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The Wildcats celebrate the win by taking a photo with the Russo Trophy.

Russo Trophy going back to Abbeville High

KAPLAN — The Peter Russo Memorial Trophy will remain in Abbeville for another year after the Wildcats claimed a 14-13 win over Kaplan on Friday night.
The trophy, which is named in honor of a 1941 AHS graduate who died while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1944 during World War II, has been given to the winner of the Abbeville-Kaplan game every year since Russo’s family established the trophy in 1961. Abbeville won the trophy in 2021 for the first time in 16 years, and retained it with Friday’s down-to-the-wire win.
“We got what we came for,” Abbeville coach Roderick Moy said, patting the trophy after his team improved to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in District 5-3A. “I’m proud of our kids.”
The Wildcats will enter the non-select Division II playoffs likely somewhere in the middle-teens in the power rankings, possibly with a home game. In unofficial power rankings released by Louisiana high school sports website geauxpreps.com, Kaplan (4-6, 1-3) is No. 30 in the power rankings and would miss the playoffs.
The LHSAA plans to release the brackets at noon on Sunday.
“(We have) a little momentum going into the playoffs. Hey, look, we’re spoiled a little bit. We ain’t too far removed from the 2-8s and 1-9s of the world,” Moy said, referring to Abbeville’s record in recent years before reaching the quarterfinals in 2021. “But just because we were 11-2 last year, people act like 6-4 is a bad season. I’m proud of this thing. I’m proud of these kids. Six and four, going into the playoffs, I’ll take that, and I’ll take our shot next week.”
The game came down to a stop on a 2-point conversion attempt after Kaplan had rallied to within a point with 1:01 remaining in the game. Kaplan fullback Caden Campisi, who had scored the touchdown on a rugged 12-yard run moments earlier, was stopped just shy of the goal line on the 2-point try.
“Even right there at the end, when you’ve got to have a stop to win the ballgame, our kids were able to rise up to it,” Moy said. “They stayed, read their keys, and were disciplined.
“The thing I value about that the most is, he had about eight white jerseys on him. We gang-tackled. We played as a football team. We stayed together. We could’ve cracked at halftime, because we probably should have scored a lot more points, and we didn’t (crack). I’m proud of that.”
Kaplan coach Cory Brodie said a few factors went into the decision to go for the win with the 2-point try. First was a stiff wind that would have been blowing straight at the Pirates on a kick attempt.
“One of their better players (Zaylun Williams) that was playing the strong side for them all night went down two plays before,” Brodie said. “I think we had about a 15 or 20 mile an hour wind, which I think was the same reason coach Moy wanted to go for 2 on his second touchdown.
“Also, it’s kind of our m.o. (to go for it on fourth down or 2-point tries). We punted twice tonight. I don’t remember the last time we punted twice, maybe North Vermilion. Plus, we have a freshman kicker, who’s been phenomenal for us, but I’d rather give it to the guy that took us down there (Campisi). If I could do it again, I’d go for 2 again.”
Abbeville came out firing to open the game, with quarterback Tahj Judge nearly connecting with receiver Brian Gordon for a 58-yard TD on the game’s first snap.
“They knew they had to stop our run game. We had a size advantage on them. We took our shot early,” Moy said. “We had some more shots to take, but we felt like we were being successful running the football right at them, too. We didn’t do a lot wrong offensively except for the penalties (nine for 75 yards). We’ve got to tighten up if we’re going to make a run.”
That opening drive didn’t result in points, but an interception by Chad Nolan on Kaplan’s second possession set up a four-play, 31-yard scoring drive for the Wildcats to break the scoring ice. Jaysen Shelvin went in tom 16 yards out with 2:46 left in the first period and Edwin Ramirez kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead. Shelvin rushed for 59 yards on eight carries. Tresea Greene led the Wildcats with 66 yards on 16 runs.
Kaplan answered with an 18-play, 80-yard scoring drive on its next possession to tie the score. Campisi carried on nine of those plays, netting 43 yards, including a 3-yard TD run, and Jed Devoltz converted a fourth-and-2 play with an eight-yard carry to keep the drive alive. Campisi finished the game with 119 yards and two TDs on 30 carries, raising his season totals to 1,850 yards and 23 TDs, both tops in Vermilion Parish.
Daylon Landry had five carries for 19 yards on the drive, and finished with 34 yards on 11 runs. Brodie said it was good to see Landry have success because he’s a player who always does more than is asked of him and puts in extra work in the weight room.
“That was more what they gave us,” Brodie said of the big workload for Landry, a sophomore. “Coach (Tank) Lotief (Abbeville’s defensive coordinator and former KHS head coach) has one of the better defensive minds, especially against the wing-T, which he’s coached. We had a tendency to run strong, and (Landry) is a strong-side running back, so we ran him weak (side) a lot. He’s a guy that wasn’t starting a lot for us, he got some reps Jed Devoltz was injured a little (recently) and played more on defense. “I’m super proud of all the young kids that got experience in this game.”
Abbeville took the lead on its first possession of the third quarter, going 66 yards in nine plays, with Tyrelle Harrison going 19 yards untouched to the end zone for the TD with 4:17 left in the quarter. After a couple of penalties on an attempted 2-point try, Abbeville settled for the kick from Ramirez for the 14-7 lead.
Kaplan put together one last drive in the fourth quarter, chewing up 10 full minutes on 20 plays, including a pair of fourth-down conversions on runs by Campisi. The Senior ballcarrier had the ball in his hands on 14 of the 20 plays on the drive, netting 67 yards, including the seven-yard TD that pulled Kaplan to within 1.
“I love that kid,” Brodie said. “No words can describe what he means to me and to this team. I’m more sad that we lost. I love this school so much. The passion comes from feeling for the kids. When you have those emotions you realize how much you’ve grown in the past two years.
“We played a team last week (Church Point) that reached the semifinals, and lost in the last minute. This team, coach Moy said at the beginning of the year they have state championship aspirations, and they were a quarterfinal team last year.”
Moy said the Wildcats expected Kaplan to give them their best shot.
“We knew,” Moy said. “But they got ours, too. People like to say discipline vs. athletes, or this, that and the other. Giving up 13 points to that ball club is tough, and our kids rose to the challenge.”
Brodie also was proud of the way his team played.
“I’m so proud of these guys and the way they fought,” he said. “Just being down early, we could’ve given up. It’s a different team than it was week 1 and week 2. Defensively we gave up five touchdowns in the last four games. They were on the field the entire first half and only gave up one touchdown. I’m really proud of my players. I’m really proud of my assistant coaches. They’ve been the hardest and longest working guys I’ve been around in coaching.”
In the end, the Wildcats got the win and the trophy they were after
“I’m always going to bet on our kids, and we got what we came for,” Moy said.

