Five generations gathered at the home of Tobi Leger in Vidrine, La. to welcome the latest generation into the family. The five generations include Tammy Parrott, grandmother; Nona Prejean, great-great-grandmother; Tobi Leger, mom, holding the newest addition to the family, her daughter, Landry Leger; T.J. Preajean, great-great-grandfather, and Becky Prejean, great-grandmother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at St. Elizabeth Seton Church for Hayes J, Boudreaux, 72, who passed away January 30, 2017. Father Gary Schexnayder, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Church will officiate the services and conduct the funeral ceremony. Lectors will be his nieces, Claudell Thibodeaux and Ashlie Bourque. Gift bearers will be his daughters, Kim Paul and Elizabeth Touchette, along with grandchildren Grace Dylan and Logan. Eucharistic ministers will be Marie Moreau, Winnie Savant, and Nel Nelson. Ron Moreau and Phyllis Simar will provide musical selections for the mass including "Be Not Afraid", "Ave Maria", "Gentle Shepherd", "How Great Thou Art.", and "Old Rugged Cross". Interment will follow the mass in St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery in Abbeville.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years Deanna Romero Boudreaux; two daughters, Kimberly Paul and her husband, Donald M. Paul of Lafayette and Elizabeth Touchette and her husband Scotty Touchette of Carencro; five grandchildren, Donald Christopher Paul, Dylan Michael Touchette, Grace Katherine Paul, Logan Hayes Touchette, and Ethan James Touchette; one sister, Faye Suire and her husband Boniface Suire of Erath; two nieces, Claudell Thibodeaux and Ashlie Bourque; and two nephews, Nicholas Suire of Erath and Scott Suire of Abbeville.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Agnes LeBlanc Boudreaux and Murphy "Mose" Boudreaux and two nephews: Ryan and Brady Suire.
Hayes was a native of Abbeville and resident of Lafayette for 44 years. He was born on August 5, 1944. After he married Deanna in 1972, the couple moved to Lafayette. He was particularly proud to be one of the founding members of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church Parish started in 1975.
He worked in the freight business for 35 years prior to his retirement in 2003.Through his career, her worked for Southern Pacific Transport, Steve Thompson Trucking and most recently, ABF Trucking.
He was very interested in keeping up with his Cajun French and was a regular at the local "French Tables" (table de Francais) in Lafayette, Rayne and Arnaudville. He also volunteered to call bingo in French at a few nursing homes in Abbeville and Carencro.Other volunteer efforts included his work as a Travel Counselor on Monday mornings as the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission for many years.
He enjoyed traveling with bus tours and watching sports he played in his younger days such as football and Little League Baseball. He especially enjoyed reading every word of his daily newspaper.
Pallbearers will be Don Paul, Don Chris Paul, Scotty Touchette, Nick Suire, Scott Suire, and Jake Bourque.
The family requests that visitation be held Wednesday, February 1, 2017, from 1:00 - 8:00 pm at Walters Funeral Home, and resume Thursday morning at 8:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be led by Boniface Suire at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening.
Words of condolence may be expressed online at www.waltersfh.com.
Walters Funeral Home, 2424 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507; 337.706.8941 is in charge of arrangements.
August 21, 1923 ~ January 31, 2017
ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Annie Mae Bourque Durke, 93 years, who died Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Eastridge Assisted Living Center. She will be laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery with Chaplain Mark Broussard officiating the services.
She is survived by her daughter, Mona Hebert and her husband Russell of Abbeville; three grandchildren, Stacie Hebert of New Orleans, Kellie H. Kelly and her husband Ryan of Richmond, TX, and Nicholas Hebert of Abbeville; great-grandchildren, Gavin Hebert, Keaton Kelly and Rhett Kelly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Durke; parents, Ophelias Bourque and the former Marie Primeaux; two sons, Linwood Durke and Ray Vernon Durke; and daughter, Priscilla Durke; three brothers, Genius Bourque, Obrey Bourque and Laodis Bourque; and sisters, Lucy Vincent, Cecil Vincent, Zulmae Coudroy, Edia Ivey and Laurence Walker.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, February 2, 2017 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.
Reilly Boling of Erath High 4-H Club was selected as Overall Champion Beef Showman. Presenting her award is Sydnee Gaspard, 2017 Vermilion Parish Cattlemen’s Queen. The award is sponsored by Blaine Dugas and family and Joey, Michelle, Dilan and Paige Comeaux in memory of Denise Lene Gastal. Denise was a huge supporter of the 4-H beef program for many years.
