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Kennedy Marceaux gets ready to round third base and head for home during the playoff game.

Freshman getting it done for Kaplan

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 9:35am

Marceaux hits 18th home run of the season in win over Mamou

Check these numbers out. .632 batting average, 28 singles, 17 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 52 runs batted in, and only one strikeout.
Who has these numbers, you ask?
A senior? No. A junior? No.
How about a freshman.
These are the batting stats for Kaplan freshman hitter Kennedy Marceaux.
Marceaux, the leadoff hitter for the Lady Pirates, is almost carrying the Lady Pirates with her bat.
Marceaux has hit a solo home run and a double for the second playoff game in a row.
On Tuesday, in Kaplan’s second-round playoff game, Marceaux hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and Kaplan snuck by No. 15 Mamou 2-1.
Kaplan moves on to the third round to play yesterday’s Sterlington/North Webster winner. The winner of the third-round game moves on to Sulphur.
Marceaux’s 18 home runs give her the school record for home runs hit in a season. But, the overall home run leader at Kaplan is senior Molly Sistrunk with 19. Sistrunk has hit 14 this year, one her sophomore year and four her freshman year.
Kaplan head coach Brittany LeBeouf said Marceaux has put in the time and work to get where she is today.
“I knew from day one she was a special player,” said LeBeouf. “She works to be a better non-stop. She plays high-level travel ball year-round, practices seven days a week outside of high school ball. She is getting great results because she puts in the time and does what it takes to be great.”
After Marceaux’s leadoff homer, Sistrunk followed with a single. With one out, Janyia Small walked to put two runners on base.
Noble Hebert brought home Sistrunk with a line-drive double that made it 2-0.
Two runs are all Kaplan needed with senior pitcher Carina Chargois on the hill.
The day before, Chargois struck out 12 in Kaplan’s first-round playoff win.
On Tuesday, she fanned 14 Mamou batters and only gave up two hits (a triple and a single).
In two games, she had 24 total strikeouts.
Kaplan had seven hits.
Marceaux, Hebert, and Small had two hits each for KHS.
“Mamou was a scrappy team, and its pitcher threw a good game against us,” said LeBeouf.

VC’s Laine Broussard had a good day at the district meet on Tuesday. She won the 200 meter dash, 400 meter run, high jump, and was second in the 100 meter dash.

Vermilion Catholic teams finish second at district track meet

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 9:33am

VC’s Laine Broussard named the Overall Outstanding Performer

Here are the results of Tuesday’s District 6-A meet held at New Iberia Senior High School.

(Held at New Iberia Sr. High)

GIRLS RESULTS

TEAM SCORING

Highland Baptist 169.5, 2. Vermilion Catholic 146, 3. Covenant Christian 85.5, 4. Central Catholic 69, 5. Hanson 29, 6. Centerville 14.

RUNNING EVENTS

100 – Brianna Sensley, Highland, 13.20; 2. Lanie Broussard, VC, 13.31; 3. Mallory Dupre, Covenant; 4. Grace Hebert, VC, 13.91.

200 – 1. Lanie Broussard, VC, 28.20; 2. Brianna Sensley, Highland, 28.52; 3. Mallory Dupre, Covenant, 30.29; 4. Johnsie Bowie, Centerville, 30.79.

400 – 1. Lanie Broussard, VC, 1:03.87; 2. Madison Champagne, Highland, 1:05.94; 3. Mallory Dupre, Covenant, 1:09.93; 4. Madelyn Compton, Hanson, 1:10.64.

800 – 1. Ache’ Anderson, Covenant, 2:40.47; 2. Meghan Guarino, VC, 2:47.92; 3. Mayzee Sanchez, Highland, 2:56.78; 4. Maegan Champagne, Highland, 3:08.13.

1600 – 1. Ache’ Anderson, Covenant, 6:12.64; 2. Madi St. Blanc, Hanson, 6:20.66; 3. Emma Blissett, Highland, 6:32.25; 4. Maegan Champagne, Highland, 6:43.36.

