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.