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A Kaplan man faces multiple charges, including rape and battery, while his brother is being accused of attempting to bribe a witness.
On July 26, 2020 at approximately 9:20 a.m., patrol officers of the Abbeville Police Department responded to a possible Domestic Battery call on Alleman Street.
According to Abbeville Police Lt. Jonathan Touchet, officers conducted an initial investigation. Officers learned that Dannon Sellers allegedly committed several violent acts against the victim. The victim went to an area hospital to receive treatment for the injuries sustained in the incident. Officers located Sellers at an area department store and arrested him for the following crimes:
• Second Degree Battery
• Aggravated Assault
• False Imprisonment
Dannon Sellers was booked and transported to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.
​While being treated for injuries, the victim reportedly notified officers of possible further incidents occurring, but had not been reported due to the victim fearing retaliation. Detectives were called in to take over the investigation. Through cooperation, officers were able to secure additional arrest warrants against Dannon Sellers for the following crimes:
• 1st Degree Rape (2 counts)
• Battery of a Dating Partner (2 counts)
• Simple Criminal Damage to Property.
Dannon Sellers, who was still incarcerated on the previous charges, was served with the additional warrants.
​Officers received information that Dannon Sellers was attempting to cooperate with his brother, Keith Sellers Jr., to bribe a witness in the case that Dannon Sellers was charged with. Based on the subsequent investigation, detectives were able to secure arrest warrants for Dannon Sellers and Keith Sellers, Jr. for Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Public Bribery. Keith Sellers, Jr. was also charged with Attempted Public Bribery. Dannon Sellers was served with this additional warrant at the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center. Keith Sellers, Jr. was arrested on the warrant obtained. Keith Sellers, Jr. was transported to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.
​Chief Spearman would also like to remind all of the citizens that we are there, 24 hours a day, to serve you. We encourage all of our citizens to stay vigilant and contact us if you need. In addition to dialing 911, you can contact us at 893-2511. You may contact our “Tips” line at 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through the Tip411 system at the department’s Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/AbbevillePolice Department/, the official web page @ www.abbevillepd.com by clicking on the “Submit a Tip” link provided or through the official Abbeville Police Department app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

