RSS Feed

Six Vermilion Parish teams headed to football playoffs

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:29am

Six of the seven Vermilion Parish high school football teams earned spots in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs, and the one team that didn’t would have earned a spot if the brackets had not been trimmed by four teams in the non-select divisions this season.
Early during the season, the LHSAA announced it was changing from five non-select classes to four non-select divisions, matching the select school playoffs. At the same time, each division was cut from a 32-team bracket to a 28-team bracket with the top four teams in each division getting first-round byes. Seeding is determined through a system of power points awarded for wins and wins by teams on each team’s schedule.
Vermilion Catholic, which went unbeaten in the regular season at 10-0 and 5-0 in District 7-A, will be the No. 1 seed in the select school Division IV playoffs. VC has a first-round bye and awaits the winner of a game between No. 16 Cedar Creek (6-4) and No. 17 Slaughter Community Charter School (7-3).
“Those guys earned it with the character they have displayed since August camp,” VC head coach Broc Prejean said of getting the top seed in the division. “They’ve shown up for 10 straight weeks, and now we are going to need them to do it for five more. Our message to the players is going to be to burn the ships at this point and keep moving forward.”
VC closed out the regular season with a pair of dominant wins over No. 2 seed Central Catholic (9-1) and No. 12 seed Hanson (8-2). The Eagles have done it on both offense and defense, with seven shutouts in 10 games and outscored those 10 opponents 434-37 over the season.
“We have to recognize what we’ve done to put ourselves in this position and then do a lot more of it to get the result we all want,” Prejean said. “We’ve got some really good coaches that work their tails off, and that are now going to get some extra time to keep coaching. We will dig into the finer points of our techniques this week at practice while we wait to see who we’ll pair up with at home on the 18th.”
Three parish teams earned spots in the non-select Division II playoffs, which features schools in classes 3A and 4A. Some 4A schools, like Westgate, play in the Division I playoffs, and some 3A schools like Berwick and Patterson, play in Division III, based on the school enrollment.
Locally, Erath (7-3) leads the Division II contingent as the No. 15 seeds. The Bobcats will play host to No. 18 Eunice (6-4).
“We are excited for our guys to earn this spot in the playoffs with another 7-3 season, and the opportunity for our seniors to play at home again this season,” Erath head coach Eric LeBlanc said. “Playing in front of a home crowd during the playoffs is an incredible honor and an experience that many players will never forget.”
Friday’s game is the fourth meeting between the two sets of Bobcats. Erath leads the series 2-1, including a 49-20 win in their last meeting, a playoff game in 2016 in which Elijah Mitchell ran for 331 yards and scored six touchdowns.
“Eunice is an athletic football team that’s well coached,” LeBlanc said. “We’re looking forward to a physical matchup on Friday night in Bobcat Stadium.”
Abbeville (6-4) is the No. 17 seed in Division II and just missed out on a home game in the first round. The Wildcats travel to No. 16 Brusly (6-4) to open the playoffs.
“The goal was a home game, but we are glad to be one of the last 28 teams standing,” AHS head coach Roderick Moy said. “I’m proud of what our kids accomplished this season and now it’s time for us to make sure we send these seniors off how they deserve.”
Moy said that Brusly is a big, physical team, but that the Abbeville coaches feel good about being able to use their team speed against the Panthers.
“It’s going to be a great playoff atmosphere and a very competitive ballgame,” Moy said. “The team who makes the least mistakes will win, in my opinion.”
North Vermilion (4-6) is the No. 23 seed in Division II and plays at No. 10 Franklin Parish (7-3) in the opening round. The Patriots play in District 4-4A, which features the No. 10 team in non-select Division I (Westgate) as well as three teams in the top six in the Division II select school bracket (No. 1 St. Thomas More, No. 2 Teurlings Catholic and No. 6 Lafayette Christian).
“We are really excited about the opportunity to be in the playoffs,” NVHS head coach Brett Blakey said. “This is the first time in three years.”
Franklin Parish is a good matchup for the Patriots, Blakey said.
“They are a quality opponent, but we feel like our district has prepared us for this moment,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in our guys to get their job done.”
Kaplan (4-6), which in the final two weeks lost to Division II No. 5 seed Church Point by a touchdown and to Abbeville by a point, finished as the No. 30 seed and just missed earning a spot in the Division II non-select playoffs.
Two parish teams earned spots in the non-select Division IV playoffs.
Gueydan (6-4) is the No. 20 seed and will travel to No. 13 Oberlin (7-3), which beat the Bears 43-7 in a Week 9 District 5-A game.
Delcambre (5-5) enters the Division IV playoffs as the No. 27 seed and travels to No. 6 White Castle (7-2) in the first round.
“Winning five games for the second year in a row and earning a playoff spot is a good step in the right direction for our program,” Delcambre head coach Artie Liuzza said. “It would be special to get a playoff win on the road and potentially host a second-round game at home.”
Liuzza said White Castle has put together a string of three or four good playoff runs in a row, so the Bulldogs are familiar with the pressure of winning big games.
“They have good size and speed,” he said. “They will be a tough opponent. We will have to be ready to play disciplined ball and control football on offense and eliminate big plays on defense. If we can do that, we will give ourselves a chance to compete.”

