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Vermilion Parish Superintendent Jerome Puyau, AHS Principal
Lyndelle Theriot, Shane Theall and Dream Teachers’ Amie Burton.

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Dream Teachers’ Amie Burton presents Abbeville High’s Shane Theall with a gift for being named as semifinalist for State Teacher of the year. Abbeville High Principal Lyndelle Theriot (right) said the school is proud of Theall.

Abbeville High’s Shane Theall named State Teacher of the Year semifinalist

Abbeville High sent its graduates off into a bright future last Friday night.
Earlier in the week, one of the people who helped shape many of those futures received some well deserved recognition.
Shane Theall is one of the semifinalists for State Teacher of the Year. Amie Burton, Chairman of the Board of Dream Teachers, the organization that conducts the award, presented Theall, who teaches agriculture, welding and carpentry, with a gift honoring him as a semifinalist.
Theall, who earned Vermilion Parish High School Teacher of the Year, said, while it is definitely an honor, this is just a result of coming to work every day and doing the best job that he can and remaining focused on what matters most.
“We don’t do our job for recognition,” Theall said. “We do this for the children.”
Burton said that is admirable, which makes it nice to be able to honor teachers like Theall.
“This is such an honor,” Burton said while presenting Theall with a gift basket in his classroom. “Teachers work extremely hard and don’t always get the recognition that they deserve.”
Abbeville High Principal Lyndelle Theriot said Theall is deserving of every bit of recognition he receives.
“He’s an outstanding teacher and we are so proud to have him,” Theriot said.
Theall is himself an Abbeville High graduate, adding to what this means for the school.
“This does mean a lot for Abbeville High School,” Theriot said. “These kind of things show what this school is all about.
“It shows that Abbeville High prepares you, and Shane is preparing kids for their futures.”
That is the message Vermilion Parish Superintendent Jerome Puyau passed on to the students in Theall’s class last Wednesday morning.
“You may think right now that you won’t remember Mr. Theall,” Puyau told the students. “You will remember him. He’s teaching you skills that you will be using for the rest of your life.
“He’s a great teacher.”
Theall will be among 48 semifinalists, including teachers and principals, who will attend a luncheon on Thursday, May 23, at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. During the event, the finalists for Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year will be announced. The winners will be announced during a ceremony on July 19.
That he has made it this far, Theall said he is going to work hard to bring the award home to Abbeville High.
“I am going to put forth the best product I can to try to win,” Theall said, “because I was chosen. I want to do this for Vermilion Parish, the school and the students. Either way, I am going to keep working hard on our goal of educating students so that they can become productive citizens.
“That’s always our focus.”

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Major Tommy Ansel Rigsby, Sr., Ret.

