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Scott Gastal

Vermilion Parish man who exposed clergy abuse beaten to death in Lake Charles

Tue, 03/18/2025 - 10:47am

LAKE CHARLES — Some have called Vermilion Parish native Scott Gastal a hero after he testified against former Catholic priest Gibert Gauthe, who admitted to sexually abusing more than two dozen children while serving in the Diocese of Lafayette.
Gastal was only 11 years old when he testified
His testimony back in the 1980s helped set in motion the exposure of widespread sex abuse and cover-ups nationwide.
Gastal, 50, died last week, nine days after being badly beaten in a parking lot on North Lakeshore Drive. Reese Iles Chaumont, 28, of Lake Charles, is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with his death.
At the time, the diocese had already paid more than $4 million in settlements to nine families of victims, but Gastal’s family refused to settle, the Guardian reports. Their civil case was the only one heard in open court, and the family ultimately won more than $1 million.
In 1986, Scott Gastal testified in open court how Father Gauthe had abused him so badly, he had to be hospitalized.
In 2002, Gastol gave an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes about what he was still going through almost 20 years later.
“I don’t like to be around people. I just try not to feel at all. For the longest time I just tried to black all this out so it wouldn’t hurt me no more,” he said.

Gauthe was the first priest in the U.S. to be criminally indicted for sex abuse, and his trial was among the first to be widely publicized. His trial revealed that officials in the church knew about his crimes for 10 years before his indictment.
Gauthe served 10 years of a 20-year sentence after accepting a plea deal. Now 80, he reportedly lives in the Galveston area.In the following decades, many of the largest dioceses in the country were also investigated for covering up similar sex abuse.Lafayette attorney Cle’ Simon, whose father represented Gastal’s family in the ‘80s, provided the following statement to KPLC, a TV station in Lake Charles:
“Like all other sexual abuse victims, Scott surely lived a tortured, troubled and difficult life, having been robbed of his youthful innocence. My continued involvement in clergy sexual abuse cases has convinced me that there is probably no end in sight to the number of innocent children that were subjected to clergy sexual abuse in the horrible consequences resulting therefrom.”

Mrs. Toby Joseph Broussard

Miss Kaylen Marie Clark & Mr. Toby Joseph Broussard United in Matrimony

Mon, 03/17/2025 - 12:41pm

On the evening of March 1, 2025, Miss Kaylen Marie Clark and Mr. Toby Joseph Broussard were united in Holy Matrimony at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana. Father Nicholas Dupre of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, presided at the nuptial mass.
The bride is the daughter of Tracy and Phyllis Clark of Abbeville.
The groom is the son of Marty and Cheryl Broussard of Abbeville.
The bride is the granddaughter of the late John and Wanda Guilbeau of Abbeville and the late Ernest and Nita Clark of Abbeville.
The groom is the grandson of the late Ollen “Shorty” and Gurthel “Gert” Decuire and the late Joseph Nelson “Toby” Broussard and the late Audrey Martin Broussard.
Escorted by her father, Kaylen’s gown is a romantic Maggie Sottero dress that was customized with long sleeves. The sparkly floral, ivory wedding gown has an illusion bodice and sequined lace motifs over tulle. It is a chic, A-line style with an embrace of sophistication and grace, a masterpiece of timeless beauty and classic elegance. Her veil was fingertip length and beaded lined. She carried a stunning bridal bouquet featuring a harmonious blend of assorted ivory and cream roses, symbolizing purity and love. The delicate arrangement was beautifully complemented by soft, feathery dried pampas grass, adding a touch
of whimsy and texture. Lush eucalyptus accentuated the bouquet with its rich greenery and aromatic qualities, creating a romantic and sophisticated look. This expertly crafted design was by Bouquet for a Day and perfectly encapsulated the bride’s unique style and the essence of her special day.
The bride was attended by Charlie Mouton as her Matron of Honor and serving as her bridesmaids were Mallory Clark, Heather Broussard, Angie Sagrera, Valerie Broussard and Meggan St. Amant. They wore floor-length, A-line dresses made of chiffon featuring flattering crisscross pleated panels across the bodice and the waistline for a daring, elegant look, with a simple v-neckline, and lightweight cap sleeves and a back cowl.
Jr. bridesmaids were Emilee Schexnider and Aubrey Abbott.
Flower girls included Avery Mouton, daughter of John and Charlie Mouton and Michaela Davis, daughter of Brandon and Katie Davis.
The groom was attended by his Best Man Bubba Broussard. Groomsmen were Barry Broussard, Brennen Clark, Robert Nugier, Brandon Davis and Blaine Faulk.
Jr. groomsman was Jude Broussard. Richard Upton and Brandon Dunigan served as ushers.
Ring bearer was Graham Mouton, son of John and Charlie Mouton.
Music was provided by Mr. Tommy Guidry, organist and director of music for St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with vocalist Johnny Luquette.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Blacks Banquet and Receptions.
On February 27, 2025, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the parents of the groom at RiverFront Banquet Hall in Abbeville.
Both the Bride and the Groom are graduates of Abbeville High School.
The couple plan to reside in Abbeville, Louisiana.

Lane Broussard found her “Why I Love Abbeville” first place plaque she won 30-plus years ago.

A copy of the letter that Lane Broussard wrote about Abbeville as a fourth grader at Mt. Carmel Elementary in 1993. The letter was in the time capsule that was opened on Thursday.

Councilman Brady Broussard read a letter found in the time capsule. The letter was written my Mt. Carmel student Lane Broussard on why she loves Abbeville.