Sydnee Gaspard of Kaplan High 4-H showed the Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Commercial Heifer at the 43rd Annual Vermilion 4-H Livestock Show and Sale held January 27-28 at the Cecil McCrory Exhibit Building in Abbeville.
The 43rd Annual Vermilion Parish 4-H Livestock Show and Sale was a great success. It involved 193 young people who exhibited over 277 head of livestock (beef, sheep, goats, dairy, and swine) and 94 poultry entries. This event is organized by the LSU AgCenter Extension Service and was held January 27-28, at the Cecil McCrory Exhibit Building in Abbeville. A large crowd was on hand to witness the skills of these 4-H’ers and to view the extensive exhibition of the highest quality stock in Vermilion Parish.
The sale of market animals totaled $153,715.55, of which $4,450.00 was raised for the Vermilion 4-H Foundation. A total of 86 market hogs sold with an average of $5.70 per pound, 14 market lambs sold with an average of $9.02 per pound, 8 commercial heifers sold with an average of $2,389.00 per head, and 1 steer sold for $2.725 per pound.
The Overall Grand Champion Market Hog and Overall Vermilion Bred Champion Market Hog was exhibited by Anna Broussard of Erath Middle School 4-H Club and sold for $6.75 per pound to Henrik Kasperski. Champion Market Hog Awards are sponsored by Kenneth and Darlene Primeaux. The Overall Reserve Champion Market Hog and Overall Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Market Hog was exhibited by Leighton Turnley of Rene Rost Middle School 4-H Club, and purchased by Tony Turnley for $9.25 per pound. Reserve Champion Market Hog Awards were sponsored by Maurice Veterinary Clinic.
Champion Breeding Gilt Awards were sponsored by Wayne and Rhonda Miller. Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Breeding Gilt were shown by Briana Robinson of Kaplan High. Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt Awards were sponsored by Maurice Veterinary Clinic. The Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Breeding Gilt were shown by Briana Robinson of Kaplan High School.
The Overall Grand Champion Market Lamb was exhibited by Maci Gaspard of Kaplan High 4-H Club. Her lamb was purchased by the Vermilion Parish Police Jurors for $13.00 per pound. The award for Overall Champion Lamb was sponsored in memory of J. G. (Ken Broussard). Ava Breaux, of St Peter Elementary 4-H Club, showed the Overall Reserve Champion Market Lamb. It was purchased by Sheriff Mike Couvillon for $14.00 per pound. That award is sponsored in memory of Fred Zaunbrecher by Hugh and Sherry Zaunbrecher. The Overall Champion Vermilion Bred Market Lamb was shown by Bradyn Bearb of Kaplan Elementary 4-H Club. It sold for $7.75 per pound to Crowley Grain and Ricky Bearb. The Overall Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Lamb was shown by Andrew Trahan of Vermilion Catholic 4-H Club.
The Champion and Reserve Champion Steer awards were sponsored by Foster Lanie. The Grand Champion Steer was shown by Lexie Duhon, At-Large 4-H member. It was purchased by Errol Domingues and Representative Bob Hensgens for $2.725 per pound.
Al and Darla Lanie sponsored the awards for the Poultry Show. Winning Best of Show with her Australorp was Kinsey Waits of Meaux Elementary 4-H Club. Cole Lange of Erath High 4-H won Reserve Best of Show with his Dark Cornish.
SWINE SHOWMANSHIP:
9-10 Year Olds (Buckle sponsored in memory of Jane Menard) (2 splits) -----1st place & Belt Buckle Winner, Cameron Gisclair of Dozier Elementary; 1st place, Braxton Duhon of Kaplan Elementary; 2nd place, Lane Primeaux of Rene Rost Middle School; 2nd, place, Allen McLain, Mount Carmel Elementary; 3rd place, Ahna Newman, Kaplan Elementary; 3rd place, Lane Turnley of Kaplan Elementary; 4th place, Allie Falgout of Dozier Elementary; 4th place, Ellie Marceaux of Rene Rost Middle; 5th place, Waylon Hebert of Jesse Owens Elementary, and 5th place, Gage Gaspard of F.I.-E.B. Elementary.
11-12 Year Olds (Buckle sponsored by Dewey Domingues, Southern Sugar)(2 splits) -----1st place & Belt Buckle winner, Kennedy Marceaux, Rene Rost Middle School; 1st, Leighton Turnley, Rene Rost Middle School; 2nd, Lanie Broussard, ARCH 4-H; 2nd, Caroline Hunt, Maltrait Memorial Catholic School; 3rd, Kennedey Newman, Rene Rost Middle; 3rd, Katie Domingue, Erath Middle School; 4th, Morgan Meaux, Rene Rost Middle School; 4th, Amelia Detraz, Mt. Carmel Elementary School; 5th, Katie Romero, Rene Rost Middle School and 5th, Jake Hebert, Rene Rost Middle School.
