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After a weekend that started with a show of American strength and unity with B-52 flybys, Saturday ended with the largest display of disunity so far against the quarantine as nearly 300 shouted at Louisiana’s Executive Mansion for Governor John Bel Edwards to reopen business immediately.  Monday morning on WWL Newsradio in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish Councilmember Jennifer Van Vrancken said her district, one of the hottest of the original COVID hotspots, was now ready to reopen.  “I know the Governor is thinking of things statewide,” she said, “but we’re not going to Shreveport or Monroe on an average weekend. Jefferson is ready to reopen.  We are hoping the governor will let regions of the state get back to business.”

So far, the governor has said it’s all or nothing in reopening the state.  Before his first press conference in the Capitol since March, Governor Edwards said he joined nearly every other governor on a conference call with Vice President Mike Pence.  They discussed how to achieve the White House mandate of 14-straight days of declining COVID cases.  Nine of those governors are reopening their states without having met that criteria.

“Look,” answered Governor Edwards, “I don’t second guess that other governors do.  They have their own considerations.  Here in Louisiana, to the extent that we can, we’re going to abide by the guidelines [from the Trump administration and CDC] because we think they make sense.”

Downstairs in the House and Senate, some lawmakers don’t agree.  Under protest from many of their colleagues, Senate President Paige Cortez and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder forced reconvening.  They said they have to hammer out a budget in just four weeks.  Those who protested said they feared for their health after COVID took the life of Rep. Reggie Bagala of Lafourche Parish last month. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James also was hospitalized for days, and even Senate President Cortez himself took days to recover from COVID-19.  

Schexnayder and Cortez say the governor did not include them in his decision to extend the stay-at-home order to May 15.  Edwards says he did conference with the two and told them he was following guidance from President Trump to secure the $1.8 billion in federal aid.

Many returning legislatures are likewise meeting with disharmony.  In Michigan, frustration over the quarantine spilled into the Michigan Senate Thursday where some rioters brandished assault rifles, causing senators to scramble for bulletproof vests. 

Governor Edwards says no provision to beef up capitol security has been made or is necessary.  “I don’t think Louisianans will do that,” he said, reiterating that if Louisiana experiences any violence or any spike in COVID cases, that news would streak across the nation and kill Louisiana tourism.  In 2018, over 51 million visitors spent $19 billion in Louisiana, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser.  Those tourists paid almost $2 billion in state and local taxes.

“And I would remind you,” continued the governor, “that we did not at the outset close a lot of the things in Louisiana that were closed elsewhere.  I read as other states come back online that they are restarting construction.  Well, we never closed construction.  They’re opening up manufacturing.  We never closed manufacturing.  Every time CISA, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has revised their guidelines to include more areas as critical infrastructure, we have embraced that completely.  So we’re on our third set of critical infrastructure now.  And yet, we’ve been able to reduce our [COVID] case growth and our numbers in a way that, quite frankly, is as impressive as any place in the country.”

The 2020 Louisiana Legislative session closes June 1 but most expect at least one special session during summer.  Louisiana’s fiscal year ends June 30.  If a budget is not passed by then, state government could freeze, said the governor.  Adding to the tension, losses in state revenue from the Coronavirus shutdown combined with plummeting oil prices range from $500 million to a possible drop of $1 billion.

Parker Reign Bessard
A daughter, Parker Reign Bessard, was born Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Abbeville General to Mr. and Mrs. Draklen Damon Bessard of Abbeville.
The mother is the former Twyla Markeesha Jones.

Evelyn Grace Cormier
A daughter, Evelyn Grace Cormier, was born Friday, April 10, 2020, at Abbeville General to Kortney Danielle Pigron and Beaux Andrew Cormier of Maurice.

Paisley Marie Lemaire
A daughter, Paisley Marie Lemaire, was born Monday, April 20, 2020, at Abbeville General to Kylie Marie Gaspard and Joshua Caleb Lemaire of Abbeville.

