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DELCAMBRE — Officials with the town of Delcambre are not too happy with Progressive Waste Management, the company that picks up garbage in Iberia and Vermilion Parishes.
At a town council meeting earlier in the month, Delcambre Mayor Pam Blakely informed the aldermen that Progressive Waste wanted to raise its monthly rate for residents who live in the Iberia Parish side in Delcambre.
The company informed Blakely it was increasing the bill by just under $2 a month per resident and wanted Blakely to sign a new contract with the new rate increase. She did not.
The town has yet to sign a new contract because it also learned Progressive Waste may have been overbilling the town, said Blakely at the town meeting.
Progressive Waste sends a bill to the town for certain amount of residents who live in the Iberia Parish side of Delcambre. The town just pays the bill for the amount of homes Progressive Waste sends the town.
After investigating Mayor Blakely learned that Progressive is charging the town for 22 homes on Debuse Road in Delcambre. She told the aldermen there is only one house on the road.
If that is allegedly happening, the town is being overcharged $3,150 a year just for Debuse Road.
On Dooley Street, Mayor Blakely said Progressive Waste is allegedly charging the town for 36 homes when there are only 15 homes in the Delcambre city limits.
“We are being overcharged,’ said Mayor Blakely.
The town has been paying Progressive Waste for 59 homes that do not exist, said Mayor Blakely. That equals to around $9,000 a year.
Homer Stelly, the town’s new street commissioner, did a ride along with Progressive Waste Management, and discovered there are alledgedly 60 homes being charged to the town that do not exist.
Because of that, the aldermen have not approved the signing of a new contract with Progressive Waste.
They are waiting for a new garbage company to submit bids to see if they are cheaper than Progressive Waste Management.
Another option is to get out of the garbage collection business, altogether, and just let Progressive Waste Management send the bill to the home owner.
The Mayor also complained that Progressive Waste Management trucks are dripping oil on the streets of Delcambre.

Hannah Vidallier’s softball career ended like she had hoped.
In her two years at LSU-Eunice, she leaves with two Division II Junior College National Championships.
The LSU-Eunice Lady Bengals won their fifth national championship with a dramatic 8-7 win over top-ranked Jones County Junior College, Saturday at Traceway Park.
Vidallier, a North Vermilion High graduate, pitched the final three innings in the finals. She gave up one run, two hits, and walking one.
“All I wanted to do was contribute to a World Series Championship, and I did that,” said Vidallier. “It went in my favor.”
In the finals, Lady Bengal starter Abigail Leonards (Iota HS) threw four innings, surrendering six earned runs, 10 hits with one strikeout and two walks
Throughout the season, Vidallier was considered the Lady Bengels closer. She had not pitched in the World Series until the final three innings.
After being told to go warm up, she came back in the dugout with her game face on. Her coach asked her if she was ready.
“Yes sir,” she said. “I’m ready.”
LSUE was down 6-4 when she got on the mound.
Was she nervous?
“I don’t get nervous anymore,” she said. “When I pitched in the state softball tournament for North Vermilion as a freshman, I was really nervous then. But not now.”
Emily Henderson (North Desoto HS) scored the game winning run when she advanced on a squeeze bunt by Haley Godeaux (Cecilia HS) and the Lady Bengals’ celebration began.
Jordan Bishop (Newton County HS) singled to open the inning and pinch runner Abby Trahan (Hackberry HS) tied the game when she scored on a wild pitch.
LSUE trailed 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning after the Lady Bengal defense held the Lady Bobcats forcing a double play and a ground-out to snuff an offensive threat.
LSUE (53-11) finished with 12 hits, led by tournament MVP Rebecca Skains who went 3-for-4 including two home runs.
Also, at the plate, in the first game of the World Series, Vidallier hit two home runs to help LSUE win.
When she was not pitching, she was the designated player (hitter). In 35 at bats, she had hit only one home run this year. In the World Series, she hit two. She finished the year with around a .340 batting average and was 5-0 on the mound.
“I got what I wanted when I came to LSUE,” said Vidallier on Sunday. “I came to LSUE to win a national championship. We won two. I also had to fight for a position. There are so many talented girls on this team. You had to work for your position. Nothing was given.”
When she walked off the mound, it also meant the end of her pitching career because LSUE is only a two-year school.
It is now time for her to move on and begin focusing on her career.
In the fall, she will enroll in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.
She will begin studying to become a physical therapist assistant over the next two years.
But don’t think she is walking away from softball. It has been a part of her life for the last 16 years.
“I have been playing softball since I was three,” she said. “I will stay involved by coaching or giving pitching lessons.”

Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville (JA of Abbeville) held their end of the year social on Friday, May 12, 2017. The event was hosted by new Associate Member Megan Landry-Lalande and Outgoing President Shelly Libersat at the home of Mrs. Dorothy Collins.
Members gathered to celebrate accomplishments of the 2016-2017 JA year and to recognize members for their hard work and dedication.
The chapter honored the outgoing executive board, new associate members, inducted new active members and recognized several associate members who make their chapter shine.
The women who were inducted into the organization as active members have participated in service and finance projects, attended chapter meetings and completed training during the year. New active members of the JA of Abbeville are Brandy Duplantis of Delcambre, Christina Comeaux of Delcambre, Victoria Sagrera of Abbeville and Kelli Knickerbocker of Maurice.
Several members were acknowledged and awarded at the social for their contributions throughout the year. Liz Perry and Rita Broussard were gifted tokens of appreciation for tireless service, enthusiasm and dedication to the children of Vermilion Parish as associate members.
Also recognized were new associate members. These women have provided service and unwavering dedication to the chapter for six years, one year as a provisional and five as active members. New associate members are Dr. Anita Carrere, Angie Detraz, Laurie Gunter, Jamie Hebert, Laurie Hulin, Megan Landry-Lalande and Aimee Puhekker. The chapter is thankful for all of their contributions to help better the organization and community.
JA of Abbeville, during the 2016-2017 JA Year, had 23 women serving 15 projects. The Chapter provided 2,243 service hours and served 1,100 children across Vermilion Parish.
Moreover, JA of Abbeville raised $12,112 and donated $10,346 to the community. The chapter would like to thank the outgoing officers, board members and all levels of membership for the leadership, dedication and service to the chapter and community over the past year.
To learn more about the Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville visit www.jaofabbeville.org.