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Francis J. Plaisance announces his candidacy for re-election to the District B seat on the Abbeville City Council. He is the current incumbent. The election is set for May 16, with early voting May 2-9. The public is encouraged to vote.
“I will continue to represent my constituents as a voice of integrity and experience while working with the Mayor and City Council to move Abbeville forward,” Plaisance said. “I have proven my ability to lead, compromise, and work as a team member, while helping our citizens.”
During his seventeen years in office, Plaisance was Councilman at Large for sixteen years, serving as Mayor Pro-Tem for twelve years. He is an asset to the City.
Plaisance spear-headed two necessary salary increases for the Police Department, Fire Department, and City employees.
“Our police, fire, and municipal employees must be protected to ensure the safety of our community,” Plaisance said. “Abbeville faces a high crime rate. We must strive to provide a safer environment.”
Plaisance is also concerned with improving the City’s infrastructure.
“Our aging community needs critical infrastructure improvements,” he said. “We must upgrade our essential services while keeping the City’s finances in order. Many streets need repairs. We must work with Police Jurors to allocate resources.”
Plaisance is founder of Lafitte Drive-In Park, 105 S. John Hardy Drive, where citizens enjoy fishing, picnicking, jogging, flying kites, and walking dogs.
“I will continue to accept the challenges of this City Council seat with enthusiasm, and a vision for the future,” Plaisance said. “I respect all citizens and their concerns.”
Plaisance was a Louisiana Cattle Festival leader, serving as Grand Parade Chairman for twenty-five years, President for twenty years, and Vice President for two years.
Plaisance worked for twenty-five years as a State of Louisiana employee, mainly in the Department of Social Services, as a Child Protection Investigator.
In addition, Plaisance was a Board Member of Abbeville Military Museum; past Vice President and Board Member of Vermilion Domestic Abuse Intervention Program; and past Board Member of Riceland Little League. He is a former member of Abbeville Lions Club, Abbeville Recreation Board, and Horseman Association of Southwest Louisiana Board of Trustees.
Plaisance was co-founder of Abbeville Film and Visitors Commission, and founder of the Cake and Ice-Cream Festival.
Plaisance earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and an Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Christian College in Kentucky, where he was ordained as a minister.
He served as pastor of Abbeville Church of Christ for thirteen years and currently serves as a Board Member. He teaches Sunday School and preaches part-time.
Plaisance has received multiple civic awards: “What I Want to Be and Why” Rotary Club essay winner; Outstanding Employee Award, Louisiana Council on Child Abuse, 1992; Louisiana Cattle Festival President’s Award, 1997 and 2001; Volunteer of the Year Award, Louisiana Fair and Festivals, Division II, 2002.
Plaisance was the 2005 Krewe of Vermilion Parade Grand Marshall, the 2005 Outstanding Citizen Award winner from Woodman of the World, and American Legion Post 29 Citizen of the Year, 2013.
Francis Plaisance and his wife, the former Vana Johnson, are parents of Ladessa LeBlanc (Corey) and the late Francis “Fran” Plaisance, Jr. They are grandparents of Kallen LeBlanc, a ULL nursing student, and Caden LeBlanc, a student athlete at Vermilion Catholic. Plaisance is the son of the late Galton and Lois Plaisance.
“I will continue to dedicate my life to this City and its people,” Plaisance said. “I will serve with honesty and integrity.”
Contact Francis Plaisance at (337) 652-0646 or ragin70510@yahoo.com.

Paid for by
Francis Plaisance

July 16, 1945 – March 22, 2026

GONZALES, La. — Funeral Services will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church –15208 LA 73, Prairieville honoring the life of Rose Spera Smith, 80 who passed away on Sunday March 22, 2026, at The Carpenter House in Baton Rouge, LA. Officiating the Service will be Fr. Pravin Jadhav. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Vance Broussard, Kyle Broussard, Craig Broussard, Harrison Smith, Ellie Smith and Robby Smith.
Rosie was born in New Orleans, LA and grew up in Arabie, LA in a proud Italian household. Rosie was a trained secretary in New Orleans where she met her husband Bob as he was training to be a machinist. Rosie loved her family above all and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. All her grandchildren and great grandchildren adored Rosie, but they know her as their Nonnie. She was a great cook and loved to cook Italian, Creole and Cajun food. She also loved to travel with friends and family around the world, but her favorite place was the camp in Grand Isle and especially gathering with her family on the 4th of July. Rosie was a dedicated wife of 59 years and was admired for her devoted care of Bob in his final years with Alzheimer’s.
She is survived by, her dedicated son, Robby Smith and his wife Wendy; her son-in-law Eric Broussard; and her brother-in-law Mike Smith and his wife Dee. Rosie is also survived by her grandchildren Vance Broussard, Kyle Broussard, Craig Broussard, Harrison Smith and Ellie Smith, and her great grandchildren Audrey, Brooks, Max, Lily, Nora and Eli Broussard.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents Agatha Licciardi Spera and Sam Spera, her daughter Karen Broussard and her sister Linda Spera Janusa.
Friends and Relatives are invited to a visitation on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Ourso Funeral Home 13533 Airline Highway, Gonzales, La. Visitation will resume at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 15208 LA 73, Prairieville, LA. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12 p.m. Burial will take place at Serenity Oaks Memorial Cemetery 15304 LA 73 in Prairieville LA. Arrangements by Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales, La.