November 7, 1944 – May 16, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Major Tommy Ansel Rigsby, Sr., Ret. passed away in Lafayette, LA on Thursday, May 16, 2019.
Major Rigsby was born in Roswell, NM on November 7, 1944 to Lowry Ansel Rigsby and Oletha Delores Rigsby. Preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Antonio Mixon. Survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sybil Hemelt Rigsby, three children, Tommy Ansel Rigsby, Jr. (Patricia), Lori Rigsby Blackwell (Jeff), and Shannon Rigsby Broussard; sister, Lorees Rigsby, brother, Bill Rigsby (Lynda); seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, countless friends and former students.
Major Rigsby is a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the U. S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, where he earned a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. After the war, his military service continued with the Louisiana Army National Guard as a member of the 141st Field Artillery Regiment (Washington Artillery), New Orleans, and later with the 256th Infantry Brigade in Lafayette, LA. He retired from the Louisiana National Guard after 28 years of service with the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the Louisiana Army National Guard at the rank of Major. As a life member of Vietnam Veterans of VFW Post 3798, he was a yearly participant in Memorial Day Services held at Chalmette National Cemetery. He previously also held memberships in the Vietnam Veterans of America Board of Directors Chapter 384, Chapter 500, and American Legion 29 (Abbeville, LA).
Major Rigsby graduated from Ramey High School, Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico in 1962. He attended college at Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Eastern New Mexico University, and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He earned his B.S. in Education in 1971 from Louisiana State University, New Orleans, a M.S. in Education Administration and Related Fields from University of New Orleans in 1976, and a M.A. in Science Teaching from the University of New Orleans in 1984. He also had over 30 hours of credit in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, Guidance and Counseling, Research and Evaluation, Special Education, and Health and Physical Education.
Major Rigsby spent over 40 years as a school teacher in Louisiana Public School System. He taught at Abramson High School from 1973 - 1995, Abbeville High from 1996 - 2004, and Kaplan High School from 2005 – 2013. He also worked as a deputy sheriff with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Family and friends are invited to attend the visitation on Thursday, May 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on May 24th from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Vincent Funeral Home, 209 S St Charles St, Abbeville, LA 70510. A funeral ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24, 2019 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church, 101 N. Leonard St., Abbeville, LA 70510. Interment with full military honors will follow at Graceland Cemetery, Abbeville, LA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Vietnam Veterans of America or the American Heart Association.
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.

Ena Fontenot

November 19, 1970 - May 15, 2019

Funeral service for Ena Lynn Lege Fontenot is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 12:30 P.M. at Kinchen Funeral Home in Abbeville, LA.
Ena Lynn Lege Fontenot was born on November 19, 1970 in Kaplan, LA. She departed this life on May 15, 2019 at Baton Rouge General Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA.
She is survived by her husband Ronald James Fontenot, Sr.; three children: Keisha Fontenot, Ronald James Fontenot, Jr. and Blake Fontenot all of St. Gabriel, LA; two sisters: Selena Richard of Zachery, LA and Marlene Lege of Franklinton, LA and two adopted grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by both her parents.
Visitation will be at Kinchen Funeral Home -- 218 North Saint Valerie Street, Abbeville, LA -- Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. and on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 9:00 A.M. until time of service.
Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

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Wilfred Vaughn

ABBEVILLE – Funeral Services for Mr. Wilfred Vaughn, 80, will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, May 24, 2019 at David Funeral Home Chapel of Abbeville.  Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery.
Visitation will be at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Friday, May 24, 2019 from 10:00AM until the time of the services.
A native of Pecan Island and a resident of Abbeville, Mr. Vaughn died at 2:56PM on Friday, May 17, 2019 in Abbeville.  He proudly served his country in the US Army from March 26, 1957 until March 9, 1960.  Mr. Wilfred was an avid hunter in his younger days, enjoyed working in his garden and attending his grandchildren’s sports events.
He is survived by two sons, Terrill Vaughn and his wife Maria of Indian Bayou and Shawn Vaughn and his wife Kristi of Indian Bayou; a daughter, Lorin Vaughn of Abbeville; four sisters, Annie Bell Richard, Adelena Sharpton, Velta Baxley, and Alma Minzenmayer; and six grandchildren; Colin Vaughn, Shane Vaughn, Marcelle Vaughn, Seth Vaughn, Megan Vaughn, and Zachary Vaughn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Eva Hardin Vaughan; a brother, Rufus Vaughan; and three sisters, Wilda Mae Romero, Melva Dummit, and Alberta Vaughan; and granddaughter Angelique Vaughn.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ronnie Romero, Shane Vaughn, Seth Vaughn, Zachary Vaughn, Wayne Romero, and Roderic Vaughan.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

