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Mikie Bazar (left) and Barron Sawyer

Two Abbeville boys playing in World Series

Mikie Bazar and Barron Sawyer are playing for the 13 year old Major All-Star team made up of players from Acadiana. This weekend the two men are playing in Gulf Shores, Ala. and competing in the Mizuno Prospects World Series. On Friday, they upset the No. 1 seed Pennsylvania Team.
Sawyer is the son of Jeff and Dana Sawyer.
Mikie is the son of Nikki Bazar Brasseux and the late Jim Bazar.

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VC graduate Chris Bertrand new recruiting coordinator at Northwestern

From nsudemons.com

NATCHITOCHES – As a former head coach, Chris Bertrand (VC alum) is well versed in managing all facets of a college baseball program.
In his second season with Northwestern State, Bertrand will add a second title as head coach Bobby Barbier has designated him the Demons’ recruiting coordinator.
Bertrand spent four seasons at Texas-Tyler before joining the NSU staff a year ago. While at the helm of the Patriots program, Bertrand coached 41 all-conference and eight all-region players.
Prior to taking the head coaching job at UT-Tyler, Bertrand spent seven seasons as the associate head coach and pitching coach at LSU-Shreveport, helping turn the Pilots into a perennial NAIA power. He takes over the recruiting coordinator title from G.T. McCullough, who left in May after five seasons on the NSU coaching staff. In addition to his new duties, Bertrand will work with the Demons infielders during the upcoming season.
“I know coach Bertrand will do a great job in his new role,” Barbier said. “His passion for people will shine as he coordinates our recruiting, which is such a big part of our program.”

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Tre Amos

Abbeville man wanted for allegedly using counterfeit money at local businesses

An Abbeville man is wanted for allegedly using counterfeit money in the city.
The Abbeville Police Department has obtained complaints over the past few weeks about counterfeit money being passed at local businesses.
The complainants stated that a black male subject has gone into business and made purchases using fake money.
Since that date, the police department has identified the suspect through video surveillance and obtained warrants for his arrest.
Tre Amos, 24, of Abbeville is wanted in connection to the case.
Anyone having information on Amos’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Abbeville Police Department at 337-893-2511.

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John Cedric Faulk

October 7, 1957 ~ July 12, 2017

KAPLAN — John Cedric Faulk, 59, died Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette.
He is survived by his wife, Christa L. Faulk of Kaplan; two sons, Clinton John Faulk of Lafayette and Matthew Faulk of Lafayette; two daughters, Katie F. and her husband Chris Ortega of Lafayette and Lori Faulk of Lafayette. He is also survived by his mother, Neva Bell Faulk of Kaplan; three sisters, Susan F. Kaplan of Lafayette, Donna F. and her husband Jim Watkins of Dallas, and Chris Faulk of Nashville, TN. He also leaves behind five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dunis Faulk.

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Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan, One Acadiana Chairman Frank Neuner, Sen. Eric Lafleur, Rep. Stuart Bishop (L-R) take part in the Legislative recap held by One Acadiana.