Broussard surprised her fourth grade letter found in time capsule

Mon, 03/17/2025 - 12:31pm

Now 41, she remembers writing letter for Abbeville’s ‘Why I love Abbeville’ contest

Lane Broussard was surprised to discover that a letter she wrote in fourth grade at Mt. Carmel Elementary in 1993 had been buried in a time capsule in Magdalen Square.
On Thursday, to celebrate Abbeville’s 175th birthday, Mayor Roslyn White and city officials opened the 30-year-old white plastic time capsule buried in the gazebo floor.
Mayor White gradually removed all the items from the time capsule and showed them to the crowd.
One of the items the Mayor removed was a laminated letter written by a fourth-grade student from Mt. Carmel.
Abbeville City Council Brady Broussard read the letter to the crowd.

Why I Love
Abbeville!!

I love Abbeville because it’s a friendly town with nice people. It’s a beautiful little town with a big beautiful courthouse and two squares in the center of town. It has plenty of trees and clean fresh air.
Abbeville has always been home to my family. Abbeville has a lot a good Cajun cooking like hot boudin, cracklin, gumbo and jambalaya.
“It is the home of the Cattle Festival and the French Market Festival.”
Ya’ll come and see us in Abbeville!

Lane Broussard
Mt. Carmel
4th Grade

Lane remembers the letter because it won an essay contest, and she had to read it on stage during the Omelette Festival in 1993. Nancy Toups was Lane’s English Teacher in fourth grade at Mt. Carmel.
She graduated from Vermilion Catholic in 2002.
Lane was unaware that the letter had been placed in a time capsule.
Lane was not at the Square on Thursday, but she would read a copy of the letter later that day.
“The first time I read it, I cried,” said Broussard. “The second time I read it, I picked up my head and saw a red cardinal on the bird feeder. Seeing the cardinal meant my daddy (the late Donald Broussard) was here. He was proud knowing I accomplished something.”
Lane recalls drawing a happy face at the end of her letter, using two exclamation marks and a small tongue hanging out of the smiling mouth. On Thursday, her mother discovered the first-place plaque that Lane had won for her essay titled “Why I Love Abbeville.”
Broussard, 41, lives in Abbeville and works as an eighth-grade English teacher at Anderson Middle School in New Iberia.
Her letter and other items removed from the capsule will be placed in a new time capsule that will be opened in 25 years.

Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White holds up a print of the gazebo that she pulled from the time capsule.

30-year-old time capsule opened: Event marks Abbeville’s 175th birthday

Mon, 03/17/2025 - 12:19pm

Dozens gathered Thursday morning in Magdalen Square to celebrate Abbeville’s 175th birthday. Originally founded by Père Antoine Désiré Mégret, a special ...

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Allen Joseph LaBry

Fri, 03/14/2025 - 10:17am

Allen Joseph LaBry; loving husband, father, grand-father, and brother passed away on Friday, March 7th, 2025. He was born in Kaplan, Louisiana and raised in Loreauville. He married Viola Theresa Peltier of New Iberia in 1970.
He graduated from Loreauville High School, subsequently attended USL where he achieved a degree in Accounting. He was later drafted into the Army and served in Korea. He worked for a number of years as a corporate accountant before eventually opening his own CPA practice in Abbeville.
He was a former member of Ducks Unlimited, Kiwanis Club of Abbeville, Rotary Club of Abbeville, Toastmaster’s International, and served on the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce. He was an accomplished duck hunter and dog trainer. He enjoyed playing guitar, travelling, reading, long distance cycling, and was an avid woodworker.
Like many of his siblings, he was a bit cannaille. He was quick to share a joke, and often engaged in harmless yet quirky pranks. He frequently sent humorous anonymous notes to his friends and family. Laughter and joy followed him wherever he went.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Angele Meaux and Gabriel LaBry, sisters Winona Sonnier and Janet Schaefer, and brothers Logan LaBry, Robert LaBry, and Maxie LaBry. He is survived by his wife Viola, children Kent LaBry and Lisa Byer neé LaBry, two grandchildren, and siblings Mary Ann Guidry and John LaBry. He was fiercely loved and will be deeply missed.
It was Allen’s wish that in lieu of cards and flowers that donations be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s.

Photo courtesy of Keep Louisiana Beautiful
Keep Louisiana Beautiful's Get Down & Clean Up program has grown to 145 participating libraries in 44 parishes with more than 1,100 litter kits checked out.

Keep Louisiana Beautiful's Get Down & Clean Up Program is available at Abbeville Library

Wed, 03/12/2025 - 10:49am

People of all ages are encouraged to check out litter cleanup supplies to care for their communities

BATON ROUGE, La. - Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB)’s Get Down & Clean Up program, in collaboration with the State Library of Louisiana and the Louisiana Public Library System, makes litter clean-up supplies readily available at public libraries across the state.
In collaboration with Keep Abbeville Beautiful, the program is available at the Abbeville Branch of the Vermilion Parish Library.
The program has grown to 145 participating libraries in 44 parishes, and over 1,100 litter kits have been checked out by library patrons to care for their local communities.
"People in Louisiana are tired of living in a dirty state,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “The Get Down & Clean Up program makes it possible for everyone to easily do their part and demonstrate community pride.”
“The Get Down & Clean Up program is a great hands-on way for families, homeschool groups, youth groups, and scouts to care for their neighborhood,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “If we all pitch in and keep our communities clean and beautiful, we’ll experience an improved environment and quality of life.”
Included in the Get Down & Clean Up litter kits are safety vests, litter grabbers, trash bags, and instructions. Anyone with a library card can check out a litter kit and return it after use. Participants are encouraged to scan the QR code available on the kit instructions and fill out a quick report sharing information about their cleanup.
The libraries with the greatest number of litter kit checkouts are Shreve Memorial Library, Jackson Parish Library, and Ouachita Parish Library. This program is free to all public libraries and there is no cost to check out a litter kit. Adult supervision is required when the kit is in use.
Learn more at KeepLouisianaBeautiful.org.