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Vermilion Parish Police Juror does not want to tell people what to do with their property

Thu, 01/07/2021 - 8:00am

Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza approached the Vermilion Parish Police Jury to ask them to create a sign ordinance for five unincorporated ‘islands” in the city limits.
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza and two council members, Brady Broussard Jr. and Roslyn White, attended Monday night’s police jury meeting to ask if the police jury could create a special sign ordinance. The new ordinance would not allow electronic billboards on the four other unincorporated pieces of land in Abbeville.
“These islands have been in existence for many, many years,” said Piazza. “I do not think that Erath, Kaplan, or Gueydan have this same problem. It is unique to Abbeville.”
Piazza explained to the police jurors the” islands” were created more than 50 years ago. They are still unincorporated because the landowners never wanted to be in the city.
“The mindset with some jurors is that they do not want to tell people what they can do or can not do with their property,” added Piazza. “I can understand that. Remember, many of you live out in the country because it is not restricted, which is why people live in the city because they have restrictions.”
Mayor Piazza requested the police jury approve a moratorium that would immediately stop someone from placing another electronic billboard on one of the four remaining islands.
Piazza said by the police jury adopting a moratorium, it would allow the Abbeville police jurors and council members to sit down and figure out a way to stop future construction of electronic signs on the islands.
But the jurors did not agree with Piazza.
“At what point is the government going to stop telling people what they can do with their property?” asked police juror Errol Domingues, who lives south of Erath. “We have no industry left in Vermilion Parish. People want to advertise, and now we tell them how to advertise.”
Police Juror Scott Broussard, who has four islands in his district, said he took a survey in Abbeville about the new electronic billboard on Park Avenue in Abbeville. He said he heard many positives about the electronic sign, but there was some negative feedback.
“I asked people their opinion,” said Scott. “I think the jurors need to be better informed on the future of billboards in the parish. We need to study the issue, so I think we need to table it.”

Alicia Denise Robertson

MISSING PERSON REPORTED in Evangeline Parish

Wed, 01/06/2021 - 9:14am

VILLE PLATTE – The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office needs the public assistance in locating a missing person.
On Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 reporting person (Rebecca Robertson) reported her daughter Alicia Denise Robertson (DOB 08-05-1981) as missing. She last seen her daughter at their residence (1066 John F Kennedy St Ville Platte, LA) at approximately 7:00 a.m. that morning. Alicia Robertson was headed to her place of employment at 1009 W. Lincoln Street Ville Platte, LA (Unlimited Health Care). She appeared to have been in a calm mood. She was wearing her work uniform, black medical scrubs.
Alicia D Robertson (DOB 8-5-1981) is described as a black female, approximately 5’2 in height, weighs approximately 250
lbs., black hair, brown eyes with a fair skin tone. She drives a 2015 red Nissan Altima bearing Louisiana License Plate #ZUS820. The vehicle windows are lightly tinted. A photo of Alicia has been included below.
If anyone has any information or comes into contact with Alicia D. Robertson is asked to contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 337-363-2161.