3200 – 1. Ache’ Anderson, Covenant, 13:52.27; 2. Lillian Nicholson, Highland, 14:01.87; 3. Emma Blissett, Highland, 14:24.05; 4. Maddie Meaux, VC, 17:51.82

100 Hurdles – 1. Emily Davis, Covenant, 16.08; 2. Ava Claire Calais, CCMC, 16.59; 3. Kinley Dartez, VC, 18.49; 4. Madison Champagne, Highland, 19.29.

300 Hurdles – 1. Ava Claire Calais, CCMC, 50.35; 2. Emily Davis, Covenant, 52.68; 3. Dusti Abshire, Highland, 55.46; 4. Faith Breaux, Highland, 56.27.

RELAYS

4x100 – 1. Vermilion Catholic (Kayla Broussard, Anna Claire Mollere, Lauren Doucet, Grace Hebert), 56.63; 2. Highland Baptist, 57.66.

4x200 – 1. Highland Baptist (Champagne, Sanchez, M’Kiyiah OIivier, Anna Perello), 2:01.75; 2. Vermilion Catholic, 2:03.30; 3. Central Catholic, 2:05.45.

4x400 – 1. Highland Baptist (Sanchez, Abshire, Maegan Champagne, Madison Champagne), 4:42.17; 2. Vermilion Catholic, 5:09.72.

FIELD EVENTS

DISCUS – 1. Marin Barras, Highland, 124-06; 2. Addison Grizzaffi, CCMC, 84-10; 2. Celia Alfred, CCMC, 68-04; 4. Zoey Melancon, VC, 66-08.

HJ – 1. Lanie Broussard, VC, 4-10; 2. Hilary Pillaro, Hanson, 4-8; 3. Emily Davis, Covenant, 4-8; 4. Anna Jones, VC, 4-6.

JAVELIN – 1. Marin Barras, Highland, 112-06; 2. Anna Kate Hagle, VC, 92-06; 3. Camille Turner, Highland, 92-05; 4. Kinsley Sellers, VC, 87-04.

LJ – 1. Brianna Sensley, Highland, 16-04; 2. Lucy Hamer, CCMC, 14-9.75; 3. Angel Armstrong, Centerville, 14-7.75; 4. Hilary Pillaro, Hanson, 14-07.5.

Pole vault – 1. Caroline Hunt, VC, 6-6; 2. Maegan Champagne, Highland, 6-6; 3. Rachel Fontenot, VC, 6-0.

Shot Put – 1. Marin Barras, Highland, 41-10; 2. Remi Trahan, VC, 28-1.5; 3. Bri’Yannah Johnson, CCMC, 27-10; 4. Celia Alfred, CCMC, 26-4.

TJ – 1. Emily Davis, Covenant, 33-06.5; 2. Brianna Sensley, Highland, 32-05; 3. Lucy Hamer, CCMC, 31-4.25; 4. Hilary Pillaro, Hanson, 30-09.75.

Outstanding Track – Ache’ Anderson, Covenant.

Outstanding Field – Marin Barras, Highland Baptist

Overall – Lanie Broussard, Vermilion Cath

BOYS RESULTS

TEAM SCORING

Highland Baptist 151, 2. Vermilion Catholic 87, 3. Hanson 80, 4. Centerville 59, 5. Central Catholic 48, 6. Covenant Christian 46.

RUNNING EVENTS

100 – 1. Tyler Gunner, Centerville, 11.27; 2. Mikey Bazar, VC, 11.43; 3. Ethan LeBlanc, Hanson, 11.66; 4. Malachi Ayo, Covenant, 11.85.

200 – 1. Tyler Gunner, Centerville, 23.38; 2. Mikey Bazar, VC, 23.53; 3. Saul Dartez, VC, 24.17; 4. Dillon Mitchell, Centerville, 25.12.

400 – 1. Jarworski Joseph, Highland, 51.58; 2. Matthew Elrod, Highland, 55.03; 3. Brock Touchet, 56.98; 4. Ethan LeBlanc, Hanson, 58.77.

800 – 1. Neil Mason, Highland, 2:12.03; 2. Johnny Clark, Highland, 2:20.87; 3. Tyrek Colbert, Centerville, 2:25.30; 4. Dominic Case, CCMC, 2:29.05.

