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Gulf Coast Bank helped raise more than $37,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana.

Gulf Coast Bank Raised Over $37,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana During First Annual Friendraiser

Thu, 05/27/2021 - 11:49am

For many years Gulf Coast Bank has been a major supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana (BGCA). The event each year that gets all the Gulf Coast Bank staff involved is The Great Acadiana Running of the Ducks. This year the BGCA started a new fundraiser that replaced “Ducks” – called the Friendraiser!
The Friendraiser is the same great community event that the Boys & Girls Club has hosted for the past 30 years, but with a new name. Everyone was invited to become a friend of the clubs by purchasing $5 "High Five" raffle tickets, for a chance to win prizes.
Gulf Coast Bank was the presenting sponsor of the first annual Friendraiser and all ten GCB branches served as locations to purchase High Fives.
Over $89,000 total was raised during the Friendraiser and these funds directly support the six club locations where they offer homework help, meals, and a safe place to go for children 6 – 18 years old.
Gulf Coast Bank Marketing Coordinator Megan Broussard said of the 8-week campaign: “Every year during this Boys & Girls Club fundraiser, our employees are excited to have the opportunity to make such a big difference in the communities we serve. Everyone’s enthusiasm is what makes the campaign so successful at GCB.” said Broussard. “It really is a fun time of the year, with everyone visiting to purchase their tickets!”
This campaign is important for our community and would not be possible without community support. To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, call 337-268-9555 or visit their website at www.bgcacadiana.com.
Gulf Coast Bank is a locally owned and operated full-service financial institution with nine locations in Vermilion and Lafayette parishes, proudly serving Acadiana for over 50 years.

John Curtis Simon

Thu, 05/27/2021 - 9:55am

August 26, 1931 ~ May 26, 2021

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 28, 2021 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of John Curtis Simon, 89, who died Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Matthew Hebert officiating the services.
He is survived by his daughter, Kim Simon of Kaplan; his three grandchildren, Christopher Smith of Avondale, Danielle Catalanotto of Metairie and Cassandra Catalanotto of Belle Chase; his seven great grandchildren, Ayden Simon, Kamron Carter, Arabella Catalanotto, Elizabeth Smith, Leanne Smith, Braxton Smith and Isac Smith; his three sisters, Willa Simon, Marylee Meaux and Dorothy Meaux; and his two brothers, John Claude Simon, Jr. and John Allen Simon.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane L. Simon; his parents, John Claude Simon and the former Louise Meaux; his sister, Margaret Broussard; and his brothers, John Rodney Simon, John Houston Simon, John Wilfred Simon and John Horace Simon.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Thursday, May 27, 2021 from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 5:00 PM; Friday, May 28, 2021 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 12:45 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 Simon family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Jim Bradshaw

Sugar for the stills left little for coffee

Wed, 05/26/2021 - 10:53am

Jim Bradshaw, LSN columnist

When south Louisiana men were hauled into court during Prohibition and accused of making moonshine whiskey at least a handful of them seemed genuinely surprised to find out that the mess of tubes and barrels discovered in their cabins was actually a still.
For example, two men accused of operating a still in the middle of a south Louisiana swamp, told federal magistrate W. Alex Robertson they had “nothing whatever” to do with the strange piece of plumbing that was in their cabin. They said “they are by trade timbermen” who were “sent to the isolated cabin to stay while cutting trees,” that the still was already in the cabin, and they did not use it.
The judge voiced some skepticism over their story, especially after he got a whiff of what was in jars that the men also “found” in the cabin.
In another instance, the manager of a farm near Opelousas, said he was “in absolute ignorance” of a moonshine operation uncovered in a cabin on the place. He said the cabin had been leased to a tenant who had recently moved, and surely that unnamed man must have simply left his still behind.
If that was the case, the sheriff said, the tenant abandoned “a modern moonshine operation” that was so ingenious that “it seemed a real pity to break it up.”
A newspaper said “the plant consisted of two stills, one of a large capacity; two oil stoves; ten molasses barrels full of fermenting ‘mash’; one drum of oil; ten gallons of ‘white mule’; gallon measures, corn meal, and innumerable other articles absolutely needed for the operation of a modern moonshine outfit.”
The “mash” — grain (usually corn) mixed with sugar and water and allowed to ferment — was destroyed, but the rest of the apparatus was loaded onto a wagon and “attracted a good-sized crowd” when it was hauled into town.
A storekeeper was arrested in Lafayette for stocking what was described as “a lot of this new kind of kicking stuff that masquerades under the name of wine,” that could be made and sold as “medicine.” When the merchant protested, he’d done nothing illegal, the judge noted that more than forty cases of the stuff were found in his store and wondered aloud if there were that many sick people needing “medicine” in Lafayette.
Not all of the protestations of innocence fell on deaf ears. Many of the defendants who were charged under a pre-Prohibition state law had to be set free. That law made it illegal to sell liquor without a proper license, but the state supreme court ruled that the new federal law made it impossible to get a license. The court held that the state could not require a license if there was no way to get one.
In the federal court juries of their peers were often sympathetic to the moonshiners, and found them not guilty or gave them only a minor fine. Lots of the jurors were probably making illegal hootch themselves. In fact, stills became so prevalent in south Louisiana that the Crowley Signal, without saying just how its editors knew this, warned in 1921 that overproduction was killing the moonshine market.
“Moonshine preferred has dropped from $15 to $5 per quart and moonshine common can be had as low as $1 per quart,” the paper said. “Honest” moonshiners were getting panicky because “the market is glutted … and everybody and his brother is manufacturing instead of purchasing the product.”
There seemed to be no worry about honest grocers who were having trouble keeping sugar on their shelves because of the huge amounts going into corn mash instead of morning coffee.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Julie Broussard Baudoin

