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The hit and run suspect who hit a Kaplan policeman last week while fleeing from police was arrested in Beaumont, TX today.

According to Chief of Police Boyd Adams, Huey R. Martin was arrested by the Beaumont police. Two Kaplan police officers are currently enroute to bring him back to Kaplan to face his charges.

The incident happened when Kaplan police responded to a caller who complained of a suspicious man sitting in his vehicle at the corner of J. Viator and Irving Street (near the cemetery). The caller also stated the vehicle had three pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle.
When police approached the vehicle, the driver immediately reversed the car and hit an officer while fleeing.
While officers were in pursuit of the suspect, the high speed chase was called off because it was becoming too dangerous for the streets in the city

Martin will be charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated flight and several other traffic infractions.

Louisiana Legislators recently wrapped up a special session aimed at closing a $304 million budget gap for the fiscal year that ends on June 30.
The Legislators did close that gap, with a combination of cuts and one-time money from the state’s Rainy Day savings account.
One Acadiana, formerly the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, recognized the efforts of the members of the Acadiana Delegation of Legislators during a press conference Wednesday morning.
“This is not what I think most people would describe as a fun time to be in the Legislature,” One Acadiana President and CEO Jason El Koubi said. “I think it is a time when it is particularly important to recognize progress that is happening, because it is so difficult.
“That is why we wanted to bring people together today to recognize the efforts of the Acadiana Delegation.”
Among the members of the delegation who attended Wednesday were Speaker of the House of Representatives Taylor Barras of New Iberia, Rep. Blake Miguez, who represents the Erath area, Rep. Stuart Bishop of Lafayette, Jean-Paul Cousson of Lafayette, Rep. Mike Huval, Rep. Phillip DeVillier and Rep. Terry Landry.
“I thank One Acadiana for being there,” Barras said, “particularly when we need you the most.”
Barras thanked his fellow Legislators from the Acadiana.
“I fortunately have a tremendous delegation behind me in the House and a group of Senators,” Barras said.
Barras explained that members of the delegation, as well as legislators from around the state on both sides of the isle worked to find common ground on closing the $304 million budget gap. That included cuts to agencies and using $99 million from the Budget Stabilization account, also known as the Rainy Day fund. Barras said the goal is to go away from using one-time money in the future.
“We have worked diligently to wean ourselves off dependence of one-time money,” Barras said. “There are appropriate times to use one-time money. I like to say those are one-time expenses that never happen again. When you start using one-time money to operate general government every day, you can get yourself in a bind.”
Part of the effort to get away from one-time money is to utilize language in the State Constitution that allows the Legislature to take a small portion, around 3 percent, from statutory dedications, such as funds dedicated to Wildlife and Fisheries, Office of Motor Vehicles, etc.
“If you have a statutory dedication that collects $100 million in a year,” Barras said, “we would basically take $3 million of that to pay down state debt. The department would then get the use of the $97 million going forward. That has not been the practice. The practice has been that the agency has been using 100 percent of the funds. When you add that up amongst various funds, that is approximately $96 million for next year.”
Barras made a proposal to utilize the money from the statutory dedication for the next fiscal year that begins on July 1. The budget gap at that point is expected to be around $400 million.
“If we were going to use $99 million from the Rainy Day fund,” Barras said, “the only way I knew we would get the votes in the House to do that is to come up with a reform plan on statutory dedications that paid debt according to the way the Constitution dictates.
“Hopefully that will allow us not to have to worry about mid-year cuts and make the needs for these special sessions go away.”
Miguez, who went into the recent special session not wanting to use any of the Rainy Day Fund, said he is in favor of the move.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Miguez said. “These agencies can take a three-percent cut. What Speaker Barras did was spread a three-percent cut across a part of the budget that hasn’t happened. Louisiana has a spending problem and I back this 100 percent.
“I also support the cuts the governor (John Bel Edwards) found and the cuts the Senate and House added to that.”
El Koubi acknowledged that an important factor coming out of the special session is the fact that no major cuts occurred to health care and higher education.
“Higher education and health care are significant economic drivers for us here in Acadiana,” El Koubi said.
Dr. Joseph Savoy, president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette agreed that the UL Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College and LSU Eunice have a great impact on the area.
“About 90 percent of students in Acadiana who go onto post secondary education enter through one of our institutions,” Savoy said. “Many of the professionals in our region come from one of these institutions. They are very important, not only to the economic health today, but economic health and diversity of our community in the future. Unfortunately higher education and health care have been focuses of cuts in recent years.
“We weren’t sure what was going to happen this year, but we were pleased with outcome.”
Bishop said the way to assure that there are no threat of cuts to those areas in the future is to better control spending.
“We are facing tough times,” Bishop said. “The people of Louisiana have spoken and they want smaller government. We were able to accomplish that in this special session. We made more cuts than we have in the past. We did it without affecting vital services and higher education.”
Landry said he feels criminal justice reform would help the state’s budget in a big way.
“We are spending $700 million locking people up,” Landry said. “Fifty-two percent of them are for non-violent and non-sexual crimes.
“Criminal justice reform can save us an enormous amount of money and still keep our communities safe.”
The regular session begins on April 10 and will conclude in June. Many of these issues will be on the table. El Koubi One Acadiana and its partners will continue to work with the Acadiana Delegations during the session.
“We have a number of priorities and we look forward to working with our local Legislators,” El Koubi said.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 celebrating the life of Suzanne Delcambre Peltier at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 101 North Leonard Avenue, Abbeville, LA beginning at 3 pm with Father Gregory Cormier as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Miguez Cemetery in Delcambre, Louisiana
Suzanne Delcambre Peltier, 69, of Abbeville, LA passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at Abbeville General Hospital in Abbeville, Louisiana.
Suzanne was born in Delcambre, Louisiana to Edus and Velta Delcambre on April 27, 1947. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She enjoyed reading, movies, baking, dancing and singing, but most of all spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by five children Monica Mergist Broussard of Pensacola, FL, Estelle Mergist Moore of Hattiesburg, MS, Hank Mergist of Lafayette, LA, Archie Lowery II of Abbeville, LA and Randall “Charlie” Lowery of Abbeville, LA three sisters Bonnie Miller, Janice Broussard and Angela Fields all of Erath, LA; two brothers Gerryl Delcambre and Randall Delcambre; Suzanne also leaves forever footprints on the hearts of nineteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Suzanne now reunites in her heavenly home with her parents, Edus and Velta Delcambre; two brothers Anthony “Tony” Richard and Darryl Delcambre.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of Abbeville General for their support to our family and for the care given to our dear loved one.
Share your condolences and words of comfort with the family at www.lafuneralservices.com
Ms. Suzanne D. Peltier and her family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Louisiana Funeral Services and Crematory of Broussard (337) 330-8006.

February 9, 1932 ~ March 24, 2017

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 27, 2017 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Joseph Aristile Bourque, 85, who died Friday, March 24, 2017 at Eastridge Assisted Living Center. He was laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Fr. Michael Richard officiating the services.
He is survived by his sister, Maria Baudoin of Abbeville; daughter, Karen B. Broussard and her husband James of Sunset; eight grandchildren, Kindal Bourque, Desi Broussard, Monique Lavergne, Christopher Bourque, Joey Bourque, Ashleigh Bourque, Katie Bourque and Tyler Bourque; and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Alcee Bourque and the former Naomie Baudoin; wife, Elvina Bourque; son, Darrel Bourque; daughter, Donna St. Amant; and sister, Cadie Broussard.
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.