CROWLEY — The harvest for the 2020 rice crop in south Louisiana is nearing the halfway point, and the result is a big improvement over a string of bad to mediocre years.
“If these yields hold out, I believe it would tie the second-highest-yielding year, and it still has the potential to be a record if the high yields hold out,” said LSU AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell. “Regardless if the current crop does not reach the record, it will definitely rank up there with one of our highest-yielding years.”
The record year for growing rice in Louisiana was in 2016 with an average of 7,300 pounds an acre, which equals 45 barrels or 162 bushels. Harrell estimates the current crop at 7,250 pounds — 44.7 barrels or 161 bushels — so far. That compares to 6,300 pounds — 39 barrels or 140 bushels — last year.
Varieties are yielding in the mid- to upper 40 barrels (or more than 144 bushels) an acre with some hitting 50 barrels (180 bushels), he said. Hybrids are reaching the upper 50- to low 60-barrel (216-bushel) range.
Unlike last year, when the crop was hurt by extreme weather, growing conditions were ideal this year. “Conditions were almost perfect for growing rice,” Harrell said.
Occasional rain interfered with the start of the harvest, but drier weather has allowed farmers to get into the fields.
Don Groth, resident coordinator of the AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, said this year’s weather has been much more favorable for growing a crop. “The environmental conditions are totally different than last year,” he said.
The disease incidence is also much lower. “We’re not seeing fall and kernel smuts that we saw last year,” he said.
Smuts are starting to show up on later-planted rice. “But nothing compared to what we had last year,” he said.
Groth, a plant pathologist, said sheath blight and blast disease pressure has also been light this year.
That has helped boost yields. A field of the variety CL153 at the Rice Research Station yielded 59 barrels or 212 bushels per acre. A nearby farmer who had a bad sheath blight problem on a field of CL153 still yielded 54 barrels an acre, Groth said.
Jeremy Hebert, AgCenter agent in Acadia Parish, said the harvest is in full swing in his area. “There’s a lot of rice that’s ready to come out now,” he said.
The 2020 crop is a big improvement from 2019. “It’s a big contrast from last year. Things actually worked out in farmers’ favor,” he said.
Unlike last year, the bad disease problems such as smuts that hurt the 2019 crop have not been a major factor this year. “They haven’t even seen it in fields adjacent that had smut real bad last year,” Hebert said.
Jimmy Meaux, AgCenter agent in Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes, said the harvest in Calcasieu is close to half finished, and Jefferson Davis is 35% to 40% complete.
Afternoon showers have been less frequent in the past few days, allowing farmers to make good progress. Yields in Calcasieu Parish are in the mid-40 barrels, and Jefferson Davis yields are mirroring Acadia Parish.
“The crop looks better than last year so far,” Meaux said. “Not a lot of disease.”
In Vermilion Parish, AgCenter agent Andrew Granger said 75% of the crop is harvested. Yields are good but not great, with most varieties producing more than 40 barrels an acre and hybrids exceeding 50 barrels an acre.
The crop there was affected by excessive rainfall late in the season and high nighttime temperatures, Granger said.
Conditions are good for the 30% to 35% of the parish’s acreage that will be used to grow a second crop. The remaining acreage will be used for crawfish.
Farmers are also benefitting from a price increase over last year. “Even a dollar a barrel more makes a huge difference,” Granger said.
Todd Fontenot, AgCenter agent in Evangeline Parish, said a little more than a third of the acreage has been harvested there. “Just about everybody is in the fields now,” he said.
Yields are in the mid- to upper 40 barrels with hybrids in the mid-50 barrels.
Field conditions are causing combines and tractors to rut fields badly. “Things are pretty wet,” Fontenot said.
Evangeline Parish’s second-crop acreage will decrease because more crawfish is being produced.
In north Louisiana, AgCenter agent Keith Collins in Richland Parish said some early-planted fields have been drained, and harvest may begin soon.
“We will begin harvest earlier this year as we had rice planted in early to mid-April in some areas, Collins said. “Much of our rice was planted in May.”
Collins is optimistic for the north Louisiana crop. “I think the crop looks pretty good. I have concerns about rice that pollinated the last two weeks of July as we had frequent rain showers and cloudy days,” he said.

The ASSIST Agency has received a grant to help Acadia, Jeff Davis and Vermilion Parish residents who are struggling financially due to COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are provided by Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act funds. Help is available for rent or mortgage, utilities, and other necessities.
The COVID-19 virus must have directly affected at least one member of the household that is applying. Written proof that the virus was the cause of the situation is required. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and live in Acadia, Jeff Davis or Vermilion Parish.
If you believe you may qualify, please call the ASSIST Agency for an appointment: Acadia Office 337-788-7551 x 138; Jeff Davis Office 337-824-7800, Vermilion Office 337-898-9554.

ABBEVILLE – Funeral services for Vernita M. Grant is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2020 with visitation for the public from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. and family visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Kinchen Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Kaplan, LA. Pastor Kevin Williams will officiate that service.
Vernita Grant (78), a long time resident of Kaplan passed away Thursday, July 30, 2020 at her home. She was a person who was heavily involved and did a lot of great things in her community. She will be truly missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her spouse, Joseph Lonnie Francis of Kaplan, LA; sons, Joey Mouton (Bobbie) of Abbeville, LA; Deliner Jamal Grant and Dameion Grant of Kaplan, LA; daughters, Penelope Leonard (Brian) of Kaplan, LA; Lacey and Macey King of Kaplan, LA; brother, Marcell Campbell of Kaplan, LA; sisters, Irma Living of Duson, LA; Meranda Petry, Hester Francis, Elzina Campbell and Brenda Peterson of Kaplan, LA; Georgia May Mouton of Abbeville, LA; and Ruth Mouton Milton of Houston, TX; sister-in-law, Nell Ann Mouton; 13 Grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Louisa Petry and Ebenezer Mouton, Sr.; her sisters, Cinderella Mouton Becton, Genevieve Mouton Freeman, China “Lover” Mouton Andres, Lillian Mouton, Virgie Mouton Harrison, and Emma Jean Mouton; brothers, Ebenezer Mouton, Jr. and Earl Mouton.
Kinchen Funeral Home -218 N. St. Valerie Street (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.