Renee Sellers Viator Dore

Wed, 01/06/2021 - 9:09am

NEW IBERIA — A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Renee Sellers Viator Dore, age 65, will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 from 8:00am to 9:00pm. Visitation will resume on Saturday, January 9,2021 at 8:00am until 11:00am. At that time, a Memorial Service will be held to honor Renee’s life. Private interment will be at a later date in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church Cemetery in Coteau.
A native of Abbeville and long-time resident of New Iberia, Renee was born on March 3, 1955 to James Harold Sellers and Jeanne Pavy Sellers. She was the eldest of 9 children. Renee passed away at home on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 7:30am with her loving husband by her side.
Renee graduated from Vermillion Catholic High School in 1973. Renee’s striking beauty and vibrant personality led to her honor as Miss Abbeville in 1972. Renee became an LPN in 1992 after completing the program at Lafayette Regional Technical School. In 1999, she graduated from LSUE as a Registered Nurse.
Renee’s nursing vocation spanned some twenty years at Iberia Medical Center. Doing what she absolutely loved, Renee spent most of her time in Labor and Delivery. Her love of people then blossomed in a new direction, teaching in Christian Schools for several years. In the last chapter of her career, reminiscent of her days as a nurse, Renee was a caregiver for the elderly. Unmatched in generosity, she showered her patients with Love and concern.
She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Raymond Dore Jr. of Coteau; Three daughters, Heather Viator Burke of New Iberia, Angelique Viator of Broussard, Rosalyn Viator Green of Duson; Two sons, Derek Viator (Francine) of Lafayette, and Donovan Viator of Loreauville; Nine grandchildren, Darian Burke, Colton Burke, Brittany LeMaire, Megan LeMaire, Abbagail Viator, Mase Viator, Mylie Viator, David Green jr. and Daviah Green and her one beloved great-grandchild Kylie Gary; Seven sisters, Tina Marcantel (Peter) of Gold Canyon, AZ, Annette Goglia (Richard) of New Orleans, Josie Boudreaux (Bobby) of Prairieville, Susan Laughlin (Earl) of Lafayette, Monica Meche of Abbeville, Rachel Bordelon (Bryan) of Tomball, TX, Kathryn Naifeh (Jay) of Memphis, TN and one brother, James Sellers (Lisa) of Lafayette; One sister in law, Adele Dore Walls (Chuck) of Coteau, Mother in law, Rita Dore of Coteau, former husband, Roy J. Viator Jr. of New Iberia and numerous nieces and nephews, including her godchild, Travis Meche, for whom she loved very dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Harold Sellers and Jeanne Pavy Sellers of Abbeville, as well as several aunts and uncles, including her uncle, Dr. Donald Pavy of New Iberia, for whom she had a special place in her heart.
Renee was a lifelong diehard fan of the New Orleans Saints, win or lose, she was always devoted to her team. She loved spending time with her family and friends, reading from her library of books and picking fruits and vegetables from their backyard garden. She was a truly kind, generous and compassionate woman. She loved showering her family and friends with small, meaningful gifts given from her abundance of love for them. Her non-judgmental and accepting nature allowed Renee to be loved by everyone who got to know her. Through these attributes, she developed many loyal friendships over the years.
Special thanks go to Dr. Kurt O’Brian, the staff at Iberia Medical Center and the Kindred Home Care staff for the love and compassion they showed Renee in her final days.
Friends and family are invited to send condolences and/or sign the online guestbook at www.pellerinfuneral.com
Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.

Unemployed in Louisiana to begin receiving $300 weekly federal benefit boost

Wed, 01/06/2021 - 8:43am

By David Jacobs |
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Unemployed Louisiana residents have begun receiving an additional $300 in weekly benefits provided by the federal government, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) said Monday.
The LWC has distributed about $7 billion to nearly 700,000 Louisianans since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the commission said. Most of that money has consisted of federal dollars, although the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund was tapped out during the pandemic, forcing the state to borrow from the federal government to pay legally required benefits.
Though the original federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act programs that made the additional benefits available expired Dec. 26, the replacement bill was signed the following day and recipients will not miss a payment, the LWC said. CARES Act recipients will have their prior claim restored and will be able to continue receiving benefits as before.
The $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments will be an addition to a claimant’s weekly benefit amount in any of the following programs:
• State Unemployment Insurance;
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation;
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance;
• Extended Benefits;
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance;
• Trade Readjustment Assistance.
New unemployment claims ticked up during the week that ended Dec. 26 to 8,246 from the previous week’s total of 7,926, the LWC reported Monday. For a pre-pandemic comparison, during the week ending Dec. 28, 2019, 1,469 initial claims were filed.
Continued claims for the week ending Dec. 26 decreased to 60,641 from the previous week’s total of 64,448. The continued claims were above the comparable figure of 15,270 for the week ending Dec. 28, 2019, the commission said.

