Abbeville Meridional www.vermiliontoday.com Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Voice of Vermilion Parish - “The Most Cajun Place on Earth” - since 1856 • Vol. 165, No. 57, .75 cents , 1 section, • 12 pages Fusilier wins spot on Erath Council Defeats former council member Chris Hebert by 11 votes on Saturday; he had seven-vote edge during early voting ERATH — It may cial election for a seat Fusilier also won Erath held the spe- interim basis until ear- have been by less than on the Erath town the early voting period, cial election to fill the lier this month. a dozen votes, but it council. Fusilier re- picking up 38 votes remainder of the late Erath will hold was enough to push ceived 52% (123 votes) against 31 for Hebert. Robert Vincent’s un- elections again in late Clarence Fusilier to of the votes. Hebert, With 235 voters, it expired term. Vincent 2022. victory on Saturday. who had a previous represented a 16.6% passed away last Octo- This was the only Fusilier defeated stint on the council, re- voter turn out for this ber. His mother, Jackie election in Vermilion Chris Hebert in a spe- ceived 48% (112 votes). election. Vincent, served on an Parish on Saturday. Clarence Fusilier

Abbeville High brings home four individual powerlifting state titles Search has not yet begun for new Kaplan football coach Position will open up in early April

By Chris Rosa Managing Editor

KAPLAN - The search has yet to begin for the new Kaplan High football coach. Two weeks ago, Ka- plan Principal Patricia Thibodeaux announced that the Kaplan High foot- ball program was going in a “new direction” with out head football coach Ste- phen “Tank” Lotief leading STATE POWERLIFT CHAMPIONS - These three the football program and ladies won individual power lifting state titles for wrestling program. the Lady Wildcats of Abbeville. Hannah Barnette According to Paul He- won state in the 198 pound weight class, while bert, the assistant super- Shaye Robertson (sitting) won state in the 105 STATE POWERLIFT CHAMPION - Abbeville High’s intendent in charge of per- pound weight class and Jayla Reaux in the 220 Tyrese Landry holds up his state title trophy that he sonnel, Kaplan’s teaching/ pound weight class. Jayla set a new composite won this weekend in the LHSAA Power lifting champi- coaching position has not bench press record of 300 pounds. The Lady Wild- on. He was in the 220-pound weight class and was also been opened. That won’t cats finished second overall. voted the Best Heavy Lifter in the state meet. AHS boys finished third at state. happen until sometime in April. In the meantime, Lo- tief has been on sick leave Sales tax collection stays positive despite COVID-19 and he is not expected to return to Kaplan High Despite dealing with the COVID-19 they collected in January: since getting the news and for the last year, Vermilion Parish has • Erath: $22,630 (up 13 percent) is not expected to return not slowed down spending money. • Delcambre: $13,702 (up 19 percent) to Kaplan High and will The parish collected $353,195 more • Tourist Commission: $4,319 (up 99 be transferred to another in sales tax this past January than last percent) school in Vermilion Par- January. • Kaplan Hospital District: $103,772 ish. For at least the second straight (up 11 percent) After learning that he month, sales tax collection is up any- • Abbeville: Hospital District: would not be returning as where from 11 percent to as high as 23 $254,599 (up 12 percent) coach at Kaplan High, the percent in some municipalities. •School Board: $989,473 (up 11 per- long-time head coach re- In January, the Village of Maurice cent) leased a statement to Ka- had a whopping 23 percent increase in •Police Jury: $989,4777 (up 11 per- plan’s community. sales tax collection. cent) “It was a good run. I The Village collected $67,472 or about • Sheriff Office: $494,738 (up 11 per- wish the Kaplan commu- $13,000 more than last year when CO- cent) nity all of the best. They VID-19 was still overseas. The only city showing a negative in are a good, strong, and The city of Abbeville enjoyed the com- sales collection is Kaplan. Kaplan had a hard-working community munity spending money. The city col- $10,000 drop-in sales collection in Janu- that knows how to claw, lected 18 percent higher or $66,000 more ary. scratch, and fight. Thanks than last January. The city collected The city collected $45,500, which is for letting me be a part of $439,400 in sales tax in January. an 18 percent drop from a year ago. your family.” The little town of Gueydan even saw Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel said the In his 11 years at Ka- a 22 percent increase in sales tax collec- reason for the decrease is because a Ka- plan, Lotief posted a 92-42 tion. The town collected $3,000 more in plan business had been paying sales tax record. His overall coach- sales tax than a year ago for a total of since 2016 on products not sold in Ka- ing record in Vermilion $16,000. plan. The city had to reimburse the com- Here is a list of other municipalities pany for the sales tax money it collected Vermilion Parish residents still (See KAPLAN, Page 2) and government agencies and how much since 2016. spent money despite the pandemic.

Thunderstorm Hi 73 Lo 64

For Convenient Home Delivery Please Call 893-4223

Tu es d ay , M a rch 2 3, 2 02 1Page 2 Obituaries Tuesday, March 23, 2021Page

It can easily be said, at www.evangelinefu- and the former Lillian day, March 23, 2021 at nard. that Gracie loved every- neralhome.com Prosperie; and brother, Our Lady of Lourdes He was preceded in one, and everyone loved Evangeline Funeral Garnet W. Jones, Jr. Catholic Church honor- death by his wife of 68 her. She leaves a legacy Home of Delcambre is in Condolences may ing the life of Mr. Du- years, Virgie Richard; of faith, love and com- charge of arrangements. be sent to the family at rice Joseph Richard, Sr., his parents, Adam & passion that will live on www.vincentfuneral- 91, who died Sunday, Pauline Richard; his in the hearts of all who home.net. March 21, 2021 at Rose- siblings, Alton Richard, knew and loved her. All arrangements wood Assisted Living Minos Richard, Wilmer Those left to cher- are being conducted by in Lafayette. Interment Richard, Joseph Rich- ish her memory are her Vincent Funeral Home will follow at Our Lady ard, Ulyess Richard; sisters and brothers, of Abbeville, (337) 893- and Eunice Richard. Audrey Mae Melancon, 4661. of Lourdes Mausoleum. Clara Dupre (Johnny), Visitation will be at Serving as pallbear- Raywood Bourque and David Funeral Home ers will be Tony Rich- Dale Bourque (Kaye); of Erath on Tuesday, ard, Jr., Tracy Men- and a host of nieces and March 23, 2021 from ard, Garret Thomas, nephews who loved her 8:30AM until the time Michael Richard, Jake dearly. of the services with a Lopez, and Alec Brous- Along with her par- recitation of the rosary sard, Gracie Jean ents, she was preceded at 11:00AM. The family would like Bourque in death by brothers, Durice, affectionate- to thank all his sitters Gracie Jean Clifford Bourque and ly known as “Pop”, will especially Donna Tra- Bourque, a Loyce Bourque; devoted and her be fondly remember by han, Danette Delahous- and faithful servant of niece, Deborah Dupre Gene Francis his family as a loving saye, Ninette Charles, God and beloved sister LeBlanc. Jones husband, father, grand- Ruth Desormeaux, Jen- and Aunt, passed away A Mass of Christian father and great-grand- nifer Richard, Dianne peacefully at 9:00 am Burial celebrating Gra- February 3, 1941 father. He enjoyed Harrington and Kim- Friday March 19 at her cie’s life will be held ~ March 18, 2021 spending time with his berly Harrington and at 1:00 pm Tuesday, residence, surrounded family and playing with also all his caregivers March 23 at Our Lady A private memorial by her loving family. his grandchildren and at Rosewood Assisted of the Lake Catholic will be held at a later She was 86. greatgrandchildren. In Living, especially Ruby Gracie was born Church, with Fr. Buddydate honoring the life Breaux as celebrant.of Gene Francis Jones, his younger years, he Martin, Sandra Melan- March 24, 1934 in loved to dance and play con and Pearline Hickle Youngsville to the late Following the Mass, she 80, who died Thursday, will be laid to rest in the March 18, 2021 at. Och- cards. He served with for their loving and com- Sidney Bourque and honor and valor in the passionate care. the late Nedia Hebert church cemetery. sner Lafayette General A gathering of family Medical Center. Korean Conflict war in You may sign the Bourque and was one the U.S. Army. Durice guest register book and of seven children born and friends will be held Gene was loved and was a two-time recipi- express condolences on- to that union. She on Monday from 10:00 will be greatly missed by was raised in a Cajun am until 9:00 pm, with his family and friends. ent of the Purple Heart line at www.davidfuner- French family steeped the St. Anne’s Altar So- He was an avid fisher- for wounds he suffered alhome.org in a proud heritage and ciety leading the reci- man who loved the out- in combat. “In order to help upbringing. tation of the Rosary at doors. He also enjoyed He is survived by his keep the community Throughout her 6:00 pm. Visiting hours gardening and his pets. children, Joey Richard; safe we will honor the years, she has always will resume on Tues- He is survived by his Tony Richard and his July 13, 2020 Louisiana lived a stress free life day from 8:00 am until wife, Ingrid M. Jones; wife, Christine; Michael Mandates. All families 12:30 pm. son, Glen Jones; daugh- filled with faith,- fam Richard and his wife and their guests are Those honored to ily and love. She began ter, Linia Jones Babin; Terrell; Tina Lopez and required to wear a face serve as pallbearers are son-in-law, Lance every day in prayer and her husband, Brady; covering while at the fu- Lenny Delcambre, Ter- Babin; three - grandchil spent the rest of her day Dewey Richard and his neral home. Thank you immersed in the love of ry LeBlanc, Clay LeB- dren, Logan - Babin, Da lanc, William Dupre, kota Babin and Grant partner, Johnny Lewis for your understand- her siblings and nieces and Kateri Broussard ing during this unprec- and nephews. Some of Jr., Michael Dupre and Babin; brother, Peyton Allen Bourque. Jones; and sisters-in- Durice Joseph and her husband, Shan- edented time.” her favorite pastimes non; sixteen grandchil- David Funeral Home was taking care of her Family and friends law, Faye Jones and Richard, Sr. are encouraged to share Margie Jones. dren; thirty-six great of Erath at 209 E. Put- fish, listening to French grandchildren; one nam St. (337) 937-0405 music, and praying dai- their memories and He was preceded in ERATH – A Mass of great-great grandchild; will be handling the ar- ly for her family and all condolences by visiting death by his parents, Christian Burial will be and his sister, Rita Me- rangements. who were sick. Gracie’s memorial page Garnet Winfield Jonesheld at 2:00PM on Tues-

Gov. Edwards announced as Kaplan Chairman From Page 1 of Outer Continental Parish is 141-77. Before Kaplan, he Shelf Governors coached at North Coalition Vermilion High. His 141 overall Washington, D.C. wins may make – The Outer Conti- him the win- nental Shelf (OCS) ningest football Governors Coalition coach in Vermilion today announced Parish. Louisiana Governor He has had John Bel Edwards success coaching has been selected against teams in as its chairman and Vermilion Parish Mississippi Governor while at Kaplan. Tate Reeves has been chosen as the Coali- His overall record tion’s vice chairman. was 33-4 against Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette parish teams. Fellow Coalition gov- UL Lafayette’s new recording arts concentration is designed for students pursuing a bach- ernors elected Ed- elor’s degree in music who want to work in audio production careers. Courses for the new Against Abbev- wards and Reeves concentration will begin this fall. ille High, Lotief as their new leader- was 11-0. Against ship during the OCS Erath, he was 10- Governors Coalition UL Lafayette launches new recording 1. Playing VC, Lo- Annual Meeting to tief’ was 4-1. serve two-year terms While at Ka- for the group. plan, Lotief was Edwards will re- arts concentration for music majors place Alabama Gov- 8-2 against North ernor Kay Ivey, out- LAFAYETTE — The love music don’t want to design and computer- emergence of affordable Vermilion. going chair of the University of Louisiana play an instrument, but based music. sound technology and group and Reeves at Lafayette is tailoring they do want to help cre- Learning their way equipment. will replace Alaska an existing degree pro- ate it, whether that’s in around School of Music Trekking to Los An- RICHARD A. Governor Mike Dun- gram for students who the control room of a re- and Performing Arts geles, New Orleans, BROUSSARD leavy as vice chair. want music careers – cording studio, making studios set up for re- Austin or Nashville – The Coalition, formed just not on a stage or in computer-based music, cording, post-produc- Insurance Agency in 2011, is a biparti- the business side of the running concerts or any tion, electronic music (See MAJORS, Page 3) san effort to advance industry. number of behind-the- and mastering will also 893-5183 safe offshore energy UL Lafayette has scenes roles,” Munson be requisite. So too will development through launched a recording explained. collaborating with other responsible resource arts concentration for Music majors who music majors on proj- management, as its bachelor’s degree in pursue the recording ects being produced via part of a comprehen- music. Courses will be- arts concentration will the student-run Ragin’ 3-Day Spring Public Contractor’s Auction | March 25th-27th sive national energy gin this fall. study technical aspects Records. Auction Dates: Thursday - Saturday | March 25th, 26th & 27th | 9am D policy. The Coalition The new concentra- of studio recording and Experience gathered Preview: Wednesday | March 24th | 9-4 tion is designed to pre- live sound production. in those sort of settings has been a leader Location: 13340 Florida Blvd. Livingston, La 70754 on state and federal pare graduates for jobs They won’t, on the other is prized in Louisiana, Inquiry: Questions? Call 800-850-2252 or 225-686-2252 discussions and coor- as music producers, hand, take music les- where a diverse music dination for offshore sound engineers, mix- sons or perform in en- scene and more than Listings Details: energy issues and en- ers, editors and other sembles, requirements 400 motion pictures Day 1 | March 25th selling Tractor Trucks, Service Trucks, Pick-Ups, vironmental protec- audio production ca- of the University’s eight made over the last de- Dump Trucks, Trailers, Containers, Non-Running Vehicles, ATV’s and tion. reers. other concentrations for cade have contributed More! Consignments Accepted Monday – Friday 8am-4pm. “Governor Ed- It’s also designed to music majors. to a multibillion-dollar Day 2 | March 26th selling Cranes, Dozers, Excavators, Pipelayers, wards’ leadership in enable them to work in Instead, they’ll im- entertainment industry. Aggregate Equipment, Compaction Equipment, Attachments, 150+ Welders, Welding Supplies, Salvage Hvy Equipment, Generators, Air Louisiana has pre- virtually any medium merse themselves in Professional record- Compressors, Marine Dredge, etc… Consignments Accepted Monday pared him well to that features music, in- a curriculum stacked ing studios and film sets,– Friday 8am-4pm. assume the role of cluding recording, TV, with music production however, aren’t the only Day 3 | March 27th selling Farm Tractors, Collector Cars, Farm Chairman of the OCS film, animation andcourses. Students will places where sound pro- Implements, Autos, SUVs, ATVs, UTVs, Golf Carts, Industrial Items, Governors Coalition, video games, said Chris learn about recording duction happens, Mun- Fabrication Equipment and More!! Consignments Accepted Monday – and I look forward to Munson, an associate techniques, live event son said. Many industry Friday 8am-4pm. his accomplishments professor who will co- production, electronic professionals work from on safe offshore en- ordinate the recording music, audio engineer- studios they’ve assem- For more details visit ergy issues,” said arts concentration. ing, mixing, mastering, bled in their homes or www.hendersonauctions.com (See COALITION, Page 3) “Many students who beat-making, sound garages, thanks to the

Tuesday, March 23, 2021Abbeville Meridional Page 3 Edwards, LDH issue statements Dr. Tina Stefanski became public face of mourning more than 10,000 COVID-19 response