13-14 Year Olds (Buckle sponsored by Dronet’s Floor Gallery)-----1st place and Champion Buckle Winner, Anna Broussard, Erath Middle School; 2nd place, Mallory Meaux, Rene Rost Middle School; 3rd place, Kailie Hebert, Kaplan High School; 4th place, Gabrielle Marceaux, Rene Rost Middle School; 5th place, Briana Robinson, Kaplan High School.
15 & Older-----(Buckle sponsored by Love, Gwen and Matt Greene in memory of Love and Azalea Greene, Sr. (2 splits) 1st place and Champion Buckle Winner, Hunter Lepretre, Gueydan High School; 1st place, Lane Marceaux, Kaplan High School; 2nd place, McKenzie Ardoin, Vermilion Catholic High School; 2nd place, Gage Marceaux, Kaplan High School; 3rd place, Ryan McLain, Vermilion Catholic High School; 3rd place, Lani Trahan, North Vermilion High School; 4th place, Spencer Broussard, Gueydan High School; 4th place, Tanner Simon, Erath High School; 5th place, Jacie Lopez, Erath High School; and 5th place, Shelby Adams, Kaplan High School
BREEDING SWINE:
In the Breeding Swine competition, the Overall Champion Breeding Swine was exhibited by Briana Robinson of Forked Island-E. Broussard Elementary. The Champion Breeding Gilt award was sponsored by Wayne and Rhonda Miller.
The Overall Reserve Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Breeding Swine were shown by Briana Robinson of Forked Island-E. Broussard Elementary. The Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt award was sponsored by Maurice Veterinary Clinic.
SHEEP SHOWMANSHIP:
9-11 Years Old: (Buckle sponsored by Ethan Goutierrez in memory of his Dad, Garrett Goutierrez) - 1st, Luke Gaspard, F.I.-E.B Elementary; 2nd, Ava Breaux, St. Peter Elementary; 3rd, Christian Migues, Erath Middle School; 4th, Bradyn Bearb, Rene Rost Middle School.
12-14 Years Old: (Buckle sponsored in Memory of Guy LeDoux) - 1st, Ethan Goutierrez, Erath Middle School.
15 Years and Older: (Buckle sponsored by Benny Goutierrez, Benny G’s Feed & Farm Supply) - 1st, Maci Gaspard, Kaplan High; 2nd Andrew Trahan, Vermilion Catholic High; and 3rd, Sydnee Gaspard, Kaplan High.
BREEDING SHEEP:
The Grand Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Breeding Ewe was shown by Sydnee Gaspard, Kaplan High School. The Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Breeding Ewe was shown by Bradyn Bearb of Kaplan Elementary. These awards were sponsored by Rixby, Rita, and Harold Marceaux.
GOAT SHOWMANSHIP: (Buckle sponsored by Lawrence & Hilda Faulk Family)
1st and Buckle Winner, Kaden d’Augereau, F.I.-E.B. Elementary School; 2nd, Karli Broussard, F.I.-E.B. Elementary; and 3rd, Gracyn Meaux, Meaux Elementary School.
BREEDING GOATS:
The Overall Champion Breeding Goat was shown by Gracyn Meaux of Meaux Elementary. The Overall Reserve Champion Breeding Goat was shown by Karli Broussard of F.I.-E.B. Elementary. Awards were sponsored by Maurice Veterinary Clinic.
BEEF SHOWMANSHIP:
9-10 Year Olds (Buckle sponsored by Trahan Brangus in Memory of Russell Greene and Randy Choate – ---- 1st and Buckle Winner – Grant Stelly, F.I.-E.B. Elementary, 2nd, Colten Esthay, Kaplan Elementary; 3rd, Henry Duplantis, Harvest Time Christian Academy; 4th, Kinsey Waits, Meaux Elementary; and 5th, Reina Petry, At-Large member.
11-12 Year Olds (Buckle sponsored in memory of Freddie LeMaire, Jr. by The Gaspard Family and Scottie Lemaire)----- 1st and Belt Buckle Winner, Emma Lege, Mt. Carmel Elementary; 2nd, Ellee Hebert, J. H. Williams Middle School; 3rd, Abbie Mouton, J. H. Williams Middle School; 4th, Drake Carlin, F.I.-E.B. Elementary; and 5th, Lane Frederick, J. H. Williams Middle School.
