Hurricane Delta forces game changes Page 6 The Eunice News VOL. 116 NO. 82 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020 $1.00 Hurricane Delta headed Old Moosa to Louisiana hospital may Hurricane Delta is fore- cast to make landfall on Friday in southwest or south central Louisiana get asbestos as a category 2 or 3 storm. Life threatening storm surge, dangerous hur- cleanup ricane force winds, and heavy rain are expected along and east of the track By Harlan Kirgan of Delta as it moves inland Editor across Louisiana, accord- Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot says ing to the National Weath- a proposal that was to be presented er Service. at Wednesdays’ St. Landry Parish As of Wednesday morn- Council meeting is “as close as we’ve ing, hurricane watches ever been” to acting on the demoli- included St. Landry, Aca- tion of the old Moosa Hospital. dia, Evangeline, Iberia, The Council’s Aministrative- Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Finance Committee was to be pre- Mary, Vermilion, Allen, sented information about the former Calcasieu, Cameron and hospital. Jeff Davis parishes. Council Chairman Coby Clavier Storm surge watches said, “We feel if we can get rid of the included Acadia, Iberia, asbestos then we can finally put it St. Martin, St. Mary, Ver- to the market and hopefully sell it.” milion, Cameron and Jeff Darrell Smith, left, and Hannah Gumbo hold photos of Calvin Smith in front of a barn being painted by The condition on the sale would be Davis parishes. Gumbo. The 43-foot mural celebrates the life of Calvin Smith. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan) the hospital would be torn down. A storm surge watch “This is good news,” Clavier said. means the Weather Ser- Parish President Jessie Bellard vice expects to over 3 feet said there is enough money to start above ground level from the project. The asbestos removal storm surge flooding. would use hospital district money As of 10 a.m., Delta was Barn mural honors and additional funds from the par- almost to the Gulf of Mex- ish’s health unit. ico. It had winds of 105 Bellard said St. Landry Hospital mph and was forecast to District 1 Board has about $286,000 strengthen. on hand. An audit for the district on the barefoot Cajun dad Louisiana State Auditor ‘s website Eunice News lists cash and equivalents of $88,647 delivery notice and a $200,000 certificate of deposit By Harlan Kirgan “We decided that we wanted as of May 31. The Eunice News is Editor “His biggest love was to celebrate his life in a way The cost associated with the as- scheduled to be printed The Smith barn on La. 758 being a farmer and be- that we would see it every bestos removal has been cited as the on Thursday and delivery is getting a fresh coat of paint, day,” he said. reason for inaction on the building. is expected at the normal but it isn’t the usual job. ing with his wife and “I had met Hannah through Last year Clavier said estimates time on Saturday, weather Eunice artist Hannah his five children.” another friend and we con- were as high as $750,000 to demol- permitting. Gumbo has been working the — Darrell Smith tacted her,” Darrell said. “For ish the building. past three weeks on a barn about nine months we’ve been Bellard said regulatory changes mural depicting the life of Cal- planning this and it is now may be the reason the cost is re- Veterans Day vin Smith. we decided to create a legacy actually being executed.” duced. His son, Darrell, lives on to honor him,” Darrell said. Gumbo — her name as In 2019, the Eunice Board of Al- edition planned the property, and gives direc- “His DNA is imprinted all an artist — focused on the dermen passed a resolution asking tions as “eight curves or two over this land,” he said. family’s memories of Calvin the parish government to do some- The Eunice News will and half miles” away from Calvin Smith was a farmer Smith and decided on a quilt- honor area veterans in a thing with the old hospital that has U.S. 190. who also worked with the like design. The quilt pattern been vacant since 2005. special edition to be pub- Calvin Smith died when he state department of revenue. tells a story about the Cajun lished Nov. 8. The building was left vacant when was 49 years old in 1973. “His biggest love was being farmer who preferred to walk the Acadian Medical Center began Veterans Day is ob- Darrell says his mother, a farmer and being with his around barefooted, liked to served on Nov. 11. operations in its new facility. Joyce Young Smith, lived into wife and his five children,” he hunt and served in World War The resolution stated the build- This is