Louisianans lost to COVID-19 By Sandy Melancon LSN writer BATON ROUGE – On Mon- scientists and doctors have pro- only heart disease. Said another day, Louisiana officially sur- duced three highly effective and way, we've lost more residents to One of Acadiana’s most trusted voices passed 10,000 people who have safe vaccines against this illness, COVID than the population sizes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been died from COVID-19, just over a and now more than ever, we are of 85% of Louisiana's towns, cit- that of Dr. Tina Stefanski. year from when the state record- called to continue to protect each ies and villages." As the medical director of the Louisiana Of- ed its first COVID-19 death. other and to save lives through "We grieve with the many fice of Public Health for Region 4 (Acadiana), she The Louisiana Department of wearing masks, keeping distance families who have lost loved ones has spent the past year dashing from meetings Health confirmed 10,030 people and getting the vaccine when it is - and we are driven and deter- with doctors and public officials to televised news have died in its Monday COV- our turn. These vaccines are not mined to end this pandemic," she conferences to schools to public health units to ID-19 data update. Of that num- just about to getting back to a said. numerous public speaking engagements, always ber, 110 were from Vermilion more normal life and ending the "The COVID vaccines are our sharing the latest news and advice on COVID. Parish. pandemic, they’re also a critical exit ramp from this pandemic With so much “Today is a grim milestone for tool in ensuring fewer people die and I could not be more encour- contradictory in- our state as more than 10,000 from this illness.” aged by the tremendous work formation on the Louisianans have now died from "10,000 lives lost in one year. already undertaken," said Dr. virus, many peo- COVID-19, marking a year of Any loss of life is tragic, but a Joseph Kanter, State Health Of- ple were not sure sadness and loss, as so many loss this large is stunning," said ficer. "I am looking forward to whose advice they families and friends are missing Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, sec- even more Louisianans having should follow. But their loved ones. We must pray retary of the Louisiana Depart- the opportunity to get vaccinated people around here for them and their families and ment of Health. "For context, in the near future." knew and trusted do everything we can to prevent that means we have lost more In addition to the 1,055,991 Dr. Stefanski. And the spread of this terrible illness,” residents to COVID-19 than acci- people who have already taken when she spoke, Gov. John Bel Edwards said. dents, chronic lower respiratory the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisi- they tended to lis- “While the COVID-19 pandemic disease, stroke and Alzheimer's ana, hundreds of thousands of ad- ten attentively. is not over, in the midst of dark- combined which were the third, ditional Louisianans are eligible Most people ness, there is hope – more than fourth, fifth and sixth - lead to get one of the three approved in Crowley who one million people in Louisiana ing causes of death in 2017. It vaccines, including additional watched her grow have now started the vaccination would've been the second leading groups of essential workers who Dr. Tina Stefanski up simply call her process. We are blessed that our cause of death that year, behind became eligible on Monday. Tina; and all around town you could hear peo- ple saying, “Tina was on TV last night and she said.....” And their tone of voice let you know that they trusted her words and were willing to follow Louisiana health department announces her advice. Although she now resides in Lafayette, Ste- fanski is very proud of growing up and receiving this week's COVID-19 vaccine providers her education in Crowley. Inspired by Dr. Jack Frank and Dr. Tom Casanova, beloved local phy- sicians known for compassionate care of their By David Jacobs | sign language interpret- patients, she decided to become a pediatrician. The Center Square ers, law enforcement, So off she went to LSU and then LSU Medical state legislators, emer- Where to find School. (The Center Square) gency response workers, COVID-19 vaccine While working with children in community – The Louisiana De- teachers, some elections clinics during her residency, she began to real- partment of Health an- workers and anyone this week in ize the important role that public health plays in nounced Monday this who works somewhere providing critical information and services to all week’s list of providers where many people live Vermilion Parish Louisiana citizens. and community events together such as pris- So upon graduation, Stefanski began working where residents can ons. • Abbeville Community Health Center with the Office of Public Health, a state organi - make appointments to Anyone who is at (1009 Charity St, Abbeville, 893-3443) zation that typically deals with infectious dis- receive a COVID-19 least 65 years old still • Abbeville General (118 N. Hospital eases and environmental hazards such as unsafe vaccine. is eligible, as is any- drinking water. But a year ago, COVID suddenly Gov. John Bel - one Ed who is at least 16 Dr., 898-6285 became their main focus. wards expanded eligi- years old and has at • Cashway Pharmacy (2509 Charity In the beginning of the pandemic when little bility to a number of least one medical con- was known about the virus or its treatment and new job categories start- dition that makes them Street, 893-2131). there was no cure, death was the usual outcome ing this week. Newly el- more vulnerable to seri- • Gulf Regional Walk-In Clinic (121 E. of a COVID infection. So as disagreeable as they igible job categories in- ous complications from St. Victor St., Abbeville 893-0810) may have been, she says the restrictions that clude higher education, COVID-19. Qualifying were put into place were absolutely necessary to food and agriculture, health conditions in- • Maurice Community Care Clinic (207 slow transmissions, buy time for scientists and manufacturing, grocery clude asthma, cancer, Milton Rd, Maurice, 898-9449) doctors to figure out this new virus, -and ulti stores, transportation, chronic kidney or liver • Myriam D. Hutchinson, MD (2602 mately save lives. water and wastewater, disease, various heart She feels that Region 4/Acadiana handled the energy, bank tellers, conditions, high blood North Dr., Abbeville, 893-2438) new protocols of lockdowns, shutdowns, mask construction, clergy, in- pressure, obesity, Down • Southcare Medical Rural Health wearing and social distancing of the past year formation technology syndrome, being a cur- Clinic (1305 N State St, Abbeville, 422- quite well. When trying to get people to follow and communications, rent or former smoker, these new guidelines, Stefanski found that if she media, public safety, sickle cell disease, dia- 6240) explained the “why,” people were more likely to frontline government betes, cystic fibrosis and • SouthStar Urgent Care (3013 Veter- do the right thing and act for the greater good. workers, family service dementia. The full list is The most enjoyable part of Stefanski’s job is workers, veterinarians, available online. ans Memorial Blvd., Abbeville, 465-4600) being able to educate people in all walks of life waste management, se- Only the Pfizer vac- • Super 1 Pharmacy #638 (2210 Vet- on health strategies that can prolong and enrich curity and emergency cine is approved for erans Memorial Dr, Abbeville, 898-1929) their lives. preparedness. those age 16 and older. During the ongoing pandemic, the most satis- Workers in those The Moderna and John- • Thrifty Way Pharmacy (2640 N. fying part of her job has been helping set up vac- categories will be asked son & Johnson vaccines Drive, Abbeville , 893-6304) cination centers that allow people to feel safe and to present an identifi- are approved for ages 18 • Walgreens #07393 start living again. And the most difficult part of cation badge, pay stub, and up. Only one dose her job has been talking to the many people who letter from their em- of the Johnson & John- • Wal Mart Pharmacy, (3005 Charity lost family members due to COVID. ployer or other evidence son vaccine is needed. Street, Abbeville, 893-4077) Stefanski’s motto is “Treat other people as of their job category, Ed- The other two vaccines you want to be treated,” and she tries to treat wards said Thursday. require two doses to get all her patients as though they were members Previously eligible jobs the full benefit. week, not counting made available to the of her own family. She defines success as doing remain eligible, includ- Louisiana officials 14,700 doses that had general public. something that makes you happy while also ben- ing health care workers, expected to receive been reserved for nurs- efiting others. home care providers, 112,210 doses this ing homes that will be Empathetic, grateful, and practical are the three words she would use to describe herself. And if she weren’t a doctor, she would like to be economic recovery for our states Shelf (OCS) Governors Coalition a pre-K teacher. and nation, while also protecting Formed in 2011, the coali- Stefanski holds her family very close to her Coalition the environment, our nation’s tion of bipartisan coastal gover- heart. Being able to see her grandparents almost energy supply and our citizens,” nors includes Governor Kay Ivey every day is what she loved most about growing From Page 2 said incoming chair Governor (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy up in Crowley. Asked what makes her happy, Edwards. (AK), Governor Tate Reeves she said her nieces and nephews always make outgoing chair Governor Kay Edwards added, “Thank you (MS), Governor Greg Abbott (TX) her laugh. And her greatest inspiration has Ivey. “I am excited about work- to Governors Ivey and Dunleavy and Governor John Bel Edwards come from her parents who taught her that be- ing together with Governors Ed- on their successful tenures, and (LA). This coalition advocates for ing a good person has nothing to do with money wards and Reeves to maintain I am excited to work with my safe offshore energy development or possessions or fame. the organization’s effectiveness fellow governors and President through responsible resource Her love for her hometown is evident. She and help lead state and federal Biden’s Administration to share management and supports pro- said she couldn’t have chosen a better place to discussion on safe offshore en- information on an array of energy active offshore energy produc- grow up because Crowley is such a beautiful ergy development.” issues and discuss the best ways tion as part of a comprehensive little town with friendly people who look out for “I’m honored to become the to supply the nation with energy national energy policy. The coali- each other. next chairman of the OCS Gover- to meet our critical needs – from tion provides a discussion and She enjoys visiting family and returns to nors Coalition. I look forward to renewables, wave power and car- policy platform for offshore ener- Crowley frequently to see her parents, Steve and building on our momentum as we bon capture and sequestration to gy issues shared by coastal states Mary Ann Stefanski, and to enjoy her mom’s de- work together to build a path to oil and natural gas." and the federal government. licious grape leaf rolls and iced tea. About the Outer Continental Looking back on the past year, Stefanski said that the pandemic has made her realize that per- haps we run too much, too fast and that slow- “Artists don’t need ing outlet for musicians iTunes. ing down and cutting back are not necessarily Majors major record labels trying to find a large au- “But they need to bad things. She has also learned that smaller to get their music out dience or earn a record- be capable of refining, gatherings that bring people and families closer there anymore, and ing contract. packaging and market- together in meaningful ways can be much more From Page 2 many are opting to just Artists once left to ing their material – or rewarding than big, crowded events. In conclusion, Stefanski says health care pro- do it themselves,” Mun- send demo tapes to re- lean on someone who fessionals are beginning to see a light at the end where Munson spent son said. cord companies that re- can,” Munson said. of this long, dark tunnel. But she warns that the two decades as a drum- The recording arts ceive thousands a year Learn more about pandemic is not over and urges everyone not to mer, studio manager concentration’s “DIY can now upload music to the recording arts con- become complacent. She encourages all people and record label man- Recording” course will video-sharing platforms centration or email to continue to follow the recommended protocols ager – is no longer the show students how. It such as YouTube, or Chris Munson at mun- and advises everyone who truly wants to be part only route to a success- will delve into indepen- distribute their sounds [email protected]. of the solution to get vaccinated. ful career in audio pro- dent promotion and dis- via digital stores and (Spotlight on Crowley is a regular semi- duction. tribution, a mushroom- streaming apps such as monthly feature of The Crowley Post-Signal.)

Opinions Abbeville Meridional

Tue sd ay, M arc h 23 , 2021Page 4 Tuesday, March 23, 2021Page Patriotism is not some bad form of Nationalism

Rachel Alexander - townhall.com

The left has become really clever at falsely as- sociating conservatism with horrible things, such as racism, greed and violence. Under President Trump, they began a push to associate patriotism with bad forms of nationalism, like fascism and Nazism. It was easy to do because nationalism has multiple definitions; one sounds like patriotism, but another sounds like fascism or Nazism. Trump made patriotism a showy part of his platform, with his Make America Great Again slogan and mas- sive amounts of red, white and blue decorations at campaign events. But that’s really all it was. There wasn’t any specific agenda associated with nationalism, Trump merely adopted a typical con- servative platform, not much different from Ronald Reagan’s platform in 1980. Forty years later, the country is still involved about the same extent with globalist organizations like the U.N. and NATO. The association is ludicrous considering the Fauci vs. Freedom Democrats have become the party of big govern- ment, they’re closer to national socialists or fascists than Republicans. Those two political philosophies Since 1984, Dr. Anthony Fauci has tion rates that are lower than many of oppose materialism and selfish individualism. They served as Director of the National Insti- the states that have enforced strict public favor government-controlled corporatist unions — tute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. health mandates. not a far stretch from the Democrats’ government During that period, his salary has steadi- Despite limited proof of effectiveness, unions. Both detest capitalism and advocate for re- ly increased. The latest federal govern- Dr. Fauci and far too many Democratic distributing wealth. ment payroll study indicated Fauci earned politicians, such as President Biden, have The mainstream media articles hysterically la- $417,608 in 2019. His salary not only ex- been quite willing to issue mask man- beling Trump supporters as dangerous national- ceeded the President of the United States, dates, severely limit economic activity and ists are devoid of evidence. One writer at the left- but also of every other person in our federal impose a variety of restrictions on our free- wing Daily Kos claims a Trump supporter who was government with over 4 million employees. dom in the name of public health. While merely speaking constitutes evidence. “I was walk- Clearly, he is not only overrated, but Jeff Crouere these measures may not have stopped ing through a casino in Las Vegas this last week- also overpaid. It is high time the highest COVID, they did destroy 22 million jobs. end and an older white male (I would guess late paid federal government employee, Dr. The resulting economic catastrophe 50s, early 60s) pulled off his Make America Great Anthony Fauci, be fired. resulted in millions of Americans suffering from Again hat and began taunting bar patrons, point- Fauci is irritating for a number of reasons. He depression. This led to increased rates of suicide, ing at his hat and yelling ‘Trump! Trump!’” Anoth- loves the media and is constantly on television, drug overdoses and untreated health problems er example he cites is an unofficial Facebook page pontificating about COVID-19. If he providedcaused a by Americans being afraid to visit physi- run by border patrol agents where they said rude consistent, reassuring message, his words of wis- cians and hospitals. things about illegal immigrants. The page was not dom would be appreciated. Unfortunately, he is Fortunately, there is good news on the horizon. authorized by the government, an investigation very inconsistent, and his changing stories have With vaccines being delivered in greater numbers was conducted and the employees were disciplined. left Americans confused and dejected about our every day and hospitalization rates plummeting, How some rogue employees joking privately about future. Fauci has frightened countless people with Americans are ready to return to our normal lives. illegal immigrants is comparable to national social- his doom and gloom prognostications about COVID It is time for our country to resume regular activi- ism is mind boggling. and our future coexistence with the disease. ties and enjoy travel, social events and all aspects of But they know exactly what they’re doing. If Initially, Fauci was insistent that masks were our lives that have been curtailed in the last year. they repeat a lie enough in the mainstream media, not necessary. Today, he not only believes in one Of course, the Biden administration, led by Dr. people will start to believe it. If conservatives are mask, but claims that double masking is preferable. Fauci, is cautioning Americans that a quick return racist, violent and greedy, then it’s easy to believe While acknowledging the progress of Americans to normal activities could be catastrophic. As he they are also totalitarian fascists. A typical line becoming vaccinated, he publicly worries about the did during the Senate hearing, Fauci is warning about it goes like this, from a Canadian academic threat of COVID variants. He uses this concern to about the potential spread of COVID variants in magazine in 2017, “The last twelve months have justify continued masking, social distancing, and our country. seen a great shift in the North Atlantic political other mitigation measures. Because of this potential threat in the future, landscape, with only Canada immune (so far). No- All of this grandstanding was just too much for Fauci wants the COVID mandates to remain in- body in universities saw it coming. ....There has U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). In Senate hear- tact. Sadly, too many politicians are only too will- been a surge of support for ethno-nationalism of ings on Thursday, he exposed Fauci as a total fraud ing to continue to restrict the freedom of their con- the blood-and-soil kind, fearful of global openness and delivered one of the most effective public take- stituents by issuing an array of executive orders. and resentful of globally connected persons, wheth- downs in the annals of the U.S. Senate history. None of these mandates were approved by legisla- er migrants, traders, or cross-border professors and The Senator scolded Fauci for focusing on “the- tive bodies. Instead, they were issued by politicians students.” Notice the cleverly dropped reference to ater” instead of public health. He noted that Fauci to “keep people safe.” violence. has “been vaccinated” but continues to “parade It is not “safe” to sacrifice freedom in our coun- The left points to some on the right calling for around in two masks for show.” Paul told Fauci try. As famously noted by Benjamin Franklin, those civil disobedience, secession and other actions “There’s virtually 0% chance you’re going to get it who “give up essential liberty to obtain a little tem- that connote violence, as if they’re evidence of this and you’re telling people that have had the vaccine porary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” frightening nationalism. Well it’s nothing new. who have immunity — you’re defying everything Dr. Fauci claims that he wears a mask as a People on the right have been using that type of we know about immunity.” “symbol” of what Americans “should be doing.” language throughout my entire life, and nothing While Fauci responded to Paul by claiming However, as Senator Paul has noted, this type of ever happens. The quote by Thomas Jefferson, "Thethat “I totally disagree with you,” he does “parade virtue signaling by Fauci is another one of his “no- tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time around” with masks. The reason for this spectacle ble lies.” with the blood of patriots and tyrants,” has been is that Fauci wants to gain favor with his new em- Americans should reject Fauci and his “noble used for years by people and organizations on the ployer, President Joe Biden, and the insufferably lies” and once again embrace freedom, our constitu- right. No one actually thinks it’s time for revolu- liberal mainstream news media. Fauci knows that tional right that made this country the greatest in tion nor are they about to act on it. But the left hasBiden and the media want to continue the COVID the history of mankind. Freedom should be our nat- cleverly created this perception that the talk just hysteria so that Americans will become more de- ural state and if the government is going to restrict started under Trump, the few saying it represents pendent on the government. it there must be compelling scientific evidence. the right, and they actually intend to commit vio- In the process, our freedom is diminished, but The burden must be on the government to re- lence. When they occasionally find a guy who care- that is of no concern to Dr. Fauci. According to Sen- strict these freedoms, not on Americans to claim lessly drove into a gun-free zone with his gun and ator Paul, “Dr. Fauci is very blasé and unconcerned freedoms. As perfectly stated by Senator Paul, “I two magazines, they pounce on it as evidence they about liberty, but I think the burden should be on should not have to prove that I want to be free, and are correct. Regardless, a mere handful of deranged the government to prove it. If they want to dictate I want to be left alone in order to breathe the air.” people on the right does not mean the right has be- mine and your behavior, the burden is on them to Go away Dr. Fauci, Americans want to live our come dangerous as a movement. There have always present the evidence.” lives, enjoy our freedoms and “breathe the air” once been a handful of deranged people on the right as The problem for Fauci and the mask mania again. well as on the left. proponents is that the evidence shows these mea- Another variation of the accusation specifically sures are of questionable value. In fact, states such Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian. He is denounces “Christian nationalism.” They warn as Florida, that have reopened for business and a political columnist, For more information, email that Christians are going to turn the U.S. into a rescinded the mask mandates, have COVID infec- him at [email protected] theocracy. Evangelical leaders on the right like Beth Moore are rushing to denounce it as if it’s a real problem. It’s not. Again, there is zero evidence. They can’t point to much other than the handful of • NUMBERS TO KNOW • rioters who pushed their way into the U.S. Capi- City Hall: 893-8550 Kathy Cormier General ManaGer tol who claim to be Christians. That small number Chris Rosa ManaGInG edItor of people does not represent millions of Christians Clerk of Court: 898-1992 Theresa Milliman BusIness ManaGer who support Trump across the country. Abbeville General: 893-5466 Cindy Nicholas CIrCulatIon ManaGer The reality is there hasn’t been much of a SUBSCRIPTION RATES change in anything other than a few more patriotic Police Jury: 898-4300 decorations; Trump turned out to be quite similar Digital Access Only to Reagan. The real change has been an increase School Board: 893-3973 (e-Edition & Website access) in hostility by the left toward the U.S. The patriot (excludes home delivery of print edition) theme arose on the right under Trump in response Tax Assessor: 893-2837 1 Day $1.50 • 3 Months $25 • 6 Months $45 • 1 Year $75 to the Democrats’ trashing the U.S. They have be- Registrar of Voters: 898-4324 Full Access come increasingly globalist and critical of our heri- (Home Delivery, e-Edition & Website acess) tage and the Founding Fathers. Children’s history Office of Family Security: 893-5930 3 Months $27 • 6 Months $50 • 1 Year $100 books have been rewritten to denigrate U.S. histo- Full Access ry, and the left points to other countries as superior Chamber of Commerce: 893-2491 (Mail Delivery, e-Edition & Website acess) to the U.S. So what used to be considered normal 3 Months $37 • 6 Months $67 • 1 Year $127 behavior, being proud of our country and heritage, Senator Bob Hensgens: 740-6425 The Abbeville Meridional is the Official Journal for the Vermilion Parish is now being treated as a dangerous patriot move- State Rep: Ryan Bourriaque: 893-5035 Police Jury, the Vermilion Parish School Board, the Abbeville Council, ment by the left. the Erath Council the Maurice Council, the Delcambre Council, Abbeville General Hospital, and the Abbeville Harbor Terminal The left is going to continue to take words and State Rep: Blake Miguez: 337-937-8827 TELEPHONE: 337-893-4223 • FAX: 337-898-9022 ideas associated with the right and lump them in • WEBSITE: www.vermiliontoday.com U.S.Cong. Clay Higgins: 337-235-6322 Published Everyday Except Saturday and Monday by Louisiana State Newspapers with horrendous things. We have to start calling POSTMASTER: Send Form 3579 to them out on it instead of allowing them to drive a U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy: 337-261-1400 The Abbeville Meridional • 318 North Main Street narrative about us that is not true. If we’re going to Abbeville, Louisiana 70510 • Second Class Postage Paid Copyright 2013, LSN Publishing Company, LLC. be able to successfully push back, I shouldn’t be the All printed material is protected, and no portion of the contest may be reproduced in any only one complaining about this. form, or by any means, without prior written permission from LSN Publishing Company, LLC. schools Abbeville Meridional

