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The 2021 VCHS Student of the Year is Drew Lege. The student of the year competition seeks a well-rounded senior who excels academically, promotes a culture of respect, integrity, and social responsibility, and exemplifies Christian leadership and charity. During his time at VC, Drew has worked hard to thrive academically, athletically, and spiritually. He has maintained a 4.0, earned the TOPS Honors Award with his ACT score, and been an active member of Beta and NHS. Athletically, he has achieved great success in baseball, basketball, and football, currently leading the football team as its captain. Drew promotes morality and religious service as a member of the VCHS Faith In Action Team and by volunteering at St. Mary Magdalen as an altar server. In the wider parish community, Drew has practiced Christian charity by providing hurricane relief efforts, distributing goods at the Christian Service Center, and participating in this past summer’s Unity Peace Walk. Pictured with Drew are his parents Tricia and Eric Lege.

An early morning fire in Abbeville has left one man dead.
Members of the Abbeville Fire Department responded to a call shortly after midnight Wednesday morning. Firefighters found a mobile home at 605 Alphonse St. engulfed in flames.
“It took the guys about 20 to 25 minutes to get it under control,” Abbeville Fire Chief Jude Mire said. “There was only one person in the house.”
Officers with the Abbeville Police Department on the scene told responding firefighters that there was likely someone inside the house.
“They searched and found him,” Mire said of the victim.
Mire said the deceased’s name is not be released at this time, as an investigation is ongoing. Representatives of the Office of the Louisiana Fire Marshal are investigating the incident.
“That’s standard whenever there is a fatality,” Mire said.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Mire did not speculate as to the cause, he did add that this is the time of year when the risk of structure fires are higher.
“People bring out space heaters and other ways to keep warm when we get that first cold,” Mire said. “Be careful with space heaters, candles and things like that.”
Mire said if anyone has questions regarding safe use of space heaters, they can contact the fire department at 898-4258.
“People can contact us with any questions,” Mire said.

May 27, 1932 ~ November 30, 2020

GUEYDAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Vivian T. Lege, 88, who died Monday, November 30, 2020 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Gueydan Cemetery with Reverend Corey Campeaux officiating the services.
She is survived by her two sons, Richard Lege and his wife, Reesa of Gueydan and Michael Lege and his wife, Judy of Gueydan; her daughter, Eva Lege of Gueydan; her eight grandchildren; and her 13 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Lege, Jr.; and her parents, Valerie Toups and the former Eva Lee Mayer.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Gueydan, 311 Fourth St., on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 from 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM; Thursday, December 3, 2020 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 10:45 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Gueydan, (337) 536-6124 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Lege family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Editor:

2020 is a year that I wish not to repeat. From government-mandated lockdowns, multiple hurricanes that have ravaged our coast, and the free-fall in which the oil and gas industry now finds itself, Louisianians have had a challenging year.
It’s time to close the book on this year and look to a brighter future.
The people of Louisiana are hurting. Families in my district are out of work, and businesses of all kinds – particularly those in the oil and gas industry – have had to close their doors.
For those lucky enough to find work, that work is in other states — forcing some to work through the upcoming holidays and miss precious time with their loved ones — or possibly even move.
The Second Extraordinary Legislative Session of 2020 provided an opportunity to give relief to the families and companies that rely on oil and gas production or employment.
I filed House Bill (HB) 29, which provided a reprieve from severance tax for orphaned wells, newly drilled or newly completed wells for a certain period of time to encourage oil and gas investment in Louisiana. The bill received robust debate from those in opposition, those in support, and by both chambers of the legislature. HB 29 made its way to the Governor’s desk.
On the fourth floor of the Capitol, Governor Edwards penned an anemic veto message claiming that HB 29 was not well vetted, there was “limited access for … meaningful comment,” that there was no legitimate evidence or testimony for job creation, and that it was unrelated to the COVID-19 response.
By the governor’s standards, the 144-member lawmaking branch of Louisiana state government, elected by the people, is inept. The legislature either lacks the qualifications deemed necessary by the Governor or the Governor distrusts those that elected this branch — you.
As long as you weren’t running a fever and weren’t having COVID-like symptoms, anyone was allowed to enter the Capitol to participate. If anything, access to the legislature was increased, as the legislature allowed anyone to submit testimony and show support or opposition via email in lieu of attending in person.
Contrary to the Governor’s claim that there was no legitimate evidence or testimony, several oil and gas companies gave in-person testimony in support of HB 29.
Additionally, many others issued letters of support to the Governor stating that should HB 29 be signed, they were eager to begin hiring workers.
There was also testimony in opposition.
Furthermore, to claim that this legislation is not related to the COVID-19 response is nonsensical at best.
Outside of bogus lawsuits against oil and gas companies, COVID-19 is one of the largest hits the industry has taken in recent history, and it has had a crippling effect on Louisiana’s economy.
My goal with this legislation was simply to get people back to work by encouraging new activity in Louisiana. HB 29 would have reduced the burden on the unemployment trust fund and increased sales tax and income tax collection for Louisiana’s state general fund.
Maybe this was destined to happen because 2020 has been an unusual year, or maybe this is what we can expect for the final three years of Governor Edwards’ administration.

Phillip R. DeVillier
State Representative
District 41