the second year her 70s and her presence per- said. II in Europe. for the tribute to veter- ing is a safety hazard and asked St. meates the house. Calvin raised cattle, grew “I love the idea of quilts,” Landry Parish Government remove ans. Veterans may update “We felt like dad’s presence rice, raised a garden and in Gumbo said. “I work that into is with us, but in the house we 1962 he and his neighbors and (See Smith, Page 14) (See Moosa, Page 2) (See Veterans Page 14) see a lot of mom’s things .. so family raised the barn. Former Gov. Mike Foster passes away at age 90 11, 1930, in Shreveport, A complete obituary Louisiana. Shortly there- is on Page 5. after, his family moved to Centerville where he attended public school as It was Monday, Jan. 8, a child. 1996, and the headline in “A crowd of about the Banner-Tribune, as 5,000 braved today’s cold well as virtually all media temperatures to see the in Louisiana and beyond, new governor sworn into was “Foster new Louisi- office,” the Banner report- ana governor.” ed. Nowhere more jubilant- When not in Baton ly than here in St. Mary Rouge, Foster was usu- Parish: Our own native ally at his home, Oaklawn son had risen to the high- Former Gov. Mike Foster Manor, or often as not, in est office in the state. the duck blind, as he was Murphy J. “Mike” Fos- 1 in the 1940s. Fellow an avid hunter. ter was a well-known Foster attended public businessman and unlikely Eagle Scout Dr. Thomas Kramer described him as high school in Franklin, politician. But he charged graduated from Louisi- into a seat in the state “an excellent Boy Scout In 2015, former Louisiana Governor Mike ees at the annual conference were, from who lived up to the oath ana State University in Foster was presented with the Inaugural left, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, former Senate and announced his Baton Rouge in 1952 with candidacy for governor. and the laws of scout- Murphy J. “Mike” Foster Award for Governor Mike Foster, former Governor ing in every way. He was a bachelor of science in Extraordinary Contributions to Community Edwin Edwards, former Governor Kathleen He died Sunday at his chemistry, and Southern home, Oaklawn Manor. an asset to the scouting and Technical Colleges in Louisiana at the Blanco and LCTCS President Monty movement.” University Law Center annual conference for Louisiana’s commu- Sullivan. (Submitted photo) Foster was an Eagle Foster was born on July nity and technical colleges. Notable attend- Scout, a member of Troop (See Foster, Page 14) 2 Thursday, October 8, 2020 News The Eunice News www.eunicetoday.com Diocesan donation Crowley man accused of machete attack during home invasion CROWLEY — A Crowley man The blood was from a large wound continued to bludgeon the victim faces numerous charge, including suffered by the man who was re- with the machete, allegedly at- attempted first-degree murder, af- straining Foreman, according to tempting to hit him in the head with ter a home invasion early Monday. Broussard. the blade. Police Chief Jimmy Broussard During their investigation, offi- The victim was take to a local re- said officers were called to the 500 cers determined that Foreman had gional hospital for immediate treat- block of Stutes Street at 4:20 a.m. allegedly gone to the residence of ment. Monday in reference to a home inva- his estranged girlfriend and made Foreman was booked into the Aca- sion. entry using the blunt end of a ma- dia Parish Jail on felony violation of Upon arrival, officers found Tyler chete. a protective order, home invasion Bishop Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette Foreman, 28, being restrained on Once inside, Foreman allegedly and attempted first-degree murder. presented a check for $155,000 on Monday to Bishop the ground by one of the victims. turned the machete on the victim in His bond was set at $700,000 Glen Provost of the Diocese of Lake Charles. The funds Officers also discovered a large the house. bond by District Judge David Smith. were generated during a “second collection” last month at amount of blood in the residence. According to witnesses, Foreman Catholic church parishes throughout the Diocese, as well as through online giving through the Diocesan website. The donation will benefit Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana in providing food, water, shelter and other assis- Homecoming Court named at Eunice High School tance to the poor of that area who were greatly impacted by Hurricane Laura, as well as aid in rebuilding efforts for Catholic churches, schools, community centers and food pantries throughout the Diocese of Lake Charles.