Jim Bradshaw

Loggers prayed as fervently as farmers

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:27am

Jim Bradshaw, LSN columnist

In the late 1800s, before narrow-gauge railroads crisscrossed the piney woods of southwest Louisiana, loggers prayed just as fervently as farmers for just the right amount of rain. It wasn’t because they wanted the trees to grow. It was so that they could get their logs to the sawmills.
In those days, logs were floated down the Calcasieu River to the dozen mills that ringed Lake Charles, and the river itself usually wasn’t much of a problem. But the loggers used dozens of little streams to get their timber from deep in the woods to the river. They’d put a big chain across the mouth of a little stream to corral the logs until they had enough to bind into a raft and haul to market.
But those little streams dried up if there wasn’t enough rain. If there was too much, the streams ran amok and the corralled logs were likely to stampede down the river on their own.
Either too little or too much presented a problem that reached beyond the men who cut the logs. Without logs to cut, the mills sat silent. When the mills sat silent, all of southwest Louisiana felt an economic pinch.
That’s why there was widespread interest in weather reports that showed up regularly in the newspapers of the day.
For example, the Lake Charles Commercial noted in January 1882, that “continuous rains” for two weeks had turned streets to mud, but they “caused a good rise in the River and … all the available logs are now afloat and our mill and lumber men may expect a full supply for the next ninety days at least.”
In another item a decade later, in the spring of 1893, the paper said “mill men are … jubilant” after “the hardest rain that has fallen in months.” They didn’t mind the damaging hail that came with the rain. They and the newspaper’s editors were “satisfied that it was sufficient to swell the creeks and river, so as to enable the log men to run logs to market, for some of our mills have already run short of saw-timber.”
The story was different in early 1884, when heavy rains “raised the creeks and brought out a great many logs, which jammed against the chain booms on the Hickory Branch and West Fork, letting logs into the main river,” apparently for the second time in two years.
“The Steam Tug Alert was put to work stretching booms at West Lake Charles [as Westlake was called then], where the jam of two years ago was stopped, but the current aided by the heavy north wind … broke the booms and the logs were adrift again.”
The Alert stretched another chain boom about a mile downstream, but it also broke after holding the logs for about a day.
“It is estimated that between 10,000 and 12,000 logs have gone down the river, and will be a total loss,” the Commercial said. “The actual loss in timber will hardly fall short of $18,000 to $20,000.”
That’s about a half-million dollars in today’s money, and the loss added impetus to long discussed plans to build little railroads to haul logs out of the woods.
The idea had been kicking around since right after the real railroad crossed south Louisiana in 1880, The Commercial reported as early as the summer of 1881 that “the mill owners and lumbermen of Calcasieu have at last realized the fact that they can no longer absolutely depend upon the uncertain rises of the river for their supply of logs.”
The demand for lumber, the newspaper said, “has been constantly increasing since the day that the first saw-mill was erected in Lake Charles, and this demand has … reached such proportions that our twelve sawmills are strained to their utmost capacity to fill one-half of the orders sent to them. Any interruption in the supply of logs is, therefore, a serious loss to them, and we are glad to see that serious steps are being taken by some of our citizens to prevent any such contingency in the future.”
At first, those little railways just carried lumber to the river; it was still floated downstream to the mills. But now the logs went directly to the river, and did not depend on the rise and fall of little streams or the weakest links of chains stretched across them.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Bryan Golden