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Travin Moore returned an interception for a touchdown against Hanson.

VC finishes regular season 10-0; outright district champs!

They will get first round playoff bye

FRANKLIN - The Vermilion Catholic Eagles took care of business on Friday by crushing the Hanson Memorial Tigers 49-0.
The Eagles finished the regular season 10-0 and won the District 7-A title outright.
The LHSAA will release the playoff brackets at noon on Sunday.
The Eagles will be ranked No. 1 in the Division IV Select Playoffs, which means they get a first-round bye.
The Eagles’ first playoff game will be on Nov. 18.
VC outscored its opponents by 434 points to 37 in 10 games.
They completed the regular season with seven shutouts.
Against Hanson, the Eagles led 14-0 in the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime.
VC quarterback Jonathan Dartez had two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. He ran for a 30-yard TD and a 10-yard TD.
VC’s running backs, Travin Moore and Tyjh Williams scored a touchdown in the second quarter. Moore had a 1-yard run, and Williams had a 40-yard TD run.
Dartez added a 6-yard TD run in the second period that 35-0.
In the second half, the VC defense got into the scoring column.
Linebacker Lewis Briggs scored on a fumble and Moore had an interception that he returned for a touchdown.
VC kicker Dane Richoux kicked six consecutive extra points, and teammate Alexander Marceaux also kicked an extra point.
Dartez finished the game with 106 yards on 16 carries, scoring three touchdowns in the first half.
Williams had three carries for 80 yards and a score.