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Page 5

PreK and Kindergarten students at Meaux Elementary celebrated the 100th Day of School on Friday, March 12. Students were encouraged to create T-shirts celebrating the special day or to dress up as what they will look when they turn 100 years old. There were fun activities throughout the day in their classrooms celebrating being 100 days smarter!

Graham Broussard, Bentley Darby, Jason Joiner, Riley Dartez, Myles Dupuis, and Kayleigh Richard show off their 100th Day t-shirts.

Nora Bankard and Avery Coleman celebrate 100 days of friendship!

Annalise Boudreaux, Evan Gary, Hunter Monteaux, Maverick Duhon, Hazel Summers, Adelyn Landry, Nichole Knight, and Jackson Ryder are 100 Days Brighter!

100 Analise Smith and Jed Abshire look fantastic for being 100 years old!

Cecelia Blanchet, Lydia Comeaux, Lucien Richard, and Ellen Prejean celebrate 100 Days with their special shirts.

Weston Fontenot, Ava Romero, Colton Roy, Ruby D’Augereau, and Aubrey Bourque show off their 100th Day t-shirts. S U P E R

Hunter Monteaux, Cade Scalisi, and Evan Lege enjoy 100 Brighter Days out on the playground. Alex Landry is proud to be 100 Days Smarter!

Page 6 Tuesday, March 23, 2021

lots in Mount Carmel Heights First Addition, since this agenda item was placed on the agenda in anticipation of another item being on the agenda that was not. The motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Bonnie LeLeux was at the meeting tonight to discuss trash issues near her home. She has lived at 214 North Lyman for forty years and it has never been this bad. She distributed pictures to the Mayor and Council. She spoke with the landlord but he told her it wasn’t his responsibility. She has videoed them putting All real estate advertis- trash and tires. She is asking that the Council do something to Classifieds ing in this newspaper these people. Nothing is being done to these people who don’t is subject to the Fair BOATS, MOTORS, care about their property. Her house value will go down because ESTATE SALES ESTATE SALES HOMES FOR SALE Housing Act which TRAILERS makes illegal to adver- of this. She doesn’t want to move. She has been here 40 years. HENDERSON OF NIGHTSTANDS, MUCH MORE! TO BE MOVED- tise any preference, She has cameras surrounding her house. That is how bad it ABBEVILLE COFFEE TABLES, CREDIT AND 406 Country Dr., limitation or discrimi- is. She is asking for help. She called the Police Department We Buy Boats! Call ACCENT TABLES, DEBIT Delcambre-- nation based on race, because she was told they could issue a citation to them. The today CABINET ACCEPTED AS Police Department told her it was the City’s responsibility not To schedule an HUTCHES, WELL THROUGH 2005 Modular color, religion, sex, evaluation ARMOIRES… PAYPAL AND Home in excellent handicap, familial sta- theirs. They could not write out tickets. There was nothing they (337) 893-1451 KITCHEN: CASH APP, SO condition. The tus or national origin or could do. Councilman Broussard did help her. She called him for COOKWARE COME READY TO home has a split and intention, to make 3 months straight every day. She had to get it done. He cleaned INCLUDING SHOP! plan with a large any such preference, it up today. The City Marshal got involved in it. That is how far MAGNALITE TRUCKS AND I, Kwansi M. Collette, limitation or discrimi- for it had to go. On Doyle Street people are dumping off tires. All ESTATE SALES POTS, CAST TRAILERS master bedroom have been convicted nation. Familial status she wants is for them to clean up her neighborhood. Council- !!!HUGE ESTATE IRON, PANS, WELCOMED TO with a walk in of Oral Sexual includes children under TUPPERWARE, HAUL OFF LARGE Battery in the 32nd man Touchet stated the Police Jury is responsible for picking SALE!!! closet and a the age of 18 living with FINE CHINA, ITEMS. master bath with Judicial District Court. up trash and everyone pays a tax for that service. Councilman SATURDAY, STONEWARE, FOR QUESTIONS, parents or legal custo- MARCH 27TH double sink vanity, Broussard stated they got Police Juror Ronald Darby involved in UTENSILS… PLEASE FEEL TO My address is dians, pregnant women 6AM this because it is the Police Jury’s responsibility to pick up trash. OTHER ITEMS CONTACT soaking tub and 603 N. Lamar St. and people securing 8390 INCLUDE: (337) 884-6034. walk in shower. Abbeville, LA 70510 custody of children The grab truck could not reach the trash because of a power line HIGHWAY 343, DECOR ITEMS, right over the pile. The Jury said that they could not do anything MAURICE The living area has under 18. This newspa- PICTURE an open floor plan Race: Black per will not knowingly with it because the grab truck could not grab it. That is where the FRAMES, WALL HELP WANTED Sex: Male YOU DON'T WANT to dining and the accept any advertising City Marshal to involved since they routinely handle City Court ART, TABLETOP Orientation: Female TO MISS THIS for real estate which is evictions. The Marshal monitors evictions and the possessions of DECOR, ACCENT FULL-TIME LAWN kitchen. The DOB: 07/27/1976 ONE STOP SHOP in violation of the law. renters and where that goes. When the Marshal is involved it is PIECES, SOME CARE WORKER kitchen has all Height: 6’2” ESTATE SALE! OUTDOOR/ TOOL NEEDED Weight: 305 Our readers are hereby not dumped next to a street. Ms. Bonnie did a great job expos- THERE WILL BE appliance, walk in ITEMS, AND Must have Hair Color: Black informed that all dwell- ing holes in a policy and we need to start going after the property TONS OF panty, and an MUCH MORE! valid driver license Eye Color: Brown ings advertised in this owners. They have a vested interest in this problem. The renters BEAUTIFUL 337-207-2669 island. The home ITEMS FOR SALE Tattoos: L_arm-Skeleton, newspaper are avail- may not be from here so we cannot enforce anything with them. has a utility room Neck-Boxing Gloves, INCLUDING BUT Why wait to see if it with plenty of able on equal opportu- She has done a good job pursuing this and it has been cleaned NOT LIMITED TO: RH_finger-Hate, Neck-Back nity basis. To complain HOMES FOR SALE storage. Priced @ Of Neck(Raven), R_arm- up today. No citizen should have to go to so many agencies FURNITURE: of discrimination call will sell on its own?? Crystal, LH_finger-Love, to finally get results. Councilman Touchet asked if we could tie LEATHER SOFA/ TO BE MOVED $49,500 HUD toll-free at 1-800- Other Tattoo-Love something into the connection of utilities. If we don’t turn on LOVESEATS, Call Kayla and get your ad in 950 sq. ft. Kathy Dyson 669-9777. The toll-free RECLINERS, 2 - bedroom, Scar: L_Shoulder-M “Brand”, utilities until this stuff is picked up then they will pick it up so they Realty LLC R_arm-2 Inch Oblong Scar telephone number for ACCENT CHAIRS, TODAY!! 1 - bath. 337-893-6236 the hearing impaired is can rent the place out. We have people who have no respect for DINING TABLES/ Wood frame, Vehicle: 2002 Gold Licensed by Louisiana Cadillac Deville 1-800-927-9275. anybody and we constantly battle the Police Jury in getting things CHAIRS, REAL vinyl siding Real Estate Commission picked up in a timely manner. Ms. LeLeux stated the City needs WOOD BEDS, 893-4223 Call USA 2008 Black MATTRESSES, (337) 400-3745 GMC Acadia to get on the landlord. Councilwoman White stated that we have NIGHTSTANDS, a huge problem with rental property in this City and with some landlords. We need to prioritize this. It is a crime to litter and we PUBLIC NOTICE record of her K-Time. Ms. Horton has completed all post-hire as- need to prosecute those who litter. We have ordinances in place. sessments and has passed those. Due to the nature of her work, Councilman Plaisance stated that we do have ordinances but a lot of these keep doing what they do because there are no conse- City of Abbeville she will need a laptop. Ms. Horton has requested that we allow quences. We have to figure that out. Councilwoman White stated Regular Meeting her to provide her own laptop for now since she is familiar with a landlord is supposed to make a phone call to the Police Jury January 19, 2021 it. Councilwoman White also recommends that we provide a City cellphone so that she can work remotely as needed. We may also when they are planning an eviction so the grab truck can make a special run to pick that stuff up. That has not been enforced at all. The Mayor and Council of the City of Abbeville met in regular need some software programs. The estimated cost for technol- Mr. Ike Funderburk asked Ms. LeLeux for the contact information session on January 19, 2021 at 5:30 P.M., at the A. A. Comeaux ogy hardware and software is about $2,000. We should authorize of the landlord of the rental property that is causing some issues. Recreation Center located at 300 A. A. Comeaux Drive, Suite this amount to give her the tools she needs to be successful. Also, since the landlord converted a shed into an apartment, we 200, Abbeville, Louisiana with the Honorable Mark Piazza, Mayor, Councilman Touchet would prefer the salary be $17.00 per hour can find out if he got a building permit to do that and if he is fol- presiding. since Ms. Horton has a college degree. If we want to keep this person employed here, we have to be competitive. This would lowing codes for a housing unit. If he is not, then we can certainly take action on that. Mayor Piazza asked Mr. Richard Primeaux if Members Present: Council Members, Francis Plaisance, be $35,360 annually. Councilman Broussard stated you get what a special permit is needed to have an apartment. Mr. Primeaux Terry Broussard, Brady Broussard, Jr., you pay for. We want them to stay here and make a career here. stated if you are converting a building from one classification to Francis Touchet, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem Councilman Plaisance agreed with Councilman Touchet however another you do. If it was converted prior to 2007 then there were and Roslyn White he wanted to make sure Ms. Horton’s starting salary would not be greater than the Council/Legal Secretary, Nicole Nguyen. Nicole no code restrictions. Members Absent: None also has a college degree. She has worked for the IRS and for Ike Funderburk. Councilman Touchet stated Nicole makes more -04 introduced by Mr. Francis Touchet, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Francis Plaisance to ask Ike to research an ordinance that Also, Present: Ike Funderburk, City Attorney than this annual salary. Councilwoman Broussard agreed that we would tie into the connection or reconnection of utilities for rental Jude Mire, Fire Chief need to pay our employees what they are worth so that they will properties that are not in compliance because trash has been Bill Spearman, Police Chief stay with us. We don’t want them to train and then leave us to go put at the side of the road after an eviction. The motion carried Clay Menard, Public Works Director to a higher paying job. unanimously. Allie Horton, Digital Media Assistant Allen Hebert, City of Abbeville Retiree -01 introduced by Ms. Roslyn White and seconded by Mr. Francis Mr. Funderburk stated that Murphy Oil came to the Planning Com- Richard Primeaux, Engineer Plaisance to appoint Allie Horton to the position of Digital Media mission meeting requesting for them to approve plans to remodel Gene Sellers, Engineer Assistant for the City of Abbeville at a rate of $14.50 per hour the Murphy Oil station in front of Walmart. In doing so, they asked Felicia Williams, Parks & Recreation Board with benefits, she will not be eligible for overtime but extra work to remove three Live Oak trees. That request did not meet with Gerald Gaspard, Chamber of Commerce, will be eligible for K-Time and to authorize up to $2,000 for a City a favorable result from either the Planning Commission nor the American Legion cellphone and other technology needed. Mayor and the City Council. It has however, been resubmitted Bonnie LeLeux SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Introduced by Mr. Francis with some changes. They are going to go from what was planned Touchet, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Brady Broussard, Jr. to appoint as an 8-bay fueling station to a 6-bay fueling station. By doing Allie Horton to the position of Digital Media Assistant for the City of that, they will decrease their footprint and thereby they won’t Mayor Piazza asked Councilman Francis Touchet, Jr. to lead Abbeville at a rate of $17.00 per hour with benefits, she will not be have to take down the three trees. They have requested to only those assembled in prayer. Mayor Piazza also asked for a mo- eligible for overtime but extra work will be eligible for K-Time and remove one tree and it is the smallest. In consideration of that ment of silence to recognize those suffering with COVID. Mayor to authorize up to $2,000 for a City cellphone and other technol- they will pay the City restitution in the amount of $3,000. That will Piazza asked Mr. Gerald Gaspard to lead the assembly in the ogy needed. The motion carried unanimously. go into the tree fund to be used by our public parks. The Planning Pledge of Allegiance. Since the substitute motion carried no vote on the original motion was necessary. Commission has approved this request. Mayor Piazza welcomed all the Firefighters who were in atten- -05 introduced by Mr. Francis Touchet, Jr. and seconded by Mr. dance tonight to show their respect to Assistant Chief Allen Hebert Mayor Piazza presented Assistant Chief Allen Hebert with a Brady Broussard, Jr. to approve the action of the Planning Com- who had recently retired from the Abbeville Fire Department. certificate of appreciation for his years of service to the City of Ab- beville Fire Department. He has served 38 years with the City of mission to approve the plans submitted by Murphy Oil and to establish remuneration of $3,000 for the removal of one Live Oak Councilwoman White recommended that the Council appoint Allie Abbeville and has recently retired. tree. The motion carried unanimously. Horton as the new Digital Media Assistant for the City of Abbeville at a starting salary of $14.50 per hour, which comes to around -02 introduced by Mr. Francis Plaisance and seconded by Ms. Councilman Plaisance began a discussion about hanging wires $30,160 annually. Ms. Horton comes highly recommended by Terry Broussard to ratify bills paid in the month of December 2020. and posts. There are wires hanging all over the City. When Cox her references. Her pay will be hourly and this position will not be The motion carried unanimously. or AT&T does a job, they don’t dress up their work very well. Our eligible for overtime. Any extra hourly work, nights or weekends, electrical crew makes everything nice and neat when they finish for special events will qualify for K-Time. Councilwoman White Mayor Piazza asked if there were any comments from the public a job. There are Cox boxes that are partially open and they are recommends this position be eligible for benefits. Her office will on any agenda item. There were none. still hanging up on the wires. In other places, there are poles be at the Vermilion Parish Cultural and Tourism Center in down- town Abbeville. On-site supervisor will be Allison Miller and the -03 introduced by Ms. Roslyn White and seconded by Mr. Francis Plaisance to table item number one under new business on the City Hall Supervisor is Kathy Faulk. Since she is a new employee, PUBLIC NOTICE CONTINUES ON PAGE 7 Councilwoman White recommends that we have Nicole keep a agenda, Mr. Andy Veazey to discuss the proposed subdivision of HoroscopeDaily BY FRANCIS DRAKE today because these argu- (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) sign at odds with fiery ments will amount to noth- Parents must be patient Mars, which makes you ar- ARIES ing. Do yourself this favor. with their kids today. gumentative with others. (March 21 to April 19) Bow out. Likewise, romantic part- Nothing can be gained to- Tread carefully today, be- ners must be patient with day. Wait until tomorrow cause you might be angry LEO each other. Avoid impor- to defend your best inter- about something and yet (July 23 to Aug. 22) tant decisions and spend- ests. you feel you cannot speak This is a poor day for im- ing money on anything up. Perhaps something is portant discussions or dis- other than food. going on behind the scenes putes (which are likely) YOU BORN TODAY Meanwhile, this is a poor about shared property, in- SAGITTARIUS You are an intelligent com- day for important deci- heritances and insurance (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) municator with an analyti- sions. matters. Wait until tomor- Family squabbles might cal mind. You love to begin row to discuss these issues. arise today. Do your best new projects. This year you TAURUS to step aside, because this will start to see the benefit (April 20 to May 20) VIRGO is a poor day to reach any of all your hard work. (And Difficulties with a friend or (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) kind of decision or consen- it’s about time!) Focus on a member of a group might Squabbles with partners sus. Stay chill. building solid foundations arise today. It’s best to and close friends might now and for the future. stay mum because this is take place today. Admit- CAPRICORN Work with purpose. Physi- a bad day for decisions or tedly, you are ambitious (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) cal exercise will be impor- making changes. about wanting to get your Arguments with siblings, tant, which is why you will way. Don’t be pushy today relatives, neighbors and enjoy physical activities GEMINI -- bad choice. State your daily contacts might occur and sports. (May 21 to June 20) case tomorrow. today. However, you will Disputes with parents, accomplish nothing. This bosses, teachers and peo- LIBRA is a poor day for decisions Birthdate of: Princess Eug- ple in authority might (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) or important discussions. enie, British royal; Hope happen today. Not good. You might be at odds with AQUARIUS Davis, actress; Steven Say- Nothing can be settled. someone at work today or (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) lor, author. Above all, don’t volunteer perhaps about a health is- Money disputes are un- for anything. sue or a pet. Whatever the wise today. This is a poor case, this is a poor day for day for financial decisions. (c) 2021 King Features CANCER arguments, because noth- Sit this one out. Syndicate, Inc. (June 21 to July 22) ing will be resolved. Stay Steer clear of controver- mellow. PISCES sial subjects like politics, (Feb. 19 to March 20) religion and racial issues SCORPIO Today Mercury is in your