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Rep. Mike Huval

One Acadiana holds Legislative recap

LAFAYETTE — Legislators spent the last couple of months in Baton Rouge, working to fix the state’s budget woes.
After not doing so during the regular legislative session, state lawmakers did pass a budget during a special session that followed.
While that is now in the rearview, for those who attended One Acadiana’s Legislative Session Recap Thursday morning, there is still plenty of work to be done to right Louisiana’s fiscal future.
Sen. Eric Lafleur, Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan, Rep. Stuart Bishop and Rep. Mike Huval shared with One Acadiana members their thoughts on what took place during session as well as what is possibly ahead for the state. One Acadiana, formerly the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, hosted the event Thursday morning in Lafayette.
One of the major issues facing the legislators is the $1 billion “fiscal cliff” that looms July 1, 2018, the start of a new fiscal year. The legislature passed some temporary 27-month taxes last year, including a 1-cent sales tax increase that generates nearly $900 million. That expires on June 30, 2018.
“We are probably going to be faced with a vote for a short-term extension of that penny,” Bishop said.
Both Bishop and Huval said the initial vote on the 1-cent tax served as a compromise, with the idea that some long-term changes would be put in place.
“When I agreed to vote for the penny it was a compromise,” Huval said. “That 27 months was to give an opportunity for government to make changes, whether it was to raise revenue or make cuts.”
Those changes have not yet come.
“We have yet to get those accomplished,” Bishop said. “There’s no question about it.”
Bishop said that serious looks should be given at cuts from within the government as part of a long-term solution.
“I personally think the (state’s) departments need to find where they can make cuts,” said Bishop, who is a business owner. “In my business, I look at the bottom line. I know where I have to make cuts. We have 16 different departments in the state. I know they can find places where they can cut. If they can’t, I promise you I can go sit down with them and it won’t take me long to find out where they can make cuts.
“We need a smaller government.”
Bishop added that he is not against the creation of more revenue.
“I am OK if we have to do that to get ourselves through where we are right now,” he said, “but we need to come up with smart business answers as we go forward.”
Many revenue-raising measures met opposition during the regular session, most not even getting out of committee.
“If there are 20 different measures to reform,” Lafleur said, “that means 20 different people might be paying more or less in taxes and they all show up.”
Randy Haynie, Chairman of One Acadiana’s Governmental Relations Committee, said that was the case.
“I attended about 80 percent of the hearings,” Haynie said. “Every instrument that came up had a different constituency against it. The business community was there in force. I am not talking about one person there to testify, but 50 people and some days you have more than 100 people there to testify.”
Huval echoed that statement.
“I didn’t get one phone call from back home with someone asking me to please raise their taxes,” Huval said. “The people who were coming to the table were business-minded people saying that their businesses could not afford for those things to actually happen.”
A special session is expected to happen early in ‘18, with the fate of the 1-cent sales that expires latter in the year to serve as a major focus. Anita Begnaud Vice President, Governmental Affairs & Communications for One Acadiana, said One Acadiana will keep a close watch on the process that affects its members.
“We heard from tons of business owners about things that would have been harmful to business,” Begnaud said. “We strongly advocated against those. We want you to know that we are going to remain extremely engaged as we move forward on how the fiscal cliff is addressed.”

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Keith A. Roy

ABBEVILLE – A Home-going Celebration for Keith Anthony Roy is scheduled for 2:00 P. M. Friday, July 14, 2017 t Faith Hope Christian Fellowship – 407 Duroq Street – with Rev. Joseph Baudoin officiating the service. He will await the resurrection in Rudd-Hill Cemetery on Society Street in Abbeville.
Keith Anthony Roy (52), who was a native of Abbeville passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Maison duMonde Nursing Home. He was a great companion, father, grandfather, step-father, brother, uncle, and friend.
He leaves to cherish his memories his loving companion, Debra Greene of Abbeville, LA; his children, Tabatha Levine, Brandon Lee, and Keelon Lee all of Abbeville, LA; seven step-children, Jonathan, Charlotte, (James) DeMarco, DeMario (Juliette), Charlis, De’Angelo Lee (Naomi) and Jacolby Lee all of Abbeville, LA; his step-father, Calvin Boudreaux (Carolyn) of Abbeville, LA; his sisters, Coretta Williams (Gene), Talitha Johnson (Colby) of Abbeville, LA; three grandchildren, Jakorion Levine, Jacobi Landry and Kailah Amor Lee; and twelve step-grandchildren all of Abbeville, LA; two sister-in-laws Theresa Harrison (Destry) of Youngsville, LA; Sylvia Willis (Bernard) of Abbeville, LA; three brother-in-laws, Clifton Jr., Patrick, and Leonard of Abbeville, LA; his God-mother, Mildred Perro, three God-children, Ebony Thibodeaux, Quinesha Wilkins, and Kavon Brown, all of Abbeville, LA; Keith also had a special bond with nieces Tiara Levine and Ella Matthews and two childhood friends, Eric Williams and Warren Guidry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary George Boudreaux and Fred Sonnier; a son Keith Anthony Lee; maternal grandparents, Idell Perro and Joseph George; paternal grandparents, Beulah Roy and Oliver Sonnier; and aunt, Clara Williams and God-father, Hayward Walker.
A gathering of family and friends is scheduled Friday, July 14, 2017 from 9:00 A.M. until time of service.
Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

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Jason El Koubi (right) listens as Acadian Ambulance Chairman and CEO Richard Zuschlag tells the story of how he started and grew his business. The discussion was part of One Acadiana’s Lessons from the Corner Office series.

