Partly Cloudy The HIGH 95˚ LOW 75˚ 20% chance of rain Oakdale Journal THURSDAY Serving Oakdale and Allen Parish July 16, 2020 Volume 106 Number 29 www.allenparishtoday.com $1.00 APSB prepares for new year, Gov. Edwards attempts mask shares valuable information mandate for LA residents CARISSA HEBERT tion would be Monday, August 3rd. CARISSA HEBERT older, will now be required to wear LSN Editor All teachers would begin a four-day LSN Editor a mask in the state unless that par- in-service meeting on Tuesday, Au- ish is not considered a hotspot and The Allen Parish School Board gust 4, and the start of school for stu- In a press conference Saturday, meets guidelines he discussed. The heard from the administration on dents would move to Monday, August Governor John Bel exceptions to the mask its work to prepare to reopen school 10. Edwards said he would be while consum- didn’t want to re- ing drink or food, giving and agreed to consider calling for four “We have decided to postpone stu- turn the state to speeches, for ID purposes renewal tax elections at its meeting dents reporting until Monday to give our schools a little extra time to pre- Phase One, so he or if they had an illness Monday night, July 13. pare for such an unusual opening would make three preventing them from In his comments, Superintendent of school. Our office staff is working changes as of 12:01 wearing a mask. Second, Kent Reed said the district admin- diligently to prepare for school open- a.m. Monday, July Edwards closed all bars, istrator meeting always indicated ing while information and updates 20, that would affect regardless if they served it was time to reopen school. That change daily. This has been a very residents of Loui- food or not, at 12:01 a.m. meeting was scheduled to take place difficult process, but we will continue siana but kept the state in Phase Monday. He said those serving food Monday, July 27, and Tuesday, July (See APSB, Page 4) Two. (See MASKS, Page 2) 28. He noted new teacher orienta- First, all residents, age eight and COVID-19 closures COURTNEY HENRY CARISSA HEBERT LSN Editors OAKDALE Oakdale’s city hall building has been closed due to the employees possible exposure of COVID-19. The building will be closed to the public while the office runs with a limited staff until further notice. The city has released a statement on Facebook that SURVIVOR: Wade Berzas (right) spoke on Sunday to Christ Church about the December 2019 plane crash that took the lives if you should need assistance you can call the follow- of the five other passengers who were on their way to see LSU play a playoff game in Atlanta. Pictured right is some of the ing numbers: scorched debris from the crash. (Photos courtesy of The Advocate and LSN photo by Tony Marks) Mayor’s Office: 318-335-1111 City Hall: 318-335-3629 Payment options for the public are to pay over the phone or you can drop them in the drop box at city Lafayette plane crash hall. Oakdale’s Mayor Gene Paul said, “We encouraged all our employees to be tested. Of the 12 that were tested eight have come back negative. We are still waiting on the final four results. We are just taking survivor shares his story this precaution to ensure the safety of our employes and citizens. When we get the results for everyone if COURTNEY HENRY said he had spent the evening of “I saw one thing as the plane they are all negative, we will reopen normal opera- Editor the 27th frustrated with life, work was going down it was a picture of tions. Hopefully by Thursday. “ and family. He had a “God sized my family. It was a picture I had When it comes to life no one hole in his heart.” placed on my vision board of my OBERLIN knows just how quickly it can He said the day of the 28th be- entire family and we were united. change better than Wade Ber- gan with excitement and he was As I landed in the field I remem- OBERLIN - The Town of Oberlin has been deal- zas. Berzas was the lone survivor prepared for the day to be one of ber the first thing I said was ‘not ing with COVID-19 cases at the town hall, and it in the December 28th crash that his best. He said, “I just knew it today, you don’t get me today.’ has been closed to the public until further notice. took down his airplane on the way was going to be a cool day getting “It was that drive that got me Mayor Joseph “Moochie” Manuel, who is one of to the LSU vs the University of to spend time with one of my very up and allowed me to walk out of the persons testing positive, said the town hall was Oklahoma playoff game in Atlan- best friends and watch the LSU that plane into the muddy field. I closed late Monday, July 6. The inside has been ta, Ga. playoff game. don’t know how far away I made sanitized. All town customers wishing to pay bills “It was 48 seconds. That is “That morning I got up, boarded it before I collapsed to my knees. or send correspondence can use the drop box. If how long it took for everything to a private jet and was just starting I wasn’t sure how I was going to other business is necessary, residents can call the change,” Berzas said on Sunday, to complain that I had forgotten make it when I started to pray. town hall. (The mayor was feeling better at press July 12, when he addressed the to bring playing cards when it all After a few moments I saw two time.) congregation of Christ Church. happened one moment we were men headed towards me. These Manuel said employees, who have not tested pos- He was invited to give his testi- taking off and the next I was just guys helped me to the road where itive, are working in the field, so the town is still mony and share with the congre- sitting in a field alone, every part I waited for an ambulance. After operating. He said they were taking all precautions gation his story of will. of me burned, I was still strapped making it into the ambulance I to make sure everyone was safe from the virus. He His story began by him telling into my airplane seat from take- never once thought that I wasn’t about how he wasn’t where he off. They said the entire crash was (See CLOSURES, Page 3) (See SURVIVOR, Page 3) needed to be with the Lord. He 48 seconds. Abrusley announces candidacy Primary results shown Luke Abrusley is pleased to an- CARISSA HEBERT votes), Bernard “Bernie” Sanders, nounce that he is seeking the office LSN Editor Andrew Young (both with 5 percent, of Ward 5 Judge for the City of Oak- 36 votes) and Elizabeth Warren (3 dale, Louisiana. In unofficial results of the Loui- percent, 20 votes). After graduating Oakdale High siana 2020 Presidential Preference Early voting in Allen Parish pro- School in the year 2000, Luke Abru- Primary, held Saturday, July 11, duced 241 ballots with 191 or 79 sley attended LSU in Baton Rouge at press time, Louisiana Demo- percent cast for Biden. Sanders was earning a Bachelor’s degree in Po- crats chose Joseph R. Biden for the the closest nominee with 11 votes (5 litical Science in 2004. He then at- Democratic nominee and President percent). Statewide, Biden received tended South Texas College of Law Donald J. Trump for the Republican 80 percent (212,267) of the votes and graduated with a Juris Doctor- nominee. cast. There was a total of 266,941 ate degree in 2007. He passed the Democrats Democrats casting their ballot in Texas State Bar in 2007 and the The Democratic party had 14 the state. Louisiana State Bar in 2009. He candidates on the ballot for the Biden, the former vice president, practiced in Texas for a year and presidential nomination. Joseph R. became the presumptive nominee then moved back to his hometown of Biden led the race in Allen Parish. after Senator Bernie Sanders sus- Biden received 70 percent of the pended his campaign and endorsed Oakdale, Louisiana in June of 2008. Luke Abrusley Luke Abrusley has worked as the votes in the parish with 546 of the Biden on April 8, 2020. To be elected Juvenile prosecutor for Allen Par- 785 ballots cast. Following Biden as the Democratic candidate in the (See ABRUSLEY, Page 2) ish, the Child Protection prosecutor were Michael Bennet (6 percent, 48 (See POLLS, Page 2) INDEX Great products are OBITUARIES...........3 only the beginnning. LEGALS....................5 CLASSIFIED............7 Oakdale Operations CHURCH..................8 www.BC.com/wood The Oakdale Journal, Thursday, July 16, 2020 - Page 2 n ABRUSLEY The Oakdale Journal Continued From Page 1 318-729-8044 “Serving the information and communication needs and the city prosecutor. He also practices im- was voted “Lion of the Year” for the year 2015- of our community by providing quality products at migration law at the Federal Immigration court 2016. He is a member of the Oakdale Booster superior value while fulfilling our civic responsibility.” and civil litigation in Parish District Courts as Club and served as President for three plus years Courtney Henry...........................Editor well as the State 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.