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Brooke Laperouse and Blaise Touchet

Brooke Laperouse - Blaise Matthew to wed in Abbeville

Sun, 05/07/2017 - 6:47am

Mr. Edmond T. and Mrs. Monique N. Laperouse of Abbeville are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Brooke Noel Laperouse, to Blaise Matthew Touchet, the son of John S. Touchet III and Ms. Shannon M. Touchet of Abbeville.
The wedding ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville. Fr. Michael Richard will officiate the ceremony.
The bride-elect is a graduate of Vermilion Catholic High School and South Louisiana Community College.
The prospective groom is a graduate of Erath High School.

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Mary Grace Burns Hébert and David Michael Tokarz

Mary Grace Burns Hébert and David Michael Tokarz announce engagement

Sun, 05/07/2017 - 6:45am

The Honorable and Mrs. Byron Hébert of Abbeville, Louisiana and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Tokarz, Jr. of Stanley, North Carolina are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Mary Grace Burns Hébert and David Michael Tokarz.
Mary Grace is a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana and the University of Texas in Austin, Texas (2011). She completed the Masters of Arts in Communication at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in 2014 and is currently completing doctoral studies in Communication at the University of Illinois.
David is a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (2011). He completed the Masters of Arts in Communication at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois in 2013 and is completing doctoral studies in Communication at the University of Illinois.
The bride-elect is the paternal granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Irby Hébert of Abbeville, Louisiana and the maternal granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Albert Leroy Burns, Jr. of Bellaire, Texas.
The groom-elect is the maternal grandson of Sylvia Figiel and the late Eugene Figiel of Walled Lake, Michigan and the paternal grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Tokarz, Sr. of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
The wedding ceremony will take place at the Chapel of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana on August 19, 2017.

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The Bank of Erath Team Corey was among the top two fund raising team to the Relay for Life of Vermilion Parish event. The team donated $13,454 to the American Cancer Society.

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The Cancer Cops team was among the top two fund raising team to the Relay for Life of Vermilion Parish event. The team donated $25,913 to the American Cancer Society.

Over 300 participate in annual Relay for Life

Fri, 05/05/2017 - 10:52am

Abbeville, LA – Ten teams and more than 300 people participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Vermilion Parish event on April 1, 2017 at Magdalen Square.
Relay For Life of Vermilion Parish event leadership team recently held their annual season wrap up meeting to celebrate and thank volunteers, participants and sponsors.
More than $70,000 was raised to support the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer. Funds raised help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund cancer research that will help protect future generations.
“It was inspirational to see people from all parts of our community come out to support us and help save lives from cancer,” said Salena Harrington. “Together, we celebrated those surviving cancer, remembered loved ones lost, and took tangible action to make a difference. We are so honored to have such a strong community that supports our cancer survivors.”
#CancerCops and Bank of Erath Team Corey were the top two fundraising teams. These two teams had a season long, fun competition to raise the most dollars and provided a huge impact to Relay For Life of Vermilion Parish.
The ten fundraising teams also included Nutty Buddy, Walmart Gang, Mimosa Queens of Louisiana, Techetastic Tacklers, Team Flip Flops, Woodmen Life Rockers, Team KSB and Kansa Kickers.
Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in Washington in 1985, the Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to save lives from cancer.
Uniting communities across the globe, we celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change.
During Relay For Life events, members of each team take turns walking or running around the track or path. Teams participate in fundraising in the months leading up to the event.
Donations can still be made by visiting www.relayforlife.org/vermilionla.

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Beanies for St. Jude made a donation to St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis for the 17th year. Beanies for St. Jude was so excited and humbled to donate $15,000; $3,100 in Pathfinder wagons and over $2,000 to a St. Jude patient for 2017. A cargo van, mini van and three SUV’s were packed with goodie bags and toys to make the 7 1/2 hour journey to Memphis for all the patients and families of St. Jude. The group served a spaghetti dinner at Target House, a pizza and ice cream dinner at Ronald McDonald House and Tri-Delta House, along with many gifts for everyone. The highlight of the trip was the donation to the hospital and educational tour.

A generous donation by Beanies for St. Jude

Fri, 05/05/2017 - 10:49am
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Vermilion Parish weather update: Damage to structures, power outage in Pecan Island

Wed, 05/03/2017 - 11:05am

In an update to the weather conditions in Vermilion Parish, Sheriff Mike Couvillon says that reports of hail damage to structures in Pecan Island has been confirmed as well as power outage.
Sheriff Couvillon says between mile post 91 and mile post 92 in Pecan Island there is a significant amount of hail on the roadway and DOTD has been notified.