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Page 7 adjacent to other poles that should have been removed already. PUBLIC NOTICE for cleaning up the houses. Some of the people still living there He doesn’t know what type of consequences we could have are elderly and unable to go in their yards. We want to spruce for this but these wires are hanging all over the place and need City of Abbeville that whole area up. When people come and drive down MLK or to be taken care of. Councilman Touchet stated that each of Regular Meeting come the back way through Maude and Schlessinger, he wants these companies have a franchise with us and there is an annual February 2, 2021 them to see what we saw as kids. People took pride in their renewal. Mayor Piazza stated yes but we would have to ask Ike yards. They took pride in flowers and gardening. People can be about the specifics. Councilman Touchet stated his point is that The Mayor and Council of the City of Abbeville met in regular outside without fear and they can let their children go outside to Ike can’t get in touch with these people. They don’t want to come session on February 2, 2021 at 5:30 P.M., at the A. A. Comeaux play. We are talking about a brand-new day and he believes to a meeting to hear about the complaints from our constituents. Recreation Center located at 300 A. A. Comeaux Drive, Suite wholeheartedly that will come to pass quicker than most people The only thing you can hold over their head is renewal. Council- 200, Abbeville, Louisiana with the Honorable Mark Piazza, Mayor, assume. He doesn’t want anybody to assume that this is a black man Plaisance asked Clay Menard about the issue of hanging presiding. project. It is not. This is a Vermilion Parish project. He is inviting wires. Clay agreed. Councilman Plaisance stated that he has all hands-on deck. He has been down here yesterday since 10:00 some pictures but there are numerous places where there are Members Present: Council Members, Francis Plaisance, and he has had about 7 meetings already. He has three meetings wires hanging and it hasn’t been done correctly. He wants to see Terry Broussard, Brady Broussard, Jr., to do before he returns to Houston tomorrow. We are meeting something done. Councilman Touchet asked if the Public Service Francis Touchet, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem and with everybody because he wants people to hear it from him. He Commissioner could help since we can’t do anything with them. Roslyn White will give everyone his cellphone number in case they have any Councilman Broussard asked if they remember that they were questions. He wants them to contact him individually and not having problems with a constituent that had called AT&T about a Members Absent: None speak to anyone else. He knows the vision and he knows what pole. It took anywhere from 6 to 8 months to rectify that situation. they are doing and you will get the correct answer when you call Councilman Plaisance stated that we have some posts that have Also, Present: Ike Funderburk, City Attorney him. He doesn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth. If he says been left for 2 years. We told them we were going to take them Jude Mire, Fire Chief he will do something that is exactly what he does. We have out but we can’t take them out. There has to be something we Kelly Mire, Assistant Fire Chief integrity. We have opened an account at Gulf Coast Bank. All the can do. We are trying to beautify our City. Councilwoman Brous- Bill Spearman, Police Chief money will stay in Vermilion Parish. We have two signers on the sard asked if they could be fined. Mr. Gerald Gaspard stated that Clay Menard, Public Works Director account. One is Dr. Damond and the other is Jina Dockery. They we need to find out if we have a renewal upcoming. If you don’t Charlene Beckett, Main Street Manager are from Abbeville. Every dollar that is sown into this project stays like their service then you can kick them out. You should be able Allie Horton, Digital Media Assistant in Vermilion Parish. In this document it talks about what’s in it for to cancel the franchise at any time if you are unhappy and they Deanna Touchet, City of Abbeville Retiree Pastor August and what part does Bethel’s Place play. There are not fulfilling their obligations. It doesn’t seem right that they Richard Primeaux, Engineer have been some rumors that we have a whole army of people can stay here for years and years. Councilman Touchet asked Gene Sellers, Engineer coming down from Bethel’s Family in Houston to run this. We are Ike to get the wording of the franchise for these and anybody Pastor Steve Delino, Parks & Recreation not coming to run anything at all. He lives in Houston and he is a else that ties into our system. If we have to put something in that Board married man of 33+ years. He has three children and eight franchise, we’ll know according to these discussions. Mr. Gerald Felicia Williams, Parks & Recreation Board grandchildren. Home is where he is in Houston but his heart is Gaspard stated that there has to be some way to hold them ac- Gerald Gaspard, Chamber of Commerce, also in Abbeville. He can’t run anything down here. This is countable. Mayor Piazza stated that part of the problem is that American Legion something that God has called him to do. To come and help and they are the only horse in the race here and we can’t kick them Pastor Walter August, Jr., James A Herod to push this vision forward. The only things he asks, personally out. If you do, then no one would have internet service throughout Development for him, is the area where the school is to have a little section to Abbeville. There would be no one else. Councilman Broussard Tiffany Williams-Spraggins, Williams Scholar have some little children seem like they are in a garden. That sec- added that the public does not realize that AT&T owns many of the Academy tion is dedicated to people like his Mom and some of your parents power poles in Abbeville. Those are not our poles. Mayor Piazza Dr. Twyla Williams-Damond, Williams Scholar and grandparents who didn’t get a chance to go to school stated that we can call about a pole that’s deteriorating, cracked Academy because they had to sharecrop. His Mother was one of these. at the bottom, broken or one that gets knocked down and if we Wayne Landry, Former City of Abbeville That is the only thing he is asking for. His name will not be on take it out of our stock, in an emergency situation, its still AT&T’s Councilman anything outside that door whatsoever. Pastor August is not pole. That is State law. They do reimburse us for the pole but James Broussard coming to run anything. He has enough work in Houston. But he not for our labor. Clay Menard stated that is correct. We have will help raise the funds and share the vision with anybody. We two options either wait for them to come and take care of it or we can do this. He does believe that as we all pull in together what can take care of it and they will reimburse us. Many times, we Mayor Piazza asked Pastor Walter August, Jr. to lead those as- will happen is that other cities that are dealing with the same stuff also have service on that pole. We share the pole with them. We sembled in prayer. Mayor Piazza asked Mr. Wayne Landry to lead that we deal with here will come to take notice and begin to look at have electrical wiring and/or street lights on them. If you don’t the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. those areas in their own cities and begin to look for transforma- take care of it then people lose electrical services and street lights tion. His commitment to the City, the Council and the business too. Mayor Piazza stated if our electrical guys mess with any of Mayor Piazza presented a certificate of appreciation to Mrs. owners is that his word is his bond. If he says he will do some- their equipment, then we are liable for it. Clay Menard stated that Deanna Touchet for her years of service to the City of Abbeville. thing he will do exactly that. He doesn’t mind writing his own is correct. We can’t touch their wires. Transferring the services is She recently retired after serving the City for 27 years. checks and he doesn’t mind anybody vetting him. You can vet where most of the problems are. We have poles that are stand- him. He graduated from Abbeville High in 1977 and he joined the ing, we change it out and it takes them forever for them to come Pastor Walter August, Jr., pastor of Bethel’s Place in Houston, Marine Corps. He worked in banking and he has been pastoring to take their stuff off the old pole and put it on the new pole. We Texas, was here to discuss the James A. Herod Development. He the church he founded for 27+ years. They have over 20 acres of have been dealing with stuff like this. This is a problem in every thanked the Mayor and Council for allowing him to come today property that is valued at $18.5 million dollars. He has a staff of City. It is not just us. Morgan City has the same problems. New and this is an opportunity of a lifetime for us. For those of you that 65 people full time in Houston. Chris Rosas from the Meridional Iberia has the same problems. He has spoken to the gentleman are vested in the City like he is, we eventually purchased the old came down to Houston and he saw it with his own eyes. He from Morgan City several times about what we can do and the James A. Herod School back in January through the bidding wants everyone to know that they can vet them. He introduced bottom line is that there is really nothing we can do as far as how process. The Lord has been kind to us over the last 9 years we Ms. Tiffany Spraggins and Dr. Tywla Damond to discuss the thing are going with them except report it, document it and stay on (Bethel’s Place Church) have been working in Abbeville with Williams Scholar Academy. It is so important that education be them to try to get them to rectify their problem. camps and working in the schools. Over the last nine years, and brought back in that same location that educated most of them. also with the support of supporters who are in this room like He thanked everyone for allowing him this time to come and -06 introduced by Mr. Francis Plaisance and seconded by Mr. Wayne Landry who worked with the Council to get funds to send share. His heart is in Abbeville and that is why he is here. Dr. Francis Touchet, Jr. to award the base bid plus alternate number kids to camp, we have invested over a half of a million dollars over Twyla Williams-Damond stated her sister is Tiffany Williams- 1 to the low bidder, Glenn Lege Construction, in the amount of the last nine years in Vermilion Parish, primarily with students to Spraggins. Pastor August really said it all. We had many opportu- $540,537.90 for the Rehabilitation of the T-Hangar Taxilanes and make sure they have opportunities that are not afforded to them nities to go several places with the school. The community was Apron Areas Project at the Airport contingent upon LA DOTD ap- because of the shortage of money that Mom and Dad don’t have. very engaging with them and there are several buildings here that proval and funding availability. The motion carried unanimously. We have been able to do that and he has also given money to the are empty. We were offered those buildings but when we spoke various schools in Vermilion Parish. One time he met with some with Pastor August, we had a colliding vision. We could not pass Mayor Piazza stated the only item under Old Business is: Update educators at Shucks and he gave out $40,000 to seven schools. up this opportunity to change the community as a whole. There on response from Cox. He feels like we have already covered He did not want the news shared and he didn’t want a camera was no way we could pass that up and also partner with him to be that topic tonight earlier. Councilman Touchet stated that he still there for a picture. He is here tonight along with Bethel’s Place the director and curator of this building once it is done. Their goal wanted to know why Cox won’t answer our calls. Our City Attor- and with Williams Scholar Academy to tell you about a vision that is the change the narrative in Abbeville. To change the narrative ney can’t even discuss this with them because they don’t take our the Lord has truly laid on our hearts. This vision is about a school when we are talking about certain areas of Abbeville. We want to calls. Councilman Plaisance stated they are a monopoly. that he attended as a youngster; the James A. Herod School change the conversations, the conscientiousness and the located now on the corner of MLK and Schlessinger Street. That environment when it comes to the community as a whole. That is Councilman Brady Broussard, Jr. school was built in 1954 and as you can imagine, 66 years ago, one of the things we promise to do. It is a very honorable task to • Asked Clay if he had an update on the water leak that was the talk of the town when that school was available. It take this on and we are honored to do so. She wants to make under State Street that is owned by the State of Louisiana. Clay educated a lot of the children in Abbeville and in Vermilion Parish. sure the students matriculate more seamlessly into college and stated the biggest issue is that DOTD was unwilling to work with We began to look at the research of that and realized that whole get the college credits while they are in high school. We have us to make the repair because of the main location. We needed campus was an educational dynamo for the parish. It educated also spoke to the Vermilion Parish School Board and have told to close two lanes to do the work and they were unwilling to do so many students that are doing extremely well even now. We are them that we are still open to collaborate because we have to that. They were only willing to close one lane. After several coming back to give this particular City an opportunity to see work together even though they do have their own district now. phone and discussions, we eventually got an engineer that something built that would be a replacement of what they have We are asking you to get on board with us because there will be listened to us and he understood what we needed. He told us to currently. We have done our homework. We have done the great things happening. We are excited about the opportunity. submit the permit and that he would move it along. We did that surveys. We have figured out that our children in that region truly Mrs. Tiffany Spraggins stated she has been here in Vermilion last week. We are waiting for DOTD to issue the permit so we can need something to inspire them. What got him more in tuned to Parish for a while. She graduated in Vermilion Parish and she move forward. get into the bidding process to get that school is that he has a worked in private industry with computer science at Proctor and • We have a brand-new Italian restaurant that will be great nephew and his mother named him after him. This young Gamble and then at NASA. Then she returned home and worked coming to Abbeville. It will be located at the old Midway and the boy took another kids life right there by Maude Store about seven privately here. She was called into the field of education. She name of the restaurant is Calabria’s. They already have one in years ago. This crime wave amongst the kids has nothing to do went back to school and pursued education in higher education. New Iberia. with race. It has to do with the lack of opportunity and inspiration. She has been teaching and being an administrator for the last 17 • The tennis courts are coming along well. The fencing A lot of children don’t have dads at home or men that can years at Lighthouse Christian Prepatory School in Abbeville. She is complete and now the City is waiting for the contractor to come encourage them forward. His great nephew was one of these is the person who is over the academics of Williams Scholar and get the courts level and painted. guys. Now he is in prison for the next 25 years. He was 17 years Academy and we will have grades 6-12 open. Often, we are old when that happened. He can’t sit back and not try to do questioned why because the educational system is good in Councilwoman Terry Broussard something. He visited the family of the boy that got killed and Vermilion Parish. It is one of the best in the State. She is proud • We celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. yesterday. It gave them some money to help with the funeral. He attended the to say that. However, the numbers do show that we still have was nice. She missed the Mayor and Council there but they had boy’s funeral in Lafayette to let the family know that he doesn’t room for improvement for certain demographic groups and we a good time. It was a beautiful day and we had a great crowd. It know a lot of things but he does know pain. He does know that want to make sure that those students are also having additional was very, very nice. you cannot go through a tragic death and have your heart just feel choices. Especially those students who are attending those • We had a meeting with Pastor August Sunday night. good about itself. We got a little more focused on the work that schools that the grade may not be what some of the higher grades She has some brochures for the Council. Pastor August would we wanted to do. His church’s commitment, over the next three are. We want to make sure that we provide another choice. like to set up a meeting with the Council. He realizes because years, is $600,000 for this project. This project that we are talking Truthfully, we need to remove some of the pressure from the of the Sunshine Law that he will have to meet with us at different about is a $10,000,000 base project to put a cultural center and system. So many kids that need help are populated into some of times. It was a very productive meeting with the pastors. He is the Williams Scholar Academy School all in one dynamic building those schools. We will try to remove some of that pressure. In moving right along with the project. He went in and cleaned up that has two faces. The face of the school will face McKinley doing so, not only will we serve the kids but we believe it will help the building. It’s going to be a cultural center and a charter school Scott Park. The whole cosmetic feature on the front exterior will all of the schools because there are more of us to try to dig in and for grades 6-12. He is very excited about this. She will get with look like a collegiate campus building to let the kids know that this help. We want to become a part of the entire changing of the Mayor to see when his schedule is clear so that they can meet is for higher learning. The other side, the James A. Herod Cultural narratives as Pastor August and Dr. Damond expressed under- with him. Center, will face MLK Street and the apartments. In that cultural standing that from a school perspective, sometimes it is beyond center we will bring the artifacts of all of the educators that were just the academics. There is also parental support that has to put Councilman Francis Touchet used to educate them. They will have a special place in that build- in place and sometimes daily support because kids don’t have • As the Finance Chairman we will be looking at the ing where the kids and the community can learn the history of access to after school programs and things like that. We try to status of our budget after the first quarter. We need to have a these phenomenal educators that educated him and allowed him design the school in such a way that those supports are there and meeting for that. He is very interested to see if we can fit in the to do the things he is doing now. He stands on some shoulders will give some kids a fighting chance that might not have that unbudgeted item for Councilwoman Broussard’s district. It is a that are no longer here in voice but they are here in spirit. There otherwise. We are hoping to find job placement prior to gradua- project worthy of funding. We will have at least three months of will also be opportunities to do business development and to bring tion and getting those dual enrollment credits and exposing them data by then to see where the finances are. He asked Council- those moms in who have multiple kids and dropped out of school. to college prior. We will increase the rate of students that are not woman Broussard to get the things together to obtain a quote for These young men just hang out all day and do absolutely nothing. only matriculating to college but getting their degree. We believe this project. Mayor Piazza agreed with him. We really need for Where his great nephew and his friend were out there was we will be a part of a larger narrative. We have a school structure FEMA to start reimbursing us for some of the larger projects from foolishness. They will have an opportunity to come in and we will that is heavily connected to the community because one of the the hurricanes. He and Clay did reach out to a contractor for a work with them to get them to another level. The other thing that things that we want our students to feel a part of Abbeville so that quote. We will reach out to other contractors also to see if we can helped us in this facility is that it needed to be torn down because while they may go and do other things they will come back and get a better price. One of the things that the contractor did say is asbestos has taken over the elementary school. There is reside in the City to make the City better. We want buy ins so that that it was critical to repair the structure and raise the roof prior to asbestos inside the gymnasium area. Right now, currently, we not everybody leaves so this place becomes a home to the best of doing the concrete and groundwork. We were hoping to do it the have already spent, or signed off to spend, the $33,000 that we our best. We will be a part of the fabric and a part of the solution. other way but he said that if we did concrete work first then the purchased the building for but we have to clean the old building We don’t claim to have all the answers but we certainly know that heavy equipment needed to raise the roof and repair the structure out. They are taking the asbestos out this week. That by itself is we do have talent and we can be a part of making our community would crack the new concrete. Clay agreed that the contractor did $30,000. We have partnered with Vermilion Shell and they will better. Mayor Piazza really appreciates everyone for being here recommend that they repair the structure and raise the roof first. come and tear the building down so that is another $100,000 tonight and the words spoken tonight. This will be a tremendous Mayor Piazza stated we don’t have a price that is separated at worth of work. Before the end of February, we will have already accomplishment. We believe in your cause Pastor August. This this time and we are awaiting that. spent $200,000. He is in it for the long haul. When this building is something that will not only be beneficial to that part of the comes to pass, it will have a double gymnasium in the midst of community but to the whole City and the whole Parish. This is not Councilwoman Roslyn White one building. It will be 65,000 square feet of space. It will be the just about that one neighborhood. You bring a lot to the table and • She welcomed the new Digital Media Assistant, Allie best building in Vermilion Parish. If anybody is within 100 miles of we appreciate everything that you are bringing to Abbeville. Horton, on board. Abbeville, they will want to come to Abbeville just to see that Councilman Touchet asked about the timeline for completion. • She is in the quality checking stage of the website. building. He believes it is going to transcend that community and Pastor August stated it will take three years for completion. Right It has been a tedious project. We will probably launch it next it will be an uplift to the parents and the students. The school will now, we are removing the asbestos in the building as we speak. weekend but she will not make the announcement until we make come in and just take it to a whole new level. We also have some As soon as that is done then demolition will occur. We have sure everything is good and working correctly. She looks forward vision because some of the partnership is that he had to contact already signed off on those contracts. The asbestos removal will to sharing that with everyone and to have the project finished this every African American pastor to get them on board. We have cost $37,000 and then it will cost $135,000 to come in and destroy year. African American pastors signing off that we can do this and they the building. By mid-March that whole area should be cleared out will support it. What he asked the pastors to do is to pledge 5% of and at the same time we are on a serious fundraising campaign. There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Piazza de- their monthly proceeds and give it to this vision and this project His church will kick in $200,000 per year for the next three years. clared this meeting adjourned. over the next 3 years. That is what we are doing at Bethel’s We do have a serious marketing campaign in Houston amongst Place. When he mentioned the $600,000, his church in Houston the alumni of Abbeville who don’t live in Abbeville anymore. The ATTEST: APPROVE: does over $4,000,000 annually so 5% of that will be $200,000. brochure discusses several ways to send in gifts of financial $200,000 times 3 is $600,000 that they will be sowing in and he is donations. He has a young lady in Houston working on the Kathleen S. Faulk Mark Piazza asking the churches to do the same because this is all hands-on Facebook page just for this campaign so it will go out to all the Secretary-Treasurer Mayor deck. They pretty much have agreed, verbally, to go ahead and alumni wherever they are. They will support this endeavor as commit to sow this into this project. We also have a plan to start cleaning up the neighborhood. He will ask the churches and the PUBLIC NOTICE CONTINUES ON PAGE 8 (PUBLISHED: MARCH 23, 2021) pastors to start adopting blocks. The churches will be responsible

