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ERATH — Funeral Services for Alvin J. “Chien” Guilbeaux,76, will be 2:00PM Saturday, September 26, 2020 in David Funeral Home of Erath. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
Visitation will in David Funeral Home of Erath Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 9:00AM until service time.
“Chien” passed away Wednesday, September, 23, 2020 at Eastridge Care Center in Abbeville. He retired in Animal Control for the Vermilion Parish Police Jury after many years of service. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was an avid Saints fan and loved Sunday football.
He is survived by his sons, Troy Guilbeaux of Erath, Trent Clostio and wife Kay of Abbeville, Scott Clostio and wife Jackie of Erath, Eric Clostio and wife Dawn of Abbeville, and Keith Bourque of Erath, brothers, Mike Guilbeaux and wife Rita Ann of Abbeville and Carroll Broussard of Youngsville,sisters Elaine Guilbeaux Guidry of Cecelia and Betty Ann Guilbeaux of Lafayette and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his beloved dog J.C.
He is preceded in death by his wife Verly Menard Guilbeaux, his parents, Lenis and Lena Comeaux Guilbeaux, son Bryan Bourque and his stepmother Rose S. Guilbeaux.
The family would like to thank the staff of Eastridge Nursing Center and Grace Hospice for the care and concern of Mr. Alvin during his time there.
Condolences may be shared with the family 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 in charge of arrangements. 209 E. Putnam St. Erath, LA 70533 (337) 937-0405.

Researchers at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are using artificial intelligence to more accurately – and quickly – forecast floods.
And they’re doing it well.
UL Lafayette – along with entities such as tech giant Google and the U.S. Department of Defense – are among the top finishers in the Igniting Innovation Award competition earlier this month. The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council gives the award for innovative research that benefits people and communities.
Twelve projects were recognized, including an overall winner. UL Lafayette was among eight finalists. Awards were also given in several specialized categories.
The University’s “Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Flood Prevention and Forecasting” project implements a data mining prototype to discover and curate large amounts of information. Rainfall records, river and surface water levels, soil moisture content and other information is culled from dozens of sources, including satellites, gauges and field sensors.
The data is integrated and interpreted with machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence. The systems are capable of “learning” from data over long periods of time and making predictions without being specifically programmed to do so.
“Advances in artificial intelligence and data science are enabling us to develop innovative methods for flood forecasting and mitigation by taking massive amounts of information and using it for community-scale applications,” said Dr. Emad Habib, a professor of civil engineering. He directs the University’s Louisiana Watershed Flood Center.
Habib is leading a group of University scientists – including undergraduate and graduate students – on the ongoing research project.
Dr. Mohamed ElSaadani, a research engineer at the flood center, said the technology “has an enormous capacity to determine patterns and trends over time.”
“It provides highly accurate information that can prompt quicker responses to flooding events, and help guide decisions about road closures, evacuation mandates, and other public safety considerations,” he said.
The forecasting model’s capabilities aren’t limited to flood prediction and mitigation – or a specific geographic region.
“The cloud-based system can be shared and adapted to help make determinations about drought, landslides, wildfires or even land usage, which are all affected by variables such as rainfall and soil moisture,” ElSaadani said.
In addition to the Department of Civil Engineering and Louisiana Watershed Flood Center, the University’s Institute for Coastal and Water Research, Center for Visual and Decision Informatics, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are contributing to the project.

