Eunice, area All-Parish high school softball team graduates announced featured today Page 7A The Eunice News VOL. 117 NO. 40 THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021 $1.00 Delinquent property Eunice Players’ Eunice, owners parish warned Theatre returns OPELOUSAS — Land- owners that are behind on their property taxes could see the parish take over spared their land, according to an announcement by St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard. “We have several land- flooding lords in the parish not paying their taxes but still collecting rent and By Harlan Kirgan making money off these Editor properties,” Bellard said. Despite heavy rain beginning Mon- If the taxes on a proper- day, Eunice and St. Landry Parish ty haven’t been paid, the have been spared any major flooding property becomes adjudi- Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said cated, he said. up 5 inches of rain may have fell on “The parish will at- Eunice since Monday, tempt to collect the tax, but problems have been and if not paid within 30 minimal. days, St. Landry Parish The issues have been will take over the proper- “pretty much day-to- ty and put it up for sale,” day things” cleared by Bellard said. city crews, he said. Each year the St. “Luckily we skirted Landry Parish Sheriff’s the worst of it,” he said. Office holds a tax sale “We can use some dry Scott Fontenot of various properties for weather,” he added. which the previous year’s St. Landry Parish President Jes- property taxes were not sie Bellard said, “Basically, right now paid. At this tax sale, everything we are doing is preparing. people may bid on these We know we are getting water. We properties and acquire a know we are going to tax title. Not every prop- have some flooding- is erty is bid on at the tax sues.” sale. The properties that Bellard added “We receive no bids are “adju- are ready for it. Drain- dicated” to the Parish St. age is the biggest issue Landry. Through this act in our parish. Drainage of adjudication, the par- is affecting everything ish is given a type of “tax we do in our parish.” deed” to the property. By Jessie Bellard Sandbags are avail- state law, the parish is au- able at the Yambilee thorized to sell the adjudi- building in Opelousas cated property. Kristi Burleigh, left, and Nathaniel Clark rehearse The production is the first for the Eunice Players’ and available to the municipalities, he “The parish doesn’t lines from “Aboveboard,” a play scheduled to be since the theater was shutdown by COVID-19. said. want the added liability staged in June at the Eunice Players’ Theatre. Photos by Harlan Kirgan) The rain that has occurred off and that comes with adjudi- on since Monday is helping pinpoint cated land,” Bellard said. areas where drainage is stopped up, “We offer it for sale if the property owner can’t keep Theater group restarts its 51st (See Rain, Page 10A) current on the taxes.” season interrupted by COVID-19 Panel OKs By Harlan Kirgan Editor mandatory The Eunice Players’ Theatre is scheduling the first production of its 51st season in June kindergarten after more than a year of its stage going dark due to the COVID-19 shutdown. By Emily Wood The last production of its 50th season was in LSU Manship School November 2019, said Gabe Ortego, president News Service of the group that’s been staging shows since BATON ROUGE — 1969. Volunteers work Saturday morning on Without taking any ac- “I’ve been doing theater for 20 years and the oratory of Our Lady of Eunice. (Photo by Myra Miller) tion itself, the House that was the longest break I’ve ever taken,” Education Committee Ortego said. “It is a little rough getting back on Tuesday forwarded a into the routine and having to go to rehears- bill making kindergarten als four nights a week.” Oratory for Our mandatory to the House “Aboveboard,” a comedy, is scheduled to Appropriations Commit- open June 10 with shows through June 26. Lady of Eunice tee to consider its possible This week is the fourth week of rehearsals $12 million price tag. for the show directed by Sharon Blankenship, underway Lawmakers said the bill Amy Maricle and Jeanne Eddins. Actors are could cost the state that Kristi Burleigh, April Miller , Gabrielle Reed, The construction on the oratory of much if there were to be a Nathaniel Clark and Ortego. Our Lady of Eunice on the grounds of 6% increase in kindergar- “We have a good group together. We are so St. Thomas More Catholic Church be- ten enrollment. lucky the theater was set up by the founding gan on April 8 with St. Thomas More parishioner and retired building con- The bill, Senate Bill 10, members and run in such a smart way that Gabe Ortego, president of the Eunice Play- would require children we were financially OK not producing shows,” tractor Larry Siebert leading an all- ers’ Theatre, holds a board with a history of the volunteer crew. turning 5 by September Ortego said. group. 