Maurice announces road closure, detour

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 4:33pm

MAURICE — Due to the need to replace the culverts crossing Andre Avenue, the intersection of Andre Ave and East Lafayette will be closed on Wednesday Jan. 6, 2021 until Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.
Traffic and access to areas on Andre will have to detour on Vincent.
“We are sorry for this inconvenience but this is necessary for repairs to be made,” Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot said.

Gary Lee Sellers Jr.

Search for Kaplan suspect continues

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 9:29am

Gary Lee Sellers Jr. considered armed, dangerous

KAPLAN — Kaplan Chief of Police Joshua Hardy said Monday morning that his department is continuing the search for a man involved in a fatal shooting last week.
Hardy said the suspect is Gary Lee Sellers Jr. Police describe Sellers as a white male with brown eyes, height at 5’11”, and weighing around 167 pounds. Hardy said Sellers should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Sellers’ whereabouts can contact the Kaplan Police Department at 643-8602.
On the evening of Dec. 29, 2020, officers with the Kaplan Police Department received a complaint of a stolen vehicle from a local gas station. As officers were looking into this matter, the vehicle was located in the McDonald’s parking lot by family members of the family that owned the vehicle.
Two of the persons inside the vehicle exited and approached the stolen vehicle. One of them opened fire on the vehicle hitting the person inside. The stolen vehicle then left the parking lot and crashed in the parking lot of another local gas station and was later pronounced dead at the local hospital due to gunshot wounds. Two suspects were arrested.
Others arrested for Principle to 2nd Degree Murder were Paulette Mouton and Gage Landry, the other passenger. Both of these subjects were arrested and booked into the Kaplan City Jail.

Two pharmacies in Abbeville each receive 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine; On first day, all are dedicated to 200 residents

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 8:11am

The state of Louisiana recently listed the names of 107 pharmacies in Louisiana that will be getting the limited doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
There are 107 pharmacies that will be getting the vaccines.
The 107 pharmacies — 45 chain pharmacies and 62 independent pharmacies — represent 51 parishes and all nine public health regions of the state.
Thrifty Way and Super One pharmacies in Abbeville were the ones on the list to the get the vaccine.
However, those two pharmacies only received 100 vaccines at each location.
It did not take long for the 100 vaccines to run out.
Thrifty Way has already used its 100 vaccines and is having people get on a waiting list for when another set of vaccines is released.
According to LDH, the vaccines will be available only for those in Phase 1B, Tier One:
• People who are 70 years of age and above;
• Home health services patients and staff;
• Ambulatory/outpatient health care personnel;
• Residents, students and staff of schools of allied health; and
• People being treated for end stage renal disease (patients on dialysis).