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Steve Gardes

The Federal Reserve has been misleading us

There is new information out that lays out a damning case that the Federal Reserve (and other Central Bankers around the globe) don’t have a clue on how to measure inflation. Alan Greenspan, the former head of the Fed’s, admitted last month in an interview at Wharton that “we have a problem with measuring inflation - - there is a bias in the statistics. You’re getting statistics which are not correct.” The implications of this revelation is indeed stunning, because if you “get the inflation number wrong you’ve blindfolded every economist.”
It is critical to have the correct inflation number because it is the foundation of a number of vital calculations: cost-of living adjustments for wages, tracking wages over time to determine such things as how middle class is doing, or the Fed’s interest-rate decisions like say in the early 2000’s which led to the housing mortgage bubble - - and then the financial crisis that almost brought down the entire global financial system - - and then the Great Recession in which we saw our political leaders double the national debt in only eight years. This is truly shocking, but if you think it couldn’t have been any worse, then you would be wrong.
Remember that is was the Feds who told the world that the inflation rate had exploded from 1 percent to a stunning 3.4 percent during 1966 – 1972, resulting in a perceived depreciation in the dollar causing a “gold rush” by foreign central banks to cash in their dollars for gold at unsustainable levels. President Richard Nixon panicked and took the dollar off the gold standard in 1971, thereby converting the entire global financial system to a fiat monetary system relying solely on the “full faith and credit of the U.S. government.” Since that time we have witnessed uncontrolled money printing and perpetual government deficits to finance ever expanding entitlement states in America, in Europe, in South America, and in Asia - - resulting in record high debt levels world wide - - leading our desperate political leaders and their central bank cohorts to now profess the benefits of negative interest rates and Modern Monetary Theory (MMT).
Yes, we are definitely flying blind. So when our new cast of political leaders want to sell us free health care, free college, free student loan forgiveness, etc. - - perhaps we should view their election year promises with a skeptical eye. This is not Monopoly that we are playing - -
Steve Gardes is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with over 40 years of public accounting experience.

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Alva Mae Broussard

November 18, 1935 ~ May 19, 2019

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church honoring the life of Alva Mae Broussard, 83, who died Sunday, May 19, 2019.
She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Fr. François Sainte-Marie officiating the services.
Pallbearers will be Nicholas Vincent, Bret Stelly, Joshua Touchet, Chris Mire, and Charles Broussard and Justin Thibodeaux. Honorary pallbearers will be Ronald Vincent and Bill Touchet. Lectors will be Charlene Trahan and Adalene Trahan.
Gift bearers will be Debbie Broussard and Phyllis Gaspard. Musical selections will be performed by Jennifer Melancon and Natial d’Augereau.
Alva is survived by her son, Ronald Vincent and his wife Janet; three daughters, Carolyn Romero and her husband Buck, Liz Dartez and her husband Pat, and Jennifer Touchet and her husband Bill; grandchildren, Nicholas Vincent, Melissa Mire, Christy Richard, Jessica Touchet, Gabrielle Williams, Monica Thibodeaux, and Bret Stelly; and great grandchildren, Katelyn Thibodeaux, Justin Thibodeaux, Chesley Richard, Emma Mouton, Tenli Touchet, Hailey Vincent, Alyssa Vincent, Ellie Mire, and Alix Mire.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mansel and Cecile Broussard; two grandsons, Blake Stelly and James Vincent; two brothers, Willis Broussard and Nelson Broussard; and one sister, Irene Frederick.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 9:00 AM until 1:45 PM with a rosary being prayed at 12:00 PM.
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.

