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The Abbeville Police were called to the central office after a Vermilion Parish School Board Meeting.
The police were called to the central office about 10 minutes after Thursday’s school board meeting had concluded.
The person who made the phone call to the police was school board member Sara Duplechain. She called the police at 6:28 p.m. and issued a complaint against school board member Anthony Fontana.
Duplechain issued a statement to the Meridional about what occurred.
“After Thursday nights meeting, I walked out of the Charles Campbell building to see Anthony going on and on about what just happened to Stacy Landry and a few others. I asked Anthony to please stop and enough already, it’s enough! He turned toward me and yelled to get out of his face. Calling me a liar and continued to yell at me, when he raised his arm, my husband yelled ‘don’t you dare.’ That’s when he turned toward my husband and got in his face and told him not to start with him because he would put him in jail. Chris Hebert pulled Anthony away and, Anthony left. I did call the Abbeville Police Department to make a formal complaint. No one deserves to be spoken to the way he continues to speak to not only me but to other board members. It is absolutely disgraceful, disgusting and inappropriate, he is not the boss of me and he will never speak to me in that tone of voice ever again.”
Three police officers arrived on the scene and began taking statements from witnesses, Duplchain and eventually Fontana, who had left the building.
The Abbeville Meridional was able to obtain a copy of Fontana’s statement that he gave to the police.
Fontana, in his statement, said he was talking to people outside when someone tapped him on his shoulder. He turned and saw it was Duplechain. In his report, he said, he turned and saw Duplechain near him.
“I told her, ‘get out of my face,’” Fontana said Friday. “I am not talking to you.”
He said he turned back around and she tapped him again, “I told you, I am not talking to you. Get out of my face.” He turned back around.
There was a third tapping. Fontana turned around and saw Duplechain’s husband, Dane, close to him.
He said, “‘quit talking to my wife like that.”
Fontana said he told Dane, “If you don’t get out of my face, you will spend a night in jail.”
He wrote in his report that it looked like Dane wanted to fight him.
“He moved closer. I knew if I did not leave there would be physical contact. I walked off,” he wrote in his statement.
Fontana told everyone he had enough and left central office and went to his office. It was there, he received a phone call letting him know the police were at central office looking for him. An officer was then sent to his office, where they got a statement.
No chargers were filed by the Abbeville Police Department.
October 12, 1936 - August 17, 2017
ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Harold James Crappell, 80, who died on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at Maison du Monde Living Center. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Father Michael Richard officiating the services.
Harold was the owner and operator of Crappell’s True Value Hardware Store in Patterson and Abbeville. He was an avid New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers fan. Harold could fix and do anything; he was a true “Jack of all Trades”. He took so much pride in gardening and tending to his fruit trees; he was truly blessed with a gift for plentiful fruit and vegetables. Harold loved his family more than anything; he lived for family get-togethers, so he could pick on every single grandchild. He was “Dad” and “PawPaw” to so many, he will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 59 years, Ruth Toups Crappell; five daughters, Jennifer C. Desonier, Lydia C. Bordelon and husband, Bryan, Stacy C. Beraud and husband, Chris, Mia Crappell and Haroldlyn C. Comeaux and husband, Marty; grandchildren, Mallory Comeaux Hutchinson and husband, Daniel, Aime Cormier and husband, Lance, Elise Desonier, Walter Comeaux, IV, Chad Beraud and fiancé, Abigail Ramirez, Mandy Darbonne, Charly Darbonne-Quinteros and husband, Wilver, Amelia Desonier, Eric Beraud, Alex Beraud and Marta Comeaux; great-grandchildren, LJ Cormier, Lilly Cormier, Ryder Quinteros, Juliette Hutchinson, Noah Hutchinson and Aiden Neisser; brothers, Huey Crappell and Clyde Crappell; and sisters, Lileta Horner, Rosalie Crappell and Gwen Lederfine.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Beulah A. Crappell; son-in-law, Philip Desonier; brother, Gerald Crappell; and sister, Betty Jane Crappell Mellan.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. It will continue on Monday, August 20, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. until the time of service. A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday Evening.
Pallbearers will be Bryan Bordelon, Chris Beraud, Marty Comeaux, Chad Beraud, Alex Beraud, Eric Beraud, Lance Cormier, Wilver Quinteros and Walter Comeaux, IV.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of Acadiana nurse, Robin, who took such great care of him during his time of need.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Harold’s name to Hospice of Acadiana at http://hospice0.wixsite.com/hospiceacadiana/donate.
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 – A Memorial Mass for Mr. Lyman Walter Stansbury, 89, will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church with Fr. Louis Richard officiating. Interment will be at a later date.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church from 10:00AM until the time of service, with a recitation of the rosary at 10:30AM.
A native and resident of Abbeville Mr. Stansbury died at 3:07PM on Monday, August 14, 2017 at his residence. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rosa Belle Hebert Stansbury of Abbeville; and three nieces, Janice Allen and her husband Jerry, Terry Lynn Frye and her husband Mark, and Cheryl Sanders.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Noelie Blanchard Stansbury; a sister, Edma Mae Sanders and her husband T.J.; and a nephew, Kenneth Sanders.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family.
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.
Economic Development Director Anne Falgout discusses “Keep it Local, Vermilion.”
People often hear the idea of buying local.
It’s an idea meant to help local businesses and drive the local economy.