Jim Bradshaw

Voodoo humbug brought in the year

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 7:51am

As the new year began a half century ago in 1951 there was a big stir in the newspapers about a woman who lived “almost in the heart of Eunice” who was “in the power of a witch doctor.”
The story was first published on the front page of the Opelousas Daily World under the headline,”Voo-Doo Comes Alive In Heart of Eunice As Woman Turns To Mystic For Herb Cure.”
That caused Mary Alice Fontenot to look into the story. She was then a reporter for the Eunice New Era and had not yet conjured up Clovis Crawfish and his pals. She reported that the account was more about humbug than voodoo.
The Opelousas story began, “The mystic madness of the African jungle, the potion that heals or bears a curse, has come alive in 20th century America, has reared its ugly head in the modern city of Eunice.”
The woman involved was not named. She was described as “a 22-year-old Eunice woman who has not left her house in two years [and who] is in the power of a witch-doctor.’”
Authorities got involved when the woman’s brother, who had not seen her for several years, dropped by for a visit but couldn’t get anyone to answer the door. He got worried and went to the police.
When officers went to the house, they were greeted by the woman’s mother, who was “brandishing a shot gun” and would not let them in, according to the first account.
After that, Judge Lessley Gardiner approved a search order for the house and Gladney Billeaudeaux was the deputy sheriff picked to execute it. Once again, the shotgun-carrying mother opened the door. This time, she told the deputy that “she would not shoot the law,” and let him in.
He said the daughter appeared “obviously ill,” and told him that she was being treated by “a doctor who practiced the mystic art of healing by charms and herbs.”
Traiteurs who used charms and herbs were not uncommon in south Louisiana in the 1950s, which causes a bit of wonder about why the story made the leap to voodoo instead of the traditions of the locale. It could also be noted that Opelousas (i.e., the Daily World) and Eunice (the New Era) had a significant rivalry going on in those days and missed few chances to undercut each other.
The voodoo part surely caught Mary Alice’s attention. At any rate, her story in the New Era was headlined, “No Voodoo, No Mystic Brew.” She said the Eunice police chief “laughed when he read the [Daily World] story” and said that his officers were never “denied entry at the point of a gun.”
“She invited us to come in,” the chief said. “Her daughter was in bed. She told us she was sick with some kind of ailment and was taking a patent medicine.”
The chief took Mary Alice to the house to see things for herself.
“As soon as I entered the humble little house, I recognized … that if there was anyone there ‘in the power of a witch doctor’ it would take a more perceptive person than I to discover it.” she wrote. “The mother and daughter seemed very much like any of our good people. They were perturbed, of course, over the newspaper story and the family misunderstanding that precipitated the whole affair.”
The daughter said she had been too sick to leave the house for more than a year, but was feeling better and expected to go to work again “before too long.”
When Mary Alice asked about “the potion that heals or curses,” she was shown a bottle of patent medicine with all of the ingredients listed on the label.
The invalid asked her to “please don’t write anything that will make us feel bad. … Just say as briefly as you can that the story isn’t true.”
And that’s what Mary Alice did.
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.