Business leader speaks to One Acadiana members

What can be learned from the corner office?
For those who have attended One Acadiana’s Lessons from the Corner Office series, the answer is plenty.
One Acadiana, formerly the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, has held events this year that bring business leaders from the area together with its members and investors.
Richard Zuschlag, Chairman and CEO of Acadian Companies, joined the conversation Friday morning, giving One Acadiana members some insight into what it took to create one of the most successful companies in the region’s history.
“The success of Acadian Ambulance,” Zuschlag said, “is a direct tribute to the people of Acadiana. We have employees that have loyalty and dedication. There’s probably not any other place in the country where you can start a company like we did, and have the kind of loyalty, goodwill and hard work that our Cajun family has provided.
“Our company has been successful because of our employees and I am very proud of that.”
A native of Pennsylvania, Zuschlag, after working briefly in Washington, D.C., found his way to Lafayette in 1970, while in his early 20s. He worked with hospitals in Lafayette through a government program, aimed at helping unemployed people earn their high school equivalency and find jobs at the hospital as nurses aids, housekeepers, janitors, etc.
“At the end of that assignment I fell in love with Lafayette,” Zuschlag said. “I looked for a business that I could get into to stay.”
With his connection to the hospitals, Zuschlag learned of the need for a new ambulance service in Lafayette. Leaders in the city initially said youth worked against Zuschlag and his associates.
“They said we were just too young,” Zuschlag said.
After being told no on three separate occasions, Zuschlag worked to convince Lafayette leaders, including sitting outside of Lafayette Mayor Ray Bertrand’s office for five hours. In the end, Zuschlag prevailed.
“Persistence prevailed for me,” Zuschlag told the One Acadiana members. “Persistence got me through.”
Zuschlag started the company with $2,300. The company financed two ambulances at 16 percent to get started, after no banks would offer financing. The company hired eight Vietnam medics.
The company has grown exponentially in nearly 50 years and is now worth millions. Zuschlag stressed that all those years ago, there was simply one goal, one that helped the company grow to what it has become.
“I think one of the reasons that we have been successful,” Zuschlag said, “is that we were in this business to save lives. The money making came later.”
Zuschlag reiterated to those in attendance Friday that Acadiana, through multiple ways, has always been good to his company.
“It has provided us great employees and everyone has always been good to us,” Zuschlag said. “Acadiana was good. Again, I would say it would be difficult to start a business like this in other parts of the country.
“We were in the right place at the right time with a little bit of luck.”
For One Acadiana President and CEO Jason El Koubi, Zuschlag’s story is one of many that shows what Acadiana can do to help businesses thrive. Lessons from the Corner Office brings those stories to members of One Acadiana.
“This series is something we created because there are some extraordinary leaders involved with One Acadiana who care passionately about their community and this region,” El Koubi said. “Through the work that we do, as a business association, we get to understand the intelligence, passion and commitment that these extraordinary individuals have.
“We want to share that with a wider audience.”
Along with Zuschlag’s turn on Friday, One Acadiana has hosted Tabasco President and CEO Tony Simmons and Iberia Bank Executive Vice President Jerry Vascocu. Lenny Lemoine, president and CEO of the Lemoine Company, is expected to speak for the series in September.
“Through the format of this event,” El Koubi said, “you have a very candid and enlightening conversation with some of Acadiana’s most significant and interesting personalities.
“This is an opportunity to get to know our business leaders better, to under stand their stories and learn from the important work that they have done.”

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Abbeville Police released a photo of the suspect allegedly involved in a vehicle burglary. The vehicle shown here is one driven by the suspect.