1600 – 1. Tyler Blissett, Highland, 5:01.87; 2. Johnny Clark, Highland, 5:34.09; 3. Christian Giambrone, Covenant, 5:50.98; 4. Lucas Pickens, CCMC, 6:03.72.

3200 – 1. Tyler Blissett, Highland, 10:55.45; 2. Neil Mason, Highland, 11:45.29; 3. Christian Giambrone, Covenant, 13:06.40; 4. Lucas Pickens, CCMC, 13:16.12.

110 hurdles– 1. Jarworski Joseph, Highland, 17.48; 2. Dallas Halligna, Hanson, 21.63.

300 hurdles – 1. Dallas Halligan, Hanson, 47.83; 2. Jarworksi Joseph, Highland, 48.85; 3. Aidan Reed, VC, 50.20; 4. Drake Rock, CCMC, 54.88.

RELAYS

4x100 - Vermilion Catholic (Bazar, Josh Sagrera, JP Summers, Zachary Broussard), 45.31; 2. Covenant Christian, 47.62; 3. Hanson, 50.43.

4x200 – 1. Vermilion Catholic (Zachary Broussard, Josh Sagrera, JP Summers, Saul Dartez), 1:35.95; 2. Highland Baptist, 1:39.12; 3. Hanson, 1:40.67.

4x400 – 1. Highland Baptist (Weston Bradley, Elrod, Derrick Wright, Joseph), 3:48.25; 2. Vermilion Catholic, 4:16.60; 3. Central Catholic, 5:07.73.

FIELD EVENTS

DISCUS – 1. Milton Schexnayder, Centerville, 128-04; 2. Chad Zenon, VC, 127-10; 3. Ryan Kirkpatrick, VC, 114-10; 4. Nicholas McGee, Highland, 105.07.

HIGH JUMP– 1. Drake Rock, CCMC, 4-5.

JAVELIN – 1. Caiden Meyers, Covenant, 147-9; 2 Reid Lovell, Hanson, 128-3; 3. Blake Miller, Hanson, 125-7; 4. Daylon Dubois, VC, 119-03.

LJ – 1. Myles Liggans, Highland, 20-9.75; 2. Ethan LeBlanc, Hanson, 19-03.5; 3. Caiden Meyers, Covenant, 19-01; 4. Kylyn Jones, Highland, 18-09.5.

Pole Vault – 1. John Uze, Hanson, 9-3; 2. Eric Bourque, VC, 9-0.

Shot put – 1. Milton Schexnayder, Centerville, 44-03; 2. Nicholas McGee, Highland, 42-7.5; 3. Jaymin LeBlanc, Hanson, 40-06; 4. Drake Turner, Highland, 40-2.5.

TJ – 1. Drake Rock, CCMC, 34-0-5.; 2. Tyler Blissett, Highland, 30-3.5.

Outstanding Field – Drake Rock, Central Catholic

Outstanding Track – Jarworski Joseph, Highland Baptist

Overall – Jarworksi Joseph, Highland Baptist

The Erath Bobcats hold up a District 6-3A Champions banner after beating Abbeville twice.

Erath Bobcats capture rare District 6-3A baseball championship

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 9:31am

Bobcats finish 9-1 in district

District baseball titles don’t come around too often at Erath High School. So when one does occur, it is a pretty big deal.
On Tuesday the Bobcats won only the school’s baseball district title after sweeping Abbeville.
“It was our first goal we made this season - to win district,” said first-year head coach Doug Vicknair. “We reached that goal and players earned it by continuing to fight and get better each day.”
Erath (11-17) only needed to win one out of two games for the title. Instead, they beat Abbeville 16-2 and then 10-0.
In the first game against AHS, EHS scored 16 runs in the first two innings. The Bobcats had only five hits. Getting hits were Christen Migues, Trevor Huval, Cameron Durke, Thomas Collins and Ethan Goutierrez.
Jason Soirez and John Shiner pitched for EHS.

This 2016 Heartland North Trail Ultra Lite travel trailer was reported stolen on April 4.