Problem Solving

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:25am

Bryan Golden

Everyone has problems and all problems have solutions. The challenge lies in finding the appropriate solution for each problem. Some problems may appear unsolvable and leave you feeling overwhelmed. But you can rest assured that there is always a solution. Additionally, effective problem solving techniques can be learned.
Yet not everyone strives to actively discover the best solution. Some give up and let problems get the best of them. Others take the path of least resistance, embracing the easiest course of action that appears.
Another mistake is taking someone else’s advice without determining its appropriateness to your specific situation. You can make a problem worse by doing the wrong thing and not thinking before you act.
Before a problem can be solved, you must correctly identify exactly what the problem is. Any solution that doesn’t address the root cause will be ineffective and give the illusion that the problem is unsolvable.
Suppose Barbara is unhappy with her job. She is in her third retail job in two years. What should Barbara do? Barbara can’t decide what she needs to do until she figures out exactly what’s the cause of her unhappiness.
Is Barbara in an occupation she doesn’t like? Does she need a more challenging position in the same industry? Does she need more customer contact or less? Are Barbara’s interpersonal skills in need of improvement? Perhaps Barbara wants to be in her own business and will never be satisfied working for someone else.
Each one of the above possibilities has its own specific solution. If Barbara resolves an issue that isn’t the cause of her dissatisfaction, the problem will persist and she will get more frustrated and discouraged.
So the initial step to problem solving is correctly identifying the actual basis of your dilemma. Once this is done, you have taken a major step to finding a solution. Problems don’t have to be solved in one step. Breaking an issue down into multiple steps makes it manageable.
A problem can have both short and long term solutions. A short-term solution can provide you with immediate relief whereas the long-term solution thoroughly addresses the root cause of the problem.
Suppose Barbara decides she really doesn’t like working in retail. She’s always enjoyed working with computers and wants to become a programmer, but she has no formal training. Barbara’s long-term solution is to get a job as a programmer.
Her short-term solution is to begin taking courses in programming. Barbara can start doing this part-time while keeping her current job. With this strategy, Barbara will alleviate some of her frustration by taking steps to attain her long-term solution.
When seeking a solution, be creative. Don’t limit yourself to only what you think is possible. Consider every alternative, regardless of how outlandish it may seem. Daydream and create a wish list of solutions. The longer your list, the greater the chance of discovering the ideal one for you.
There is one restriction. A solution may not cause harm to yourself or someone else. To be effective, any solution must be an improvement.
There are circumstances where a short-term solution requires sacrifice to effect a long-term solution. For example, you and your family are living in a cramped apartment but would like to own a home. You have to limit your discretionary spending in order to save enough for a down payment. Any reduction in lifestyle is palatable because it is a short-term action that enables you to realize your long-term solution.
Don’t hide from problems in the hope they will go away. Ignoring problems tends to make them worse. Whenever you face a problem remember that a solution exists. Your challenge is to discover it. Problem solving gets easier the more you do it.

Mrs. Chance Michael Desormeaux

Miss Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin becomes Mrs. Chance Michael Desormeaux

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:17am

Miss Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin of Abbeville and Mr. Chance Michael Desormeaux of Henry were united in Holy Matrimony during a 6:30 p.m. ceremony November 5, 2022, at L’Eglise in Abbeville. Officiating the ceremony was the couple’s minister, Wayne Cook.
The bride is the daughter of Mark and Nanette Baudoin of Abbeville. She is the granddaughter of Ms. Mary Vice and the late Calvin Vice of Erath. Her paternal grandparents are the late Jack and Cecile Baudoin of Abbeville.
The groom is the son of Michael and Alachia Desormeaux of Henry. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Delfred and Lorraine Romero of Henry and Mr. and Mrs. Roland and Fay Desormeaux of Kaplan.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore a one-of-a-kind Maggie Sottero ivory spaghetti strap dress. The dress featured a sweetheart neckline with a scalloped and a double embroidered lace bodice with pearls scattered throughout the front and plunging back of the bodice. The satin A-line skirt was completed with an elegant chapel length train that was adorned with lace appliques, pearls and crystals on the edges. The bride completed her ensemble with a simple Angel Cut veil that was doubled to be both fingertip and chapel length. The veil was scalloped on both lengths with a crystal trim. The bride carried a cascading bouquet of off-white Eskimo roses, hydrangeas, gold orchids with different variations of plum and chocolate roses. Intertwined within her bouquet was her late grandfather, Mr. Calvin Vice’s rosary. The arrangement was designed by her Uncles John Vice and Bear.
The bride was attended by her maid of honor, Morghan Soirez, friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Allie Bouillion, Rida Prejean, both cousins of the bride, Morgan Broussard, Chelsea Frederick and Callie Desormeaux, all friends of the bride. Jolie Baudoiin, cousin of the bride served as junior bridesmaid.
The attendants chose their own style of dress in a distressed satin in the color of wisteria. The maid of honor wore a dress also in distressed satin in the color plum. Each attendant carried arrangement like the bride’s. Elise Georgia, Godchild of the groom served as flower girl. Elise wore an ivory dress with a lace overlay and illusion neckline. The dress had a natural waistline with a satin belt and rosette.
Jaden Romero, cousin of the groom served as best man. Groomsmen were Trevor Georgia, brother of the groom, Hayden Prejean, cousin of the bride, Jacob Hebert, Dylan Floris, and Michael Frederick, all friends of the groom. Britain Butler, Godchild of the bride and Eben Georgia, nephew of the groom served as ring bearers. They wore black tuxedos with black ties.
The mother of the bride wore a navy pleated ball gown with metallic jacquard jacket with scalloped hem and sleeves. The elegant jacket had jewels throughout.
The mother of the groom wore a formal gown in the color gunmetal. The gown featured rushing on one side and had an embroidery illusion neckline and scalloped sleeves.
Readers for the ceremony were Donna Prejean, Godmother of the bride and Chad Romero, uncle of the groom.
A reception was held immediately following the ceremony.
A rehearsal dinner was held at Bon Soiree in Erath and was hosted by the groom’s aunt and uncle, Chad and Brenda Romero.
The couple plan to make their home in Henry.

