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BATON ROUGE – The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) continues to urge everyone to prepare for severe weather expected to impact the state beginning Friday evening.
The National Weather Service (NWS) officials say all factors expected to cause this significant weather event have developed. Storms ahead of a strong line of storms could begin this afternoon in some portions of Louisiana. NWS Shreveport officials say tornadoes, winds in excess of 80+ mph, flash flooding and hail are possible as the storms push east. Many problems could develop overnight. Weather experts are strongly encouraging everyone to have devices powered on and turned up loud enough to wake you up in order to receive emergency alerts from the NWS, your local media and local emergency officials. Designate a safe spot in your home where you and your family will take cover during severe weather. This would be an interior room or hallway on the lowest level. Stay away from windows. The best place to be is a bathroom in the middle of the ground floor. The plumbing provides additional protection around the walls.
GOHSEP is activating its Crisis Action Team (CAT) Friday due to the weather threat. The team will stay activated through Monday night due to the college football national championship game in New Orleans. The team will analyze and process any requests for support from local emergency managers at the parish level. GOHSEP’s regional coordinators will work with local officials potentially impacted by the storms and provide situational reports to the state emergency operations staff.
“In briefings this morning, the NWS Shreveport office indicated these types of threats only develop 2-4 times per year on average. Experts say it’s extremely unusual to see the threat happen in January,” said GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom. “While the storms and the greatest threat will start in north Louisiana, each region of the state could be impacted through Saturday. Please check on friends and family that may need assistance during significant weather events. Stay alert and keep your phones charged. Severe weather that happens during the overnight hours is historically more dangerous for a number of reasons. People may be unaware of warnings or unaware of damage that is not visible due to darkness. That’s why it is important to monitor your local media, listen to your local emergency managers and first responders and listen for potential watches or warnings issued by the NWS.”

April 12, 1939 ~ January 7, 2020

ABBEVILLE —A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Judy Elaine Floyd Olds, 80, who died Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Eastridge Nursing Center. Pastor, Rev. Dr. Mollie McGee will officiate the service.
Judy was a lover of nature and animals, and especially loved shelties. She loved to travel and was an accomplished painter. She was a dearly loved mother and grandmother.
She is survived by her two sons, Michael Olds and his wife Lisa of Durham, NC, and Randy Olds and his wife LaDonna of Quinlan, TX; six grandchildren, Heather Olds Fox, Zane Olds, Haydn Olds, Jeremy Olds, Conner Olds, and Sammy Olds; two great grandchildren, Olivia Olds and Milo Fox; one brother, Daniel Floyd and his wife Susan of San Diego, CA; and two sisters, Gloria Desormeaux of Abbeville, and Delores East and her husband Willie of Johnson City, TN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mervine Eddie Floyd and the former Francis Luquette; and one son, Dave Olds.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 12:00 PM until time of service.
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.

Abbeville High School has a new head football coach.
Abbeville High Principal Dr. Janet Guerrini has selected Gueydan head football coach Roderick Moy. She informed him on Wednesday.
He was excited when he received the phone call.
“Extremely excited for the opportunity to move my career forward,” said Moy.
Dr. Guerrini said she was impressed with the seven applicants, and she went with Moy because of his coaching experience and the fact that he is already in the parish.
“He has experience as a head coach,” said Dr. Guerrini. “Coach Moy has proven he is a hard worker and will win with the Abbeville community.”
Moy’s home is in Abbeville and only about five minutes from Abbeville High School.
When he meets the Abbeville High players on Monday, Moy will be shorter than many of his players. The 38-year-old stands 5-foot-3 1/4 inch tall. He looks like a high school student on campus.
Despite his size, Moy has taken steps to move up through the high school coaching ranks.
He is originally from Sterlington, La. He first arrived in Vermilion Parish in 2005 when he was hired as the girls’ basketball coach at North Vermilion High. He stayed at NVHS for four years. Then he left and moved north to Delhi Charter, where he served as the offensive coordinator. He returned to North Vermilion and remained there for three years. He was named the offensive coordinator his final year at NVHS under then-head coach Richard Prejean.
When Robert Helo stepped down as the Gueydan head coach, Moy decided he was ready to be a head football coach. He has been at the school for three years and has a won-loss record of 18-15, which includes three playoff appearances. In two out of the three years, his team reached the second round of the Class 1A playoffs.
He was one of seven coaches to apply for the AHS job.
“I am extremely proud of what we were able to do in Gueydan and that I had the phenomenal support from the community,” he said. “The jump to 3A and the chance to return Abbeville High to prominence was too good to pass up.”
Moy wants to bring winning back to Abbeville High. The Wildcats have not had a winning record since the early 2000s.
“We want to change that,” said Dr. G. “I am a former coach who loves to win.”

Gueydan wishes him well

With the departure of Moy at Gueydan, that means the Bears will be looking for a new head coach.
Gueydan Principal Brandy Broussard was sad to hear she is losing her head football coach.
“Gueydan is disappointed to lose Coach Roderick Moy, but we are excited about this new adventure in his career,” she said. “He has done an exceptional job in growing our football program. We will be forever indebted to him.
“Abbeville High School is extremely lucky to have him.”

October 14, 1969 ~ January 4, 2020

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Ray “Chuck” Stelly Jr., 50, who died Saturday, January 4, 2020.
He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Catina Vaughan Stelly of Franklin; his two sons, Landen Stelly and his wife, Whitney of Carencro and Austin Orthman and his fianceé, Danielle Grimes of Gainsville, TX; his two stepsons, Khory Vaughan of Kaplan and Dylan Vaughan and his wife, Beth of Sicily Island; his daughter, Lindsey Brown of Kaplan; his mother, Dianna Touchet of Maurice; his first wife, Debra Compton of Carencro; his sister, Tonia Querrard and her husband, Jonathan of Franklin; his two brothers, Branden Stelly and his wife, Shannon of Kaplan and Carlin "Bo" Stelly of Franklin; and his eight grandchildren, Reese Stelly, Kaelyn Brown, Carson Brown, Nathan Lankford, Aiden Grimes, Layla Vaughan, Jaleigh Vaughan, and Braxon Vaughan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ray C. Stelly, Sr.; his stepfather, Dallas Fabre; his paternal grandparents, Joe Stelly and Gladys Markle; and his maternal grandparents, Joe Touchet and Maydora Simon.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Thursday, January 9, 2020 from 8:00 AM until the time of the services at 11:00 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Stelly family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.