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ST. MARTIN PARISH – Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on June 4, 2020, Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 182 near Boudreaux Road in St. Martin Parish.
The crash claimed the life of 46-year-old Brandon Jeanbatiste of St. Martinville.
The preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by Jeanbatiste, was traveling West on LA 182. At the same time, a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban, being driven by a 16-year-old licensed driver, was traveling East on LA 182. For reasons still under investigation, the 16-year-old failed to negotiate a curve and crossed the center line. The Suburban stuck the Mitsubishi head-on in the westbound lane of travel.
Troopers determined Jeanbatiste, despite being restrained at the time of the crash, suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the St. Martin Parish Coroner’s Office. The two occupants of the Suburban were both restrained. The passenger was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries, while the driver was not injured. Toxicology samples were taken from Jeanbatiste and results are pending. The driver of the Suburban submitted a breath sample which indicated no alcohol present. This crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.
Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Always ensure every occupant is properly restrained, being mindful of recent changes in child passenger seat laws, and follow all traffic laws. Taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop I has investigated 21 fatal crashes resulting in 24 deaths since the beginning of 2020.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is putting its plans for the safe resumption of on-campus courses and operational functions this fall at users’ fingertips.
A website launched Monday. It houses information UL Lafayette personnel and students will need to know about sanitation, protective equipment and other measures to ensure their safety as they return to campus over the next few months.
The site will also feature answers to user-submitted questions. It will be updated regularly as information becomes available, said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
“Communication is critical to assuring our University family that campus will be safe and ready for their return.”
Hebert chairs the Ragin’ Cajun Resiliency Plan Task Force. It is a group of administrators, faculty, staff members and students who have created a framework that will guide the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through the beginning of next year.
The framework is available on the website, as are guidelines from the University’s Office of Human Resources on procedures to help employees resume on-campus work.
University President Dr. Joseph Savoie established the task force in early May. He said its objective “is to ensure that when we resume on-campus operations and course instruction in the fall that returning students, faculty and staff can focus on teaching, learning, research and work without fear.”
“Every decision the University has made in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19 over the past several months was to protect the health, safety and success of our University family – and that will remain our primary motivation in the months ahead,” Savoie said.
The task force’s plan describes a three-phase approach for the return of students and employees to campus this fall. The committee identified six areas of focus: student life and experiences; faculty and staff support; teaching and research; campus operations; finance; and communications.
Subcommittees have been appointed to identify, assess and address possible health risks in each of these areas to ensure a safe return to on-campus learning and work. Members will examine classroom sizes, course schedules, student housing and dining, and transportation, among other areas, Hebert said.
“The University is like a small city. And like any community that has had to confront the challenges of COVID-19, there are many issues to explore and decisions to be made. But the task force’s work and that of the subcommittees will be thorough and will be guided by one motivation alone: the safety of our community.”
UL Lafayette transitioned to telework for most business operations and remote course delivery in March. Remote delivery will continue for most courses during the summer semester when it begins on June 8.
Also beginning on June 8: the first of three phases in which the University sets benchmarks for the safe resumption of on-campus courses and business operations in the fall.
A two-week review period will take place between each phase. Before the University transitions from one phase to the next, certain health milestones must be met. Those targets are based on guidelines established by local and state health officials.
During Phase 1, remote business operations and course delivery will continue and ways to reinforce social distancing in classrooms, residence halls, offices and other shared spaces will be identified.
Faculty and staff members involved with critical infrastructure, health care and research support will begin returning to campus during Phase 1, said Paul Thomas, the University’s chief human resources officer. He is chairing the task force alongside Hebert.
Thomas also heads UL Lafayette’s Office of Human Resources, which has issued guidance for employee safety as they resume on-campus work.
That document, “The Roadmap to Resiliency,” is available on the University website. It emphasizes safety practices such as social distancing, handwashing, wearing protective face coverings, and cleaning and sanitation, among others.
“Making these practices part of an everyday routine during Phase 1 will help ensure that we meet health and safety milestones that will enable us to enter Phase 2,” Thomas said.
Phase 2 will begin in the fall and will include the careful resumption of on-campus course instruction and business operations. Phase 3 will begin in January 2021.
Hebert said the task force is planning contingencies should an increase in COVID-19 cases make in-person instruction unsafe.
The University has worked in cooperation with officials from the Louisiana Department of Health throughout the COVID-19 crisis and will continue to base its decisions on the best health information available, Hebert said.
“The ideal scenario is in-person instruction for the entire fall semester. If that is not possible, we’re also working on alternate plans to continue remote instruction or for the possibility of a combination of both remote and in-person instruction,” he explained.
“We’re covering all our bases.”