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Abbeville defensive end Tezarron Stewert (left) and linebacker Jaysen Shelvin (right) sandwiched tackle KHS running back Caden Campisi (36) on the two point play with a minute left in the game. The stop prevented Kaplan from scoring two points and taking the lead.

Abbeville defense comes up big on two-point conversion play

Wildcats were focused on Caden Campisi on big play

KAPLAN - Everyone in Ed Douglas Memorial Stadium knew who would get the football on a two-point conversion play for the Kaplan Pirates.
Everyone, including the Abbeville High defense, knew.
Kaplan got within one point, 14-13, after a Caden Campisi 7-yard TD run with 1:01 to play in the game.
KHS head coach Cory Brodie had the decision to make. Rely on a freshman kicker, or go with your senior who has 1,700 rushing yards on the year?
He went with the better odds and gave Campisi the football.
On the other end of the football, eleven Wildcats had their eyes on one player - Campisi.
KHS quarterback Raine Mire handed the ball to Campisi and was stopped on the line of scrimmage.
AHS defensive end Tezarron Stewert and linebacker Jaysen Shelvin stepped up and sandwiched Campisi on the line for no gain.
“We knew Campisi was having a good game and averaging three yards a carry,” said Shelvin. “So, Tezarron and I knew he would get the ball inside. We both crashed inside. He got the tackle, and I finished it up.
“It was a great feeling to stop him. I almost cried.”
Stewert, wearing jersey No. 89 against Kaplan, said there was no doubt the Wildcats would stop the two-point play.
“The coach told me to jam the play, and I did,” said Stewert. “Our defense then finished off the play.”
The two-point conversion stop sealed the game with just under a minute to play.
It also meant the Peter Russo Memorial Trophy was heading back to Abbeville High for the second straight year. Before last year, the Russo Trophy stayed at Kaplan High for 15 years.
Abbeville defensive back Broderic Fletcher was thrilled to bring the trophy back to Abbeville.
“It feels great,” said Fletcher. “We executed. We did our job. But at the end of the day, you have to focus and get the win.”
Abbeville will wait and see who it will play in the playoffs. With the loss, Kaplan is expected not to make the playoffs.

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Sis. Albertine Bolden Brailey