Jeff Crouere

Oh brother, Nancy Pelosi is insane

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 7:50am

It seems that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) did not get the message of the 2020 election. Her party lost almost every heavily contested race in the last election and the Democrats now have only a razor thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Instead of moving to the ideological middle to find common ground with Republicans, Pelosi and her leadership team are moving further to the ridiculously progressive left. For example, on Friday, Pelosi introduced new rules for the 117th session of Congress. The package includes requirements that all gender specific language be replaced by gender neutral wording.
Thus, words such as “man, woman, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, husband, wife” are banned and will be swapped by words such as “parent, child, sibling, spouse, etc.” Henceforth, there will be no more use of terms such as “aunt, uncle, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law.” In the view of Pelosi and the Democrats such terms are too offensive.
The proposed changes are extensive. The word “seaman” will be replaced by “seafarers.” The “Whistleblower Ombudsman” office will now be referred to as the office of “Whistleblower Ombuds.” A member will not submit “his or her resignation,” it will simply be a member “resigns.” The rules package was also introduced by U.S. Representative, not Congressman, James McGovern (D-MA) who is the Chair, not Chairman, of the Rules Committee.
Upon unveiling the proposals, McGovern crowed that it would make “this House of Representatives the most inclusive in history.” Sorry Representative McGovern, what this package truly shows is how completely out of touch the Democratic leadership has become with the needs of the American people.
It is incredible that this committee took the time and effort to include such craziness in the rules package. In a Covid-19 world of hysterical overreaction, rampant fear, business shutdowns, electoral challenges, rising crime, and foreign threats, it is insane that Pelosi and McGovern are focused on placating their far-left wing by eliminating gender specific language.
Throughout history, words such as “husband and wife” have served mankind, sorry, humanity, sorry, the world, very well thank you. In the view of the vast majority of Americans, eliminating such terms is patently ridiculous. It is only an issue for the hyper progressive wing of the Democratic Party that also wants to totally eliminate all traditional roles for men and women. These true believers on the left want to blur any biological differences between men and women and negate the God-given advantages of masculinity and femininity.
This country is in serious trouble to have someone of Pelosi’s ideology leading the U.S. House of Representatives for another term. This change is supposedly a way to “honor all gender identities.” In fact, it is an insult to anyone that is comfortable with their gender and their gender roles. It is an example of Democratic Party groveling before a loud, but tiny, constituency, while ignoring the vast majority of Americans.
According to McGovern, this was done to ensure that in the upcoming session of Congress, House leaders “are inclusive of all Members, Delegates, Resident Commissioners and their families – including those who are nonbinary.” While this will placate a small number of nonbinary individuals who are associated with the House of Representatives, it will force everyone else to change their language. This clearly shows how the Democratic Party does not care about the needs, values, or goals of average Americans.
This 45-page rules package was called “visionary” by Pelosi. She boasted that it included “bold reforms” that reflect the “priorities” of the Democratic caucus and embraced values such as “advancing inclusion.” The rules change will also require “standing committees to include in their oversight plans a discussion of how committee work over the forthcoming Congress will address issues of inequities on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or national origin.” The package also includes a proposal to create a “Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.”
While focusing on “inclusion,” Democrats have forgotten to include those traditional Americans who value their roles as “father, mother, husband and wife.” To these millions of Americans, such an attack on our language is both offensive and ludicrous.
Once again, the proposed rules package creates an ideal opening for Republicans to make the case that the Democrats do not represent working Americans, who are trying to pay bills and raise their families in this challenging environment. Not surprisingly, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wasted no time in responding. He tweeted that the rules change was “stupid.” He signed the tweet as a “father, son and brother.”
For the next two years, House Republicans need to fight every progressive agenda item that the Democrats will try to promote. This will highlight the differences between the two parties and give American voters a compelling reason to give Republicans control of the U.S. House of Representatives again in 2022.
If that happens, Republicans must not squander the opportunity like the last time they wielded control. It may be their final chance to show leadership and actually follow through on their campaign promises to the American people.

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award winning program, “Ringside Politics,” airs nationally on Real America's Voice Network, AmericasVoice.News weekdays at 7 a.m. CT and from 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990-AM & Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America's Last Chance and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on Crouere.net. For more information, email him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com

Dr. James “Jim” Ruiz

Tue, 01/05/2021 - 7:44am

ABBEVILLE — Private Memorial Services for Dr. James “Jim” Melvin Ruiz, 75, will be held at a later date.
A native of New Orleans and a resident of Abbeville, Dr. Ruiz died at 11:42AM on Saturday, December 26, 2020 at The Heart Hospital of Lafayette. He served his country proudly in the US Coast Guard then worked for the New Orleans Police Dept. where retired with the rank of Sergeant. After retired Dr. Jim began furthering his education and eventually received his Doctorate of Philosophy. He taught at several university including USL and retired from Penn State University in 2016. After his second retirement he moved to Abbeville and has worked for the Vermilion Parish Sheriff Dept. He was also a member of the Kaplan American Legion.
He is survived his wife of 26 years, Roberta Lynn Foster Ruiz of Abbeville; four sons, Steven Ruiz, Marc Ruiz, Scott Ruiz, and Kenneth Ruiz; three brothers, Glenn Ruiz, Johnny Ruiz, and Steven Ruiz; thirteen Grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Lois Airhart Ruiz.
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

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Vermilion Parish Police Juror does not want to tell people what to do with their property

MISSING PERSON REPORTED in Evangeline Parish

Renee Sellers Viator Dore

Unemployed in Louisiana to begin receiving $300 weekly federal benefit boost

Maurice announces road closure, detour

Search for Kaplan suspect continues

Two pharmacies in Abbeville each receive 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine; On first day, all are dedicated to 200 residents

Voodoo humbug brought in the year

Oh brother, Nancy Pelosi is insane

Dr. James “Jim” Ruiz

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