In the fight against the spread of Covid-19, a big dividing line in our country today is whether to wear a face mask or not. It also seems to have political connotations. For example, for Memorial Day remembrances, former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill wore masks. In contrast, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump paid their respects without masks.
In many cities and states across the nation, the number of Covid-19 cases are going down, yet the masking requirements are becoming more stringent. In portions of 39 states, there are mandatory mask regulations. In New Orleans, residents are required to wear a mask, even when outdoors. For businesses, both employees and customers must wear masks. These are the most stringent requirements in Louisiana, for other areas have mask recommendations, not requirements.
The same mask stipulations are in place in San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Los Angeles, and other cities around the country. In many areas, those who violate the orders are subject to arrest and fines. Thankfully, in Houston, a potential fine of $1,000 for violating the mask requirement was overridden by an executive order from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Many Americans refuse to wear a mask for they view it as a symbol of oppression and how government can dictate their actions. In contrast, millions of Americans are following these orders because they are worried about their health and believe that mask wearing will protect them from Covid-19.
Ironically, experts are divided on whether masks provide any assistance in preventing the spread of Covid-19. According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, “Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filtered SARS–CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes Covid-19) during coughs by infected patients.”
The official guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) is that masks “should only be used by health care workers, caretakers or by people who are sick with symptoms of fever and cough.” According to Dr. April Baller, a WHO public health specialist, “If you do not have any respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough or runny nose, you do not need to wear a mask.”
This WHO recommendation was made in March and has not been altered, even though the Centers for Disease Control does recommend mask wearing. Both the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy, and Infectious Diseases, originally recommended that average Americans should not wear masks but have changed their stance and now advocate their usage.
Instead of following directives from politicians and health officials who enthusiastically exercise their authority over citizens, Americans should cherish their freedoms and decide what is best for their health and their families. At best, the evidence is mixed that mask wearing is beneficial.
If people are worried about contracting Covid-19 and feel more protected by wearing a mask, they should wear one. However, many others will view these requirements as both oppressive and an infringement on their liberties.
Today, the incessant warnings from the obsessed media and political leaders has ingrained the need to wear a mask into the minds of concerned Americans. It is so troubling that it is easy to spot drivers alone in a vehicle wearing a mask. Even though it is not a requirement, people exercising alone in an outdoor park are often seen wearing masks as well. This is totally ridiculous.
Such constant mask wearing is inadvisable for health reasons as well. People wearing synthetic masks can inhale small portions of aerosolized chemicals, which is not advisable especially for those with respiratory conditions.
Masks prevent individuals from inhaling full oxygen, instead, recycled carbon dioxide is inhaled. According to the holistic health coaches who operate the website, TheHealthCoach1.com, these effects are dangerous for people because “even a slight increase of the carbon dioxide levels in their bloodstream can contribute to anxiety and feelings of nervousness as well as cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue. For these reasons especially, both the healthy and the ill should avoid wearing a mask like the plague.”
None of these words of wisdom have prevented many political and health leaders from advocating mask wearing. However, if these orders are so important, politicians need to abide by them. For example, Biden advised that “You need to wear your mask outside. I don’t care if you’re just walking your dog.” Instead of following this advice, Biden did not wear a mask when interviewed outdoors on March 26th by CNN.
Biden claimed that the president is a “fool” for not wearing a mask. Now, it is obvious the real “fool” is Biden, and, for good measure, he is also a disgraceful hypocrite.

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 ofAmerica's Last Chanceand provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on www.JeffCrouere.com. For more information, email him at jeff@jeffcrouere.com

The Abbeville Police Department is actively investigating a homicide which occurred on East Oak Street in the early morning hours of June 2.
No details of the investigation are being released at this time. The identity of the victim is also not being released at this time.
​​Chief of Police William Spearman is asking for anyone with any information regarding this homicide to contact the Abbeville Police Department in any of the methods listed below.
“​We encourage all of our citizens to stay vigilant and contact us if you need,” Spearman said.
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.