RSS Feed

Article Image Alt Text

Chase Michael Romero

ERATH – Funeral services for Chase Michael Romero, 22, will be held Monday June 25, 2018 at 1:00 PM in David Funeral Home of Erath, with Todd Menard  Pastor of Family Life Church of Lafayette officiating.
Visitation will be held Sunday June 24, 2018 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM and will resume Monday from 9:00 AM until time of services. Burial will follow at a later date.
Chase was an avid outdoors man he loved to hunt fish and frog. He worked to be able to do what he loved. He had a gentle soul that would help anyone whether it be a friend or someone on the side of the road. He admired his older brothers whom inspired him so much! He looked up to them. Chase especially loved spending time with his nieces and nephews. Chase will always be remembered for his love of life and living that life to the fullest.
Chase is survived by his parents Ricky and Sally Falgout Romero of Youngsville; the love of his life Sydney Bourque; two brothers Blake and his wife Michelle Romero of Maurice, and Aaron and his wife Amanda Romero of Carencro; his paternal grandmother Beverly Romero of Youngsville: his nieces and nephews Ella, Carter, Beau, and Catherine Romero; a very special aunt Amanda Baker.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Carrol  Falgout and Elva Barras paternal grandfather Willis Romero.
Serving as pallbearers will be Blake Romero, Aaron Romero, Victor Debetaz, Rene Toups, Cameron Hebert, Luke LeBlanc, Dylan Falgout, and Kendall Gaspard. Honorary pallbearers will be Spence Falgout, Carter Romero and Beau Romero.
Condolences may be sent to the Romero family at www.davidfuneral home .org
David Funeral Home 209 E. Putnam St. Erath 337-937-0405 is in charge of arrangements.

Article Image Alt Text

Vermilion Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting death of 24-year-old Abbevlle man

According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon at approximately 6:38 a.m. this morning deputies responded to a call of a black male subject lying on the shoulder of Lormand Road just south of Maurice.
Upon arrival, officers observed a deceased male subject with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.
The deceased victim has been identified as 24-year-old Stephain Brailey of Abbeville.
Sheriff Couvillon says that detectives are actively and aggressively investigating this homicide and are attempting to determine the motive into the shooting.
Anyone with information with regards to this Homicide are asked to please contact the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (337)898-4403 or 898-4402.

Article Image Alt Text

The new KFC will be located on the property that used to be Diamond Shamrock/Valero.

Abbeville getting a KFC

Abbeville’s options when it comes to fast food have increased greatly in the last 10 years. That will continue with ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today to the Abbeville Meridional or Gueydan Journal or Kaplan Herald.

