and two scores, had a huge 20-yard run, and on another run, 15 yards were tacked on because of a face mask penalty on CCHS.
Noegel ran 15 yards for a touchdown two plays later, and the Eagles were ahead 26-20.
VC scored again on its next possession in the fourth period. They marched 55 yards in six plays. The big play on the drive was a 32-yard pass play from quarterback Mikie Bazar to Dartez.
Bazar completed 8-out-of-15 passes for 107 yards and no touchdowns.
All five of VC’s TDs were on the ground.
Dartez rushed six times for 88 yards and he scored three TDs. He also had three catches for 75 yards.
Ethan Landry had three catches for 17 yards.
Travin Moore had eight carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.

August 30, 1921 ~ October 31, 2021

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Elizabeth H. Williams, 100, who died Sunday, October 31, 2021 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Shiloh Baptist Cemetery with Pastor Ernest Williams III officiating the services.
She is survived by her four sons, Joseph Williams of Kaplan, Stanley Williams of Kaplan, Anthony Paul Williams of Kaplan and Edward Williams of Fort Walton Beach, FL; her three daughters, Mary A. Solomon of Kaplan, Elizabeth W. Rudd of Kaplan and Ann Williams of Kaplan; her sister, Rosa Hunter Smith of Destrehan; and a host of grandchildren; great grandchildren; great-great grandchildren; nieces; and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Williams, Sr.; her parents, Adam Hunter, Sr. and the former Katherine Primeaux; three brothers, Adam Hunter, Jr., Harold Hunter and Howard Hunter; her sister, Lillian Hunter; her two sons, Kenneth Williams and John Allen Williams; her stepchildren, Ernest Williams II, Leo Williams, Edna Olivia Williams; her brother-in-law, Wallace B. Smith;  and her three daughters-in-law, Bobby J. Williams, Eldora O'Brien Hunter and Sharon Williams
The family asked that everyone attending wear a mask.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, November 6, 2021 from 11:00 AM until the time of the services at 1:00 PM.
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 Williams family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

ERATH - Abbeville High junior Michael Rice did not think what he did was a big deal. He saw a player that needed help, so he helped him.
Rice is a member of the Wildcats’ football team who played in a junior varsity football game against the Erath Bobcats.
Rice was playing defensive back, and after a run-play by Erath quarterback Griffin LeBlanc, Rice helped chase him. Then, Rice noticed LeBlanc’s wrist did not look right. Rice saw LeBlanc in pain. Rice put his arms under LeBlanc’s arms and lifted him off the ground. Rice helped LeBlanc walk to the Erath sideline.
“I saw he needed help because his wrist was out of place. It looked nasty,” said Michael Thursday morning at school. “I wanted to help him and do the right thing.”
LeBlanc’s mother, Shana Bernard LeBlanc, took photos of the game on the sideline and captured an image of Rice helping her son off the field.
At the time, she did not think much of it because Griffin hurt his ribs earlier in the season, so she thought he reinjured his ribs. But then, the Erath trainer went to see about him, and figured out it was not his ribs. It was more serious.
“When I saw Jacob [Broussard], the trainer, shake his head, and his eyes told another story, my heart dropped,” said Shana. “But it is when I saw the deformation of his wrist, there were no words.”
After she realized the seriousness of the injury, she went to see about her son. The LeBlanc family went to a Lafayette hospital where it was determined LeBlanc broke his wrist on his right arm. He is a left-hander.
While at the hospital, Shana began to think about the Abbeville player who helped her son off the field. She was determined to find out who he was and thank him.
She walked away from the ER as doctors were resetting Griffin’s bone to speak with Michael.
“I can not believe the young man took the role to help him,” said Shana. “Wow!”
“We are so grateful for Michael. It takes a strong young man to carry an opponent off the field, especially since he was not the one that got the tackle. He took on a role that did not have to be his.”
Abbeville head football coach Roderick Moy watched Michael help Griffin off the field.
“Michael did the right thing, and if the roles were reversed, I am sure that Griffin would have done the same,” said Moy. “The best part is that he did it without a second thought. He saw someone in need, so he helped them. That is what good people do, and that is what we have in this program, very good people.”