Tue, 05/25/2021 - 8:30am

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 2:00 PM in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 AM till service time with a recitation of the Rosary at 12:00 Noon. Entombment will follow in the St. Alphonsus Mausoleum. The Very Reverend Louis Richard, VF, will officiate the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral service. Musical selections include Amazing Grace, Be Not Afraid, On Eagles Wings will be performed by Kristyn and James Opdenhoff.
Julie’s journey on Earth was a long and fruitful 103 years. On Sunday, May 23, 2021, God called her home. She raised several brothers, sisters, was married to John Baudoin for 65 years and had 2 children, 6 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great granddaughters during those years. She lived a life of service, instilling respect, loving your neighbor, hard work and gratitude.
Survivors include her daughter, Mary B. Denais and her husband Dale of Kerrville, Tx.; her grandchildren, Vince Denais and his wife Jeanine, Chad Denais and his wife Dana, Annette Gillespie and her husband Cabell, Jennifer Campo and her husband Nicholas, Kathryn Franklin and her husband Michael, Christopher Baudoin and his wife Renee; her great grandchildren, Jacqui Baudoin (Tyler Gilmore), Allyson and Mallory Franklin, Amelie and Clark Baudoin, Andre, Zachary, Perron, Jessy, David, and Amanda Denais, Dylan and Luke Hagy; and her great-great granddaughters, Maisyn and Mia Gilmore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, L. John Baudoin; her parents, Jules and Monique Simon Broussard; her only son, Kelly John Baudoin; and her siblings, Nedia, Aristle, Aubrey, Emily, Lloyd, Woodley, Lennis Broussard, Nursey Bourque, Rose Rabeaux, Verna Theall, Eda Bourque, and Ezar Landry.
Julie was born and raised in Judice, her adult life she was a resident of the Village of Maurice, and from 2005 until her passing she was a resident of Maison de Lafayette where she continued her life of friendship and service to others. She considered Maison de Lafayette her home and touched everyone who encountered her with her positive outlook on all situations, her selflessness, humility, grace and most of all her quick wit.
Julie was a member of St. Alphonsus Church. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved designing/redesigning clothing. She loved to cook and found much joy in fixing your favorite dish or dessert. She could make a garment or meal out of whatever was in the fabric stash or in the pantry. Her family all learned much about cooking from her, especially how to make her famous brown gravy and her favorite desserts.
Pallbearers will be Michael Franklin, Nicholas Campo, Cabell Gillespie, Zachary Denais, Jessy Denais, and David Denais.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Dale Denais, Vince Denais, Chad Denais, Christopher Baudoin and Clark Baudoin.
A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Baudoin family to Julie’s many caregivers, especially Sonya and Debra, as well as the doctors, nurses and staff of Maison de Lafayette. Also, to all of the family and friends for honoring Julie with your presence and prayers as she moved on to her Heavenly Home.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE-600 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811.

The University of Mississippi recently announced students named to the Spring 2021 Honor Roll lists, including Chancellor’s Honor Roll. Catherine Ann Romaine, pictured, was among students named.

Abbeville’s Romaine maintains 4.0 at the University of Mississippi

Tue, 05/25/2021 - 8:17am

Catherine Ann Romaine, of Abbeville, LA, was recently named to the University of Mississippi’s Spring 2021 Honor Roll lists.
Romaine was named to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.
“Our students on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll are among the best and brightest at the University of Mississippi,” said Chancellor Glenn Boyce. “I commend them for their hard work and dedication resulting in their incredible academic achievements and this well-deserved honor.”
In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

Jeremy Picard is back as the Erath High baseball coach.