Article Image Alt Text

Judge Marc T. Amy

Judge Marc T. Amy to conclude 24 years of service on Third Circuit

Judge Marc T. Amy of the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, announced today of his decision not to seek reelection, concluding his 24 years of service on the Court at the end of this year.
“I wish to express my deep appreciation to the people of the Third Circuit, and especially my election district, for allowing me the great responsibility, honor, and privilege of serving as their Court of Appeal Judge,” said Judge Amy, who is from Abbeville.
Judge Amy received his Juris Doctor degree from Louisiana State University Law Center. He also earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia School of Law. He was first elected to the Third Circuit, in 1994 and was twice reelected.
In addition to his membership in the Louisiana Bar, Judge Amy is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. By appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Judge Amy has served as a member of The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana and the Louisiana Appellate Court Performance Standards Commission.
Judge Amy is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an elected member of The American Law Institute, where he served as an Adviser to the Institute’s project on the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance and on Member Consultative Groups for a number of other projects. He has also served on committees of the Louisiana State Law Institute for projects on the laws of mandate, domicile, deposits and definitions, loan, rents and annuities, respite, aleatory contracts, signification of terms, and water law.
Judge Amy was twice a faculty member of Tulane University Law School’s Summer School Abroad in Spetses, Greece. Further, he authored an article published in the JOURNAL OF LEGAL EDUCATION titled Judiciary School: A Proposal for a Pre-Judicial LL.M. Degree, 52 J. Legal Educ. 130 (2002). A version of the article was reprinted in JUDICATURE (July-August 2003). In keeping with his interest in pre-judicial education, Judge Amy was appointed to serve as a member of the Study Group on Pre-Judicial Education, a project of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Judicial Independence.
Judge Amy has worked in a number of other capacities with the American Bar Association, having served on the Advisory Council of the ABA Center for Human Rights and as an officer of the Appellate Judges Conference. He was also Program Chair for the ABA’s Judicial Division as well as the ABA Appellate Judges Conference Education Chair and a Board Member and officer of the Appellate Judges Education Institute. He is a former member of the ABA’s Coalition for Justice, the ABA’s Judicial Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee, and Chair of the Judicial Division Collaborative Court Funding Initiative Committee.
In state activities, Judge Amy has served on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Bench/Bar Committee. Also, Judge Amy is a past President and Board Member of the Louisiana Bar Foundation and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education. He served as Vice-President of The Louisiana Supreme Court Historical Society and is a past President and Board Member of Louisiana Appleseed. He is a member of the American Judges Association and the Third Circuit Judges Association.
Judge Amy is married to Dawn Broussard Amy and both are from Abbeville, LA. They are the proud parents of three children, Claire Amy Schultz, Ph.D., Jeanne L. Amy, J.D., and Michael T. Amy, J.D., LL.M.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I’d like to thank all of the people of the Third Circuit, who have been so kind to us over the years,” said Judge Amy. “And I am very grateful for the distinct honor of serving them in this capacity.” After completion of his term, Judge Amy looks forward to continuing to work in the legal community to serve the people of the state.
The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, is one of five circuit courts of appeal in Louisiana. The Third Circuit is the largest; its territory consists of 21 parishes in southwest and central Louisiana. The parishes are Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion, and Vernon.

Article Image Alt Text

Helen H. Pearson

November 26, 1929 ~ June 20, 2018

Abbeville—A Memorial Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 25, 2018 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Helen Francis Hebert Pearson, 88. Fr. Michael Richard will officiate the services. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery at a later date.
Helen graduated from Abbeville High School and attended S.L.I. (University of Louisiana at Lafayette). She served as acting secretary to its president Joel L. Fletcher.
She later moved to Sparta N.J. with her family where she was an active member of the “Fish International” organization doing charitable work for many years. She was a member of the Sparta Women’s Club and a member of many bridge groups including the Sparta Duplicate Bridge League. She tremendously enjoyed traveling to various Catholic Pilgrimage sites all over the world. Her greatest joy in life was with her loving family and devoted Monday Rosary Group and Medjugorje Prayer Group (of Lafayette).
She is survived by two sons, Bryan Stanley Pearson and wife Kathy of Lafayette, and Richard Bradley Pearson and wife Kay of Abbeville, five grandchildren, Megan Bertrand and husband “Tre” of Abbeville, Kimberly Giovanni and husband Rion of Lake Charles, Amanda Payton and husband Brett of Breaux Bridge, Jeffrey Pearson of Atlanta, and Kevin Pearson of Lafayette, and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lavelle (Marguerite) Broussard and Mrs. Edward (Evelyn) LeBlanc of Abbeville.
She was preceded in death by her husband Milton Franklin Pearson and a son Randall Craig Pearson, and her parents Henry S. and Amanda LaCasse Hebert, four brothers, Henry S. Hebert, Jr., Alfred J. Hebert, Robert J. Hebert, Charles G. Hebert, and three sisters, Albertine Simms, Alice Gordon, and Yvonne DeGraauw.
The family requests that the gathering will be observed at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, on Monday, June 25, 2018 from 10:00 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 10:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen H. Pearson’s memory to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503-3240.
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.

Article Image Alt Text

Ellora Ann Guidry

January 23, 1938 ~ June 18, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Ellora Ann Guidry, 80, who died Monday, June 18, 2018 at Abbeville General Hospital. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Donald Bernard officiating the services.
Ellora is survived by her brother, Raymond Guidry and his wife Roseann; sister, Wanda Faye Wright and her husband James; six nieces, Elizabeth Babineaux, Christy Dillane, Jenny Robinson, Danielle W. Theriot, Angela Lemoine, Denise Clark and Becky Stepp; and six nephews, Michael Guidry, Brett Wright, Jacob Wright, Mark Harrington, Scott Harrington and Robert Duhon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adam Guidry and the former Edna Richard; and sisters, Coralie "Kitty" Harrington and Delores Duhon.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:30 PM; Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 9:00 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.