T u e s d a y , M a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 2 1Page 8 abbeville meridional Tuesday, March 23, 2021Page well. Mayor, we will be bending your ear, as well as the Council’s, and MLK. This is property that the City already owns. We didn’t the concrete coulee. We should be getting quotes for that Friday because there are things that you know that he doesn’t that can get the grant but we did get some seed money to start the grant. and the drainage board has agreed to participate in some fashion. help us in those doors. He has an introduction meeting tomorrow Because we had the groundwork laid out, we formed a committee. • DOTD is reviewing our permit application to repair the with the Rotary Club. He will be meeting with them and hopefully She recognized James Broussard who is with an organization water leak on State Street. within the next couple of weeks he will be meeting with the that had a community garden on their radar so they connected. Kiwanis Club. He is going to every venue in the Parish. He is We have had two meetings and we have had several volunteers Mayor Mark Piazza dedicated to this and he will talk to any and everybody. That is who have come up. On the property, we had volunteers to clean • Great meeting tonight and great input and concern how it is going to be. We do have a young architect in Baton the property. There were 17 tires located on the property. The about the community. He very much appreciates Pastor August Rouge and he will give us some type of drawing in about six property is clean and we have assessed some things that we will being here and all the other pastors tonight. Thank you all for be- weeks so we can get a visual of what it will look like in that space. need. We are asking people to donate money to purchase all the ing here tonight and showing the interest in the community. The Lighthouse of Jesus Church will house the school for the next material for a bed. It is $200 per bed and we will have 15 beds. • He apologized to Councilman Plaisance because if the year or so until that new building is ready. They will add some Once those beds are constructed, then we will ask individuals or QSA contract does come into place, it would include all parks and modular buildings to incubate the school there until the new facility families to adopt a bed. They will be responsible for the watering that is Councilman Plaisance’s Committee. He is the chairman of is up and running. It will be probably two years out that we will be and everything else that is involved in getting this off the ground. the Park Committee. QSA will take care of all our parks not just close to having the building ready. It depends on construction We would like fruit trees against the fence. The Garden Club Comeaux Park. Councilman Plaisance needs to be included in and supplies and right now supplies are hard to get a hold of in hasn’t voted on it yet, but they would like to put, in the center of the meetings. Louisiana. We will have to keep a gauge on that too. It is difficult the property, a healing garden with benches and a shed. We will to get a contractor with the two hurricanes that have passed ask for donations even though we have seed money to do this Councilwoman Roslyn White through here. There are people still trying to get repairs done to we would like the donations to start off and then we can use the • Asked Clay to reach out to Bayou Fencing about the their homes. We do like to use local contractors for this work. seed money to maintain it year after year. This will beautify that repairs to the baseball fields since they are getting ready to play Give us about three years and if the money comes in faster than area and people have already started to clean up. We were noti- ball. They were wondering about the net. Mayor Piazza stated that the work will be done as the proceeds come in. All donations fied Friday that there is a $55,000 grant that is available to Main this is a challenge. We call them every week. They can’t get ma- are going to a 501C3 so they are tax deductible. Councilwoman Street communities across the State with a $5,000 match. It is a terials and they have a back log of fences to repair. Clay stated Broussard asked if the school is currently taking applications. Historic Revitalization Grant. They had this opportunity last year they started working in the park today. They will try to straighten Pastor August stated the school is taking applications now for the and there were five communities that received the award. We the net and get the nets hung as best they can in order to play 2021-2022 school season. We have a town hall meeting here in have 16 memorial benches that have been purchased and two of and then when the material comes in, they will replace it. this building on the 22nd of February at 6:00 PM. We will be them have not yet been delivered. That program has definitely • The new website went live over the weekend. registering kids to go to school even at that meeting. The town taken off. The Farmers Market will be Saturday, March 20th. hall meeting is basically for anybody and everybody. We want to Mr. James Broussard stated we are hoping to connect different make sure that no person in Vermilion Parish doesn’t know about people in the community with the community garden. We hope to Councilman Francis Plaisance what they are doing. Their hands will be completely open and so connect with those who have a green thumb, the older garden- • He got with Shaun with the Merdional because there will the books. ers, and we want to get the youth involved. It is a healthy thing has been some confusion about LaFitte Drive-In Park. Word got to do from a nutritional standpoint and it gets everybody outside. out that people could fish there and were caught fishing out there. Councilman Broussard asked to deviate from the agenda at this He recognized former City Councilman, Carlton Campbell who Shaun will clarify the hours and state that fishing it not allowed. time to authorize the Mayor to negotiate with QSA’s contract will be the manager of the Community Garden. Councilwoman • Asked Clay about the progress on the fishing piers. that they presented in 2020 to serve as the Park Director and Broussard stated one of the things that they would like to focus on Clay stated they are waiting for it to dry up enough to begin haul- occupy this building. Councilwoman Broussard stated that at the is involving the youth in the community garden. Councilwoman ing material in. It is too wet right now. Parks and Recreation Board meeting that they had that we did White stated she loves the idea of a community garden. Good job say that we would come back with another meeting to discuss on that. Asked Charlene to explain how the route for the Cleanest Councilwoman Terry Broussard this. Councilman Broussard stated that was said but all this is City Contest is chosen. Charlene stated it is a requirement by • Excited about the James A. Herod Development for doing is getting the ball rolling. This does not commit the City to the Louisiana Garden Club that we bring them in front of a park, a the City of Abbeville and for Vermilion Parish. She thanked Pastor any contract. It will allow the Mayor to negotiate the terms for a municipal building, a school, and a library. The route gets picked August for his overwhelming support of the kids in our commu- possible contract. Councilman Touchet stated this is so press- by the requirements that they ask us to do. There is also only a nity. Thank for your affection and thank you for caring. That is a ing because we will have youth looking for something to do in certain amount of time allowed so you can’t start at City Hall and property that has been neglected and there is a lot of blame to go March. If we will have our kids involved and we will do what we bring them to Abbeville High. It is too far away so you have to around but thank you for taking the leadership. Thank you for the have to do to get them involved somebody needs to make this go to a school that is close to the downtown area. The first year vision and thank your for caring about what takes place in your work. We have not had a Park Director and we have had all of we tried to bring them to Abbeville General Hospital and J. H. home town. You are no longer here but thank you for caring from these renovations that we had to do because of the hurricane. Williams but we ran out of time. It just doesn’t work. We have to a distance. As a citizen of Abbeville, she is honored to work with Who has been doing all that? We need to make sure that we keep it centralized. Mr. Wayne Landry asked how can we adopt Pastor August to be able to communicate with someone who has are moving forward so our kids don’t get pulled away from the a bed. Charlene stated once the bed is constructed you can pick so much compassion. Thank you so much from the bottom of her community. Councilwoman Broussard stated that it is important the bed and your name will go on the bed and you will have a list heart for coming back home to do this. Thank you so much to Dr. to her that we keep our word to the public. We told them that we of duties that will be provided. Mayor Piazza suggested that Char- Damond and to Mrs. Spraggins for caring about the kids, whether would come back with another meeting. There is nothing with lene visit the garden the kids have built at Eaton Park Elementary. they are black or white. Thank you for caring that every kid gets having another public meeting within a week or so to let the public Charlene added that Dan Davenport will be helping out with the an equal opportunity to have someone care about them and nour- come back and give their input then we can bring this back to the community garden too. ish them outside of education. Thank you for that. Mayor. Councilman Touchet stated we could authorize the Mayor to meet with anybody who wants to present a proposal and let him Touchet/T. Broussard Councilman Brady Broussard, Jr. negotiate then we can look at the results of the negotiations. If Resolution R21-02 • Mrs. Spraggins, Dr. Damond and Pastor August, he is there is another group that wants to provide a proposal then the overwhelmed by what they are offering to do in this community. Mayor can look at. Councilman Plaisance stated that it appears A resolution authorizing the development of Harmony Park (A His prayers and support are with them to bring hope where it may Councilman Broussard is specifying that the he wants the Mayor Community Garden) on the property located at 820 S. Lamar not be and to be a beacon of light where it may not be currently. to negotiate with QSA, correct? Councilman Broussard stated Street. You are investing in something that is so important to society, not that the QSA proposal is the only one that has been received. He just Abbeville or Vermilion Parish. We want to do whatever we does agree that any proposal that is brought would give the Mayor The motion carried unanimously. can to help you in this journey and we are excited to say that we that opportunity to review and negotiate. The grass is growing are fans of you, we support you and we will continue to pray for and children are registering for multiple sports and that doesn’t -03 introduced by Mr. Francis Plaisance and seconded by Ms. you. Thank you. even include the repairs that are going on right now. This gets the Roslyn White to award the base bid only for the Flood Damage ball rolling in the Mayor’s office to look at those things. Council- Reduction and Drainage Improvements Projects to the appar- There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Piazza de- man Touchet stated we only have one more meeting on the 16th ent low bidder, LA Contracting Enterprise, LLC, in the amount of clared this meeting adjourned. and we have to make a decision at that meeting. Mayor Piazza $420,104.00, contingent upon concurrence by Facility Planning stated that the 16th is Mardi Gras so we will not have a meeting and Control. The motion carried unanimously. ATTEST: APPROVE: that night. Councilman Broussard stated that we are near the be- ginning of March and this has been a vacant position for months Mr. Richard Primeaux stated on the Robert Wells Project, he did and authorizing you to move that forward is even more important. meet with the Drainage Board at 5:00 PM and they are going to Kathleen S. Faulk Mark Piazza Mayor Piazza stated we would have to have a special meeting to do their part there by cleaning the coulee out. This is a big part of Secretary-Treasurer Mayor approve any contracts. The motion on the floor is to deviate from that project and that will assist now to help that area drain. There the agenda to authorize him to negotiate a contract and not to is a build up of material and water has to build up three feet high (PUBLISHED: MARCH 23, 2021) approve any contracts because we don’t have a contract in hand to be able to start draining. They will start doing that in the next to approve. There is another meeting at the beginning of March two weeks. PUBLIC NOTICE and we will have another meeting between now and the end of the contract. He feels like Councilwoman Broussard in that we need Plaisance/White The following ordinance having been introduced at a duly con- to keep our word as it was said at the last Parks and Recreation Resolution R21-03 vened meeting on March 16, 2021, and notice of its introduction meeting. Councilwoman White agreed that she is 100% on board having been published in the official journal and a public hearing that we told the public that we would put it on the agenda so they A resolution adopting the 2021 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. having been held in connection therewith on this date, was offered know it is on the agenda before we make a decision. In prudence for final adoption by Francis Plaisance and seconded by Roslyn sake, the Mayor needs to start gathering our options so we can The motion carried unanimously. White make a decision but it needs to be put on the agenda before we decide anything so that we keep our word to the public. Council- -04 introduced by Mr. Francis Plaisance and seconded by Mr. ORDINANCE man Touchet stated it will still be put on the agenda when it is time Brady Broussard, Jr. to table item number 5 under new business, 21-01 to approve something but the Mayor needs to start looking at what Mrs. Debbie Garrot to discuss showing a movie in LaFitte Drive-In these proposals are so that we have the leg work so that when Park, since Mrs. Garrot was unable to attend the meeting tonight. WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is necessary it is put on the agenda, we can make a decision. Mayor Piazza The motion carried unanimously. and proper to amend Abbeville Code of Ordinances Section 5-236 stated we do have the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation (1) and (2) so that said ordinance to adjust to changing technol- Board, Pastor Steve Delino and a presentation was made, and Gene Sellers, Engineer ogy; and we have copies of it, to the Parks and Recreation Board. It is • Asked to deviate from the agenda to approve the not like we haven’t had any presentations since we have had the quotes to repair the major outfall drainage pipe on Main Street WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is necessary presentation in our hands since the beginning of December. Ms. since they will be receiving quotes Friday and there will not be an- and proper to amend Abbeville Code of Ordinances Section 5-273 Felicia Williams stated they never received a proposal. She also other City Council meeting this month. The estimate is $65,000. to accommodate freestanding signs on smaller city lots which are asked if the City would do away with the position of Park Director. Mayor Piazza stated that we could not approve that tonight be- used for commercial enterprises; That was never mentioned. If you will give the Mayor permission cause it is not in the budget and it is too late to deviate to add that to proceed it should be to open up the position to the public as item to the agenda tonight. That would have had to be done prior BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Abbeville (the opposed as to opening up for proposals. Mayor Piazza stated to to receiving comments from the public on any agenda item. We "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the deviate from the agenda requires an unanimously vote. will have to put that on our next meeting agenda. City of Abbeville, State of Louisiana, that Chapter 5 - Buildings; Article IX - Signs; Article 5-236; Sub-sections (1) and (2) of the -01 introduced by Mr. Brady Broussard, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Ike Funderburk, City Attorney Code of Ordinances be, and the same are hereby repealed and Francis Plaisance to deviate from the agenda to discuss the topic • At the last City Council meeting he was asked to look re-enacted as follows: to authorize the Mayor to negotiate a contract with QSA for the at the outstanding franchise agreements for Cox and AT&T. He best term possible for the services of Park Director. The motion has done that and he has sent everyone an email outlining his Sec. 5-236. - Limitations on programmable electronic signs. was put to a vote and the vote thereupon was as follows: findings. He has an opportunity to discuss that with everyone to YEAS: 4(White, Plaisance, Touchet, B. Broussard) the extent that they felt it was necessary. He believes the next Programmable electronic signs shall conform to the following: NAYS: 1(T. Broussard) step is for he and Mayor to make contact with these two compa- ABSENT: 0 nies and see about getting some updated work on the existing (1) No sign shall include any audio message, flashing lights or ABSTAIN: 0 franchise agreements. Councilman Touchet would like us to flashing text. The motion failed because to deviate from the agenda a unani- go into executive session to negotiate these agreements. He mous vote is required. The item was not placed on the agenda. doesn’t want the same contract. They need to come in front of (2) A sign message shall be displayed for a period of not less than us and hear from us so we can put some things in that contract. ten (10) seconds. Councilman Plaisance asked if we still have a valid contract with Ike stated that franchise agreements are pretty much dictated QSA. Mr. Funderburk stated we are not in the original term of the by State statute so any franchise agreement will reflect what is BE IT FUTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of contract although it is still valid but it can be cancelled with notifi- allowable by State law. There is certainly room to look at some Abbeville (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing cation of 90 days. Mayor Piazza added that we have an existing things. Mayor Piazza stated that most of that is regulated by the authority of the City of Abbeville, State of Louisiana, that Chapter contract in place until about mid-March. Councilwoman White Public Services Commission. He asked Ike to reach out to the 5 - Buildings; Article IX - Signs; Article 5-273; Sub-section (b)(1) of stated it is valid until the 14th of March. Councilman Broussard Public Service Commissioner’s attorney as well as LMA’s attorney the Code of Ordinances be, and the same is hereby repealed and stated this is about the vacant position of Park Director not the to see what options we have other than the ones that are in place re-enacted as follows: recreation contract. Mayor Piazza stated that Councilman Brous- now. When we first drafted the contract with AT&T, there were sard is the chairman of the Recreation Committee for the Council some things that we were not allowed to put into the contract. He Sec. 5-273. - Freestanding signs. and he can call a meeting anytime he wants with a 24-hour notice is unaware if any of this has changed. When we implemented (b) Size. and he recommends that maybe he do so or the Parks and Rec- the franchise fee, it was granted by the legislature as requested reation Board also made a commitment to have another meeting by the Public Service Commissioner for all municipalities. That is (1)The aggregate sign area of all freestanding signs on a parcel open to the public for discussion and it could be a joint meeting why we went to the table for the contract to begin with. Now both shall not exceed a total area equal to one (1) square foot per each between the Recreation Board and the Committee. His advice contracts are on the verge of expiring or have already so we need one (1) linear foot of street frontage of the parcel, and the aggre- is that we start putting together that meeting. Pastor Delino and to go back to the table but we need to see what is available to us gate sign area of all freestanding signs along one (1) single public Councilman Broussard need to get together to make some deci- and what we can or cannot negotiate. He will involve Council- right-of-way shall not exceed a total area equal to one (1) square sions about a future meeting and when that will occur. man Touchet with this and we will try to meet one on one with foot per each one (1) linear feet of street frontage along that one them. Jason Jones stated the service with Cox and with AT&T (1) public right-of-way. -02 introduced by Mr. Francis Plaisance and seconded by Ms. are unacceptable and there should be opportunities given to local Roslyn White to approve the minutes from the November 17, 2020 authorities to put their shows or programs on there so you can Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective upon ex- regular City Council meeting. The motion carried unanimously. talk with them about this. Those emergency lines cannot go down ecution by the Mayor. during emergencies so that needs to be discussed especially with Mayor Piazza asked if there were any public comments on the how hardy our lines are especially with hurricanes. Councilman This ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon agenda items prior to action. There were none. Touchet stated that he would like someone from Cox to come to a was as follows: meeting to answer some questions. Ike stated he is trying to fa- YEAS: 5 The Keep Abbeville Beautiful and the Main Street report were cilitate a meeting where we can get better service for the constitu- NAYS: 0 given by Charlene Beckett. We have a new City employee, Allie ents. City Hall is on Cox too and we have had our problems too. ABSENT: Horton, and we will get together and we will finally have a Keep Their representative is not authorized to attend a public meeting. Abbeville Beautiful Facebook page. The Garden Club Federation And the ordinance was declared adopted on this, the 16TH day of Cleanest City Contest will be held in May. The most important Clay Menard, Public Works Director March, 2021. thing about Keep Abbeville Beautiful is that we received a dona- • Councilwoman White asked about the culverts on As- tion from the Community Foundation of Acadiana, Vermilion say Drive. Chapter, by Mrs. Phalie Sellers to have seed money to create a • Councilman Touchet asked about the dumping near community garden. The way this community garden came about Tiffany Plaza. is that Keep America Beautiful was offering a grant and whatever • Councilwoman Broussard asked about the quote for you ask for has to be on the MLK corridor. She, Tracette Hillman, McKinley Scott Park. The Mayor did not have it with him tonight. (PUBLISHED: MARCH 23, 2021) Sarah Alpough and Councilwoman Broussard came up with a • Mayor Piazza asked if Clay had attended the drainage community garden that would be on the corner of South Lamar board meeting tonight. Clay stated they discussed the cleaning of PUBLIC NOTICE CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Page 9 PUBLIC NOTICE N79°57'29''W a distance of 1359.70 feet to the intersection of the continuing along a bearing of S 75 37' 20" W for a distance of 53.5 centerline of a drainage ditch and the northwest corner of feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 58 04' 37" W ORDINANCE Plantation Ridge Phase III property; thence S71°05'06”W a for a distance of 33.55 feet to a point, and continuing along a No. 21-02 distance of 50.31 feet; thence 582°47'39"'W a distance of 66.03 bearing of S 26 16' 54" W for a distance of 52.94 feet to a point, feet; thence S72°02'10”W a distance of 48.47 feet; thence and continuing along a bearing of S 05 53' 55" E for a distance of An ordinance extending and enlarging the limits and bound- S56°30249"'W a distance of 48.10 feet; thence S63°47'54"W a 40.04 feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 22 aries of the City of Abbeville, in the Parish of Vermilion, State distance of 108.8 feet; thence 585°10'48"W a distance of 41.14 04'50" E for a distance of 44.38 feet to a point, and continuing of Louisiana, and including herein the property added to the feet; thence 588°14'29"W a distance of 27.37 feet; thence along a bearing of S 40 50' 19" E for a distance of 47.12 feet to a said City and defining the entire Boundaries of the City of Ab- S62°51'11”W a distance of 44.86 feet; thence S57°52'09"'W a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 47 46'03" E for a beville as changed by said addition. distance of 48.08 feet; thence S60°47'20”W a distance of 35.08 distance of 36.86 feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing of feet; thence S69°42'27"W a distance of 52.11 feet; thence S 66 58' 21" E for a distance of 11.74 feet to a point, and BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of Abbeville, S76°23'02”W a distance of 91.58 feet; thence S78°29'44"W a continuing along a bearing of S 60 57' 52" E for a distance of Louisiana, acting as governing authority of said city that: distance of 60.83 feet; thence 580°16'47"W a distance of 37.56 31.22 feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 43 feet; thence S70°10'44"W a distance of 64.27 feet; thence 45'03" E for a distance of 36.06 feet to a point; and continuing WHEREAS, the hereinafter described property is an unincorpo- S73041'46"W a distance of 50.50 feet; thence 577°47'58"W a southerly along the east bank of Coulee Kinney to its intersection rated island located within the City of Abbeville, of which, at least distance of 72.51 feet; thence 582°28'18"W a distance of 70.02 with a line running parallel to and 300 feet southwesterly from the ninety (90) percent of its boundary is common to the boundary of feet; thence S74°41'35"W a distance of 68.91 feet; thence southwest right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 (Port Street); the City of Abbeville; and S73°00'30"W a distance of 74.90 feet; thence N80°00'00"W a thence southeasterly along said parallel line to its intersection with distance of 72.67 feet; thence S10°00'00"W a distance of 5 feet to the north right-of-way line of Camper Trailer Park Road; thence WHEREAS, the said property is identified as "Unincorporated the north right-of-way line of East Jane Street and continuing westerly along the North right-of-way line of the Camper Trailer Island 3" on the plat of the City of Abbeville, by Sellers & Associ- along same bearing to the south right-of-way line of East Jane Park Road to its intersection with the eastern property line of the ates, Inc., revised January 15, 2019, a copy of which is attached Street; thence easterly along the south right of-way line of East Abbeville Camper Trailer Park; thence northerly along said hereto as "Exhibit 1:" and Jane Street to its intersection with the west right-of-way line of La. eastern property line to said Park's northeast corner; thence Highway 338; thence southerly along the west right-of-way of said westerly along said Park's north property line for a distance of WHEREAS, according to “Exhibit 2," the attached certificate of the highway to its intersection with the northeast corner of the 1,286 feet to said Parks northwest corner; thence S 2924'W along Registrar of Voters for Vermilion Parish, there are no registered property of Platinum Healthcare Management, L.L.C.; thence said Park's western property line for a distance of 432.1 feet to a voters living on the above described property; and proceeding on a bearing of N 79 51'00" W, for a distance of 3220 point; thence S 2941'W along the same western property line for a feet to a point, thence proceeding on a bearing of S 28 25' 39" W, distance of 345.3 feet to said Park's southwest property corner; WHEREAS, pursuant to LSA R.S. 33:172(C) the City of Abbeville for a distance of 561.08 feet to a point; thence proceeding along a thence S 8021'E for a distance of approximately 1,568 feet to said may incorporate the hereinafter described property without the bearing of S 79 53' 46" E, for a distance of 66.16 feet, which is the Park's southeast property corner; thence northerly along the necessity of either a petition of the property owners or an election northwest property corner of lot 60 of Ruth Farm Subdivision; eastern property line of said Park to a point where it intersects in which only those who reside on the property and are registered thence proceeding on a bearing of S1006'14"W a distance of with the southern right-of-way line of the Camper Trailer Park to vote may participate. 