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The Vermilion Parish School Board gave the OK for school superintendent Tommy Byler to begin looking at putting a new 1/2 cent sales tax proposal on the ballot in the near future.
On Monday during a committee meeting, Byler requested permission from the board members to begin researching on what it would take to get a sales tax passed in Vermilion Parish.
Byler explained that the $4.3 million collected from the proposed 1/2 cent sales tax would go toward school employee salaries only.
In 1994, Vermilion Parish ranked No. 2 in Acadiana in what it paid its teachers. Today, since teachers have not gotten a raise, the parish ranks No. 7 in Acadiana.
“This is for all employees who work for the school district, not just teachers,” said Byler.
He said sales tax collection has been good over the last year.
No date was given on when it would be placed on the ballot.

December 28, 1928 - July 17, 2021

ABBEVILLE — Virginia Latour Budd, 92, passed away peacefully in the arms of her loved ones on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
She will be laid to rest at Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas, LA at a later date.
Virginia was born on December 28, 1928 in Natchitoches, LA to Raoul and Artemis Latour.
She received a Master’s Degree plus 30 in Special Education and was a dedicated educator for 32 yrs. She was married to Charles Budd, Jr. for 54 years and they resided in Opelousas.
Virginia proudly served as president of The Louisiana Educators Association and was elected to two terms. She was also elected as a delegate to the 1988 National Democratic Convention and often described that experience as the highlight of her career. Another source of pride was being part of a unique marching group at Lake Charles High School called the “Kilties”. This large group dressed in Scottish uniforms and made quite an impression at festivals and parades.
She loved literature, music, art and wrote many beautiful stories and poems. She had a passion for politics and service to others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Budd Jr.; son, Charles Budd, III; and son-in-law, Dr. Corbett LeBouef, Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Budd LeBouef; sisters, Betty Latour Hart and Matsy Latour Guidry; three grandsons, Jay, Ed and Nick Budd; granddaughter, Vanessa Kaposta; and six great grandchildren.
Our beloved “Juney” and “Mamon” will be missed as a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She will be best remembered as an accomplished role model and a woman of substance who possessed a keen intelligence, sharp wit and an abundance of true grit.
Many thanks to the staff at Eastridge Assisted Living and NSI Nursing Specialties. A special heartfelt thanks to our devoted and loyal caretaker and friend, Brittany Menard of Abbeville.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dr. Corbett LeBouef Endowment at Hospice of Acadiana 2600 Johnston Street Suite 200 Lafayette, LA 70503.
Darby and Greene Funeral Home and Cremation Services 802 Weldon Street New Iberia (337) 256-5152 are in charge of arrangements.

N. R. “Pedo” Broussard celebrated his 100th birthday with family on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
Broussard was born in Pecan Island in 1921. He is a Naval Veteran of WWII and is locally known as the “Father of Intracoastal City”. He founded Broussard Brothers, Inc. in 1946, with the help of his brother.
His family of companies include N.R. Broussard Landing, Acadian Contractors, and HIDCO, currently employing hundreds of families in Vermilion Parish. He is also widely celebrated for his philanthropic work.
Broussard’s credentials are quite extensive: he was an officer of and a driving force behind the Abbeville Harbor and Terminal District; served as a commissioner of and was instrumental in guiding the development of the Port of Vermilion; served on the Board of Louisiana Oilfield Contractors Association; served on the Louisiana Shallow-Drafts Ports and Waterways Commission, and served on the Louisiana Intracoastal Seaway Association.
Broussard was President of TIRAA (The International Relations Association of Acadiana) from 1978-1981. During his term as President, he led a Goodwill Mission to Mexico, promoting trade, travel and tourism. In 1981, he led a trade delegation to Honduras and in 1980 led a trade mission to Canada where he spearheaded the twinning of Acadian Village in Lafayette, with the Acadian Village in Caraquet, New Brunswick, Canada.
In 1986, he was honored by being named the Small Businessperson of the Year- District IV by the Louisiana Department of Commerce. Other international interests include being highly involved in helping the community on the Honduran island of Utila where he has provided desks for schools, musical instruments for the churches and many other contributions to the people of the island.
Broussard is the father of 8, grandfather of 19, and great grandfather of 43 children.

ERATH — The town of Erath is known for its Fourth of July Celebration and the late Cajun musician D.L. Menard. Now, Darryl Rabassa wants to put Erath on the map for something else.
Rabassa, who lives south of Erath, approached Mayor Taylor Mencacci, and the Erath aldermen seeking permission to use the Erath City Park to conduct a cornhole tournament on July 31.
“We want this to be big and make Erath known for its cornhole tournament,” Rabassa told the aldermen. “It is expected to bring a lot of revenue into the town.”
Festivals de Families d’Erath is putting on the cornhole tournament to raise money for the Erath Catholic Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Rabassa explained to the Erath officials that there would be two different flights.
The first flight will feature dignitaries, priests and seminarians from Acadiana. They will compete against each other, starting at 9 a.m.
Once that competition is over, the other flight will begin at 12:30 p.m. Again, the general public will compete against each other.
There will be single, and doubles match. To play, it is $10 for singles and $20 for doubles.
Erath Mayor Taylor Mencacci informed the aldermen that the town would provide police security for the event.

What is cornhole?

Cornhole is the most popular bag toss game in the United States. Whether you are an adult or kid, male or female, this sport attracts people of all ages and gender.
There is the Cornhole Player Association and ESPN carries cornhole tournaments on TV.
The rules are straightforward, two players alternately throw bags at the cornhole board in order to score a bag into the hole. If a bag stays on the board its worth 1 point and if a bag goes into the hole its worth 3 points. Once all eight bags are thrown, the round ends and the score is calculated by canceling each other’s score. The highest-scoring player or team adds the point difference to the overall game score. Whoever reaches or exceeds 21 points wins.