Gabriella Ann Jacobs
A daughter, Gabriella Ann Jacobs, was born Monday, April 6, 2020, at Abbeville General to Brittany Elizabeth Breaux and Jamie Jacobs of Kaplan.

Jeffery Adam Breaux, III
A son, Jeffery Adam Breaux, III, was born April 21, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Taylor Laviolette and Jeffery Breaux, II of Erath.

Kayden Ma’Kai Petry
A son, Kayden Ma’Kai Petry, was born April 15, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Na’Kayla Petry of Abbeville.

Rilyn Grace Vidalier
A daughter, Rilyn Grace Vidalier, was born April 15, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Macey Cormier and John Vidalier, Jr. of Duson.

Monte Kash Montgomery
A son, Monte Kash Montgomery, was born April 13, 2020 at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Montgomery of Maurice.
The mother is the former Krystal Wilson.

Myles Andre Carlock
A son, Myles Andre Carlock, was born April 11, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Chloe Gautreaux and Jonathan Carlock of Lafayette.

Briggs Michael Derise
A son, Briggs Michael Derise, was born April 6, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Bailey Delcambre and Samuel Derise of Erath.

Baker Jude Dubuc
A son, Baker Jude Dubuc, was born April 4, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Dubuc of Breaux Bridge.
The mother is the former Whitney Duhon.

Ellie-Ahna Marie Manuel
A daughter, Ellie-Ahna Marie Manuel, was born April 2, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s and Children’s Hospital to Anne-Renee Meaux and Adam Manuel of Abbeville.

Abbeville Police are investigating a shooting that resulted in the death of an Abbeville man.
On May 3, at approximately 10:25 p.m., officers of the Abbeville Police Department were dispatched to the 400 block of Dutel Street. Once officers arrived, officers located a male victim inside of a vehicle.
The victim had been shot.
The victim, now being identified as 29-year-old James Jerome Darby of Abbeville, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Vermilion Parish Coroner’s Office.
​​This homicide is being actively investigated by the Abbeville Police Department’s Detective Division. No other aspect of this investigation is being released at this time. Anyone with any information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Abbeville Police Department at the contact information listed below.
​Chief of Police William 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.

ERATH — Graveside Services for Joshua Stern Lahasky, age 25, were held Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 11:00AM in Gates of Prayer Jewish Cemetery in New Iberia. Rabbi Barry Weinstein officiated.
Josh, born in Lafayette and a resident of Erath passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2020 at Abbeville General Hospital. He was employed with Abbeville General Hospital as a Clinical I.T. Specialist. He was a hard worker and was devoted to finishing any task he took on. At 16, he and his brother Jordan owned and operated Lahasky Pallet Brothers where they built pallet furniture and other wooden ornamental décor, as well as a business called Reduckz, where they would apply logos to various T shirts. He enjoyed duck hunting and offshore fishing for specks and reds. He was an avid LSU football fan and attended the SEC playoff game in Atlanta as well as the National Championship game in New Orleans. He loved to travel especially with LSU man trips to opposing SEC schools. He was a 2013 graduate of Episcopal School of Acadiana and in May 2017 he graduated from LSU with a B.S. degree in ISDS.
He is survived by his parents, Dr. Ronald and Janet Castille Lahasky, a brother, Jordan Lahasky, a sister, Ann Marie Lahasky, and his maternal grandfather, Percy J. Castille.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Lucy L. Castille, and his paternal grandparents, Dr. Bernard and Marie Lahasky.
Serving as his Pallbearers were Jordan Lahasky, Andrew Ardoin, Dr. Reginald Ardoin, Jerry Landry, Connor Landry and Ben Landry.
Serving as his Honorary Pallbearers were Zachary Ardoin, Buddy White and Steve Frith.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to fibrolamellarfoundation.org
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath is in charge of arrangements 209 E. Putnam St. Erath, LA 70533 (337) 937-0405.