ABBEVILLE — A home-going celebration of life for Sis. Albertine B. Brailey, 74, the former Albertine Bolden, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Lighthouse for Jesus Ministries (6526 Chaisson Road).
Apostle Donnie Bolden, Sr. will be the Eulogist and Pastor Monnette Bolden will officiate.
Visitation hours will be observed at the church on Saturday, November 5, 2022, from 8:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.
Interment will be at Saint Paul Cemetery (515 Jacqulyn Street) in Abbeville, LA.
Masks are required to attend the service.
Sis. Albertine Bolden Brailey, a resident of Abbeville, was called to her heavenly home on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at Abbeville General Hospital. Sis. Albertine accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a very early age and was a member of Lighthouse of Jesus Ministries in Abbeville. Prior to her illness, she often visited St. Jude Spiritual Church in Jeanerette, LA.
Sis. Albertine loved her family, and she loved being with her family.
She leaves many treasured memories to her three daughters: Nicey B. Lapoint( Jack Jr.), Carolyn Brailey, and Twila Brailey all of Abbeville; two sons: Terry Bolden(Cathy) and Alton Brailey; (Jessica); one sister: Vera Wiltz (Elton); two brothers: Pastor Donnie Bolden, Sr. (Cynthia) and Carl Bolden, Sr. (Lisa) of Abbeville; one sister-in-law: Penny Brailey Coleman; six brothers-in-law: Nolan Sr. (Sandra), Argis Sr.(Leona), Ryanel Sr. (Sarah), Roland Sr., Dalton Sr. and Darson Sr. all of Abbeville; 22 grandchildren; 63 great grandchildren; 15 great-great grandchildren; godchild: Buford Bolden, Jr. and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives , church family, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Alton Brailey, Sr. one daughter: Regina Brailey; her parents: Nathaniel and Alzona Bolden; mother-in-law and father-in-law: Lawrence Sr. and Mable Plowden Brailey; two sisters: Gloria Bolden and Rose Marie Walker; three brothers: Carlton Captiville, Buford Bolden, Sr., and Dennis Bolden; three grandchildren: Jacolby Walker, Stephain Brailey, and Megan Brailey; godchild, Bradley Captiville.
Active pallbearers are: Deron Sinegal, Javen Bolden, Damion Winters, Spencer Cormier, Roland Brailey, Jr., John Buford, LaDerrick Winters, Courtney Bolden, Terry Lee Bolden, Jr., Britrevian Lee, Ronald Sinegal, Alton Brailey, Tyler Brailey, and Zay’vion Brailey.
Honorary Pallbearers are: Brizenic Brailey. Jack Lapoint, Ryan Sinegal, Pastor Donnie Bolden, Sr., Bishop Donnie Bolden, Jr., Buford Bolden, Jr., Carl Bolden, Jr., Diontre Arceneaux, Garland Bolden, Carl Bolden, Sr., Joseph Joiner, Carlos Bolden, Jeremiah Bolden, Nicholas Perro, Joshua Bolden, Kenneth Matthews, Eldridge Harrison, and Deron Sinegal, Jr.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Albertine's caregivers: Pastor Monnette Bolden, her sister-in-law who she loved as her own sister and Sis. Shonda Bolden.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org
Arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home (337-369-3341) 609 W. Admiral Doyle Drive, New Iberia, LA 70560.

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Linda Marie Guilbeaux Suire

A mass of Christian burial will be held for Linda Marie Guilbeaux Suire on Monday, November 7, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Erath at 3:00, with visitation from 1:30 to the time of service in the church.
The Ladies Alter Society will say a rosary at 2:00. Rev. Clinton Sensat will officiate. Burial will precede at Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery in Delcambre.
On Sunday, October 30, at noon, our dear mother, Linda Marie Guilbeaux Suire, passed away peacefully at her home at the age of 97. She was courageously battling a debilitating stroke that had taken her speech, mobility, and finally, her life, but not without a fight, as the battle lasted for 13 years.
Linda was born on March 1, 1925, to the late Azard Guilbeaux and Odile nee Hulin.
The Great Depression influenced her first life experiences. Momma learned to conserve and not to waste a drop or a bite. She learned how to save and manage without material things and to make do at an early age. These lessons passed on have not been forgotten.
She was known to take someone else’s trash and convert it into a treasure or to keep her first refrigerator for 57 years because it still ran. Hand-me-downs were a family tradition.
She grew up on a farm and was more comfortable helping her Dad in the field but less agile in the kitchen. My father testified that his new bride’s first batch of biscuits were hockey pucks in flakiness.
She graduated high school in 1941. Two years later, she found herself engaged to my father, Pervis, a handsome chap from Delcambre. On a three-day pass in 1943, they married. Her wedding dress was fashioned from a torn parachute Daddy had procured from an airborne Marine.
He then went off to war till it ended and was discharged in November of 1945. They settled into married life and began their family. In 1946 my sister was born, then I was born in 1947, followed by a brother in 1949. Four more siblings were to follow.
We were the baby boomers. While Daddy was honing his carpenter and later builder /contractor skills, Momma was busy raising her brood and teaching us ethical values. We were taught that we were as good as anyone else, but she made sure we didn’t get too big for our boots. We were taught to respect all adults and to be polite to everyone, and her most basic rule was “tell the truth” because, according to her, you will only have to say it once if you tell the truth. Lying was discouraged in a variety of ways. Discipline was swift and sometimes painful, most often on the rear end.
She believed in granting freedom and independence as soon as a child measured up to the mark. She sewed our clothes, made her Sunday hats for church, and performed all the skills she had mastered that sometimes went unappreciated. Supper was our main meal, so all of us would wait until Daddy got home before we all sat at the table and ate our now tasty meals as a family: it was too bad if a child was impatient. All waited until everyone was present.
We would spend summer days collecting figs, blackberries, oranges, and pears for Momma to preserve as jellies and jams so that we could make our fast foods. Then, when we got older, she managed to squeeze in enough time to get a part-time job selling fabric at a department store.
When Daddy retired, they bought a camper and traveled all over Louisiana and the surrounding states. They traveled in a caravan for safety and added companionship. Momma loved to display her craftsmanship skills at the rallies.
Meeting new people their age was exciting and rejuvenating. Our mother was a strong, honest woman devoted to her family.
Today I realize how fortunate we were to have had her as our mother. Thank you, Momma, for having the strength of character and courage to tell us when one of us would complain, “but Johnny’s momma lets, “and she would say, “I’m not Johnny’s Momma I’m your momma “‘No!!! “ THANK YOU, Mother. Taking care of you was an honor and a privilege.
She is survived by six children, Herman, Russell (Lizette), Cheryl Hebert (Dalton), Pervis Jr. (Marie), Bryan (Roxane), and Robert (Sheila), 21 grandchildren, 47 great-grand children, and 26 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Pervis, her husband of 59 years, a daughter Linda Anne, her godmother affectionately known as Nan Da, a daughter-in-law Theresa, and a son-in-law Otis.
Momma wrote a monthly check to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital until her stroke ended her mobility, CYPRESS Funeral Home and crematory are handling arrangements.