Trailer theft investigated in Acadia Parish

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 9:28am

CROWLEY — Detectives with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office are investigating the theft of a 24-foot bumper-pull travel trailer from the 6000 block of Egan Highway, west of Crowley.
The incident occurred during the night of April 4.
Unknown suspects entered the property and gained access to the travel trailer. The trailer is described as a 2016 Heartland North Trail Ultra Lite. It is tan in color with black and maroon decals.
The value of this theft is approximately $18,000.
Anyone with any information regarding this theft is urged to call the tips line at 789-TIPS or download the P3 app on a mobile device to report tips anonymously.
All callers will remain anonymous and can receive up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Lee Bernard

Thu, 04/22/2021 - 9:20am

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Lee Bernard, 98, will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 3 p.m. with Fr. Donald Bernard officiating. Internment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Friday, April 23, 2021 from 9 a.m. until time of services with a recitation of the rosary at 11 a.m.
A resident of Erath, Mr. Lee passed away Monday, April 19, 2021. Lee is the fifth child born to Henry and Bernadette Bernard. He is a 1943 graduate of Erath High School.
Lee, a WWII Veteran, served as a tank driver for the 739th Tank Battalion. He saw combat in France and Germany in three major battles. In 2009 he traveled to France to receive the French Legion of Honor Award from the French President for service to the French Republic.
Lee helped organize the first Volunteer Fire Department in Erath and served as the first fire chief from 1946-1952.
Lee began a long association with the Civil Defense Department in the 1940s. Through his association with the CD, he was able to purchase the town’s first fire truck and generator for the town to use in emergencies. He assisted in helping for the 1940 flood and the many hurricanes that hit our town including Hurricane Hilda. Lee was successful in convincing the community leaders to dedicate the new Erath City Hall in memory of the eight citizens who perished in the disaster.
Lee was also helpful in supporting the Bares Ranch.
His entire life was dedicated to assisting and supporting Erath High. Not long after returning from the war, Lee organized a fair and rodeo to raise funds for the Agriculture Department. A few years later, Lee constructed four practice basketball goals for what is now the “old gym” at Erath Middle School along with eight goals on the playground for the kids at recess.
Lee also furnished the tractor and plow to level the football field and later furnished the tractor, plow, land level, and welding machine to redo Charlie Field for the high school baseball team.
When his grandsons came up to play baseball, Lee was there with equipment, time and advice to help get the Henry Baseball field in playing condition for home games. Lee was there to help in the pouring of jump pits and runways when building all the weather track.
Lee served as crossing guard for Dozier Elementary and Erath Middle Schools from 1987-1997. Kids got to know him as “Papa Lee” and was still called that today.
Lee was the Grand Marshall of the Erath Fourth of July Association in 1998. In 2007, Lee was inducted into the “Order if Living Legends’ in the Acadiana Museum of Erath. In 2008 he was Erath High School Honorary Hall of Fame Inductee.
Lee was a small town boy who was able to make some contribution to both his home town and his country he loved so dearly.
He is survived by his son, Shelby Bernard and his wife Debbie of Erath; his daughter Deana Simon of Erath; his grandchildren, Jill Bernard, Bo Ryan Bernard and his wife Brooke, Chesie B. Vargas and her husband Christian, Ross Simon and his wife Courtney, Kallen Simon, and Alie S. Broussard and her husband Gavin; his great grandchildren, Brae Leigh Suire, Tatem Suire, Elizabeth Bernard, Shelbi Grace Bernard, Cecilia Mae Bernard, Cami Lee Vargas, Chett Vargas, Kennedi Simon, William Simon, Camille Simon, Evelyn Mae Broussard and Elliott James Broussard soon to come in May.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Vella Mae Comeaux Bernard; his parents, Henry Bernard, Sr. and Bernadette Bernard; his brothers, Henry Bernard, Jr., Vores J. Bernard, and Leo Bernard; and his sister, Antoinette Lee; and bother-in-law, Roland Girouard.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
“In order to help keep the community safe we will honor the July 13, 2020 Louisiana Mandates. All families and their guests are required to wear a face covering while at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.”
David Funeral Home of Erath (337) 937-0405 209 E. Putnam St. will be handling the arrangements.