153.50 feet, which is the north right-of-way line of Marcia Avenue; Road; thence easterly along said right-of-way to a point where it thence easterly along said right-of-way line a distance of 200 feet intersects with a line drawn parallel to and 300 feet south of the NOW, THEREFORE, which is the southeast property corner of Lot 61 of Ruth Farm southern right-of-way of Louisiana Highway 14 (Port Street); Subdivision; thence proceeding on a bearing of N 1006'14" E a thence easterly along said parallel line to a point where it BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Abbeville, in distance of 153.50 feet, which is the southern property line of intersects the western property line of Tract No. 5 of an Act of regular session convened, that the limits and boundaries of the North Abbeville Holding Company, LLC; thence proceeding on a Partition of the property belonging to Claude L. Blanchard, Jr. et City of Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, are hereby enlarged bearing of N 79 53' 46" W, for a distance of 3049.53 feet which is al; thence S 9 10' W along a line for approximately 350.6 feet; and extended so as to include the corporate limits of said City the the western right-of-way line of Louisiana State Highway No. 338 thence S 80 40' E for a distance of 1,010 feet; thence S 9 10' W following described properties and territories, to-wit: (Lafitte Road); thence southerly along the west right-of-way of along a line to its intersection with the north property line of Wild Lafitte Road to its intersection with the north right-of-way line of Oak Subdivision; thence along said North property line N 69 PROPERTY TO BE ANNEXED Meaux Lane; thence westerly along the north right-of-way line of 45'00" W to the northwest corner of said subdivision; thence along Meaux Lane to its intersection with an extension of the west the west property line of said subdivision N 20 15'00" E a distance UNINCORPORATED ISLAND 3 property line of the Lucille Perry Property; thence southerly along of 320.00 feet to its intersection with the north right-of-way line of said extension to the south right-of-way line of Meaux's Lane; the Louisiana & Delta Railroad Company tracks; thence westerly Commencing at a point of beginning, said point being the intersec- thence N 79 45' 10" W, a distance of 600.71 feet along said along the north right-of-way line of the Louisiana & Delta Railroad tion of south right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass right-of-way; thence S 10 36' 39" W, a distance of 4.18 feet, tracks for a distance of approximately 1,370 feet to its intersection (Summers Drive) and the west right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney thence N 70 45' 10" W, a distance of 508.25 feet along the south with the extension of the western boundary line of the properties Drive; thence southerly along the west right-of-way line of Coulee right-of-way of Meaux's Lane; thence S 10 36 39" E, a distance of of the Erath Sugar Co., Ltd. and Revis Sirmon; thence S 46 43'41" Kinney Drive to the south boundary of the property of Dorothy 186.0 feet to the north property line of land belonging to the City of W along the western boundary lines of the properties of Erath Lucille Patrick property being a point approximately 70 feet south Abbeville; thence westerly along the north property line of the City Sugar Co., Ltd., and Revis Sirmon to the Southwest property of the centerline of Grace Street; thence westerly along the south of Abbeville property to its intersection with the southeastern corner of the property of Revis Sirmon; thence Easterly along the boundary of Dorothy Lucille Patrick property to a point 266.86 feet property corner of Sassy Suds Carwash, LLC; thence N 0957'08" south property line of the Revis Sirmon property and an extension west of the west right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney Drive, being E along the eastern property line of Sassy Suds Carwash, LLC to thereof to the south property line of the Erath Sugar Co. property the southwest corner of Dorothy Lucille Patrick property; thence its intersection with the south right-of-way line of Meaux Lane; and an extension thereof to its intersection with the east bank of northerly along the west boundary of Dorothy Lucille Patrick thence westerly along said south right-of-way line to its intersec- Vermilion River; thence southwesterly along the eastern bank of property and Dudley J. Lege property for a distance of 340.0 tion with the east right-of-way line of Didier Street; thence Vermilion River to its intersection with the south property line of feet to the south right-of-way of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass southerly along the east right-of-way line of Didier Street to its the John J. Sellers Estate; thence S 81°00' E along said south (Summers Drive); thence easterly along the south right-of-way line intersection with the southwestern property corner of Sassy Suds property line a distance of 1,774 feet to its intersection with the of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Summers Drive) to a point of Carwash, LLC; thence N8002'27"W to the west right-of-way line of eastern property line of the John J. Sellers Estate; thence N 12° intersection with the west right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney Drive, Didier Street; thence N 10 20' 53" E, along the west right-of-way 55' E along said east property line a distance of 363.15 feet to its said point being the point of beginning line of Didier Street for a distance of 197.08 feet to the south intersection with the southern right-of-way line of Sellers Drive; right-of-way line of Meaux's Lane; thence N 79 39 "25" W, along thence easterly along the southern right-of-way line of Sellers CITY OF ABBEVILLE the south right-of-way line of Meaux's Lane for a distance of Drive to its intersection with the eastern right-of-way line of Sellers CORPORATE LIMITS DESCRIPTION 545.35 feet to a point formed by the intersection of the west Drive; thence northerly along the east right-of-way line of Sellers INCLUDING ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTIES property line of the City of Abbeville property and the south Drive to the southern property line of Eaton Park Subdivision; right-of-way line of Meaux's Lane; thence S 10 29' 02" W along thence easterly along the southern property line of the Eaton Park Beginning at a point which is the intersection of the west right-of- the property line common to the property of Annie Louise Meaux Subdivision to its intersection with the western property line of way line of Cedar Street and the South right-of-way line of State or assigns and property of the City of Abbeville for a distance of Oakview Subdivision; thence S 900 W along the west property Highway 14; thence easterly along the South right-of-way line of 198.63 feet to the southeast corner of the property of Annie Louise line of Oakview Subdivision a distance of 466.83 feet to its Louisiana Highway 14 to its intersection with the west boundary of Meaux or assigns; thence westerly along the north property line of intersection with the south property line of said subdivision; thence Green Acres Subdivision; thence southerly along the west the City of Abbeville property to its intersection with the west S 80 16' E along the south property line of Oakview Subdivision a boundary of Green Acres Subdivision for a distance of 646.5 feet right-of-way of Alphonse Street; thence N 34 25' 52" E along the distance of 939.38 feet to its intersection with the east property to the south boundary of Green Acres Subdivision; thence easterly west right-of-way line of Alphonse Street to a point on the South line of said subdivision; thence N 900' E along the east property along the south boundary of Green Acres Subdivision for a line of Lot 45, Magnolia Subdivision; thence N 7940 W a distance line of Oakview Subdivision a distance of 462.2 feet to its distance of 276.7 feet to the east boundary of Green Acres of 1,010.43 feet; thence S 10 20' W a distance of 270.0 feet; intersection with the south property line of Eaton Park Subdivision; Subdivision; thence northerly along the east boundary of Green thence N 79 40' W a distance of 272.89 feet to the east right-of- thence easterly along the south boundary line of Eaton Park Acres Subdivision for a distance of 448.29 feet to its intersection way line of North State Street; thence continuing along the east Subdivision, and an extension thereof, to its intersection with the southwest corner of Goodwill Industries, Inc. property; thence right-of-way line of North State Street S 09 50' E a distance of east right-of-way line of South State Street; thence northerly along S67°51'29" E, a distance of 148.83 feet; thence N00°3643"E, a 89.71 feet; thence S 89 28' E a distance of 20.28 feet; thence S the east right-of-way line of South State Street to its intersection distance of 175.94 feet to its intersection with the south right-of- 00 32' W a distance of 21.63 feet; thence N 7911' W for a distance with the southwest property corner of Elridge Joseph Vincent, Jr., way line of State Highway 14; thence easterly along the south of 885.5 feet; thence N 79 31' W for a distance of 200 feet; thence monumented by a 5/8" Iron Rod; thence on a bearing of N right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 for a distance of N 8000' W for a distance of 183.42 feet; thence N 78 40' W to the 7728'00" W and a distance of 914.05 feet to a 5/8" Iron Rod which approximately 615 feet to the northwest corner of the property of West bank of Vermilion River; thence northerly along the west is the southeast corner of said property, and also the west Xue Mei Yang and Ke Nong Shi; thence proceeding along a bank of the Vermilion River to the north property line of Tract 3 of property line of Eugene M. Sellers, et al, property (formerly John bearing of S 02 07' 19" W, for a distance of 483.90 feet to a point, the division of the Heirs of Ellie A. Chauvin, et al; thence westerly J. Sellers property); thence in a southerly direction along the west thence proceeding along a bearing of S 88 OS' 48" E, for a along said property line to the east right-of-way line of U.S. property line of Eugene M. Sellers, et al, property to the South- distance of 237.39 feet to a point; thence continuing N 8953'54"E Highway 167; thence northerly along the east right-of-way of west property corner of the Eugene M. Sellers, et al, property; a distance of 625.05 feet to a point; thence continuing along a U.S. Highway 167 to its intersection with an extension of the thence Easterly along the South property line of the Eugene M. bearing of S8953'54"W a distance of 251.82 feet to a point; thence northern right-of-way line of Redwood Road; thence westerly Sellers, et al, property to its intersection with the west right-of-way proceeding along a bearing of S0035'56"W a distance of 255.17 along said northern right-of-way line of Redwood Road to its line of South Guegnon Street; thence northerly along the west feet to the southern right-of-way line of Veterans Memorial Drive intersection of the southeastern property corner of James A Noel, right-of-way of South Guegnon Street to its intersection with the (Louisiana State Highway 14); thence easterly along the south Sr. and Marilyn Haydell Noel property; thence N3210'59"E a extension of the South boundary of Lampman Subdivision; thence right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 to its intersection with distance of 456.37 feet to a point; thence N81915'21"W a distance easterly along the south boundaries of Lampman and Harlem the Weiner Development northeast property corner; thence of 457.96 feet to a point; thence S3259'19"W a distance of 459.26 Subdivision to the southeast corner of Lot 10 of said Harlem proceeding on a bearing of S 16 30' 35" Wa distance of 767.01 feet to a point which is the southwest corner of said property and Subdivision; thence northerly along the easterly boundary of Lot feet; thence S 7330'00" E a distance of 262.18 feet; thence N the northern right-of-way line of Redwood Road; thence continu- 10 to its intersection with the southwest corner of Lot 1 of Block I 1851' 28" E a distance of 758.69 feet to its intersection with the ing westerly along said northern right-of-way line of Redwood of Harlem Subdivision; thence easterly along the southern south right-of-way line of State Highway 14; thence easterly along Road approximately 174 feet to a point which is the existing boundary of Lots 1 and 2 of Block I of Harlem Subdivision to the the south right-of way line of Louisiana Highway 14 to its corporate limit line for the City of Abbeville; thence N 32 31'56" E southeast corner of Lot 2; thence northerly along the eastern intersection with the east boundary of the Abbeville Chris Crusta a distance of 479.53 feet to a point; thence N 81° 34' 23" Wa boundary of Lot 2 of Block I in Harlem Subdivision and along the Memorial Airport Property; thence northerly along the eastern distance of 458.70 feet to a point; thence N 23° 36' 28" E a east right-of-way of Dorie Miller Street to its intersection with the boundary of the Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport Property distance of 115.87 feet to a point; thence N 79 52' 54" W a north right-of-way of McClellan Avenue; thence easterly along the to its northeast corner; thence S 89 55' W for a distance of 456.5 distance of 770.59 feet to a point which is the eastern right-of-way north right-of-way of McClellan Avenue to its intersection with the feet; thence N 21°06' W for a distance of 2,297.52 feet; thence N line of Coulee Kinney Road; thence southerly along said eastern west right-of-way of South John M. Hardy Drive; thence northerly 76 44' W for a distance of 283.47 feet; thence S 68 04' W for a right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney Road to a point which is the along the west right-of-way of South John M. Hardy Drive to its distance of 532.50 feet; thence S 34°32' W for a distance of intersection of the eastern right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney intersection with the north right-of-way line of Louisiana & Delta 283.47 feet; thence S 21°06' E a distance of 1,913.32 feet; thence Road and the north property line of Ellie Mae Chauvin Beach Railroad Company main track; thence easterly along the north S 89 55' W for a distance of 1,129.35 feet which intersects the property and continue southerly from this point along the east right-of-way line of said railroad right-of-way to its intersection with east right-of-way line of North Airport Road; thence southerly right-of-way of Coulee Kinney Drive for a distance of approximate- the east right-of-way line of South Hospital Road; thence northerly along the east right-of-way line of North Airport Road to its ly 580 feet; thence along a bearing of N 80 00' W for a distance of along the easterly right-of-way of South Hospital Road to its intersection with the extension of the north property line of 348.7 feet to a point; thence along a bearing of S 1000 W for a intersection with the north bank of Young's Coulee Canal; thence Diversified Healthcare - Abbeville, L.L.C.; thence westerly along distance of 315.53 feet; thence along a bearing of N 85 33'07" W easterly along the north bank of Young's Coulee Canal to its the extension of the north property line of Diversified Healthcare - for a distance of 28.21 feet; thence along a bearing of N 8522' 32" intersection with the extension of the west right-of-way line of Abbeville, L.L.C. and continuing along said property line S 89 W for a distance of 162.75 feet; thence N 85 10'21" W for a Cedar Street; thence northerly along the west right-of-way of 50'00" W a total distance of 492.93 feet; thence southerly along approximately 1400 feet to the southeast corner of the Betty L. Cedar Street to its intersection with the south right-of-way line of the west property line of Diversified Healthcare - Abbeville, L.L.C. Choate property; thence N1010'52"E, a distance of 320.96 feet; State Highway 14, which is the point of beginning. on a bearing of S 00 10'00" E a distance of 448.50 feet to its thence N7947'08" W a distance of 150.00 feet; thence intersection with the north right-of-way line of Rodeo Road S1010'52"W a distance 321.03 feet; thence N 85 10' 21" W to the The boundaries of the City of Abbeville, Louisiana, shall include all (previously Old Erath Road), thence westerly along the north centerline of Coulee Kinney; thence southerly along the present of the above described areas less and except the following five (5) right-of-way line of Rodeo Road (previously Old Erath Road) to its centerline of Coulee Kinney for a distance of 715.80 feet to a unincorporated islands: intersection with the east property line of Paul D. Trahan; thence point; thence along a bearing of S 85 04' 02" E to a point which is N 00 05' 25" W a distance of 815.61 feet; thence N 00 16' 29" E a the west property line belonging to David Thompson whose Area / distance of 765.09 feet; thence S 89 57' 55" W a distance of address is 1216 Carolyn Drive; thence south along said property Commencing at a point of reference, said point being the intersec- 1,209.90 feet to its intersection with the extension of the east line to the southern right-of-way line of Carolyn Drive; thence tion of the south right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass property line of the Vermilion Parish School Board property; easterly along the southern right-of-way line of Carolyn Drive (Summers Drive) and the east right-of-way line of U.S. Highway thence northerly along the extension of the east property line of approximately 380 feet to the west property line of corner lot 167; thence northerly along the east right-of-way line of U.S. High- the Vermilion Parish School Board Property and continuing along located at the southwest corner of Carolyn Drive and Coulee way 167 to a point of intersection with the north line of the Roger said property line to its intersection with the Southwest corner of Kinney Drive, said point being 300 feet west of the centerline of Edwards et al property; thence westerly along said property line's the property owned by the City of Abbeville for the electrical Coulee Kinney Drive; thence southerly along said property line to bearing to a point of intersection with the west right-of-way line substation; thence along the south property line S 89 56' W for a a point which is parallel and 300 feet south of Carolyn Drive; of U.S. Highway 167, said point being the point of beginning; distance of 250.0 feet to the southeast corner of said property; thence westerly along said line being parallel and 300 feet south thence westerly along said property line's bearing to a point, said thence along the east property line S 00 04' E for a distance of of Carolyn Drive to its intersection with the centerline of Coulee point being approximately 1,595 feet east of the east right-of-way 250.0 feet to the northeast corner of said property and also the Kinney; thence southerly along the centerline of Coulee Kinney to of Coulee Kinney Road; thence along a bearing of N 10 01' E for northern boundary of Sunrise Gardens; thence in a northwesterly a point which is parallel and 100 feet south of Bruno Street; a distance of 75 feet plus or minus to the north property line of the direction along the northern boundary line of Sunrise Gardens and thence easterly along a line which is parallel and 100 feet south of Elix Breaux property; thence easterly along the north property line continuing to a point which is the southern right-of-way line of Bruno Street to its intersection with the western right-of-way of of the Elix Breaux property to the west right-of-way line of U.S. Louisiana State Highway 338; thence along the southern Coulee Kinney Drive; thence southerly along the western Highway 167; thence southerly along the west right-of-way line right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 338 on a bearing of S 49 right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney Drive to a said point located on of U.S. Highway 167 for a distance of 75 feet plus or minus to a 00'00" W a distance of 35.81 feet to a point being the intersection the north property line of Tract 1 of the Dudley John LeBlanc point, said point being the point of beginning. of the southern right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 338 and the Heirs' property; thence along a bearing of N 79 41' 24" W for a eastern right of-way line of Wildcat Road; thence along an distance of 336.24 feet to a point; thence along a bearing of N 79 Area 2 extension of the eastern right-of-way line of Wildcat Road to its 26' 10" W for a distance of 1,006.29 feet to a point; thence along a Commencing at a point of reference, said point being the intersec- intersection with the Northwest right-of-way of Lafitte Road bearing of N 80 05' 38" W for a distance of 456.82 to a point of tion of the south right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Louisiana Highway No. 338);thence proceeding S 48° 56'07" W intersection along the east bank of Coulee Kinney; thence (Summers Drive) and the west right-of-way line of Coulee Kinney along the Northwest right-of-way line of Lafitte Road a distance of continuing along the east bank of Coulee Kinney along a bearing Drive to a point; thence westerly along the south right-of-way 30.39 feet to a point; thence proceeding N 79° 57' 29" W a of S 06 34' 36" E for a distance of 66.12 feet to a point, and line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Summers Drive) to a point distance of 889.41 feet to a point; thence proceeding S 10° 00'00" continuing along a bearing of S 19 29'41" W for a distance of being located at the northwest corner of Ray Chevrolet-Olds, Inc. W a distance of 529.26 feet to a point which is the north right of 63.45 feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 45 57' property, said point being the point of beginning; thence southerly way line of East Jane Street; thence westerly along the north 19" W for a distance of 103.41 feet to a point, and continuing along the west boundary of Ray Chevrolet-Olds, Inc. property for right-of-way line of East Jane Street to its intersection with the along a bearing of S 76 14' 26" W for a distance of 152.25 feet to a distance of 259.4 feet to the southwest corner of Ray Chevrolet- southwest corner of Lot 10 of “Plantation Ridge: The Estates"; a point, and continuing along a bearing of S 70 31'21" W for a Olds, Inc. property; thence easterly along the south boundary of thence N10°00'00"E, 529.80 feet to a '2" I.R. which is the N.W. distance of 120.02 feet to a point, and continuing along a bearing corner of Lot 10 of “Plantation Ridge: The Estates"; thence of S 68 58'48" W for a distance of 128.35 feet to a point, and PUBLIC NOTICE CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