Written by Linda’s son, Herman

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The Schexnaiders are responsible for lighting the fire for the Giant Omelette Celebration. They are (right to left) Elray Schexnaider, his son, Lee, and Lee’s son, Phillip.

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Before the Giant Omelette Celebration begins, the fire has to be lit hours before the cooking begins, Phillip Schexnaider lights the firewood with Lee Schexnaider looking during the celebration three years ago.

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Preparation for the fire will begin Sunday morning.

Omelette Fire Starters: Schexnaider men responsible for getting fire nice and hot to cook eggs

For the last 35 years, Elray Schexnaider has been responsible for keeping the fire nice and hot to cook the eggs in the 12-foot wide skillet for the Giant Omelette Festival.
The cooking of the eggs takes place Sunday afternoon in downtown Abbeville in front of the courthouse.
While most people will arrive around 1 p.m. to witness the precession before the egg preparation begins, preparation for the cooking starts at 7:30 in the morning.
Schexnaider, 86, has prepared the fire that the 12-foot wide skillet sits on top. His job is to get a hot flame to cook the 5,038 eggs.
However, preparation begins two years before the fire is started.
Elray and his son, Lee, search for the best pecan and oak wood. First, they chop it into pieces and then let it dry for two years in Lee’s barn.
“Over the years, not much has changed,” said Schexnaider. “Every year, we replenish the firewood in the barn.”
Around 7:30 a.m., city workers will help build a sand pit on Sunday morning. The skillet is brought to the location by a police escort. It has been stored at Toups Propeller in Abbeville for the last year. Jerry Terpening is in charge of caring for the skillet and bringing it to the location.
By 9 a.m., the sand pit will be built, and then the firewood will be placed into the sand pit.
A special mass is held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church at 9 a.m. After mass, the Schexnaider men, including Elray’s grandson Phillip, will begin preparing the fire.
They light it around 10 a.m. and babysit it until it is time for the skillet to be placed on top.
“We want a good bed of hot coal,” said Schexnaider. “By 1 o’clock, the fire is usually ready.”
He said there is no science behind when the fire is ready. Schexnaider said he uses his 35 years of experience to know when it’s the right time to set the skillet on top.
What is Schexnaider’s biggest fear on Sunday?
“Rain,” he said.
He said around four years ago, it started to rain, but that did not stop the Schexnaider men from keeping the fire going. They kept throwing wood on the fire just in case the rain would stop. By 2:30, the rain had stopped and the people showed up to see the eggs cooking.
This Sunday, there is a slim chance of rain.
Do not look for Schexnaider to stop cooking with firewood. He has attended other Omelette Celebrations in different countries, and they use butane or propane for cooking. However, Schexnaider using butane or propane would be too dangerous in a closed location like Abbeville’s Omellete Celebration.
Over the last four years, the 86-year-old Elray Schexnaider has been letting his son, Lee (55 years old), and grandson, Phillip (17 years old) do more and more fire duties. When the day comes that Elray decides to call it quits, Lee is expected to take over.
“I have no plans to quit anytime soon,” said Elray. “But I am giving more duties to my son.”

