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During Phase 2 the Vermilion Parish Police Jury is limiting public access to the Vermilion Parish Courthouse to limit the exposure to the employees in the Courthouse to COVID-19.
The Police Jury hopes by limiting access we will be available to provide needed services if the spread of the virus causes more disruptions.
The Courthouse will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday with the following restrictions.
These restrictions began last Friday and will continue as long as the state is in Phase 2.

Below are the limits of access for each office in the Courthouse;

1. The Vermilion Parish Police Jury Office is open to the public for general business.
Those residents needing a permit will need to call 337-898-4300 and speak to Melissa White, Permit Specialist to make an appointment.
All permits will be issued by appointment only. Any other members of the public, who feel they have a legitimate need to visit the Police Jury Office is asked to call the number above to determine if your business can be handled electronically.
2. The District Attorney’s Office (Vermilion Parish) for the 15th Judicial District will be in limited office operation but closed to general in person public contact.  The office will be available by phone contact, and other contact by appointment only, at 337-898-4320.
3. The Vermilion Parish Assessor’s Office is open.  However, you may also accomplish most tasks by going to their website at www.vermilionassessor.org, emailing them at  vpao@vermilionassessor.org or by mail to 100 N. State St., Suite 110, Abbeville, La 70510. Please call 893-2837 with any questions. 
4. The Vermilion Parish Registrar of Voters Office is ready to accept any persons needing access to their office for
registration and voting needs. Appointments are not required.
5. Access to the Vermilion Parish 911 Office requires an appointment by calling 898-4350. 
6. Access to the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court’s office is limited to only those situations deemed absolutely necessary by the Clerk of Court’s office.  Please call (337) 898-1992 for further guidance before coming to the courthouse so that they can try to resolve your needs without risk to the public or the staff.
7. Access to the 15th Judicial Court Offices and Courtrooms will be limited to the public in accordance with the attached Emergency Order issued on June 05, 2020 by Chief Judge Marilyn Castle of the 15th Judicial District Court.
These limitations are approved by the Vermilion Parish Police Jury in coordination with all agencies/departments who are housed in the Vermilion Parish Courthouse.

In the 1992 presidential campaign, candidate Bill Clinton referred to himself as the “comeback kid” after his second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary. Only a slick candidate with the skill of Bill Clinton would be able to turn a loss by 8% into a victory. However, his characterization, supported by the media, gave his campaign momentum and he eventually won the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination and the White House.
In this campaign, the real “comeback kid” is President Donald Trump. Of course, unlike Clinton, he has had to endure five years of constant negative media coverage and unrelenting abuse from Democrats, the Deep State and anti-Trump elements in the Republican Party. This President never received a honeymoon and was subjected to the Russia hoax, the bogus Stormy Daniels investigation, a two-year Special Counsel witch hunt, the Ukraine hoax, a partisan impeachment process and constant leaks and backstabbing from enemies hiding in his own administration.
The past three months have been dreadful with a global pandemic, an economic shutdown, the tragic death of George Floyd and the resulting riots across the country. The best economy in the world quickly turned sour as the nationwide shutdown led to 42 million Americans filing for unemployment claims and the joblessness rate skyrocketing from 3.5% in February to 14.7% in April.
This week, the left-wing media has been focusing on anti-police protests across the country and highlighting the President’s so-called “dictatorial” actions. A new Fox News poll showed the President losing to former Vice President Joe Biden in three battleground states, while his overall approval rating had dropped to 40%, according to a new Reuters poll.
With a pandemic still concerning millions of Americans, Democrat Governors refusing to fully reopen states and a series of appalling riots across the country, most analysts like Democratic political consultant James Carville have been predicting a massive Biden victory in November. According to Carville, “If we go and take it to him and talk about what a massive fat figure he is, we can run away with this thing. The idea is not to defeat Trump, we have to defeat Trump-ism.”
Despite Biden’s horrific performance in recent interviews, his frequent gaffes and unsteady appearance, many Democrats are confident of an overwhelming victory in November. They believe that the poor economy, coupled with a health crisis, racial issues, police protests and unrelenting media criticism of the President will help them win in November against a candidate who cannot even unite his political party.
As usual, the pundits have underestimated Donald Trump. In 2015, so-called experts believed his candidacy was a joke and he would never be a serious candidate. In 2016, they first claimed he could never win any primaries and certainly not the nomination. When he became the GOP presidential candidate, the talking heads on television laughed about his chances to win against Hillary Clinton.
When he defied all of the experts and actually won an electoral vote landslide, his adversaries said he stole the election with “Russian interference” and attempts were made to influence the vote of the Electoral College to deny him the presidency. When his victory was confirmed, his opponents made it their mission to destroy him.
His presidency has been a constant battle from the first day. As we near another presidential election, the political left and their allies in the media have created tremendous instability in the country. With all the troubles throughout the nation, the President was seemingly in a precarious political position. Then, the May jobs report was published on Friday, and it was astonishing to say the least.
Instead of the unemployment rate increasing to almost 20%, as experts had predicted, it declined to 13.3%, with the addition of 2.5 million new jobs. Clearly, despite the warnings from health experts and the continued lockdown by Democratic Governors, the American people are ready, willing, and able to get back to work.
This economic boost will lead to more gains in the months ahead as the economy starts to fully reopen. The unemployment rate will continue to fall, and economic activity will continue to increase.
Today, the real “comeback kid” is President Trump, who is facing challenges experienced by no other political leader in American history. He has been discounted and underestimated since the start of his political career five years ago. However, with the pandemic easing and the economy starting to recover, his political fortunes should improve as the election nears. As Carville noted in the 1992 election, “It’s the economy stupid,” since most voters will disregard other issues and vote their pocketbook.
The wild card in this election will be the continued anti-police protests throughout the country, but the President will stand for protecting Americans and “law and order.” This position will remain popular with most Americans who view the rioting and looting from groups like Antifa with disdain.
Of course, much work needs to be done to continue to improve the economy in the months ahead, but the electoral prospects for President Trump have suddenly improved. It would be wise for Americans not to discount the chances of the real “comeback kid” to win another term in the White House.

Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award winning program, “Ringside Politics,” airs locally at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and at 10:00 p.m. Sundays on PBS affiliate WLAE-TV, Channel 32, and from 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990-AM & www.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 www.JeffCrouere.com. For more information, email him at jeff@jeffcrouere.com

November 6, 1934 ~ June 5, 2020

ABBEVILLE — Harold A. Hutchinson, 85, Abbeville, La., died, Friday June 5, 2020 at Eastridge Nursing Home in Abbeville Louisiana. A private memorial will be held in his honor by the Knights of Columbus. His final resting place will be St. Paul Cemetery, Abbeville La.
Mr. Hutchinson was originally from Upstate New York and moved to Louisiana in 1979 to work as a boat skipper for then Inland Well Service of Abbeville, La. He was also a truck driver, owning his own trucking company for many years, His last employer was Details of North Carolina, he and his wife set up Tool Worlds in the new Lowes stores throughout the United States.
He was active in his church and a member of the Knights of Columbus, loved driving boats, trucks and had a private pilot license to fly small planes.
Born November 6th, 1934 in Adams Center, N.Y., son of Arthur C. and Eva Fuller Hutchinson, he attended and graduated from Belleville Union Academy in 1958. He was married to Nona Richard daughter of Luah Richard and Beulah Porter, since September 1981, they were married in Abbeville Louisiana, and resided in the area most of their marriage. He was previously married to Geneva Butler of Sandy Creek N.Y. daughter of Charles Butler and Ruth Shoemaker and she passed in May of 1979.
Surviving besides his wife are his children, Wanda Primeaux, Larry Hutchinson and Harlow Hutchinson; step children are Paul Hebert, Randall Hebert, Debra Hebert, Donna Rogers, Lona Hutchinson and Charles Hebert. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Thomas Hutchinson and Hugh Hutchinson; and step child, Russell Hebert.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Flanked only by his wife and children, Tommy Frederick announced his candidacy for the 15th Judicial District Judge Division C position, Frederick selected Kelvin’s Piano Bar as the venue for his announcement citing his connection to the building where he worked alongside his father in the furniture and hardware store which his father managed. 
Frederick thanked retiring District Judge Edward Broussard for his years of dedication and service to the community, having worked alongside Judge Broussard as well as the other district judges for 18 years as the district’s only Judicial Commissioner. Citing these 18 years of judicial experience, Frederick believes this best positions him to be Judge Broussard’s replacement. 
In distinguishing his candidacy, Frederick points out he is the only announced candidate in the race who has begun his legal career in Vermilion Parish and continuously maintained his practice in Vermilion Parish. This legal career began with his service as a clerk to the Honorable Judge Durwood Conque and continued as a public defender in Vermilion Parish. Combining his years as Judicial Commissioner, service as clerk and public defender, Frederick has served the community for over 30 years. 
Frederick commented that for the past 18 years many of his holidays were spent addressing the needs of the judiciary as the appointed Commissioner. Frederick believes this commitment evidences his dedication to his position as Commissioner which he intends to bring to the position of district judge. In closing Frederick stated, “ours will be a positive campaign concentrating on my qualifications which distinguish me from any other candidate in this race.” 
Following his announcement, and in response to questions presented, Frederick shared that his 18 years of judicial experience and loyalty to the community best positions him to be the next District Judge.
More information regarding Frederick’s campaign can be found on the Facebook page “Tommy Frederick for District Judge”.

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