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State health officials are reporting one new death in Vermilion Parish that is related to COVID-19.
The number of deaths from coronavirus in Vermilion Parish is now six.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), there are also 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the parish, bringing the total to 238 since the state began a tally in March. There were nine new cases reported on Sunday, June 28, after the state added 35 cases on Friday. That state did not report cases on Saturday, due to a planned power outage.
As of Monday afternoon, LDH reported the total number cases in Louisiana at 57,081 with 3,091 having died from the disease. The number of cases is up 845 from Sunday, with five newly reported deaths.
An updated report on June 29 shows that 42,225 patients have “presumed recovered.” That report is updated weekly.
There are 737 people who are hospitalized, up 22 from Sunday. Seventy-nine of those require ventilators. That is up three from the previous day.
Cases and deaths as of Monday for parishes around Acadiana include:
Acadia - 850 cases (up 38), 37 deaths (up 1)
Evangeline - 177 cases (up 4), 54 deaths (did not change)
Iberia - 673 cases (37), 44 deaths (did not change)
Jefferson Davis - 339 cases (up 11), 8 deaths (did not change)
Lafayette - 2,058 (up 86), 41 deaths (did not change)
St. Landry - 619 cases (up 14), 57 deaths (did not change)
St. Martin - 685 cases (up 24), 26 deaths (did not change)
St. Mary - 457 cases (up 14), 38 deaths (did not change)
Vermilion - 238 cases (up 10), 6 deaths (did not change)

Funeral services were held for Mrs. Johanna Marie Bernard Richard on Saturday, June 27, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. at David Funeral Home in Erath with Deacon Tim Marcantel officiating the service. Cremation and interment followed at a later date.
Family requested that visitation be observed beginning at 9:00 A.M. until the time of service.
A lifelong native of Erath, Johanna Marie Bernard Richard, 86, suddenly, but peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Johanna was born on September 26, 1933, to Elton and Loretta Bernard. She graduated from Erath High School in 1951 and Spencer Business College in Lafayette. On May 10, 1952, she married Junius ‘Gro’ Richard. Together, they ran Richard’s Radio and TV Service for many years.
Johanna’s long, happy life centered around her family. ‘Maw’ was the truly the life force of the family and kept family stories alive. Everything about her will generate memories for the rest of our lives. Her first language was French, and she still spoke it with her daughter and friends. Her home was filled with memories, laughter, and children of several generations. Family gatherings resonated with the smells of her home-cooked meals. And the devotion she gave to each family member created unique bonds we can only hope to replicate with our futures.
She leaves behind her daughter, Jody Richard and her family: Brandon (Olivia) Veronie and his children, Hunter Veronie, Brandon Veronie, Jr., Samson Veronie, and Laila and Lillian Hite-Coleman; Michelle (Blake) Bouillion and her children, Ali Sealey, Ryan Sealey, Hannah Bouillion, and Emma Bouillion; Michael Veronie and his daughter, Jada Quibodeaux; and Marissa (Paul) Millett and her children, Madilynn Casterline, Landon Casterline, and Illeayna Millett. Also left to grieve are her son, David (JoBeth) Richard and his family: Keesha (Jason) Broussard and her children, Gage Broussard, Lexie Broussard, and Kelsie Broussard; David (Nicole) Richard II and his children, Gracie Richard, Abbygayl Richard, and Kaylynn (Matthew) Cormier (Olivia and Anna). She is survived by her special cousin, Derwood (Carolyn) Delaney.
Joining in death, Johanna will share eternity with her husband of 40 years, Junius ‘Gro’ Richard; her sister, Mae Jane (Bernard) Hebert; her parents, Elton and Loretta (Dubois) Bernard; her granddaughter, Heidi Richard; her great-grandson Jacob Bouillion; and her great-great-grandson, Ky Veronie, along with many other family and friends.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home in Erath, 209 East Putnam Street, (337) 937-0405 was in charge of the arrangements.