T u e s d a y , M a r c h 2 3 , 2 0 2 1Page 10 Tuesday, March 23, 2021Page

Ray Chevrolet-Olds, Inc. property to the northwestern corner of rent City of Abbeville Corporate Limit Line; thence S 79 46' 52" E Karl Francis Malcombe property; thence proceeding along a bear- a distance of 243.01 feet to the northeast corner of the unincor- ing of N1316'10"E a distance of 145.21 feet to a point; thence pro- porated island designated as Area 4 and the west bank of the ceeding along a bearing of N7947'39"W a distance of 320.36 feet Vermilion River, said point being the point of beginning. to a point, which if the western right of way line of Coulee Kinney Drive; thence southerly along the west right-of-way of Coulee Kin- Area 4a ney Drive to its intersection with the north boundary of May Prime- Commencing at a point of beginning, said point being the inter- aux Subdivision; thence along a bearing of N 82 44' 06" W for a section of the south right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 distance of 517.34 feet; thence along a bearing of S 10 56' W for Bypass (Summers Drive) and the east right-of-way line of U.S. a distance of 138.95 feet; thence along a bearing of S 80 48'40" E Highway 167 (Park Avenue); thence easterly along the south for a distance of 10.0 feet; thence along a bearing of S 1056 W for right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Summers a distance of 50.02 feet; thence along a bearing of N 80 48' 40" Drive) to its intersection with the west bank of the Vermilion River; W for a distance of 10.0 feet; thence along a bearing of S 1056 W thence southerly along the west bank of the Vermilion River to its for a distance of 150.0 feet; thence along a bearing of S 80 48' 40" intersection with the northeast corner of Riverfront, LLC property; E for a distance of 96.23 feet; thence along a bearing of S 10 56' thence S 79 46' 52" E a distance of 562.42 feet to an iron rod W for a distance of approximately 300 feet to the south right-of- which is the east right-of-way of U.S. Highway 167 (Park Avenue); way line of Old Kaplan Highway; thence westerly along the south thence northerly along the east right-of-way of U.S. Highway right-of-way line of Old Kaplan Highway to its intersection with the 167 (Park Avenue) to its intersection with the south right-of-way extension of the east right-of-way line of the interconnecting road of Louisiana Highway 14 (Summers Drive), said point being the between Louisiana State Highway 14 (Port Street) and Louisiana point of beginning. State Highway 14 Bypass (Summers Drive); thence northerly along the east right-of-way line of said interconnecting road to a Area 5 point on the south right-of-way line of Louisiana State Highway 14 Commencing at a point of beginning, said point being formed by Bypass (Summer Drive); thence easterly along the south right-of- the intersection of the south right-of-way line of Nunez Avenue way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Summers Drive) to a and the west line of the Les Maison's De Whitney Subdivision, point located at the northwest corner of Ray Chevrolet-Olds, Inc. (Helen M. Thompson property); thence southerly along the west property, said point being the point of beginning. line of Les Maison's De Whitney Subdivision for a distance of 301.65 feet to the point of intersection with the north property Area 4 line of Ray A. & Lois L. Trahan; thence westerly along the north Commencing at a point of reference, said point being the south property line of Ray A. & Lois L. Trahan and continuing along the right-of-way line of Louisiana Highway 14 Bypass (Summers north property line of Sidney J. LeBlanc to its intersection with the Drive) and the west bank of the Vermilion River; thence south- east right-of-way line of South State Street; thence northerly along erly along the west bank of the Vermilion River to its intersection the east right-of-way line of South State Street to its intersection with the northeast corner of Riverfront, LLC Property; thence S with the westerly extension of the south right-of-way line of Nunez 09°29'56" W a distance of 79.28 feet; thence S 20°27'30" W a Avenue; thence easterly along the said extension and continuing distance of 81.47 feet; thence S 07° 12' 32" W a distance of 18.25 along the south right-of-way line of Nunez Avenue to the point of feet, said point being the point of beginning; thence southerly beginning. along the west bank of Vermilion River to its intersection with the south property line of Lot 7 of the Motty Estate Partition; thence Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective upon westerly along the southern boundary of said Lot 7 to its intersec- execution by the Mayor. tion with the east right-of-way of U.S. Highway 167 (Park Avenue); CERTIFICATE thence northerly along the east right-of way of U.S. Highway 167 This ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon (Park Avenue) to its intersection with the southwestern property was as follows: I, Tina M. Broussard, Registrar of Voters, in and for Vermilion corner of the Houma Dollar Partners property and a found iron Parish, Louisiana, do hereby certify that I have, this day, examined rod; thence S 79° 54' 31" E along a line common with property of YEAS: 5 the records of this office and inspected all the property included Mike Guilbeaux, 506 Park Avenue, a distance of 230.37 feet to NAYS: 0 within the Petition for Annexation, and further described as a found "A" iron rod; thence N 10°37'42" E along a common line ABSENT: 0 (811 Coulee Kinney Rd) located in SEC 46 T12 R3E and (819 with property of Reggie O. Motty or assigns, a distance of 114.03 Coulee Kinney Rd) located in SEC 46 T 12 R3E, do certify that feet to a found." iron rod; thence S 79° 46' 52" E a distance of And the ordinance was declared adopted on this, the 16th day of our review reflects that the petition as submitted, does not have 145.71 feet; thence, N 1037'42" E to its intersection with the cur- March, 2021. any registered voters residing within the area described, and at present is proposed to be commercial purpose. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Signed in Abbeville, Louisiana, this gth day of March, 2021. LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND OTHER SIMILAR GROUPS ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT GENERAL INFORMATION ON LOCAL MEETINGS. THE NOTICES WILL APPEAR AS SPACE ALLOWS, AND WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE GENERAL MANAGER.