Article Image Alt Text

Abby Trahan arrived on the Southern Miss campus recently and is sporting her new Golden Eagles’ colors.

Trahan moving closer to Kaplan

Former Kaplan High softball pitcher Abby Trahan is moving closer to home after spending two years far away from Vermilion ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today to the Abbeville Meridional or Gueydan Journal or Kaplan Herald.

Why is Governor & Democrats Protecting Medicaid Fraud ?

Louisiana now covers one-third of the state (approximately 1.6 million people) under its $8 billion Medicaid program, and has seen its share of the cost increase from $1.7 billion in 2008 to $3.3 billion today. More alarming, new federal projections indicate Louisiana’s share of Medicaid cost will increase to over $6 billion by 2026. Medicaid is definitely the elephant in the back of the room. One would think reducing Medicaid spending would be a top priority. Unfortunately, the Governor, Senate Democrats and apparently even Senate President John Alario think otherwise.
Consider the following facts:
· The federal government breaks down Medicaid fraud into “Provider” and “Recipient” fraud, and will only reimburse states for their efforts to control provider fraud. Federal regulations seem to protect Medicaid recipients (a large voting block).
· At the October 25th Task Force on Coordination of Medicaid Fraud Detection & Prevention Initiatives meeting it was discussed how the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has inferior computer systems that “puts them behind the eight ball” in addressing recipient eligibility fraud – how in 2016 LDH only made 18 eligibility referrals to sheriffs -- how the State Legislative Auditor (Auditor) has found where approximately 208,000 applicants under Medicaid expansion are possibly not eligible ($1 billion of Medicaid payments may be in error) – how LDH does not appear to be on the same team as the Louisiana Attorney General (AG) and Auditor in fighting Medicaid fraud.
· Our AG, Auditor, Representatives Sherman Mack (R-Albany) and Tony Bacala (R-Prairieville) have collaborated on legislation that would (1) define Medicaid fraud to include recipient fraud (HB 88), (2) allow our AG to create a Medicaid Recipient Fraud Unit that would qualify for 50% reimbursement by the federal government (HB 163), and (3) allow tax data to be shared by the AG, Auditor and LDH in their Medicaid fraud efforts (HB 480).
· The Governor signed into law HB 88 – so everyone agrees Medicaid Recipient Fraud is illegal.
· The House passed both HB 163 and HB 480 to give the AG, Auditor and LDH the weapons to attack Medicaid Recipient fraud. However, Senate President John Alario gave them a death sentence as he sent both bills to Senate Committees (Judiciary B and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs) controlled by Democrats, and where they did in fact die.
· Senator J.P. Morrell (D, New Orleans) then offered a “Compromise bill” (SB 119) that allowed tax data to be used only by LDH in verifying Medicaid eligibility – and denying access to the tax data by the Auditor and AG (the only two agencies that are chomping at the bit to attack Medicaid recipient fraud). Remember, LDH is the agency that even the Governor’s Executive Counsel said “does not appear to be on the same team” when it comes to fighting Medicaid fraud.
· Representative Lance Harris (R-Alexandria) recently sent a letter to the Governor requesting that Medicaid fraud legislation be considered in addition to tax revenue legislation in the upcoming 3rd Special Session on June 18th – and therefore combine spending reduction legislation with tax increases. The Governor denied the request.
In summary, Medicaid fraud is a crime and may be costing over $1 billion in fraudulent payments (Louisiana’s share would be $400 million). Senate Democrats and the Governor acknowledge that Medicaid fraud is illegal, and say they are concerned - yet their actions indicate otherwise. Is it possible they are more concerned about getting re-elected than they are about the fiscal well-being of Louisiana?

Steve Gardes
Lafayette

Pages

Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

The Kaplan Herald

219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548