13-14 Year Olds-----(Buckle sponsored by Columbus Plantation, Eric & Claudette Broussard) (2 splits) 1st, and Belt Buckle Winner, Ty Hebert, F.I-E.B. Elementary; 1st, Celine Auzenne, North Vermilion Middle School; 2nd, Caleb Arnould, North Vermilion Middle School; 2nd, Ahna Landry, North Vermilion Middle School; 3rd, Fallon Lege, Vermilion Catholic High School; 3rd, Christopher Broussard, F.I.-E.B. Elementary; 4th, Gwendolyn Hebert, Gueydan High School; 4th, Gracie Richard, F.I.-E.B. Elementary; 5th, Tyler Durke, Vermilion Catholic High School; and 5th, Grant Hardin, F.I.-E.B. Elementary.
15 & Older----- (Buckle sponsored in memory of Gary Mayard by his daughters Jessa and Gina and grandchildren, Ava Grace and Manning)-(1st Split)--1st and Belt Buckle Winner, Reilly Boling, Erath High School; 2nd, Hannah Reed, Gueydan High School; 3rd, Nicholas Choate, Vermilion Catholic High School; 4th, Reiss Olsberg, Erath High School; and 5th, Sarah Felix, Erath High School.
15 & Older---- (2nd Split) 1st, Victoria Roussel, Kaplan High School; 2nd Collin Hebert, Kaplan High School; 3rd, Carly Hebert, Abbeville High School; 4th, Ryan McLain, Vermilion Catholic High School; 5th, Ryan McLain, Vermilion Catholic High School.
The Denise Gastal Memorial Award for Overall Champion Beef Showman was won by Reilly Boling of Erath High School. The award is sponsored in Denise’s memory by Blaine Dugas and Family and Joey, Michelle, Paige and Dilan Comeaux.
The Overall Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Sydnee Gaspard of Kaplan High School. The Overall Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Fallon Lege of Vermilion Catholic High School. Commercial heifer awards were sponsored by Chad Dartez Trucking and LeMaire Cattle Company.
The Red Brangus cattle show awards were sponsored by Diamond D Farms – Troy & Sheila Doucet. The Champion Red Brangus Bull was shown by Seth Suire of Kaplan High School. The Reserve Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brangus Bull were shown by Fallon Lege of Vermilion Catholic High School. The Champion Red Brangus Heifer was shown by Seth Suire of Kaplan High. The Reserve Champion Red Brangus Heifer was also shown by Emma Lege of Mt. Carmel Elementary. The Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brangus Heifer was shown by John-Paul Poche’ of Kaplan High School.
The AOB Brahman Influence show awards were sponsored by Tim and Gwen Broussard. The Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred AOB Brahman Influence Bull were shown by Gage Broussard of Mt. Carmel Elementary. The Reserve Champion AOB Brahman Influence bull was shown by Tayler Guidry, At-Large member. The Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred AOB Brahman Influence bull was shown by Ethan Zaunbrecher of Vermilion Catholic High School
The Champion AOB Brahman Influence Heifer was shown by Nicholas Choate of Vermilion Catholic High School. The Reserve Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred AOB Brahman Influence Heifer was shown by Ethan Zaunbrecher of Vermilion Catholic High School. The Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred AOB Brahman Influence Heifer was shown by Lindsey Detraz of Kaplan High School.
Awards for the Grey Brahman breed were sponsored in memory of Bryan Veazey by the Bryan Veazey Family. The Grand Champion and Grand Champion Vermilion Bred Grey Brahman Bull were shown by Brennan Felix of Erath High School. The Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Grey Brahman Bull were shown by Sydney Luquette of Erath High School.
The Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Grey Brahman Heifer were shown by Henry Duplantis, At-Large 4-H member. Reiss Olsberg of Erath High School exhibited the Reserve Champion Grey Brahman Heifer. The Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Grey Brahman Heifer was shown by Sara Felix of Erath High School,
The Champion and Reserve Champion Red Brahman Bull awards were sponsored by Craig and Carleen Frederick. Tori Doucet of Kaplan School showed the Grand Champion and Grand Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brahman Bull. The Reserve Champion was shown by Sarah Felix of Erath High. The Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brahman Bull was shown by Collin Hebert of Kaplan High.