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Christina Meaux Callahan

November 8, 1969 ~ May 19, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Christina Meaux Callahan, 49, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at her residence. She will be buried at a later date.
She enjoyed gardening, fishing, ceramic angels and flowering, cooking, and spoiling her grandkids. She always used to say, “Maw Maw is my name and spoiling is my game! (BBZ)”
Christina is survived by her husband, Sterling J. Callahan Jr.; two daughters, Katelyn Falcon of Erath, Louisiana, and Tiffany Callahan Briggs and her husband Chris of Montgomery, Louisiana; three grandchildren, Bray Michael Falcon, Blaine Mathew Briggs, and Zaine Rylan Briggs; mom, Ethel Mae Vice; three brothers, Purvis Meaux, Wilbert Meaux, and Romand Ryes; three sisters, Sheila Frederick, Ethelyn Babin, and Mary Ann Hinshaw; and two godchildren, Nick Von Callahan (Zoe), and Megan Babin Luquette.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Adam Meaux, grandfather, Adam Ray Meaux; grandmother, Mary Gladys Vice; two sisters, Wilma Rae Grady, and Doris Leblanc; three brothers, Mitch Meaux, Nathan Taylor, and Russell Earl Cluckey; mother-in-law, Marie L. Callahan; and sister-in-law, Patty Ann Callahan.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 2:00 PM.
The family would like to share a special thanks to her sister Sheila Frederick, who helped care for her. You are greatly appreciated.
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.

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Left to Right: Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., Cleanest City Contest Co-chair Sandra Creswell, Chairman of the Deep South Region, Lena Bateman, Mayor Mark Piazza, Louisiana Garden Club Cleanest City Contest Chairperson Jean Gilstrap, Cleanest City Contest Co-chair Liz Gremilion and Councilman Francis Plaisance.

Abbeville awarded Cleanest City State title

The City of Abbeville has been named in District III the Cleanest City in the State by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation.
Mayor Mark Piazza and member of the Abbeville City Council accepted the State Title plaque Friday morning.
Abbeville competed in Category G which included Abbeville, Bogalusa, Jennings, Pineville, Reserve and West Monroe.
The City was judged on the following criteria: approaches within city limits; public and or municipal buildings such as school, churches, hospitals, libraries, fire station, City Hall, parks and recreation areas, business establishments, residential areas, streets, sidewalks, posts and neutral grounds, vacant lots and community involvement.
Abbeville Garden Club Cleanest City Co-chair Liz Gremilion stated, “We are all very excited to win this prestigious award. Everyone worked really hard and it was a joint effort between businesses, residents, Abbeville Garden Club and Keep Abbeville Beautiful members along with the many volunteers who also pitched in.”
The aim of the contest is to instill civic pride in the individual citizens and thus improve the appearance of their city. Each year the competition has become tougher and it takes a greater effort by the city workers and the many volunteers who help achieve this goal.
“Many volunteers contributed to our State Cleanest City win, but I think it was the attitude of our city workers that put us over the top. Every time I worked with them one of them would say, we are going to win!, and they were right…we did! exclaimed Abbeville Garden Club Co-chair Sandra Creswell.”

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Robert “Bob” Broussard

October 11, 1933 ~ May 17, 2019

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Kaplan Baptist Church honoring the life of Robert “Bob” Broussard, 85, who died Friday, May 17, 2019 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Nunez Baptist Cemetery with Reverend Kyle Coates officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Mike Perrin, David Perrin, Mark Weber, Ryeland Broussard, Kyle Broussard, and Tim Barrientes.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jeanette Toups Broussard of Willis, TX; one son, Steven Broussard and his wife, Fay of Willis, TX; one daughter, Katherine Broussard Hargrave of Willis, TX; three sisters, Bernice Dunaway of Silsbee, TX, Helen Perrin of Athens, TX, and Bea and her husband, Floyd Weber of Kaplan; five grandchildren, Ryeland Broussard of Spring, TX, Kyle Broussard of Spring, TX, Jenna and her husband, Kelly Hurst of Spring, TX, Leslie and her husband, Tim Barrientes of Humble, TX, and Jessica and her husband, Bobby Goynes of Spring, TX; 16 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Effie Broussard; his parents, Isaac and Marie Broussard; two brothers-in-law, Albert Perrin and Gerald Dunaway.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Kaplan Baptist Church, 400 N. Trahan Avenue, on Monday, May 20, 2019 from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM; Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 8:00 AM until the services at 10:00 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 Broussard family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

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Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

The Kaplan Herald

219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548