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Second Grand Maitre Elray Schexnaider and Third Grand Maitre Arlene Collee team up to pour a pot of eggs into the skillet at a Omelette Celebration.

Giant Omelette Celebration is back!

It will be held Saturday, Sunday in Abbeville

After a two-year absence, the Giant Omelette Celebration is happening in Abbeville this weekend.
The Omelette Celebration took time off the last two years because of COVID.
The Omelette Celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Abbeville.
The Celebration begins Saturday morning with the 5-K run, and the following will be the start of the arts and crafts show, along with the food show.
The Saturday events will stop at 5 p.m. and start again Sunday at 6 a.m. with a bike ride.
The official mass will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church.
Starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the procession of chefs and eggs will be held around Magdalen Square.
At 1:15 p.m., the TABASCO Girls will dance, and the cooking of the eggs will start at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4:30 p.m.
The first Grand Maitre, Whitney Atchette, spoke to the Abbeville Rotary Club Wednesday morning and educated the Rotarians about how the Omelette Celebration came to be.
Atchette said that, according to legend, when Napoleon and his army were traveling through the south of France, they decided to rest for the night near the town of Bessieres. Napoleon feasted on an omelette prepared by a local innkeeper, which was such a culinary delight that he ordered the townspeople to gather all the eggs in the village and to prepare a huge omelette for his army the next day.
From this beginning, the omelette became a tradition to feed the poor of the village at Easter. It has also become the symbol of a worldwide fraternity, rich in friendship, tradition and cultural exchange, known as the Confrerie.
In 1984, three members of the then Abbeville Chamber of Commerce (Emery “Bichon” Toups, Tracy Kays, and Sheri Meaux) attended the Easter Omelette Festival in Bessieres, France. They were later knighted the first of Abbeville’s Chevaliers.
They returned home with the determination to bring Abbeville closer to its French Heritage by hosting an omelette festival and joining the sisterhood of cities that celebrate the omelette - Bessieres, France; Frejus, France; Dumbea, New Caledonia; Granby, Quebec in Canada.; Malmedy, Belgium and Pigue, Argentina, later joined the fraternity, bringing the number making seven locations to celebrate this festival annually.
Abbeville has had 38 Omelette Celebrations over the years.
A total of 5,038 eggs will be cooked on Sunday.
This year, the 5,038th egg added is named. “Egglita Eggbert.” Seventh Ward Elementary Student Emilia Guillot coined the name. She will carry the egg and lead the procession on Sunday.
Chevaliers will crack and mix the eggs in pots for the next two hours. Then, non- Chevaliers will break the bread and dance in the streets.
Once the eggs are blended and the ingredients are added and stirred, the pots of eggs are carried to the 12-feet wide stainless steel skillet.
A total of 5,038 eggs, 50 pounds of onions, 75 bell peppers, four gallons onion tops, two gallons of parsley, 1.5 gallons of cooking oil, 6.5 gallons of milk, 52 pounds of butter, three boxes of salt, two boxes of black pepper, 15 pounds of Louisiana crawfish tails, and tabasco sauce all go on this 12-foot skillet.
The giant omelette is cooked over a wood fire in the middle of the street.
Second Grand Maitre Elray Schexnaider is in charge of getting the fire hot.
The fire will be lit around 11 a.m. so it can get nice and hot by the time they begin cooking the omelette, which happens around 1:30 p.m.
The Chevaliers will take turns stirring the eggs.
Once the eggs are cooked, they are handed out to the public for them to eat.