Abbeville Police looking for suspect in vehicle burglaries

On Tuesday, July 4, at approximately 1:40 a.m., officers with the Abbeville Police Department Patrol Division responded to the area of South State Street and East Lafayette Street, located within the city limits of Abbeville, in reference to a vehicle burglary.
Upon investigating that incident, officers discovered that an unknown person or persons made entry into a vehicle parked on a private lot by breaking a glass window and then stole a purse that was left inside the car.
While investigating that vehicle burglary, officers were approached by another person and learned of a second vehicle burglary that had occurred in that same parking lot. That victim also complained of a broken window on the vehicle with a purse stolen from the inside.
Since then, investigators have learned that one debit card has been used at a nearby gas station only minutes after the officers responded to the complaints.
Police released photos of a suspect and a suspect vehicle being an approximate 2004 Ford Taurus, silver in color and appears to have busted rear shocks due to the way the vehicle’s rear appears significantly lower than the front.
Anyone with information that can assist in this investigation is urged to contact the Abbeville Police Department at 337-893-2511.

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Randal L. Menard

Randal L. Menard to be honored as ‘Living Legend’

Andy Perrin, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Acadian Museum, announces that the Randal L. Menard will be inducted into the Order of Living Legends July 28 at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville. The program will begin at 3:00 p.m. and the induction will follow. As established by the Queen’s Royal Proclamation, on the 28th of July of every year there is a "A Day of Commemoration” of the Acadian Deportation, acknowledging Britain's role in the expulsion of French-speaking Acadians from Nova Scotia.
Randal L. Menard has been domiciled in Lafayette Parish his entire life. He is one of seven children born to Lawrence James Menard and Joyce Duhon Menard. Randal is a graduate of Comeaux High School, The University of Southwestern Louisiana, and Louisiana State University’s, Paul M. Hebert Law School. Randal has spent his entire professional career representing accident victims against insurance companies. Prior to attending law school, Randal was employed in the law enforcement profession, working for both The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department and the Lafayette Police Department. From June 1996 to January 2008, Randal served as the representative of the residents of The Milton Community and the Cities of Youngsville and Broussard on the Lafayette City-Parish Council, being elected to the maximum three terms of office.
Randal is currently a member of Louisiane-Acadie, Inc., a non profit corporation that represents Acadians/Cajuns in Louisiana and encourages networking between Louisiana organizations with similar interests in order to promote a united voice on behalf of Louisiana Acadians, and to seek alliances with Acadian Communities thought the World; and The Acadian Memorial Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to lend financial support and guidance to the Acadian Memorial; and a past member of Lafayette’s International Trade Development Group, an advisory board to Le Centre International de Lafayette. Randal has also cook large gumbos and jambalayas for festivals in Quebec City, Canada, Poitier France, Nantes France, Namur Belgium and was recently invited to cook for a festival in Montoire Sur La Loire, France and for a festival scheduled in 2018 in Paris, France, Bordeaux France and Poitier, France. Randy has cooked and continues to cook for local festivals and fund raising events to support the various causes in the area.

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left to right 2016-2017 president Chris Dardeau, 2017-2018 President Tom Thompson, Rotarian of the year Jaimmie Adams, President Elect 2017-2018 Rob Roy.

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Here are the Abbeville Rotarians who attended last week’s banquet in Maurice. There are a total of 52 members in the Rotary Club.

Rotary Club of Abbeville holds installation banquet, honors Rotarian of the Year

The Abbeville Rotary Club celebrated its annual Installation Banquet on Wednesday, June 28th at A Venue by Dupuy’s.
The Rotary Club currently has 52 members and growing for the 2016-2017 Rotary Year.
Recognition was given to the 2016-2017 President, Chris Dardeau and his Board for their service. Chris Dardeau recapped the exciting year, which was filled with many Service above Self-projects. Some of these projects highlighted were the Christian Service Center Remodel, raising money at the Comedy for a Cause to fund the Herod Elementary Playground transformation, lending a hand to August flood victims.
The 2017-2018 Rotary Club Board are as follows; Tom Thompson –President, Johnny Choate –Secretary, Jaimmie Adams –Treasurer, Rob Roy –President Elect, and Chris Dardeau Past President.
The Rotarian of the Year Award was given to Rotarian Jaimmie Adams. This award is given to the Rotarian who upholds and furthers the principles and ideals of the Rotary way of life. Mrs. Adams volunteers her time extensively with various projects in the club, as well as fundraising efforts. She exemplifies everything this award stands for.

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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