While patronizing local stores is an important part of the process, the idea of “keeping it local” is more than shopping.
Vermilion Economic Development Alliance Executive (VEDA) Director Anne Falgout highlighted that in promoting the new initiative, “Keep it Local, Vermilion.” She spoke last week to members of the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville.
“It’s about keeping it all local,” Falgout said. “We didn’t say shop local for a reason. A lot of you work for companies that don’t have shopping, but you want people who live in the community to support you. Maybe you’re a chiropractor or you do taxes.
“Whatever it is, we want people to look to Vermilion Parish businesses first.”
The initiative is a partnership among VEDA, the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and the Twin Parish Port Commission in Delcambre.
Part of the program is encouraging people to experience Vermilion Parish.
“That is getting out and seeing all the wonderful things Vermilion Parish has to offer,” Falgout said. “Maybe it’s going to Palmetto Island State Park. Maybe it’s enjoying the skate park (at A.A. Comeaux Park) in Abbeville. Maybe it’s catching and boiling crawfish.
“It’s about experiencing the parish’s bounty.”
The program also promotes being engaged with what is going on in the parish.
“It’s one thing if you spend your money locally,” Falgout said, “but do you participate locally? Are you involved with civic clubs? Do you go to your town council meetings? Do you run for office? Do you support someone who is running for office? We’re encouraging people to really pay attention, to really know where tax dollars are going and to hold elected officials and themselves accountable.
“It’s about being informed and participating along the way.”
The third part is to simple enjoy the parish.
“It’s really about enjoying the services and products that we have in our parish,” Falgout said.
The program will include a business spotlight.
“It’s a free way for businesses and organizations to participate in the program,” Falgout said. “We really want to talk about your business or organization.”
Applications for the spotlight can be found at www.developvermilion.org/keepitlocal or www.facebook.com/keepitlocalvermilion.
“We are going to take everything you love about doing business in Vermilion Parish,” Falgout said, “and we are going to talk about it.
“Hopefully that inspires people to do the same.”
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School Board member Kibbie Pillette made the motion to use $500,000 to try and lower health insurance premiums and the other $500,000 to be put into the general fund account. It was approved 4-3. In the back ground is board member Sara Duplechain.
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John Thompson reads resolutions to the school board members.
School Board members learned at Wednesday’s special meeting that two parish organizations wanted to state their views on the Vermilion Parish School Board.
The American Legion 29 and the Vermilion Parish Chamber of Commerce each submitted their own resolution which stated their thoughts about the Vermilion Parish School Board.
John Thompson, who is the commander of American Legion Post 29, read the resolutions to the school board members. Each were also given a copy.
Each resolution is at least four pages long. Here are some excerpts of each resolution.
In the American Legion resolution, it states that the present situation existing between the members of the school board is “Not conducive to the quality growth and confidence in the educational system of Vermilion Parish and has become a distraction from the improved quality of an education within Vermilion Parish.”
The Chamber Board also, “Expects the Vermilion Parish School Board to act with appropriate respect and professionalism in resolving the present situation concerning a contract with present superintendent as required by the laws of the state of Louisiana.”
The Chamber Board concluded by saying that if the school board members do not attend future meetings, then those members should, “Resign from their elected positions or face appropriate sanctions as may be available under the laws of the State of Louisiana.”
July 16, 1936 ~ August 16, 2017
KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Juliette Leger Thibeaux, 81, who died Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Pastor Curtis Gibson officiating the services.
She is survived by her two sons, Nolan Thibeaux, Jr. and his wife, Ruby of Kaplan and Mitchell Thibeaux and his wife, Kristy of Abbeville; two daughters, Judy and her husband, Larry Litwiler of Kaplan and Jean and her husband, Jessie Bertrand of Erath; one brother, Autry “Butch” Leger of Jeanerette; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her two sons, Ronnie James Thibeaux and Robert Paul Thibeaux; and her parents, Joseph Leger and the former Levie Smith.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Friday, August 18, 2017 from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM; Saturday, August 19, 2017 from 8:00 AM until services.
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 Thibeaux family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
ABBEVILLE — Funeral services for Alice Lou Hebert is scheduled for 1:00 P.M. Saturday, August 19, 2017 in the chapel of Kinchen Funeral Home. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Rev. Lane Payne, pastor of New Life Church will officiate the service.
Alice Lou Hebert (72), a long-time resident of Abbeville passed away Thursday, August 17, 2017 at her residence.
She is survived by two sisters, Lula Istre of Horn Lake, MS and Shirley Chargois of Sulphur, LA; eleven nieces, three nephews, and a host of great nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.
She had a very special cousin, Della Hardy that she loved very much who was a great help to her.
Alice worked in the hotel industry for many years and was a loving and happy person to be around. She was also a person who really loved the Lord, and that love was reflected in the way she showed love to others.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Guastave Hebert and Mae Miller Hebert; four brothers, three sisters, and two nieces.
A special thanks goes out to Our Lady of Lourdes Staff, Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Cain, the Cancer Staff of Abbeville General and St. Joseph Hospice.
Pall Bearers are: Rickey Menard, Jr., Rickey Menard, Sr., Kenneth Suire II, Chris Hardy, and Kevin Menard.
Honorary Pall Bearers are: Norris Istre and Ashley Sonnier.
Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, August 19, 2017 at Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street (337) 898-9595 from 9:00 A.M. until time of service.
318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548