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Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Your Vermilion Parish Police Jury is faced with a decision whether to allow another ambulance service an opportunity to compete in Vermilion Parish. The Police Jury has the sole power to decide whether to allow the American free enterprise competitive system foothold in this parish or continue with the monopoly created by Acadian Ambulance.
The issue is not the quality of service rendered or response time by Acadian Ambulance, which is excellent. The issue is where competition is allowed the price of the service is driven downward, not withstanding any change in quality care.
When Acadian Ambulance came into this parish many years ago, they were shrewd enough to get the Police Jury to adopt standards that only Acadian could meet. Thus competition has been snuffed out for all these years, allowing egregious pricing to take place.
A monopoly allows price gouging and outrageous costs for ambulance services in this parish. Our family has seen this firsthand where a family member needed ambulance transportation to a doctor’s appointment. Acadian Ambulance was nearly double the cost of the competitor.
Can you imagine what prices the Vermilion Parish public would have to pay if they had to buy their groceries at only one supermarket that was given a monopoly in this parish.
Hopefully, Acadian Ambulance won’t do in Vermilion Parish what they are threatening to do in Acadia Parish. Acadian has taken the position that if Acadia Parish allows another ambulance service, they threaten to shut operations in Acadia, claiming their profit margins will diminish.
Instead of streamlining their services, Acadian is playing the bully by wanting to pick up their marbles and go home.
Competition is the bedrock of the American free enterprise system and this police jury needs to recognize that and revise their criteria to allow another ambulance service a chance in this parish. Keep the quality of service high, but don’t let a monopoly continue.
One of our great American presidents, Teddy Roosevelt, was known as as a great corporate monopoly buster. He strongly believed that the American people were entitled to enjoy competitive prices and businesses that did not operate in restraint of trade.
I strongly urge any Vermilion Parish citizen to let your voice be known by contacting police jurors as they face a tough decision making process.

Sincerely,
Stan Hardee
Kaplan, LA

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Steve Gardes

Socialism 101: It never ends well

It is important to know and understand the history of Socialism, as America is under siege today by a strong Marxist movement that is actively trying to fundamentally transform America. There is only one problem: Socialism has never worked and has only resulted in inflation, severe poverty, and loss of freedom. The famous Austrian economist, F.A. Hayek, wrote several outstanding books on this subject, including “The Road to Serfdom”, and his last book in 1988, “Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism”, in which he stated: “The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.”
History has repeatedly proven the accuracy of the above statement. Look at China in the late 1950’s when it embarked on “The Great Leap Forward” to modernize itself under Chairman Mao Tse Tung and the communist party. China was at that time an agrarian society and Mao’s central planners forcefully took away from the masses their private plots of farmland and converted it into an industrial collective country focused on farming and steel manufacturing with backyard furnaces. Unfortunately, Mao and his central planners didn’t know what they were doing—the project was a total failure, and it was estimated some 50 million Chinese peasants died of starvation. In 1966 Mao changed course and embarked on the Cultural Revolution—which sadly also failed resulting in the deaths of millions more of Chinese peasants.
Socialism/Marxism/Communism also did not work in France in the late 1790’s (the French Revolution), nor in the Russian Revolution, Nazi Germany in WWII, the Soviet Union, Cuba, or more recently in Venezuela or Argentina. No matter where you tried it or what name you called it, totalitarianism was always the result.
Yet, the lure of Socialism remains strong. Here we are in 2022 with the global elite in America, Canada, Europe, and Australia planning on saving the world from Climate Change by rushing headfirst to shut down all oil and gas production, coal mines, and even nuclear power plants—so the world will start using clean green energy that could be available sometime in the next 25-50 years. Never mind that the greatest polluter of the globe, China, is still burning coal and buying all the Oil and Gas that Russia (and President Biden) will sell them.
Like Mao, the Global elite and their central planners don’t seem to be worried that we are already running out of diesel fuel—which you must have to plant, harvest, and deliver the crops that feed the people—and gas to heat the homes, cook the food, and run the factories. Why aren’t they worried? Is it “Fatal Conceit”?