Calvin and Lorraine LeBouef sponsored the Red Brahman Heifer awards. Reilly Boling of Erath High School exhibited the Grand Champion Red Brahman Heifer. The Reserve Champion and Grand Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brahman Heifer was shown by Victoria Roussel of Kaplan High School. Lane Frederick of J. H. Williams Middle School showed the Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Red Brahman Heifer.
The Santa Gertrudis show awards were sponsored by Troy and Monique Luquette. The Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Santa Gertrudis Bull was shown by Collin Hebert of Vermilion Catholic High School. The Reserve Champion Santa Gertrudis Bull was shown by Maggie Mouton of Abbeville High School.
The Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Santa Gertrudis Heifer were shown by Logan Hebert of Rene Rost Middle School. Tayler Guidry, At-Large 4-H member, exhibited the Reserve Champion Santa Gertrudis Heifer. The Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Santa Gertrudis Heifer was shown by Gracie Richard of F.I.-E.B. Elementary.
Chris and Andi Herpin sponsored the Braford awards at the 2017 Vermilion Parish Livestock Show. Reagan Istre showed the Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Braford Bull. Alexandra Herpin of Kaplan High School exhibited the Reserve Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Braford Bull. The Reserve Champion Braford Bull was shown by Blaire Broussard of Gueydan High School.
The Grand Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Braford Heifer was shown by Ridge Herpin of Kaplan High School. The Reserve Grand Champion Braford Heifer were shown by Hagun Hebert of Kaplan High School. Reina Petry, At-Large member, showed the Reserve Champion Vermilion Bred Braford Heifer.
Beefmaster Show awards were sponsored by Double U Farms, Danny Uriegas. The Champion Beefmaster Bull was shown by Tayler Guidry, At-large member. The Reserve Champion Beefmaster Bull was shown by Caleb Arnould of North Vermilion Middle School.
The Champion Beefmaster Heifer was shown by Tayler Guidry, At-Large member. The Reserve Champion Beefmaster Heifer was shown by Collin Arnould of North Vermilion Middle School.
The AOB Non-Brahman Influence show awards were sponsored by Foster Lanie. The Grand Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred AOB Non-Brahman Influence Heifer was shown by Jake Lege of F.I.-E.B. Elementary
DAIRY SHOWMANSHIP:
The 1st and Overall Champion Dairy Showman was Clay Choate of Abbeville School and 2nd place was Adrian Carlin of F.I.-E. B. Elementary.
The buckle for Dairy Showman was sponsored by Planters Rice Mill.
The Dairy Show awards were sponsored by Ed and Susan Wilhelm of Wilhelm Farms.
The Commercial Dairy Heifer Division winner was shown by Clay Choate, at-large member.
The Champion Breeding Dairy, Overall Champion and Champion Vermilion Bred Dairy Cow was shown by Adrian Carlin of F.I.-E.B. Elementary The Overall Reserve Champion and Overall Champion Vermilion Bred Dairy Cow was shown by Adrian Carlin of F.I-E.B. Elementary.
Awards for the 14 and Over Poultry showmanship were donated by Lloyd and Peggy Suire. Results were: 1st, Cole Lange, Erath High School; 2nd, Daniel Lange, Erath High School; and 3rd, Courtland Rodrigue, North Vermilion High School.
Awards for the 13 and Under Poultry showmanship were donated by Al and Leisa Lee. Results were: 1st, Katherine Matte, Gueydan High School; 2nd, Hannah Scroggins, North Vermilion Middle School; 3rd, Kinsey Waits, Meaux Elementary; 4th, Adrian Carlin, F.I.-E.B. Elementary, and 5th, Drake Carlin, F.I.-E.B. Elementary.
The Vermilion 4-H livestock exhibitors would also like to thank the following show sponsors: Vermilion Parish Police Jury; Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau; Vermilion Parish School Board, Vermilion Rice Growers Association; Vermilion Parish Cattlemen’s Association; Vermilion Parish Cattlewomen’s Association, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age or disability. If you would like more information on the 4-H Livestock program, contact Hilton Waits at hwaits@agcenter.lsu.edu or Melissa Lacour at mlacour@agcenter.lsu.edu or call the office at 337-898-4335.
Stephen Waguespack
Charles M. Schulz, the creator and lead illustrator for the Peanuts cartoon for fifty years, passed away in 2000 at the age of 77. He was an American icon in his industry, serving as a respected mentor and inspiration for countless cartoonists and illustrators to follow. His wholesome and charming Peanuts stories were quite popular and retained a large audience, with Peanuts at one point running in over 2,600 papers and 21 languages across the world.