When you spend $7.75 on a meal at a fast food restaurant for lunch, you are helping the local economy.
There’s a chance that same $7.75 can be used to further economic development for all of Vermilion Parish.
On the Nov. 3 ballot, voters in Vermilion Parish will have an opportunity to decide on a parcel fee for the Vermilion Economic Development District (“Alliance” or VEDA). Anne Falgout, VEDA executive director, attended meetings this past month, including Delcambre, Erath, Abbeville, Gueydan, Maurice and the Abbeville Rotary, to provide details on the proposition.
“VEDA is placing a parcel fee proposition on the ballot with the purpose of increasing economic development activity in the parish,” Falgout said. “All voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on this.”
If passed, VEDA would collect an annual parcel fee of $7.75 on all the property subject to taxation in Vermilion Parish. That would be for a period of 10 years, beginning in 2021 and ending in ‘30. The parcel fee would generate more than $230,000 annually.
“Funds generated would not only sustain our professional organization,” Falgout said, “but it would help our existing business community and help create new companies and attract job opportunities, businesses and industry to Vermilion Parish.”
A ‘parcel’ is “one or more lots, subdivided portions of ground, or individual tracts of taxable property identified by an individual assessment number on Vermilion Parish’s tax rolls.” This will not generate a tax bill if you are not currently receiving one. Properties whose values fall under the Homestead Exemption will also not be subject to the fee.
“There are more 30,000 taxable parcels that are in the parish right now,” Falgout said.
With the current 30,508 taxable parcels in the parish, the parcel fee would generate $236,438 annually.
Upon its inception in ‘14, VEDA relied on contributions from public entities as from business and private groups. There are currently a few entities in the parish that contribute various amounts to VEDA’s budget, including the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, the Vermilion Parish School System, the Town of Erath, the City of Kaplan, the Town of Gueydan the Village of Maurice and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce. The City of Abbeville, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Abbeville Harbor and Terminal contributed for the in the past also.
“This would allow us not to have to rely on public agencies,” Falgout said,” who need funding for other priorities like roads, police and fire protection and utility infrastructure.”
“This would allow us to be self-sufficient.”
It would also not target businesses.
“This fee will not affect business inventory, machinery or equipment,” Falgout said.
This fee will not burden farmers, either.
“Unlike a property tax,” Falgout said, “the fee charged is not based on the value or size of the land owned.”
If individual tracts are grouped together, and given the same assessment number, only one parcel fee will be levied.
“Many parishes in Louisiana have a millage (property tax) or sales tax,” Falgout said of how other areas fund economic development. “Others are funded by their parish government or compete with charitable organizations for private dollars.”
“This would be the first economic development parcel fee in Louisiana.”
This year has proven to be an extremely tough one for businesses. Falgout said VEDA has worked with hundreds of businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to guide owners through the process of seeking available loans and funds.
“When we had the Louisiana Recovery Grant Program,” Falgout said, “we reached out to over 500 businesses in three days. We helped 147 companies get the application information to apply for that grant. The ones that were approved got up to $15,000.
“Helping those existing 147 businesses is as valuable as bringing in a new business. But we would like to dedicate more resources in the business recruitment space, it’s just expensive to compete. This fee will help us market Vermilion to those companies looking to expand to the Gulf Coast.”
Falgout said that business retention, expansion, and recruitment will remain the focus, for not only now, but the future. She said the parcel fee will provide a tremendous boost in the effort to promote and grow the parish.

April 2, 1967 - September 19, 2020

William “Billy” Carlton East, 53, passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020, at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette.
Funeral services will be held at a later date.
William Carlton East, affectionately known as “Billy”, was born April 2, 1967, in Lafayette and was a lifetime resident of Acadiana. Billy had several hobbies and enjoyed his life. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandson and will be deeply missed.
Billy is survived by his father, Juris Joseph East and his wife, Cindy Maturin, of Lafayette; his son, Jacob Broussard, of Lafayette; his grandson, Wyatt Broussard of Lafayette; five brothers, Joey East, of Lake Charles, Jerry East and his wife Nita, of Houston, Texas, Kobe East, of Hessmer, Louisiana, Carol Barza and Keith Barza as well as several dear nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Geneva “Jenny” East; one son, Devin Smith; and one brother, Tony East.
The family wishes to thank Lafayette General Medical Center and the physicians and nursing staff at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette for the compassionate care given to Billy and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Billy’s name to the charity of your choice.
Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St., is in charge of arrangements.