Larry Jack LeMaire

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 5:18pm

October 31, 1940 ~ April 17, 2021

KAPLAN — Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Larry Jack LeMaire, 80, who died Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Gueydan Memorial Guest Home. Services will be officiated by Reverend Chester Arceneaux.
Larry was born in Gueydan on October 31, 1940. He graduated from Gueydan High School and continued on to receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Larry was married to the late Charlotte Foreman of Kaplan. His hobbies were hunting and fishing, writing music, singing and playing the saxophone and making hand crafted Louisiana duck calls which he also made at Vermilionville.
He is survived by his children, Stefanie LeMaire, Katherine Odinet (Chris), Blake LeMaire (Yvette), Clay LeMaire and Leighton LeMaire; his grandchildren, Beau, Ethan, Matthew, Emma, Mollie, Alex, André and Bennett LeMaire; his great grandchildren, Olivia and Savannah Inman; his sister, Nell Robinson (Joe); one brother-in-law, Thad Foreman (Gerri); and two sisters-in-law, Maggie LeMaire and Leola LeMaire.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 28 years, Charlotte; one son, Grant Christian LeMaire; one granddaughter, Jesti Marie Bell; his twin brother, Logan; older brothers, Jimmy and Frank; and his parents, Manuel LeMaire and the former Emma Benoit.
Larry’s family is grateful to the entire staff at Gueydan Memorial Guest Home for their love and thoughtful care extended to him and his family throughout his time with them.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 10:00 AM until the services at 1:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 12:00 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276. Condolences may be sent to the LeMaire family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Joseph Anthony Faia, Sr.

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 4:38pm

Joseph Anthony Faia, Sr., 93 years old, current resident of Abbeville, LA. passed away at home surrounded by family during prayer on Monday, April 19, 2021.
He was born on August 17, 1927 in New Orleans, LA. to the former Sarah Engolia and Michael Faia, Sr.
Joseph started working at an early age of 11 to support his mother and six siblings. Throughout his life he worked two and three jobs in floor covering sales and as a movie projectionist to provide for everything that his wife and six children needed.
Joseph attended St. Mary’s Italian Catholic School in the French Quarter and was taught by the Cabrini Sisters. He and several siblings then went to live at Hope Haven Catholic Orphanage in Marrero, LA. At 15 years of age, Joseph entered St. John Bosco seminary in Newton, NJ to begin preparation for the Salesian priesthood. After six years, Joseph had to return home to care for his ailing mother.
Joseph’s hobbies included anything to do with his family, volunteering at church, raising his beautiful roses and fishing.
Predeceased by his parents, his sister, Sister Angela Faia, MSC, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and his brother Anthony.
Survived by Betty, his beloved wife of 68 years. His six children Joseph Faia, Jr. (Genna), Belinda Gafford (Tim), Brent Faia, Staci Faia (Lanza), Lisa Primeaux (Carl) and Janette Groth.
13 grandchildren-Carolyn and Bibianna Faia, Wayne Barado, Lauren Gafford, Justin Faia, Madison, Bennett and Grayson Lanza, Robert, Benjamin and Collin Primeaux, Paul and Taylor Groth
6 great grandchildren-Brooks and Bristol Barado, Chance and Veda Gafford, Bryson and Maddie Grace Faia. His siblings, Mike Faia, Louis Faia, Geri Faia and Sal Faia.
Services:
Friday, April 23, 2021
St Rita Catholic Church
7100 Jefferson Highway
Harahan, LA 70123
Visitation at 11 AM
Mass at noon
Burial at Greenwood Cemetery
5190 Canal Boulevard
Honoring Joseph’s passion for his faith, we request masses to be said in Joseph’s name.
Donations may be sent to your preferred Catholic Church or food pantry.
A special thank you to Vee’s Sitter Service and Hospice of Acadiana for their incredible love and compassion.
Tharp Funeral Home is responsible for handling the arrangements.