30th of a calendar year “We had to wait until occupancy restrictions Funds to build the oratory were to attend kindergarten. were something we could recoup our money,” raised from the sale of bricks and a “We said, “OK, we can work with that,’” he plaque to be engraved with names of Present law does not he said. “You can’t recoup your money having said. mandate kindergarten to do 25 seats a night or 10 seats a night.” donors. The expected completion date The June opening was scheduled along with is sometime early August. attendance. A child in “We were waiting until it was safe especially two other shows this year to reopen the the- Louisiana is not required for our elderly. A lot of season ticket holders On Aug. 22, the Feast Day of the ater that was closed to productions through- Queenship of Mary, Bishop J. Doug- to start attending school are elderly,” he said. out 2020. until age 7. Restrictions aimed at suppressing the virus las Deshotel, bishop of the Diocese of “That’s the only year the theater hasn’t Lafayette, will celebrate Mass at St. “Ninety percent of the were eased to 50% capacity in March, Ortego produced other than 1981 when the roof col- said. (See Kindergarten, Page 10A) (See Theater, Page 5A) (See Oratory, Page 10A) NOW HIRING! $300 Sign-On Bonus! Starting $ 00 Pay 10 an hour Apply in Person at 601 W. Maple • 337-546-6629 2A Thursday, May 20, 2021 News The Eunice News www.eunicetoday.com LSU Eunice graduates Jennifer Weishaupt Ruby Slipper CEO b1BANK Client LSUE’s 2021 afternoon honor gradu- Gabrielle Thibodeaux, Caroline Naomi, ates, both summa and magna cum laude, Brooke Bagala, Jessica Benoit, Laina were, from left, Dr. John Hamlin, vice Belle, Valencia Thomas, Ke’ara Charles, chancellor of Academic Affairs, Alexis Shanequa Roberson, Dr. Nancee Soren- Speyrer, Heather Vezinat, Jame Bearb, son, LSUE chancellor, and Mary Leach Kaitlyn Wainwright, Heidi Guilbeau, Lacey Werner, LSU Board of Supervisors repre- Castille, Kaitlyn Killmer, Maggie Larriviere, sentative. (Submitted photo) Eimly Oliver, Carly Ortego, Tracie Klumpp, LSUE’s 2021 magna cum laude graduates Emily LeDoux, Jack Pullin, Kallie Johnson, photographed at the morning ceremony Kirsten Kidder, Carlie Bourque, Hanna were, from left, Alexis Fontenot, Dr. John Babineaux, Brooklyn Stoute, Daidun Du- Hamlin, vice chancellor of Academic Af- pre, Mary Leach Werner, LSU Board of Su- fairs, Meghan Comeaux, Hannah Burton, pervisors representative, and Dr. Nancee Julianne Pitre, Cameron McCall, Austin Sorenson, LSUE chancellor. (Submitted Andrishok, Nicholas Vallair, Jake Hardee, photo) LSUE’s 2021 summa cum laude gradu- Frey, Rebekah East, Luke Bischoff, Jacob ates were photographed at the morning Hammond, Logan Bogard, Brylee Siebert, graduation ceremony. From left, are Dr. Vivian Daigle, Owen LeJeune, Dr. John Nancee Sorenson, LSUE chancellor, Mary Hamlin, vice chancellor of Academic Af- Leach Werner, LSU Board of Supervisors fairs. (Submitted photo) representative, Olivia Campbell, Danielle BE T TER CA SH FLOW. St. Landry Academy graduates at LSUE Vallair, Jacob Barron, Camille Pitre, Anna were, from left, Ricky Julien Sr. Opelou- Bielstein, and Patrick Jenkins, St. Landry BE T TER sas Senior High School principal, Hayden Parish Schools superintendent. (Submitted Miller, Alahnnah Broussard, Nicholas photo) BUSINESS. Treasur y Management Acadia Parish Academy graduates at Scott Richard, Acadia Parish Schools LSUE were, from left, Dr. Nancee So- superintendent, and Christine Darjean, renson, LSUE chancellor, Daidun Dupre, Acadia Parish College & Career Readi- We believe commercial banking should Brylee Siebert, Vivian Daigle, Owen ness facilitator. (Submitted photo) LeJeune, Halli Ray, Meghan Comeaux, be personal. So whether it’s a f lexible business loan or high-tech treasury It’s That Time Again for Some... management services, b1BANK has the Fun In The Sun expert guidance you need. Join the Eunice Country Club Summer Pool! Membership th through Labor Day $300 - Friday, May 28 CALL FOR DETAILS ! OR TO JOIN TODAY Clubhouse Concession: 337-457-3273 • Snacks Available for Kids • Adult Beverages for Adults BE UNCOMPLICATED b1BANK.com Pool Hours: 10am - 6pm • Tuesday - Sunday Lifeguard on duty at all times! The Eunice News www.eunicetoday.com News Thursday, May 20, 2021 3A Eunice Police radio logs Parish jury convicts man of The following are - exported in the 1300 block of block of South 2nd Street cerpts from the EuniceWest Peach. advised that a subject was 1st-degree murder for killing girlfriend Police Department radio 09:30 Stolen vehicle re- sprayed with mace. dispatch logs. ported in the 1700 block of 14:40 Caller advised OPELOUSAS — An presented sufficient evi- 58 years old a time of the May 14 Amazon.