According to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a Tornado was located over Esther or near Forked island in Vermilion Parish moving northeast at 15mph.
Radar indicated rotation, however at 10:00am this morning no confirmed Tornado had been identified.
The national Weather Service says that this Tornado warning was in effect until 10:15 a.m.
Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon says that until this weather system has passed through the area residents are urged to seek shelter and avoid driving in these conditions.
As of this time there have no reports of any structural damage, power outage, or down power lines and/or trees across any roadways in Vermilion Parish, however, once the weather has become stable deputies will be making damage assessments.

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Suspect shot Monday during incident near Maurice is in custody; will be booked on Attempted Murder of a Police Officer after release from hospital

Tue, 05/02/2017 - 4:54pm

As the ongoing investigation into the May 1st, 2017 officer involved shooting continues, Louisiana State Police investigators have identified the suspect as 46-year-old James Derouen of New Iberia.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed that on the morning of May 1, deputies with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a suspicious man armed with a gun in the area of Kirk Road and Morton Road.
Deputies requested assistance from local agencies and State Police.
Derouen fled from officers into a wooded area and was later located in an open field where he raised his firearm towards officers. A Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and a State Trooper fired at Derouen, striking and injuring him.
Derouen is currently in custody at Lafayette General Hospital where he is receiving treatment for non-life threatening wounds. He is being held on an active warrant for one count of LRS 14:27-30 – Attempted Murder of a Police Officer, and upon his release from the hospital he will be booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center.
This investigation remains active, and additional charges may be pending.

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Kaplan Police investigating death of man found face down in coulee

Tue, 05/02/2017 - 1:50pm

On May 1, the Kaplan Police Department was dispatched to the 1800 block of West Third Street in reference to a medical emergency.
The caller stated that someone was face down in the water.
Chief Boyd Adams states “It saddens me to announce this,” Norman Marceaux, 49, of Kaplan was traveling down West Third on his motorized wheelchair when he went off the roadway into the coulee.
Officers arrived on scene in minutes and removed Marceaux from the wheelchair and pulled him onto the levee and started CPR.
Paramedics arrived soon after but were unable to revive him.
Chief Adams said the wheelchair company had serviced the wheelchair that morning for issues with the right front wheel.
Adams advised a full investigation will be conducted into the incident.

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Hunter Harrington

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Martin Perez

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Reilly Thurston

Kaplan police arrest three men after student reports armed robbery

Tue, 05/02/2017 - 10:33am

KAPLAN — Three men have been charged with armed robbery after a student was robbed while walking home from school.
Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams reported the department received a phone call Monday afternoon of an armed robbery in the area of Mill Street and Klaby Meaux.
When officers responded, the victim stated he was walking home from school when a car pulled up to him. When the vehicle was alongside of him, the passenger of the vehicle pulled a gun on him and demanded his jacket, shoes and bag. Once the juvenile complied with the demands, the vehicle then drove off.
Twenty minutes after descriptions were given of the suspects, Kaplan police had the three men in custody.
Arrested were Martin Perez, 18, 109 Latour Street, Kaplan. Perez was the passenger who pulled the gun on the student. He was charged with armed robbery and charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Also arrested was Reilly Thurston, 20, 201 South College, Lafayette, the driver of the car. Thurston was charged with armed robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile for having his child with him during the commission of a felony. Child services was also notified of the incident.
Hunter Harrington, 19, 310 W. 8th Street, Kaplan, La. was the rear passenger of the car. He was charged with armed robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
All suspects are currently incarcerated in the Kaplan City jail.
Bond was set at $220,000 for Perez; $190,000 for Thurston and $105,000 for Harrington.

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Unrestrained Teenage Driver Killed in St. Landry Parish Crash

Tue, 05/02/2017 - 8:57am

ST. LANDRY PARISH – Shortly after 9 p.m. on May 1, 2017, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 363 near the St. Landry Parish / Evangeline Parish line. The crash took the life of 16-year-old Adrian N. Johnson of Washington.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as Johnson was traveling southbound on LA Hwy 363 in a 2006 Kia Spectra. As Johnson was driving southbound, her Kia struck a cow which was in the southbound lane of travel. After striking the cow, the Kia traveled across the northbound lane into a ditch where it then struck a culvert.
Johnson was unrestrained at the time of the crash and suffered fatal injuries. She was pronounced deceased on scene by the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment is not suspected to have been a factor in the crash, but per standard procedure a toxicology sample will be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.
Louisiana law requires that all occupants in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, be properly restrained. Louisiana State Police would like to remind everyone of the importance of buckling up before each and every ride. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained.

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