For an eighth-grader sitting at their desk, the future can seem uncertain when it comes to a career path.
On Wednesday, 201 eighth-graders at North Vermilion Middle School found no better time than the present to develop a clearer idea of what they may want to do when they grow up.
The school held its second Career Day. More than 20 local businesses, along with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Maurice Volunteer Fire Department, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and branches of the U.S. Military, gathered to provide students with some insight into what they can offer.
“This is planting a seed,” NV Middle Principal Kandice Broussard said. “To me, it’s part of our responsibility as middle school administrators and teachers to get them ready for the future in school. We get them ready to take on their responsibilities on campus and also to enter those career paths. Will that lead them to a university or another career path?
“We have so many companies out here that encompass so many things that can give them an idea.”
Averie Monte, one of those students, said she enjoyed the event.
“I’m glad that our school can put on something like this for our students to see what we want to do,” Monte said. “We can see what we may want to study in college. It definitely gives you a different perspective.”
Did anything in particular strike Monte on Wednesday?
“I’m not 100% sure what I want to do yet or what I’m passionate about,” Monte said. “I’ve looked at nursing, with Ochsner {Health} being here. The fire department was interesting. This day just gave us an opportunity to connect and communicate with adults and get ideas of what you’re interested in doing when you grow up.”
In April, the NV students will have a chance to get a closer look at their various interests. The students will select from job shadowing opportunities with companies at the career day. Emily Miller, an 8th-grade social studies teacher involved in the career day, said job-shadowing is another layer.
“They’re going to go out in the community and go to work for a day,” Miller said. “They can see what it’s like being on the job. Talking about a job and doing a job are two totally different things. They get to see the real world.”
Miller said she is excited for the students.
“It makes my heart so happy knowing that the students wanted to be here,” Miller said. “You see the spark in them.”

September 15, 1943 — March 18, 2026

A Mass of Christian Burial officiated by Reverend Mikel Polson will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Adam Charles LaViolette, 82, who passed away on March 18, 2026, at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Jake McLeod, Kelsi Duhon, Vincent LaViolette, Jason McLeod, Seth LaViolette, Jacques LaViolette, and Jace LaViolette.
A visitation will take place at Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a rosary being prayed at 6 p.m. The visitation will continue Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 8 a.m. until the procession departs for the church at 10:45 a.m.
Adam Charles LaViolette was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and son whose life was rooted in family and hard work. He attended trade school, earning a degree as a farm mechanic, a skillset that reflected his lifelong connection to the land and machinery that kept it running.
A proud veteran of the United States Army, he served a tour in Vietnam as a demolition specialist with the Engineers. His service to his country was a source of pride and a defining chapter in his life.
Farming was always in his blood. He began at just 18 years old with a rice crop and later expanded into soybeans and crawfish. Throughout his life, he also raised cattle, a constant passion that stayed with him through the years.
He made his home in Patterson for 37 years, where he built a life centered on family, work and community. Over the course of his career, he worked for 26 years for Cameron Iron Works, followed by 5 years with Newpark Environmental, where he learned to operate a friction crane. He later dedicated his time to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, where he worked until his retirement.
He was also known for his talents in the kitchen, especially for making what many considered the best turtle sauce piquant and gumbo. His cooking brought people together and created lasting memories for family and friends.
A lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion, he remained committed to supporting fellow veterans. He also gave back to his community as an assistant Boy Scout leader, always willing to lend a hand and share his love of the outdoors, especially through camping.
He will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his strong work ethic, his service to his country, and the many lives he touched along the way.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, JoAnn Vincent LaViolette of Kaplan; his children, Tanya Lynn LaViolette McLeod (Jason) of Kaplan, Christopher Charles LaViolette of Kaplan, Seth Vincent LaViolette (Amanda) of Oberlin, and Jacques Adam LaViolette (Taylor) of Kaplan; his grandchildren, Amanda Duhon (Kelsi), Jacqueline McLeod, Mackenzie McLeod, Jake McLeod, Jace LaViolette, Jeffery LaViolette, Vincent LaViolette, David LaViolette, Oliver LaViolette, Parker LaViolette, and Ella Rose LaViolette; his great grandchildren, Wyatt James Duhon, Walker John Duhon, and Wylie Adonis Duhon; and one sister, Deanna LaViolette Manceaux.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sevea Laviolette and the former Aline LeMaire; his granddaughter, Celeste LaViolette; his sister, Iris Broussard Lege (Saul); his brother-in-law, Roland Manceaux; and his in-laws, Eldridge and Dorothy Mire Vincent.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Hope Hospice Nurse, Melanie and the caregivers who became family; Kizzy Syon, Rebecca George, Melinda Landry, and Mary Gage.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan (337) 643-7276.