Just before his death seventeen years ago, he gave an interview about his life and career. In this televised conversation, the impressiveness of his talents and the quality of his character and moral fabric showed clearly through. He was a kind man who experienced great success and took his role in entertaining and guiding the youth of America very seriously for several decades.
In this last interview, he was asked if he regretted not allowing Charlie Brown to finally kick that football being held by Lucy in the final Peanuts comic strip. Choking back tears, he emphatically stated that he did regret it, saying, “You know, that poor, poor kid, he never even got to kick the football. What a dirty trick — he never had a chance to kick the football.”
While this game between Lucy and Charlie Brown has been going on for decades, the symbolism remains the same. Charlie Brown is looking for his chance to play and a chance to find pride in his hard work. Pulling the football away wasn’t fair for Charlie Brown in that comic strip and it’s likewise not fair to take opportunities away from other children in the real world.
The Louisiana real world version of this scenario is playing out in the court system as we speak. A group of adults are desperately trying to use the legal process to rip away a great opportunity from a large number of Louisiana children.
Roughly 78,000 children are enrolled as students in Louisiana’s 145 charter schools. Louisiana’s largest teacher union is currently in court trying to convince a judge to cut off funding for 16,000 of these children enrolled in 32 of those charter schools around the state. The basis for this suit has nothing to do with what is best for charter school students, their teachers and their parents – it is simply about union leader efforts to get access to more public dollars and lessen parental control of a child’s education.
These union leaders want education dollars to belong to certain buildings and the bureaucracy that has controlled them for years. Charter school teachers and advocates want the parents of all children to have the opportunity to decide the best educational option for their child. As more and more low-income parents choose charter education in this state, the union leaders are now trying to use the court system to cut off funding to these schools instead of rising to the challenge of this new competition and focusing on improving their services.
Each year the state spends billions of dollars in taxpayer money to help educate children. Last year the state’s k-12 education funding formula, known as the MFP, totaled over $3.6 billion. While the amount of funds spent each year in Louisiana is comparable to other southern states, the academic results for our children have been sub-par for decades. Additionally, the ability of these dollars to flow directly to classroom instruction has been diluted over the years due to increasing guaranteed pension cost obligations. It is those increasing pension costs that are eating up local school budgets and which likely serve as the largest motivation for the union lawsuits to cut off charter funding.
Louisiana should follow the lead of other states who have made moves toward reforming these outdated pension systems, in order to make them more affordable and sustainable for families. Instead of this logical approach, we find that union leaders have chosen to go after the dollars being used by many low-income parents and students trying to pursue a better education. Once union leaders accomplish this task, they will most certainly advocate that these dollars be used to subsidize these outdated programs, leaving children in the lurch.
Late last week, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals thankfully issued a stay in this case – preventing the parents who have chosen one of these 32 charter schools for their children from having the football immediately ripped from their grasp. The Louisiana Supreme Court will be asked to make the final determination and that ruling will have enormous ramifications on the choice-driven educational system in Louisiana that is beginning to benefit countless families across this great state.
The questions are clear: Who will control the football? Will it be the parents who want and deserve the ability to choose the best public educational option for their child? Will it be the union leaders who need control of public education dollars to backfill their unreformed programs and chase away charter options in this state?
Unfortunately, instead of a collaborative process between all stakeholders to decide this policy, the union leaders have decided to go to court.
Thus, the football is now in the hands of the judicial system. 16,000 kids are running full steam towards it, ready to kick off another year of public education in a school of their choosing. Once the final gavel comes down, will the ball still be there for these kids or will they all run towards the goal excitedly only to slip and end up flat on their backs?
Hopefully, the union leaders will see the error of their ways and remove this harmful lawsuit before it is too late. If that doesn’t happen, the job will fall to the judicial system to help Louisiana avoid the same feeling of regret, which so visibly distressed Mr. Schulz.
On behalf of the parents trying to give their kids the best education possible, I submit a respectful plea to these union leaders and the court system to avoid playing the role of Lucy. Give those kids a chance. Let them kick the football of their choosing.
Stephen Waguespack is the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the largest and most effective advocacy organization in the state.
William Murchison
Like him or not -- and I can argue it both ways -- established constitutional processes have hoisted Donald J. Trump atop the presidential plinth, where he stands now, getting ready to run things, insofar as anybody runs anything anymore.
The latter point -- the semi-chaotic nature of 21st century social and political life -- is one we might fix on as we figure out what we're in for these next four years.