Good things come to those who wait.
Avery Franques had to play the waiting game when it came to completing her Girl Scout Gold Project, creating a little free library in Abbeville’s Godchaux Park.
She was ready to put it up in March. Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed that plan.
“I thought it was best to wait until things got a little better,” said Franques, 16, who is heading into her senior year at North
Vermilion High School.
That wait was set to end a couple of weeks ago. Again, Franques had to reschedule due to weather.
Finally, Franques’ wait is over.
On Tuesday, Abbeville officials and others joined Franques to cut the ribbon on the little free library. It is located near the 3rd Street side of Godchaux Park.
For Franques, it is not just a good thing at the end of this wait, it’s a great thing.
“I am so happy that it’s up,” Franques said. “I think it is going to be a wonderful addition to the park. A lot of people have already expressed interest.
“I am very excited to see where this is going to go.”
In Girl Scouts, the Gold Award is the highest level of achievement. It is the equivalent to the Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts. A Gold Award Project not only helps better the community, but means something to the Girl Scout herself.
“It has to have a contribution to the community,” Franques said. “It’s supposed to improve our community, but it’s also supposed to be something that is close to your heart.”
Reading is certainly close to Franques’ heart.
“I have been an avid reader my entire life,” Franques said. “I love to read and want to be able to share that with others.”
The little free library allows people to take a book and return it later. There are books for all ages in the library.
“I especially hope that the little kids who come to play in the park will enjoy it,” Franques said. “They can play on the swing sets and the slides. After they are done playing in the park, they can pick out a book to take home to read.”
Franques asked that anyone who utilizes the library to practice social distancing and other measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I ask that people make sure their hands are clean,” Franques said.
Masks are also strongly encouraged by the Girl Scouts of America.
“As Girl Scouts,” Franques said, “we believe it is important to promote the wearing of masks. It is our duty to be role models of social distancing practices.”
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza, who helped cut the ribbon for the library, is encouraged by Franques’ efforts.
“I think this is a great addition to the park,” Piazza said. “A lot of people come out here just to enjoy the sunshine. They can now grab a book and go sit on a bench to read.
“It is also great to see a young person interested in improving our community and our beautiful parks.”
Franques attended an Abbeville City Council meeting last August to seek approval to place the library in Godchaux Park. She also received the OK from the Friends of Godchaux Park, the group that serves as the caretaker of the park.
Donita Franques, Avery’s mother as well as her Girl Scout Troop leader, is proud of everything that Avery has accomplished.
“She has worked on this for a year,” Donita Franques said. “She has been in Girl Scouts since she was five. She has never skipped a year. She is diligent and she loves to read.
“That is her favorite thing to do.”
Franques’ effort with this project does not end with the library going up.
“I am going to maintain the library,” Franques said. “I am the main steward, so I will probably come twice a week to check on it. I will add books, if there needs to be books added.
“I will keep watch over it to make sure it continues and people have an opportunity to read.”
That is the inspiration Franques wants to people to take from this project.
“I hope this does inspire people to read,” Franques said.

As parents begin planning to purchase items for their child for the upcoming school year, there is a list of things they check off: book sack, paper, pencils, ink pens, composition books and now a face masks.
A new item on the list for parents to purchase is a face covering for third grade students and higher.”
“Face masks will be the new norm,” said Vermilion Parish interim superintendent Brad Prudhomme. “Parents should be looking at buying three or four to last for the school year.”
The Louisiana Department of Education released a set of guidelines for students, teachers, and administrators to follow for the upcoming school year.
One of those guidelines is to have students, teachers and administrators wear face masks throughout the day.
The guideline says face coverings should be worn in all school areas, including the classroom. When everyone arrives at the school, they will be advised to wear a face covering. The state did say if someone has trouble breathing, a face mask is not required.
Everyone who enters the school will have their temperature checked.
Face covers will be a requirement despite if Louisiana is in Phase 2 or Phase 3, said Prudhomme. As of today, Louisiana is in Phase 2 for another 28 days.
• If the state is still in Phase 2 when school opens, classrooms can be no larger than 25 (including the teacher) and students have to be six feet apart.
• Buses can only be 50 percent capacity in Phase 2 and 75 percent capacity in Phase 3.
• In Phase 2, there will be no physical contact in sports. The state has to be in Phase 3 for physical contact.
• In Phase 2, there will be no band. Band and vocal music can resume only in Phase 3.
The state is also requiring that school districts constantly clean high-touch areas throughout the day, including bathrooms and playground equipment.
“We developed this guidance by engaging experts on the virus - public health officials - and experts on what this guidance looks like when put into practice - school leaders and educators,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “We understand next year will be a new challenge for all of us as we educate through COVID-19. I have confidence in our collective talents to overcome these challenges. We will depend on each other for innovative ideas, best practices, and the promise of quality education for every child.”