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Update: The Sheriff’s Office is now able to confirm two fatalities as a result of the plane crash.
Sheriff Mike Couvillon, says that the Federal Aviation Administration is just arriving on scene, and an investigator with the National Transportation and Safety Board is in route to the crash site.
Additional information will be provided by the NTSB as the investigation goes forward.

According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon, deputies were on the scene of a plane crash located off of Rosewood Rd. west of Kaplan and says that one fatality has been confirmed, but no other information is available as of press time.
The Sheriff’s Office secured the scene and has made contact with the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, who are responsible for handling these types of investigations.

September 11, 1953 - August 26, 2018

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31.
Homegoing services will be celebrated on Saturday, September 1, 2018, at 12:00 P.M. at Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church for Pastor Michael Charles Wright, Sr., who peacefully answered his call into eternal rest on Sunday morning at his home surrounded by his loving family. Visitation is scheduled on Saturday, September 1, 2018, at 9:00 A.M. until the time of service at Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church.
Pastor Wright has been an icon in this community and surrounding areas. He has touched many and has been an inspiration to all who knew him. He was an educator and was employed with Vermilion Parish School System for over 35 years. His love for education and children would not allow him to remain retired.
At hearing that there was a need for an educator, he felt compelled to help in any way he could.
Pastor Wright was called into the ministry in the early 80’s. He served as the Pastor and musician of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Patoutville, La for several years. He also served as the musician for St. Mary Congregational Church here in Abbeville. In 1988, he was elected as the Pastor of the Greater Pleasant Green
Baptist Church, where his grandfather, Dr. Isaiah Joiner, had served as pastor for 52 years. Pastor Wright also served as the musician at the church . Through the years he has served as a Board Member and Vice President of the Seventh District Baptist Association. He served on the Civil Service Board for the
City of Abbeville and was a member of the Board for the Port of Vermilion. For several years, he was the manager of Live Oak Manor Apartments here in Abbeville. He took pride in keeping the apartments and grounds well groomed.
Pastor Michael is a 1971 graduate of Abbeville High School and a 1975 graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, (ULL). He obtained his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Pastor Wright leaves to cherish many loving memories, his loving and devoted wife of 31 years, Peggy Bessard Wright; two sons, Michael Charles Wright, Jr. (Portia) of Mobile, Alabama and Christopher Mark Wright of Lafayette, La; three granddaughters, Maiyah LaCandice, Laniece Michelle, and Zoey Sade all of Mobile; three brothers, Murphy Calvin Wright Jr.(Phyllis), Marcus Isaiah (Hiawatha), and Mervin Foster (Sharon); two sisters, Carolyn Teel (Rev. Willie) and Catherine Donaldson (Ronald); a first cousin whom he loved and thought of as a sister, Myra Allen (Rev. John); one uncle, Minor Wright; two aunts, Marian Wright and Marcedell Joiner; father-n-law, Marion Bessard Sr.; six brothers-in-law, Marion Bessard Sr.(Karla), Allen Bessard (Elizabeth), Anthony Bessard (Jackie), Michael Bessard , Carl Bessard, and Preston Bessard (Ingrid) and a sister-in-law, Orelia Bessard; 5 Godchildren, the Greater Pleasant Green Congregation, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Murphy C. Wright ,Sr and Lula Joiner Wright; maternal grand-parents, Dr. I. J. Joiner and Beaulah Joiner, Elizabeth Joiner; paternal grandparents, Foster Wright and Althea Wright; mother-in-law, Alma M. Bessard; brother-in-law, Ronald Bessard; two sisters-in-law, Lois J. Wright and Denise Bessard; and godmother, Gertrude Gabriel.
Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street – Abbeville, LA (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

February 22, 1940 - August 25, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Rose hill Baptist Church for Richard Allen Robinson (78), who passed on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Eastridge Nursing Center. Visitation will be observed from 8:00 A.M. until the time of service. Interment will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Mouton Cove. Rev. John Allen will officiate.
Richard was born to Harold and Dorothy Robinson on August 22, 1940 in Abbeville, LA. He graduated from J.A. Herod High School then followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and became a brick mason. He worked in Houston, TX and Chicago, IL.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Dorothy Coleman of Abbeville, LA; one son, Richard Demar Robinson(Tiffany) of Houston, TX; his sisters, Alyce Robinson and Patricia Robinson Plowden, both of Abbeville, and Tracy Robinson of Houston, TX; his brothers, Kenneth Robinson(Cassandra) of Pearland, TX and Phillip Robinson of Houston, TX; a special uncle and aunt, Eldridge and Flora Coleman of Matteson, IL; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Richard was preceded in death by his father, Harold Robinson; one son, Patrick Armon Robinson; his sister Barbara Robinson Hill; and his brothers, Harold Young and Charles Robinson.
The Robinson/Coleman family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at Eastridge Nursing Center for the kind, compassionate, and loving cared extended to Richard.
Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street – Abbeville, LA (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

Justin Johnson was sworn in as the Councilman for District C to replace the late Richard LeBlanc who recently passed away after a brief illness.
He took his oath of office during the regular City Council meeting last Tuesday.
Johnson is not new to the workings of the city. He is also a member of the Finance Committee for the last three years.
His other involvement in the city are as a referee and umpire for youth sports.
He is a 2001 graduate of Kaplan High School and holds a degree in Business from McNeese State University.
His nomination was a unanimous vote. He will serve in that capacity until a special election is held on October 12, 2019.
The council also unanimously adopted a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in the City of Kaplan on December 8 to authorize the issuance of general election bonds in the amount of $750,000.
While the monies were to be dedicated to the recreation department, Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel felt that the money was desperately needed to purchase equipment for city employees to do their job.
“I am the one that asked for this to be looked at,” said Kloesel. “I felt that rather than spend that much money on recreation, we need to look at the infrastructure and the equipment of our town. I had originally proposed an 85/15 split, with 15 percent going to recreation and 85 going to buying equipment.”
Kloesel said he has seen on a daily basis how city employees don’t have the equipment they need to perform their duties properly and would like to purchase what they need.
“However,” said the mayor, “Councilwoman Eva Dell Morrison asked that it be split 80/20 if the 20 percent could be allocated to constructing a pavilion at Clement Park.”
The vote passed unanimously and a public hearing will be held on September 20 take public comment on the revised proposal.
In other business, the council discussed:
•Installing a four way stop at the intersection of Church Avenue and Fourth Street.
•Changing the entire length of American Legion Road to a speed limit of 25 mph.
•The purchase of a new sewer pump at the Westgate lift station and other pumps needed for the sewer department.
Timmy Farris with the waste water department said the Westgate pump was installed in 1984 and runs 15-18 hours a day. Bids were given to the council for replacement pumps.
This pump takes care of all pumping all the sewage from the last street before getting to Highway 35 all the way to Trahan Street. (This includes Stanton Apartments, Westgate Apartments and a subdivision all rely on that pump to push sewage to the lift station.) Cost will be approximately $11,000 installed.
•Ratified raises of $325 per month to sewer department supervisors and creation of meter reading permit inspect at an additional $350 per month. (This will not create another job. The meter reader began performing another service of inspecting for variances. He assumed the responsibilities when the previous supervisor retired.
Raises for the fire and police part-timers will be put on next month’s agenda.
•Ratified the hiring of Eric Meaux as a distribution operator with the gas and water distribution department.
•Replacing the awning on the east and west entrances of the Kaplan museum.