Here is my guess: We are "in for" market-driven reforms led by an entrepreneur who will show us, as all entrepreneurs must in due course, whether he's as good at execution as he is at salesmanship. Donald Trump, businessman, is the figure to keep your eye on: not Donald Trump, master manipulator; or Donald Trump, political visionary; or Donald Trump, true and faithful patriot. We have chosen for president a man of the marketplace, with a highly tuned sense of what works and what doesn't.
This moment has been coming to us for a while. Ross Perot was its herald. He intended, if you recall, to "get under the hood" and tune up the national engine. That was a quarter of a century ago. Times aren't as good now as they were then. Trump's objectives, like America's local and international enmeshments, are larger: vanishing industrial jobs, terrorism, energy, urban decline, immigration, police relations, health care, retirement policy and so on. He wants, in his brash, ultra-capitalistic way, to smash some old stuff by way of making new stuff -- stuff that works. It's what capitalists do.
So what's the matter around here? The inaugural address reference to national "carnage" and the repeated pledges to "make America great again," less as a Reagan-esque "city on the hill" than simply as a thriving, well-functioning and, most of all, free community: What's that all about?
It's the way in which numerous Americans see their country and the challenges, as well as opportunities, now facing it. That is why so many Americans went to the polls last year and purchased, in essence, stock in a Trump comeback plan, its details sketchy, its vision encouraging or uplifting, depending on taste.
Donald Trump sees himself as a national turnaround artist. Could that be plainer?
But as I asked a moment ago, what's the matter? Why the need for a turnaround -- a need sensed by (I make bold to guess) all who voted for Trump?
The matter is the failure of Western liberalism. Liberalism has the vitality, coupled with the dimensions and avoirdupois, of a beached whale. It doesn't work. It lies there and flops about a little.
Liberalism (renamed "progressivism" after it ceased to connote freedom) posits government -- specifically, federal government -- activity as the key to prosperity and happiness. If public schools no longer produce a "winning" (as Trump might say) product, throw more taxpayer money at them, and then some. Let Washington, D.C., and the teachers unions prescribe the standards. If tax policy discourages investment and leads to capital flight, let's denounce tax cuts for "the wealthiest 1 percent" to keep from cutting the taxes paid by everyone else.
Let's tell consumers what kind of energy to use -- and business what kind (SET ITAL) not (END ITAL) to develop and produce. Let's turn health care into a transaction between government and provider, with the patient mostly a bystander. Why worry about the assimilation -- linguistic, occupational or cultural -- of newcomers to America inasmuch as concern with assimilation probably reflects prejudice and nativism?
The modern liberal/progressive project thrives on top-down control as opposed to the creative flexibility traditionally enjoyed by people at grass-roots level -- to plan, to cooperate, to respond to real, as opposed to dreamed-up, needs.
The liberal/progressive project stems, it is fair to say, in part from well-motivated concerns about genuine problems. Care for those in need is unmistakably a social duty. Care that, on the other hand, compromises freedom and mortgages the prospects of unborn generations is an outrage.
No one would argue -- well, except maybe Donald Trump -- that Donald Trump has published with shining clarity his turnaround prospectus. But that, I think we should own, is what he's up to -- looking under the hood and throwing defective parts all over the landscape. I might not call it fun to watch. But fascinating? We may never again see the like.
William Murchison's latest book is "The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson." To find out more about William Murchison, and to see features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
There were more than 500 runners competing on Sunday.
The Beignet Boogie 5-K-Mile Run has become the biggest running event in Vermilion Parish and it continues to grow each year.
On Sunday, before the race, there were 466 runners/walkers who signed up to compete in the 5-K/ one mile run at Mt. Carmel Elementary and Vermilion Catholic High School.
The money raised from the race is a fund raiser for the schools.
When the race was over, the runners/walkers were treated to beignets. Just under 2,000 beignets were cooked Sunday morning for the participants.
The top three overall winners were between the age of 16 and 18 year old.
Colt Hardee, an 18-year-old senior at Kaplan High School, won the event with a time of 18:43.2. He edged a familiar face, Ethan Suire, a junior cross country runner from Erath High School. Suire finished one second behind Hardee (18:44.6). Twelve seconds behind Suire in third place was 16-year-old Cameron Carpenter (18:58.6) of Erath High.
The overall female finisher was Elise Faulk of Kaplan (22.49.0). Finishing second was Marilyn Rumbaugh (22.53) of Sunset and Mackenzi Olinger (24.38) of Rayne was third.