George Williams

Wed, 11/09/2022 - 9:10am

Sunrise
October 12, 1947

Sunset
November 1, 2022

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship, 407 Duroq Street, Abbeville honoring the life of George Williams, 75. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Pastor B.K. Stevens officiating the services.
George Williams was born on October 12, 1947 to Evelyn Newton and Leon “Black” Stevenson in Abbeville, LA. On Tuesday November 1, 2022, George gained his wings and entered into eternal paradise.
George leaves to cherish memories with his wife, Betty Williams; three daughters, Iris Stagg (Robert), Annetha Broussard (Calvin), and Kameshia Davenport; step-mother, Margie Stevenson; three brothers, Joseph Stevenson, Frankie Stevenson and Kenneth Ray Newton; fifteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
George was preceded in death by his mother, the former Evelyn Newton; father, Leon “Black” Stevenson; maternal grandparents; paternal grandparents; daughter, Stephanie Thomas; cousins, Janet Rose Hawkins, Boyd William Sr, and Cathy Williams; and his best friend, Percy “Polo” Robinson.
George was a Law Enforcement officer for 24 years for the Abbeville Police Department and a Notary Public. He loved fishing, sitting on his porch talking to family and friends that would stop by, taking rides and door dashing with his granddaughter, Shaquana. He enjoyed telling stories that would make you laugh, which he had many.
George was not just a father, a husband, or a grandfather, he was so much more, he really was something special to us all. He was loved by so many and he will truly be missed by everyone.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship, 407 Duroq Street, Abbeville, on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 8:00 AM until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Taylor Mencacci re-elected mayor of Erath

Tue, 11/08/2022 - 10:38pm

ERATH - Taylor Mencacci has been re-elected as mayor of the town of Erath.
Mencacci claimed 566 votes (79%). Challenger Jesse James received 148 votes (21%).
Tuesday’s win secured a second term for Mencacci.

Neil Arsement

Neil Arsement wins Maurice mayor’s race

Tue, 11/08/2022 - 10:20pm

MAURICE - Neil Arsement will be the next mayor of the town of Maurice.
Arsement defeated longtime incumbent Mayor Wayne Theriot on Tuesday. Theriot is in his third term.
Arsement received 445 votes (63%). Theriot had 261 votes (37%).

Third Grand Maitre Arlene Collee and others begin cracking eggs.

Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White, a chevalier, throws onions on the skillet before the eggs.

Chevalier Dan Dartez hands out the cooked eggs to the on-lookers.

Grand Maitre Gordy Landry throws crawfish into the eggs.

Grand Maitre Whit Atchetee pours the butter in the skillet.

Once the eggs were cooked, Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White served them to the crowd.

The Tabasco girls pour Tabasco into the omelette.

The Cattle Festival queens take a photo behind the cracked eggs.

These four Grand Maitres need to taste the omelette to ensure it is cooked. They are (left to right) Arlene Collee, Elray Schexnaider, White Atchetee and Gordy Landry.