Donna Mae Horton Migues

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 4:36pm

LOREAUVILLE – A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Mrs. Donna Mae Horton Migues, 64, on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 2:30PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Ed Degeyter officiating. Interment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021from 9:00AM until the time of the service.
A native of Loreauville and resident of Erath, Mrs. Migues passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at an Abbeville Hospital. Ms. Donna enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, and fishing. She had a wonderful personality and enjoyed telling jokes and making people laugh. She was a good-hearted, kind and loving person who never met a stranger, and will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her husband, Wade Migues of Erath; son, Travis Migues of Erath; siblings, Darrell Horton and wife Darlene of St. Martinville, Jeffrey Horton of Coteau Holmes, Brian Horton and wife Priscilla “Pris” of Coteau Holmes, Pauline Horton of Loreauville, Michael Horton and wife Linda of Coteau Holmes, Tina Savoy and husband Travis of Loreauville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney Horton Jr. and Louise Arnaud Horton; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph “C.D.” Migues and Jusselle Primeaux Migues; and sister-in-law, Wanda Horton.
Honored to serve as Pallbearers are Jeffrey Horton, Michael Horton, Brian Horton, Darrell Horton, Marlon Daigle and Travis Savoy.
To help keep the community safe we will honor all Louisiana Mandates. All families and their guests are required to wear a face-covering while at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.
Family and friends may sign the guest register book and/or send condolences at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Loreauville, 116 S. Main St. 337-229-8338 is in charge of arrangements.

Quinon Pitre

SIXTH BODY RECOVERED IDENTIFIED AS PITRE

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 1:40pm

FROM THE ADVOCATE

Divers searching the wreckage of the Seacor Power in the Gulf of Mexico have recovered the body of a sixth crewman, the Lafourche Parish coroner said late Tuesday.
He was 31-year-old Quinon Pitre of the St. Mary Parish community of Franklin, said the coroner, Dr. John King.
Pitre has been identified as a resident of Pitreville near Eunice.
Misty Pitre, an older sister of Quinon, spoke on the phone on April 15 about her brother.
“He works as surveyor for Fugro out of Lafayette, and the crew had just left the port,” she said.
Pitre is the son of the late Ellis and Missy Pitre of Pitreville.
Pitre is the nephew of Kenneth Pitre of Eunice.
Pitre’s cause of death wasn’t immediately available.
Pitre was one of 19 crew members aboard the Seacor Power lift boat when it capsized about 4:30 p.m. on April 13 after it was hit by a sudden squall packing hurricane-force winds and creating destructive waves roughly seven miles south of Lafourche. Rescuers saved six crewmen that day, but the bodies of a half-dozen others have since been recovered.
The other crew members who have been confirmed dead are Capt. David Ledet, 63, of Thibodaux; Ernest Williams, 69, of Arnaudville; Anthony Hartford, 53, of New Orleans; James “Tracy” Wallingsford, 55, of the northeast village of Gilbert; and Lawrence Warren, 36, of the Jefferson Parish community of Terrytown.
As of Tuesday, seven remained unaccounted for: Jay Guevara, Dylan Daspit, Gregory Walcott, Chaz Morales, Jason Krell, Darren Encalade and Cooper Rozands.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search by air and sea for more survivors at sunset Monday, seven days into the efforts. But the founder of the United Cajun Navy said Tuesday that private divers working for the owner of the doomed Seacor Power were continuing to comb through the jack-up boat.
The civilian rescue fleet’s founder also said his group had two seaplanes in the air searching across a wide area around the Seacor Power, with the missing crewmen’s relatives holding out hope for more survivors.

Photo courtesy of Loren Scott
Economist Loren Scott said oil & gas employment took a hit during the
COVID-19 shutdowns.

