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Dozens gathered at the Abbeville Police Department Friday morning to honor those who have lost their lives in the line of duty as part of the annual John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hardy’s death. His brother, Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy, said that while the memorial honors law enforcement, it provides a message that should resonate with everyone.
“No day is guaranteed,” Tony Hardy said. “Take care of your family, your kids and your friends.
“Nothing is guaranteed.”
The memorial is held each year by the Fraternal Order of Police John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial Lodge 48, honoring fallen officers from Vermilion Parish. Those in attendance also honored the memories of the 123 officers lost nationwide, including five from Louisiana. Those numbers are both down from 138 (nationally) and nine (state) in 2016.
Lane Payne, the pastor of New Life Church in Abbeville, served as the speaker Friday. He said his church begins service each Sunday by praying for officers and other first responders.
“These men and women are marching forward by a call to serve and protect,” Payne said. “This is not just a vocation. It is a calling and they answer that call, standing between those who wish to do harm and those who would be harmed. In fulfilling that call, there are times, even with all the best training, that some fall.
“That is who we are honoring today, those who give their own lives to protect and to serve.”
Officers from Vermilion Parish who gave their lives in the line of duty include Hardy (Dec. 24, 1992), Todd Touchet (Jan. 8, 2000) of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, Rodney Trahan (April 6, 1969) of the Kaplan Police Department, Otto Bourque (Oct. 3, 1964) of the Erath Police Department, and Allen Bares Jr. (June 23, 2014) of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“They did not shrink back from the call and paid a price that is so high,” Payne said. “Jesus himself called it the highest form of love, to lay down one’s life for his friends. Let us never forget to honor those who have laid down their lives. Let us also not forget to hold in high esteem those who are still serving.
“I thank God for these men and women.”

BATON ROUGE — It looks as if Louisiana’s sugarcane grinding season is going to be an extended one. But there is a good reason for the late finish—an exceptional sugarcane crop.
Most years, the majority of mills complete grinding by the end of December. While some may be finished by then this year, others are scheduled to continue grinding until as late as Jan. 20.
“That’s very late,” said Kenneth Gravois, LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist. “That makes a lot of people nervous going that late, but we’ve had a good crop. We’re sitting on a record crop here in Louisiana.”
Last year, Louisiana produced a record amount of recoverable sugar per ton of cane. But the crop was light in terms of tons per acre. This year, tonnage per acre is up.
“This year we have good sugar recovery,” Gravois said. “In addition, we have good tons of cane per acre. So we have sugar and tonnage, and that’s a great combination.”
The all-time record for sugar per acre was more than 8,400 pounds in 2012. Gravois said it looks like that record will be broken unless a major weather event, like an extended hard freeze occurs.
Weather always is a factor in producing a successful crop. Last year’s dry harvest got this year’s crop off to a good start, and rain came just when the crop needed it.
“We just had timely rains. We didn’t have too much rain. We didn’t have too little rain,” Gravois said. “Someone said it looks like this crop was irrigated.”
A rare snowstorm in early December dumped anywhere from 2 to 4 inches across Louisiana’s sugarcane growing region. It created minor problems, as some cane was laid down from the weight of the snow, but it did not create any long-term issues.
“The duration of the freeze wasn’t that long, and it looks like we escaped some of the most damaging aspects of that,” Gravois said.
Rains have slowed the harvest recently, but Gravois said that is to be expected moving into the latter part of December.
“Most fields that are yet to be harvested are on the better, sandier lands, fields we can harvest and manage even if it does rain on us,” he said.
Gravois is optimistic about next year’s crop as well.
“This crop sets us up well for the 2018 crop,” he said. “Again, we’re harvesting under dry conditions. Even though the last part may be a little bit wet, we’ve harvested the majority of this crop under dry conditions,” he said.

September 5, 1931 - December 10, 2017

ABBEVILLE — A Home-going Celebration will be held for Joseph Fleet Harris, Jr. 86, will be held Saturday, December 23, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church with Rev. E. I. Sullivan, officiating.
He will await the resurrection in Mt. Triumph Baptist Church Cemetery in Grosse Isle, LA.
Visitation will be held on Saturday at the church and commence at 8:00 A.M. until time of service.
A resident of Grosse Isle, LA, he passed at 8:17 A.M. on Sunday, December 10, 2017 at his residence.
He was a faithful member of Mt. Triumph Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his fond memory, his wife of 33 years, Willie Mae Comeaux Harris of Abbeville, LA; one son, Kenneth Allen Campbell (Lisa) of Giddings, TX; two daughters: Mary Harris of Fredericksburg, VA and Millie C. Landry of Abbeville, LA; two nephews: Berne Harris, Jr. of MD and Robert Harris of Washington, DC; two nieces: Barbara Harris of Alexandria, VA and Patricia Harris of Heathsville, VA; 9 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and a host of great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, numerous relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Fleet Harris, Sr. and Helen Harris; one son, Charles Harris and one brother, Berne Harris, Sr.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home 1116 Greene Street Abbeville, LA 70510.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org.