Briggs/Abbeville United American Legion Auxiliary ning at 6:30 p.m., at the American Food For Families AAA Methodist Church food pantry Vermilion Unit 29 in Abbeville Legion Home located at 3319 Comeaux Park, Abbeville distrib- distribution days are every month. meets 1st Thursday of every Veterans Memorial Drive. If you utes food for Seniors every 1st 1st Friday Seniors and disabled. month at 5:30 p.m. in the office are a veteran, whether male or Tuesday of the Month except holi- 2nd, 3rd, 4th Fridays everyone building adjacent to the Hall locat- female, and are interested in join- days. People 60 or over who wish else. ed at 3319 Veterans Memorial Dr. ing the American Legion, please to participate must bring proof of (PUBLISHED: MARCH 23, 2021) Always looking for volunteers to contact us at 337-652-6300. You income, date of birth and number #193 P.H.A. 1002 Dr. Martin Alcohol Rehabilitation and Acadiana Lupus Support help with our programs and work would be welcomed as a valued of persons per household. Luther King Dr. Monthly meet- Education PUBLIC SERVICE Group Meetings 10:00 am - within the community. Come by member of the American Legion ing 1st and 3rd Friday of every ANNOUNCEMENT With the 12:00 pm, Second Saturday of and see what we are about. FMI and Vermilion Post 29. Gamblers Anonymous month at 7:30 p.m. Meal served. opiate crisis running rampant, each month. Goodwill’s Corporate call 337-893-8681. Meeting - every Monday at 6:30 If you have any questions call families are looking for ways to Office 2435 W. Congress Street, The Christian Service p.m. at the Vermilion Parish Sect. Garland Bolden Sr. 337- help those they love who need Lafayette, LA. (park in back) For Abuse Victims Support Center distributes food Monday Library-Abbeville Branch in 255-6286. treatment. Getting them into more info contact Michelle Stelly Groups Abbeville Faith House - Thursday and also daily lunch- Meeting Room A, 405 E. St. treatment becomes even harder at 337-280-3274 Outreach offers a Support es are served in the St Vincent Victor St. in Abbeville. FMI call Maple Chapter #36 Holy if their loved one is not willing. Group for victims of domestic DePaul Soup Kitchen. Provide Brenda @ 937-4192 or Hassan Royal Arch P.H.A. 1002 Dr. Martin This is when Intervention can Mobile Library (Bookmobile) violence on Thursdays at 5 p.m. proof of income. @ (337)652-5234. Luther King Dr. Monthly Meeting become key. To learn more Monday: Pecan Island, VPAP Call 893-3033 for info. Similarly, 2nd Friday of every month at 7:30 about successful interventions, (Maurice), Vermilion Health the Sexual Abuse Response Erath Knights of Columbus Jeff Bowles #4 Knight p.m. Meal served. If you have please visit, https://www.nar- Care (Nunez). Tuesday: Kid's Center offers free counseling. Council 3872 meets the first Templar, P.H.A. 1002 Dr. Martin any questions call Sect. Garland cononnewliferetreat.org/blog/ Connection Day care (Meaux), FMI call 898-9555. Tuesday of the month. At 6:30 Luther King Dr. Monthly Meeting Bolden Sr. 337-255-6286. intervention-101.html Lighthouse (Abbeville) or Maurice p.m. to eat and the meeting starts 2nd Thursday of every month Head Start, Indian Bayou, Maison Acquired and Traumatic at 7:00 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. Meal served. If The Marine Corps League ADDICTION SCREENINGS Du Monde (Abbeville), East Brain Injury Support Group you have any questions call Sect. "LT. Dronet" Detachment of Narconon can help you take Ridge Nursing Home (Abbeville). Meeting the 3rd Tuesday of each Erath American Legion Garland Bolden Sr. 337-255- Erath, La. holds its meeting every steps to overcome addiction in Wednesday: Country Bears Head month at 6:00 pm. 101 Guillot Meeting Post #279 meets every 6286. 1st Wednesday of the month at your family. Call today for free Start (Forked Island) or Little Rd., Youngsville, LA 70592. For second Thursday of the month 1830 hrs. Meetings are held screenings or referrals. 1- 800- Einstein Head Start (Erath), FIEB, more information contact: (337) at the American Legion Home, Kaplan Knights of at American Legion Post 29 in 431-1754 Lighthouse Christian Academy 856-1964 or (877) 852-1964. 605 N. Gin St., Erath (off of the Columbus Council 2913 meets Abbeville. We are marines help- (Abbeville). Thursday: Honey www.abicenter.com. Support by-pass). A meal is served begin- on the third Monday of the month ing marines. All marines active, TOPS LA 0526 ERATH Bears Head Start (Gueydan), groups are provided free of ning at 6:00 p.m. If you are a at 6:30 p.m. at the K. C. home. reserve, or former marines and (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Gueydan Guest House or charge. Veteran, whether male or female, Meal is served before meeting. any corpsman that served in FMF Meets every Thursday at Abbeville Head Start, Harvest and are interested in joining the are welcome to attend. FMI call 10:00am Time (Abbeville), Little People Alcoholics Anonymous, American Legion, please con- Kaplan Lions Club Meets Glenn Suire (337() 893-8164. in the Erath Library Meeting Day care (Abbeville). Narconon meets daily at 12:00 tact us at 337-937-5675. You on the Second Thursday of the Room. For more information, noon and 7:00 p.m. Alanon would be welcomed as a valued month at 6:00 PM at the KC Hall NAACP Vermilion Parish call American Legion LeJeune- meets Monday and Thursday at member of the American Legion in Kaplan. Meal is served. Unit #6276-B monthly meeting 337-573-7053. TOPS is an Boudreaux Post 271 in Kaplan 12:00 noon. People with drug and Post 279. We also have every 4th Saturday of the month international weight loss sup- holds its regular meetings on the addictions can call Narconon at an Honor Guard and are always Links Des Pink Meeting 11:00 a.m. will be a zoom meet- port group. last Wednesday of every month. 1-337-991-0830. looking to sign up new members. held 2nd Tuesday of Each ing. Meetings start at 6:00 p.m. at the Month at 6:00 p.m. Contact Meeting ID 836 984 1306 N A Spokesman to meet Legion Home. A meal is served The Legionnaires of the Emotions Anonymous [email protected] passcode 925944 about your addiction. Call following the meeting. New American Legion, Vermilion meeting every Saturday - 10:30 or www.linksdespink.org. for an appointment, ED 337- members are always welcome. Post 29, meet every 3rd - 11:30 AM. Kaplan Parish Library. New Life Retreat Drug and 417-0582 Wednesday of the month, begin- Live Oak Masonic Lodge the Abbevile Meridional

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RETIRED ATTORNEY OFFERING AT YOUR HOME SERVICES FOR WILLS ,SUCCESSIONS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Following my 43 year law practice retirement in 2017, I have prepared and officiated hundreds of wills and powers of attorney in my “House Call” Services for clients who call on me for this important work to be done.

Unless you have a child under the age of 24 or one any age at your death (who because of mental incapacity or physical infirmity is permanently incapable of taking care of his person or Administering his estate), in most instances you have the legal right to leave all or part of your property and assets to anyone if you execute an enforceable will before dying.

Louisiana Law provides automatic inheritance without a will to classes of survivors such as sur- viving children, collaterals and parents, but you will need to execute an enforceable will if you desire to leave all or parts of your estate to non-relatives, or if you want to be specific as to who inherits what.

Family owned and operated since 1957 Dying without an enforceable will means that Louisiana Law determines who will inherit from  you. Leaving an enforceable will allows the comfort of knowing which specific persons will inherit  specific assets from you.   Wills will be prepared after I meet with you in your home, and will be formally executed in your home. My services will be from $150 to $300 - with no additional costs or expenses - and the   client will receive a written binding quote before I leave your house. A will can easily be changed or   revoked.  Powers of attorney are important to allow a person’s spouse, relative or trusted friend to conduct his business and take charge of his medical treatment in times of disability. They are  cancellable at will. Fee for preparation is $150, with no additional costs or expenses.  Call for law Fee LOUIS GARROT  to handle Successions Abbeville, LA (337) 652-8618 

Page 12 Abbeville Meridional Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Meyers wins Louisiana Classic track meet Meyers throws personal best 154-6 in javelin Claire Meyers, a 2016 North Ver- season at UL so I wanted to come out milion High graduate, posted a first- of the gates swinging and start the place finish for the Louisiana Ragin’ season off on a good note. I’m satisfied Cajuns Track and Field team in her with Friday’s performance and can’t first outdoor meet in nearly two years wait to see what the rest of my last after the opening day of the Louisiana season holds.” Classics on Friday at the Ragin’ Ca- Meyers is set to graduate from UL juns Track/Soccer Facility. in May with a finance degree. Meyers, a senior, closed out the Brookelyn Wilson, making her first event of the day for Louisianafirst appearance in the women’s dis- as she moved up the school’s all-time cus for Louisiana, cleared 175-11 on list after claiming the women’s jav- her third attempt of the day as her elin with a personal-best throw of 154 mark solidly placed her in second- feet, 6 inches. The mark eclipsed her place on the Ragin’ Cajuns all-time previous best (151-9) set in 2019 and performance list and behind the was the second-best throw in school school-record (180-11) set by Jo Jo history behind the school-record set Harris. by Dorsey Steamer (160-1) in 1993. Brooke Appiah led a 1-2-3-4 finish “My winning throw felt good com- for Louisiana in the men’s 200-meter ing out of my hand but it was hard to dash after clocking a time of 21.24 tell due to the cold weather and the seconds. Nathan Fergusson (21.70), windy conditions,” said Meyers. Trejun Jones (21.75) and Terroll Jolla It was the first time she won the (21.96) followed for Louisiana, which Louisiana Classic Meet, after finish- placed six runners in the top-20. ing second and third. She wanted to Kiana Foster posted a time of begin her final year at UL with a -vic 25.03 in the women’s 200-meters for tory. Louisiana with Ta’La Spates (25.40) “I had high hopes going into Fri- finishing fifth and Reina Ryan (25.56) day’s competition and was hoping to eighth. Freshman Haley Salsbury improve my personal best distance placed eighth overall in the women’s so I was definitely glad with the end5,000-meters (19:37.33) for the Ragin’ Claire Meyers gets ready to throw the javelin at the Louisiana Clas- results, especially with the weather! Cajuns. sic’s Meet this past Friday. (Photo by Andre Broussard) I was pumped to open up my senior

Kaplan junior Katie Romero, in a relay race Joel Allen of Erath paces himself while run- Abbeville’s Javion Boudreaux ran a sprint two weeks ago, ran the 1600 meter race in Ab- ning the 3200 race. Allen won the race in a race on Friday. (Photo by Ethan Trangmar) beville. (photo by Ethan Trangmar) time of 10:15.0. (Photo by Ethan Trangmar) Results of the René Trahan Memorial Track Meet Results of Abbeville’s Rene Trah- 20-7. 2, Cade Dardar, AES, 19-5. 3, 17.31. 3,, Kendalyn Morgan, A, 17.52. an Memorial Track Meet held Friday Hayden Frederick, DEL, 19-2. 300 hurdles – 1, Remi Pierre, N, at JH Williams Middle. Triple jump– 1, Everette Prejean, 51.40. 2, Scroggins, NV, 54.31. 3, NW, 39-6. 2, Kashaun Leonard, N, Dusti Abshire, HB, 55.46. BOYS 39-3. 3, Dillenger Respert, NHS, 38-5. High jump – 1, Shea Lee, CHNI, RELAYS TEAM SCORES: 1, Northwest, 98. 5-6. 2, Jordyn O’Brian, ABB, 5-6. 3, 2, Ascension Episcopal, 93. 3, Erath, Jade Anders, AES, 5-6. 4x100 – 1, Northwest , 51.11. 2, 59. 4, Northside, 53½. 5, Abbeville, Pole vault – 1, Luke Pacetti, DEL, Northside, 51.31. 3, Abbeville, 51.59. 53. 6, Highland Baptist, 52. 7, North 12-0. 2, Beau Beallieu, CHNI, 11-0. 3, 4x200 – 1, Northside, 1:45.00. Vermilion, 40. 8, Kaplan, 35½. 9, Eric Bourque, VC, 7-6. 2, Northwest, 1:49.50. 3, Abbeville, Catholic-NI, 32. 10,Vermilion Catho- 1:50.30. lic, 28. 11, Loreauville, 23. 12, Del- OUTSTANDING TRACK - Jawes- 4x400 – 1, Northside, 4:20.00. 2, cambre, 21. ki Joseph, Highland Northwest, 4:33.00. 3, Delcambre, OUTSTANDING FIELD - Clay 4:44.00. RUNNING EVENTS Ancelet, AES 4x800 – 1, ARCA, 11:42.56. 2, OUTSTANDING PERFORMER - North Vermilion, 12:27.30. 3, Vermil- 100 – 1, Joseph Chiasson, NHS, Ethan Guidry, North Vermilion ion Catholic, 12:39.53. 11.21. 2, Ethan Guidry, NV, 11.24. 3, Kevin Trice, ABB,11.34. GIRLS FIELD EVENTS 200 – 1, Jaworski Joseph, HB, 22.00. 2, Joseph Chiasson, NHS, TEAM SCORES: (tied) 1, Ascen- Shot put – 1, Marin Barras, HB,32- 22.21. 3, Mitchell Collie, NHS, 22.50. sion Episcopal, Northside, 106. 3, 5.5. 2, Abigail Rochthofen, CHNI, 32- 400 – 1, Jaworski Joseph, HB, North Vermilion, 78. 4, Highland 6. 3, Johna Lewis, NV, 32-6. 52.77. 2, Caleb Jacob, LOR, 52.92. 3, Baptist, 72. 5, Northwest, 69. 6,- VerDiscus – 1, Marin Barras, HB, Gabe Clement, KAP, 53.32. milion Catholic, 40. 7, Delcambre, 114-11.5. 2,Megan Colomb, AES, 105- 800 – 1, Landon Meche, AES, North Vermilion’s Ethan Guidry Catholic-NI, 30. 9, ARCA, 27. 10, Ka- 11.5. 3, Richthofen, CHNI, 97-9.5. 2:05.00. 2, Joel Allen, EHS, 2:07.00. was named the Outstanding Per- plan, 16. 11, Abbeville, 14. 12, Erath, Javelin – 1, Abigail Lopez, NV, 99- 3, Dylan Trahan, NV, 2:12.00. former at the René Trahan Me- 5. 7. 2, LeAne Brown, NV,97-6. 3, Syd - 1,600 – 1, Dylan Trahan, NV, morial Track and Meet on Fri- ney Brown, AES, 92-6. 4:55.50. 2, Neil Mason, HB, 5:17.30.day. Guidry won the long jump RUNNING EVENTS Long jump – 1, Nyah Mitchell, 3, Johnny Clark, HB, 5:20.50. (20-7) and was second in the 100 AES, 15-2. 2, Alaysia Veal, NHS, 14- 3,200 – 1, Joel Allen, Erath, meter dash. 100 – 1, Nyah Mitchell, A, 12.46. 10.25. 3, Arie Fergusn, N, 14-6.5. 10:15.0. 2, Jason LeBlanc, Erathside, , 3:43.0. 2, Quincy Simon, NHS, 12.49. 3, Arya Triple jump – 1, Thibodeaux, NHS, 10:27.0. 3, Mason, HB, 11:42.0. 4x800 – 1, Erath, 9:09.78. 2, North- Pitre, NW, 12.69. 32-5.5. 2, Aimee Mouton, AES, 31-0. 110 hurdles – 1, Rashad Cormier, west, 9:18.80. 3, Northside, 9:29.30. 200 – 1, Demeisha George, NHS, 3, Xaveay Breaux, Nhs, 30-4. ABB, 16.02. 2, Joseph, HB, 16.59. 3, 25.47. 2, Pitre, NW, 26.03. 3, Ava High jump – 1, Lainie Broussard, Cade Dardar, AES, 17.76. Langlinais,EHS, 27.50. VC, 4-10. 2, Alaysia Veal, NhS, 4-8. 3, 300 hurdles – 1, Rashad Cormier, FIELD EVENTS 400 – 1, Simon, NHS, 1:02.73. 2, Ansa Jones, VC, 4-6 ABB, 41:31. 2, Jonque Randell, NHS, Kamryn Darby, DEL, 1:08.06. 3, Ja- Pole vault – 1, Meg Gravell, AES, 42.31. 3, Dontravious George, NHS, Shot put – 1, Nicholas Vallair, N, neisha Collins, N, 1:06.46. 8-6. 2, Meryah Harwin, KAP, 8-6. 3, 42.43. 49-5. 2, Kavon Comeaux, KAPLAN, 800 – 1, Makyra Thibodeaux, Megan Champagne, HB, 6-0. 41-10. 3, ,Clay Ancelet, AES, 41-0. NHS, 2:39.0. 2, Riley Lipria, ARCA, RELAYS Discus – 1, Clay Ancelet, AES,123- 2:53.0. 3, Sara West, A, 2:54.0. OUTSTANDING TRACK – Quin- 3. 2, Jade Zevon, VC, 118-2. 3, Gavin 1,600 – 1, Sara Godley, A, 6:13.0. cy Simon, Northside. 4x100 – 1, Northwest, 45.38. 2, Lo- Broussard, EHS, 112-2. 2, Emma Blissett, HB, 6:20.00. 3, Kal- reauville, 45.44. 3, VCHS, 45.93. Javelin – 1, Matthew Remon- ynn Beacon, N, 6:30.0. OUTSTANDING FIELD – Marin 4x200 – 1, Ascension Episcopal, det, AES, 148-6. 2, Trace Williams, 3,200 – 1, Godley, A, 13:39.80. 2, Barras, Highland Baptist. 1:33.59. 2, Northwest, 1:34.30. 3, Ab- CHNI,144-3. 3, Johnathan Mathews, Blissett, HB, 13:59.80. 3, Audrey Ar- beville, 1:34.34. ABB, 132-6. mentor, EHS, 14:33.50. OUTSTANDING PERFORMER – 4x400 – 1, Ascension Episcopal, Long jump – 1, Ethan Guidry, NV, 100 hurdles – 1, Amelie Bouton, Nyah Mitchell, AES. 3:41.0. 2, Northwest, 3:42.0. 3, North- DEL, 17.0. 2, Hannah Scroggins, NV,