Here are the top three finishers in each age group:
Female
Ages 1-10
1. Taegyn Simon (29.18.17)
2. Julia West (36.02)
3. Sydney Campbell (39:38.2)
Ages 11-14
1. Esther Stein (25.03.02).
2. Emma Petry (25.04.2)
3. Ava Hebert (27.18.5)
Ages 15-19
1. Kylie White, (26:41.6)
2. Lexi Richard, (27.42.0)
3. Addisyn Dartez (28:55.2)
Ages 20-29
1. Hollie Nelms (24.59.7)
2. Katie Meaux (25.09.6)
3. Katie Frith (26.54.1)
Ages 30-39
1. Holly Hagle (25.16.9)
2. Hailey Moon (25.37.1)
3. Victoria Richard (26.04.6)
Ages 40-49
1. Mandy Leblanc (26:19.6)
2. Andrea Noegel (26:21.7)
3. Wendy Broussard (27:49.3)
Ages 50-59
1. Monique Nelms (26:59.3)
2. Johnette Privette (30:46.6)
3. Laurie Laporte (31:35.4)
Ages 60-69
1. Janice Hebert (30:42.6)
2. Susan Stelly (34:12.0)
3. Mary Martin (39:26.9)
Male
Ages 1-10
1. Aidan Romero (21:56.1)
2. Kaser Guidroz (24:15.6)
3. Allen McLain III (26:16.2)
Ages 11-14
1. Joe Allen (19:26.8)
2. Sual Dartez (22:13.4)
3. Joshua Sagrera (22:29.4)
Ages 15-19
1. Colt Dooley (20:25.9)
2. Zachary Thibodeaux (22:07.9)
3. Abram Stein (22:52.6)
Ages 20-29
1. Eric Landry (20:40.2)
2. Kyle Holsted (22:00.6)
3. Cole Pattison (24:13.6)
Ages 30-39
1. Brandon Bahlawan (19::31.7)
2. Brian Verret (20:05.0)
3. Justin Galuszka (22:51.5)
Ages 40-49
1. Juan Romero, (21:53.5)
2. Chad Stein (23:56.9)
3. Chad Daigle (24:15.3)
Ages 50-59
1. Javier Escalante (23:26.5)
2. Willard Bufford Jr. (24:30.4)
3. Kendall Alenn (25:16.7)
Ages 60-69
1. Mike Duhon (24:52.2)
2. Scott Snyder (34:38.3)
3. Edward Mulderick (44:58.4)
Replacing the plywood on the floor were John Listi (left), and Rotarians Chris Duhon, Jules Hebert, Mark Shirley and Jerome Puyau.
Building a room were Rotarians Rob Roy, Jerome Puyau and Jean Broussard (middle).
On Saturday, a group of Abbeville Rotarians spent most of the day repairing and updating the inside of the Soup Kitchen at the Christian Service Center. The Rotarians had to change out the floors and the walls in the kitchen. The money and material used in the repair was provided by the Abbeville Rotary Club.
Baylon Taylor
A second man accused of killing a Vermilion Parish deputy sheriff has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
According to KATC-TV, Baylon Taylor, 21, will serve a sentence of life in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of simple burglary, armed robbery and obstruction of justice.
Taylor's co-defendant, Quintylan Richard, 23, pleaded to the same charge last summer. He is serving that life sentence now.
The two men had faced the death penalty for killing Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Allen Bares Jr.
Bares was off duty and mowing grass in June 2014 when he confronted Richard and Taylor about a house burglary they had just committed.
June 29, 1941 ~ January 25, 2017
Abbeville— A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 30, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Brenda Marshall Guidry Place, 75 years, who died Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at Abbeville General Hospital.
She is survived by her son, Todd Thomas and his wife Dodie of Abbeville; step-son, Keith Thomas of Lafayette; daughter, Annette Lopez and her husband Joseph of Abbeville; step-daughters, Paulette Thomas and Donna Rogers both of Lafayette; sister, Laura Breaux of Abbeville; two grandchildren, Sgt. Ryan J. Thomas (Marine) and his wife Christin of Indiana and Spc. Jacob M. Thomas (Army) of Fort Rucker, Alabama; and one great grandchild, Landen Thomas and one on the way; niece, Tawnya Breaux; nephew, Ed Stanley and his wife Melissa; great nieces, Kaylyn Stanley and Rebecca Stanley; and great nephew, Brian Wardell.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dallas Thomas and Garland Place; parents, James Guidry and the former Eunice Trahan; brothers, Roland Guidry, Tadpole Guidry and Huey Guidry; and sisters, Romona Stanley and Sylvia Guidry.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Monday, January 30, 2017, from 10:00 AM until time of service.
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.
318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548