Picard returns as Erath High head baseball coach

Tue, 05/25/2021 - 8:13am

ERATH — Jeremy Picard has returned as the head baseball coach at Erath High School.
Erath Principal Marc Turner made the announcement this week that the school rehired Picard.
Turner said, “We are very proud to have Coach Picard return to EHS baseball. He has a good rapport with the players and is highly regarded statewide in the baseball arena.”
Picard will not teach, but will be considered an employee of the school system. He will be a CECP non-faculty head coach and will be paid by the school system the same as a first-year head baseball coach in Vermilion Parish.
Picard is no stranger to the Erath High baseball program. He has been part of the program since 2011. He was the assistant coach for five years and the head coach for four.
Two years ago, he stepped away from the program after putting Erath High on the LHSAA baseball map. As the head coach, his teams made the playoffs and reached the third round of the playoffs for the first time in the school’s history.
In his four years at EHS, he posted a record of 95-49. Erath averaged 23 wins and a playoff berth each year. His final year, the Bobcats posted a 27-7 overall record, including 11-1 in district. They reached the second round of the Class 3A playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
“After putting so much time and energy over my time at EHS as both and assistant coach and head coach and then stepping away for two years, it became evident that I needed to be back involved in the game and the Erath program is where my heart has been since I became part of the program in 2011,” Picard said. “Erath is an absolutely great place to be with great kids, administration, and tremendous fan support. It’s an opportunity I am grateful for and could not pass up. I look forward to competing again with the young men of Erath High soon.”
Since Picard left, Erath has had two different head coaches.

Vermilion Parish School employees will get $1,500 COVID check

Tue, 05/25/2021 - 8:11am

Vermilion Parish school employees will be getting a one-time check for working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Superintendent Tommy Byler announced that school employees would get a one-time “COVID-19 Recruitment and Retention Stipend.” The check will go to full-time, part-time, and contract employees for the extra duties imposed upon them during the 2020-2021 school year, Byler said.
The money will be coming from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund approved by Congress.
A full-time employee works 30 or more hours, including bus operators. A part-time employee works less than 30 hours.
Byler explained to members of the Vermilion Parish School Board that all full-time employees would receive the same amount of money - $1,500 - despite how much they are paid. In other words, a teacher will get a $1,500 check, as well as a sweeper.
“Everyone of our 1,300 employees played a role in this,” said Byler. “We had people who had to substitute and people who worked in the cafeteria.”
Byler told the school board members that everyone went the extra mile during COVID-19, so everyone should be paid the same, despite how much money they make.
It was approved, 8-0. The employees will receive the one-time check in August.
“I appreciate you standing up here and saying what you believe in,” said school board member Chris Gautreaux to Byler. “The person who dumps the trash or feeds the kids, everyone is important.”
Some school employees thought they should receive a higher stipend check than others who made less money.
School Board Member Jason Roy said that was the wrong way to think.
“We all faced obstacles, no matter what their title or certification was,” Roy said. “Everyone had to do more than what their original job called for.”
Byler said for a full-time employee to receive the $1,500, they had to have worked at least 75 percent of the school year.
If a full-time employee only worked 50% to 75% of the school year, they will receive a $1,000 check.
If a full-time employee worked between 25% to 49% of the workdays required, they would receive a stipend check of $750.
A part-time or contract employee would receive $1,000 if they worked 75 percent to 100% of the workdays required.
A part-time or contract employee who worked 50% to 74% of the workdays will get $750.
A part-time or contract employee who worked 25% to 49 percent will receive $500.
Substitutes are not eligible for the money, Byler said.

Lena Domingues Elliott celebrated her 100th birthday in Hawaii.

The multi-generational photo is of Lean, Janis Hawk (daughter), Matt Hawk (grandson) and Arthur Hawk (great grandson).

Turning 100 in Hawaii: Lena Domingues Elliot celebrated her 100th birthday with her five kids