Steve Gardes is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with over 40 years of public accounting experience.

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Jeff Crouere

Democrats scramble to distract from the economy

In the final days of the most important midterm election in American history, the Democrats, the party with absolute power, are frantically trying to distract voters from focusing on their most important priority. Polls are indicating that voters are primarily concerned about their financial well-being.
A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll showed 50% of the respondents cited either the economy or inflation as the most important issue in the upcoming election. According to the poll, no other issue topped 20% among those surveyed.
Since Joe Biden was inaugurated as President, the American economy has declined significantly. When Biden was inaugurated, the inflation rate was 1.4%, gasoline prices were $2.39 per gallon and interest rates were low. The economy was improving from the depths of the pandemic and more Americans were feeling confident about the future.
With a souring economy as the most critical issue, it makes perfect sense for the Republicans to lead Democrats in the latest “generic” polls rating the popularity of both parties. A new Suffolk University/USA Today poll indicates that 49% of voters preferred Republican candidates while only 45% preferred Democratic candidates. This is a significant improvement for the GOP from the late July poll in which the Democrats held a 4% edge.
With the polls turning against the Democrats, and some of their candidates are floundering, like U.S. Senate hopeful John Fetterman in Pennsylvania and Arizona gubernatorial nominee Katie Hobbs in Arizona, there is a frantic scramble to change the subject. Democrats are looking for some sort of an “October Surprise,” a major event that will upend the political calculations of this election.
Will the issue of “political violence” work? Democrats are seizing on the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), by a crazed nudist as a negative reflection on Republicans and President Donald Trump supporters. Biden even linked the attack to January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol protests. Considering the Pelosi attacker had been spewing conspiracy theories from across the political spectrum and had a “Black Lives Matter” sign on his home, it will be extremely difficult to link him to Republicans.
Along with the political violence narrative, Democrats are still fuming about President Trump and working overtime to link him to an array of problems. Nonetheless, Trump is not the issue in this election, it is Biden and his dismal performance. Under President Trump, the country was doing much better economically and in practically every other measure.
It is Biden and the Democrats who deserve 100% of the blame for the woes the country is facing today. Crime is surging in cities controlled by Democrats. The border is open because President Biden decided to halt the border wall and allow millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country. Despite claims from a range of Biden officials that the “border is closed,” it is undoubtedly open.
Biden turned our energy independence to energy dependence on foreign countries. He shut down the Keystone XL pipeline and placed a moratorium on new oil and gas leases to drill on federal property and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Simultaneously, the mantra from the entire administration was for Americans to buy electric vehicles and support “renewable” energy.
The results show that the average price of gasoline is $3.76 per gallon today or $1.37 per gallon higher than when Biden took office. The gasoline prices would be even higher if not for Biden’s political raiding of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The country is now in danger since the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is supposed to be used only in national emergencies, is at its lowest level in forty years.
Another issue Democrats are trying is the January 6th “insurrection.” However, their biased congressional hearings have not generated much attention and Americans are not obsessed with that issue like Democrat politicians.
With everything else failing, Democrats are left to scream about the threat to “women’s health.” Of course, this means that if any state imposes restrictions on abortion, it is tantamount to an attack on “women’s health.”
Ever since the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Democrats have seized on the abortion issue to bolster their support among female voters. Unfortunately, for Democrats, this obvious ploy is not working.
Despite their constant refrain that Republicans are toxic to women and are a threat to their “health” due to their pro-life stance, the new ABC News/Ipsos poll shows that only 16% of voters rank abortion as the top issue in the election. While Democrats are more concerned about abortion, it is not registering as a top priority for independent voters, the group both parties try to attract in an election.
What was true in 1992, when consultant James Carville created the celebrated slogan, “It’s the Economy Stupid,” is still true today, except, this time, it will be the Democrats on the losing end.

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