ECONOMIST: 7,500 ENERGY JOBS LOST DURING COVID

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 11:51am

Brittney Forbes
LSU Manship School
News Service

BATON ROUGE — Employment in Louisiana’s oil and gas industry has been declining since 2014 and took another big hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, with layoffs of 7,500 more workers.
The high-paying jobs have not come back yet even though world oil prices have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. And as President Joe Biden pushes to accelerate a shift to renewable energy sources, oil and gas workers from Lafayette to Houma are feeling increasingly uneasy about the future.
Loren Scott, an economist who does consulting work for the industry, said Louisiana has about 27,000 jobs in oil and gas extraction, or 7,500 fewer than in January 2020. That number reflects those working in oil and gas exploration and production.
“The big hit that took place is a result of COVID just dealing another blow to the industry,” he said.
Even with the rebound in crude oil prices over the last few months, the South Louisiana oil patch remains “one of the few sectors of the economy that did not show any improvement” in jobs, Scott said.
Gary Wagner, an economics professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said that an array of businesses that support the oil and gas industry also have lost jobs, and adding these in brings the total job losses to at least 24,000 since the peak in 2014.
Crude oil prices plunged from $106 a barrel in 2014 to $27 in 2016 before bouncing to more than $60 in January 2020.
Patrick Courreges, the communications director at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, said the industry suffered last year as Americans cut back on travel and worked from home. That’s because many of the refined products, like gasoline, are for transportation.
Courreges said that as oil prices dropped, rigs in production and drilling permits trended down. And when consumer demand fell with the spread of the virus, the industry took a beating like never before.
As the economy reopens and Americans adjust to “the new normal,” he said, the industry is showing some signs of recovery. Since the state’s fiscal year started last July 1, Louisiana received $4.2 million from leasing state lands to oil and gas companies and issuing water bonds. The numbers were closer to $2.5 million for the previous fiscal year, he said.
But in some places, the jobs picture has only gotten worse.
The Houma area lost about 9,200 jobs of all types, or 11% of its total, when the pandemic hit, Scott said, with many of them related to oil and gas.
Wagner said Houma had 8,300 oil and gas extraction and support jobs in 2014. But that number has since declined to 5,200.
Lafayette is a center for the service industries that support drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It hit peak employment in support activities for mining in 2014 at 20,724. That number was down to 8,642 in 2020.
Crude oil prices briefly dropped to $11 a barrel after the pandemic hit, but they have since rebounded to around $60.
Wagner said he does not think oil prices will rise much more over the next two years. But even if they rose more, he does not think Louisiana would see an increase in jobs—or that the industry will ever be quite as important to the state as it once was.
In the mid-1980s, 35% of the state’s economy was directly related to oil and gas. “That’s huge,” he said. “That was probably the highest in the country.”
But as the state’s economy has diversified with the increase in casino and other types of jobs, the share of the state’s jobs related to oil and gas has dropped to 2.5%, he said.
Wagner said it is more costly to extract oil from the Gulf of Mexico than it is to drill for it on land in other parts of the country. Total oil and gas production has gone up in the United States over the last decade, but Louisiana’s share of the pie has declined.
“We just happen to be a relatively high-cost producer,” he said. “So it’s tough to be competitive in that environment.”
Scott said, however, that the industry made a major technological breakthrough in 2019, learning how to drill safely at spots deep in the Gulf with higher water pressures. That prompted some industry officials to think that drilling was set to take off there in 2020.
But a sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf drew little activity as the pandemic started in March 2020, and the Trump administration canceled another sale in August.
The Biden administration also canceled a lease sale last month after it declared a temporary moratorium on selling new leases in the Gulf while it decides on its energy and environmental policies.
That has added to the tension to the industry, as has Biden’s proposal to remove tax credits from the oil industry and provide additional ones to solar and wind-power companies.
But most economists agree that it is no longer viable for states to rely on oil. The world is projected to run out of oil by 2030 and other fossil fuels by 2050.
By expanding use of renewable resources, the country could support its economy through “green growth” initiatives. The World Economic Forum says that renewable energy is now cheaper than coal-fired power plants, and half of solar and wind installations undercut fossil fuels in price in 2019.
Sales are soaring at electric car companies like Tesla, General Motors and Ford also are planning to move beyond gasoline engines. GM announced earlier this year that its plans to be carbon neutral by 2040, providing electric vehicles and sourcing renewable energy.
“We just see this as kind of a transition where we need to do things, try to do things cleaner, do things smarter,” Courreges said.
He added: “Yes, renewables are the future, it’s just how long in the future and how fast can we get there without putting a lot of people out of work that can’t find a new job.”

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Freshman getting it done for Kaplan

Vermilion Catholic teams finish second at district track meet

Erath Bobcats capture rare District 6-3A baseball championship

Trailer theft investigated in Acadia Parish

Lee Bernard

Larry Jack LeMaire

Joseph Anthony Faia, Sr.

Donna Mae Horton Migues

SIXTH BODY RECOVERED IDENTIFIED AS PITRE

ECONOMIST: 7,500 ENERGY JOBS LOST DURING COVID

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