Mon, 05/24/2021 - 2:39pm

Last week Lena Domingues Elliott celebrated her 100th birthday in Kula, Hawaii with her five children, Judy, Karen, Janis, Steve (VC class of 1971) and Joseph (VC class of 1981), daughter in law Margaret Elliott, grandchildren Gavin Elliott, Matt Hawk and Lauren Hawk.
Also present were Matt’s wife Carmela and their newborn son Arthur, and Lauren’s fiancé Michael Giuliana. Yet to arrive to celebrate are granddaughter Alexandra Wagner and wife Danielle Pershing and their daughter Josephine.
Lena was born on May 17, 1921 to Lucille Goulas Domingues and Joseph Alcibiades Domingues.
Lena graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute and shortly after graduation, met her husband James Leroy Elliott on a vacation at Lake Arrowhead in Southern California.
After they married, they moved to Schenectady, NY, where James began his career as an Electrical Engineer at General Electric.
Soon they moved to Southern California where they settled and raised their children.
In 1970 they returned to Louisiana, along with sons Steve and Joseph, where they built a home on Vermillion River.
They spent the next 20 years living in Abbeville where James founded an engineering firm that focused on electrical design for the oil industry, and Lena taught at Abbeville Elementary School.
After retirement, they built a home in Colorado where they lived until James passed away in 1995. In Colorado, Lena took up and excelled at painting, creating southwestern landscapes and portraits of her grandchildren. Her paintings still grace the walls of her children’s homes. After James’ death, Lena relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1996 where she lived with her daughters Judy, Janis and Karen.
In 2017 Lena and her daughters moved to Kula Hawaii on the island of Maui, joining her son Steve who moved there in 2015.
Lena enjoys her life in Hawaii, and she still contributes in cooking dinner from time to time, sharing her Cajun cooking skills with family and friends. She attends mass at Holy Ghost Church in Kula. Most of all she is happy to be surrounded by her children, and after a year of caution due to her advanced age and COVID-19, she can give and receive hugs once again.

Sales Tax collection up $800,000 in Vermilion Parish

Mon, 05/24/2021 - 11:57am

Despite COVID-19 year, residents spending money

Despite it being a COVID-19 year, sales tax continues to show positive in Vermilion Parish, based on the March sales tax report.
The parish as a whole collected $4.4 million or $800,000 more than a year ago when COVID-19 first began.
On the year, sales tax is up by at least 11 percent and in some municipalties, it is higher.
The big three had an increase of 20 percent this past March.
The School Board, Police Jury and Sheriff’s Office all collected a total of $500,000 more in sales tax than a year ago.
The School Board collected $200,000 more with a total collection of $1.3 million.
The Police Jury also collected $200,000 more for a total of $1.3 million.
The Sheriff’s Office collected $100,000 more for a total of $630,000.
Abbeville, like the big three, had at least a 20 percent rise in sales tax collection.
The city collected $565,000 in sales tax which is $100,000 more than a year ago.
The town of Gueydan had a 34 percent increase in sales tax collections. The town collexted $19,600 or about $5,000 more than a year ago.
The city of Kaplan had an 11 percent increase after collecting $78,000 or $11,000 more than a year ago.
Other municipalties had at least a 11 percent increase. The town of Erath collected $29,400 for a $3,000 increase.
Maurice collected $8,000 or 12 percent more for a total of $78,500.
The town of Delcambre stayed about the same, collecting $18,900.
The biggest increase came from the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission. The tourist commission collected 66 percent more than a year ago.
The tourist commission collects its revenue from hotels and motels in the parish. This past March, $7,100 was collected, which was $3,000 more than a year ago.

Christopher Dylan Faulk

Mon, 05/24/2021 - 10:58am

July 31, 1996 ~ May 19, 2021

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Christopher Dylan Faulk, 24, who died Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chris Faulk, Jamie Faulk, Clay Faulk, Cade Faulk, Donald Faulk and Tommy Faulk, Jr.
Christopher was a proud member of the Young Marines. He never met a stranger and made friends wherever he went. He enjoyed building models and cooking. He will be most remembered by replying to everything as “groovy”.
He is survived by his father, Chris David Faulk and his wife, Joy Duhon Faulk; mother, Carlianne Ruth Dexter; one sister, Cara Dalyn Faulk; two brothers, Clay Daniel Faulk and Cade David Faulk; step-brother, Justice Duhon; step-sister, Amalie Duhon; maternal grandmother, Carol Joyce Sanborn; and paternal grandparents, Donald Ray Faulk and Sharon Margaret Faulk.
He was preceded in death by his paternal great grandparents, Claiborne John Faulk and Della Mae “Grandma Coffee” Faulk.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Monday, May 24, 2021 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM; Tuesday, May 25, 2021 from 8:00 AM until time of services.
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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Gulf Coast Bank Raised Over $37,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana During First Annual Friendraiser

John Curtis Simon

Sugar for the stills left little for coffee

Julie Broussard Baudoin

Abbeville’s Romaine maintains 4.0 at the University of Mississippi

Picard returns as Erath High head baseball coach

Vermilion Parish School employees will get $1,500 COVID check

Turning 100 in Hawaii: Lena Domingues Elliot celebrated her 100th birthday with her five kids

Sales Tax collection up $800,000 in Vermilion Parish

Christopher Dylan Faulk

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