Giant Omelette Celebration another success

Sun, 11/06/2022 - 7:33pm

Here are photos of the 38th Giant Omelette Celebration held in downtown Abbeville on Sunday.
There were 5,038 eggs cooked on a 12-foot skillet and everyone who wanted eggs were able to eat eggs.
The Celebration was put on pause for the last two years due to COVID.

Jonathan Schlicher remains as candidate for Maurice Board of Aldermen

Sun, 11/06/2022 - 11:17am

MAURICE - Jonathan Schlicher is still one of the candidates for Maurice Board of Aldermen.Schlicher, who has served on the town's board of aldermen since being elected in 2018, had announced last month that he would be withdrawing from the race due to a potential move outside of the Maurice limits. That news had been reported in the Abbeville Meridional. However, those plans changed, prompting Schlicer to commit to remaining in the race.
Schlicher released a statement following his decision to continue his re-election bid: "I announced that I was withdrawing from the race for alderman due to signing a purchase agreement for a new home. While all indicators said we were good, I felt like it was proper for me to plan for a departure. As the days progressed, there was something that continued to tell me don’t file the papers yet to withdraw from the race. This past week we received news that we would not be able to move forward with the home and I would continue to be within limits of Maurice. Upon the news, I felt an “it is what it is” moment, since my announcement on social media, the newspaper picking it up for a front-page article, etc., I had a well “what is done is done” mentality. When certain individuals within the current council, other candidates, and a few citizens learned of the news of the home falling through, some reached out asking me if I was still out. Informing them I was still in due to paperwork not being filed yet, they requested and advise that I stay in the race and announce my return. So after careful consideration and asking for guidance, I have decided to officially resume seeking the office for another term. I know that for some of you, this may excite you as this now gives you a choice, which was always my desire to always provide you with a choice in representation. Some of you may think, this guy doesn’t know what he wants, but honestly, I want what is best for the town, and having a choice is better than not. As for the question what if you want to move again, likely we will, but it will be to another home within the Maurice Town limits. Our family has discussed it and my lovely wife knows deep down I desire and love to serve the community. I still won’t have signs, but I hope you all still support me for another term as your alderman that represents you all and collectively works to make the best decisions for Maurice as a whole."
Schlicher is one of six candidates for five spots on the Maurice Board of Aldermen. Those candidates include Troy Catalon, Megan Landry-Lalande, Warren Rost, Matthew Trahan and Scott Trahan. The five who receive the most votes will be elected. Election day is this Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Erath's Christian Pillette (4) scores one of his three touchdowns. (photo by Shana Bernard LeBlanc)

Erath rallies to beat Donaldsonville

Sat, 11/05/2022 - 11:14am

The Erath Bobcats found themselves down 26-10 in the third period against Donaldsonville but somehow managed to win 38-36.
The win may have given the Bobcats (7-3) a first-round playoff game. Erath is expected to be No. 14 in the final power ranking, which will be officially announced today by the LHSAA.
In the first half, Erath was down 20-0. Then a 31-yard field goal by Dylan Duhon put the Bobcats on the board at the end of the first half.
The third quarter belonged to Erath. They scored three touchdowns.
Christian Pillette had a 34-yard TD reception and Chase Broussard had a 4-yard TD run.
When the third period was over, the Bobcats were only down 26-22.
The Bobcats stormed back and cut the lead again to 34-30 in the fourth period. However, Pillette caught a 33-yard TD pass from Lynkon Romero to close the lead to only four points.
The play of the game would be a Christian Pillette 45-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.
His touchdown gave Erath its first and only lead of the game.
EHS quarterback Lynkon Romero completed 15 out of 24 passes for 224 yards and two TDs.
Pillette had five catches for 121 yards and two scores.
Blake Daureuil led EHS in rushing with 11 carries for 39 yards.

RSS Feed

Six Vermilion Parish teams headed to football playoffs

Loggers prayed as fervently as farmers

Problem Solving

Miss Taylor Elizabeth Baudoin becomes Mrs. Chance Michael Desormeaux

George Williams

Taylor Mencacci re-elected mayor of Erath

Neil Arsement wins Maurice mayor’s race

Giant Omelette Celebration another success

Jonathan Schlicher remains as candidate for Maurice Board of Aldermen

Erath rallies to beat Donaldsonville

Pages

Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

The Kaplan Herald

Site Links