News

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check to representatives of the Christian Service Center.

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check to representatives of LSU Eunice to go toward parish students.

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check for the Gifting Grace Project.

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check for the Community Wellness, Inc.

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check to representatives of Behold Catholic Ministries.

Article Image Alt Text

Members of the Vermilion Foundation present a donation check to representatives of the Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana.

Vermilion Foundation presents checks to nonprofit projects

Thu, 01/08/2026 - 8:49am

The Vermilion Foundation, an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA), is proud to announce $42,800 in grants to ten Vermilion Parish nonprofit projects.
The grants were commemorated during a check presentation ceremony held on Dec. 17 in Abbeville. Foundation members attending were Richard Broussard, Gene Sellers, Arlene Collee, and Earl “Boo” Landry. Not present were board members Kevin Sagrera, Karen Hoyt, Annie Caillouet, Dr. Jack Gupta, Becky Sirmon Joy, Pat Patout, Odile Segrest, Charles Sonnier and Carl Turnley.

Article Image Alt Text

Gueydan residents arrested in “The Peanut Man” sting for selling wild game were taken to a staging area in town where they were loaded onto buses and transported to Lafayette for arraignment.

Article Image Alt Text

Robert “Bobby” de’Perrodil was just a teenager the morning federal agents descended upon his home to arrest his father in an elaborate sting that ended in the arrest of more than 60 residents from the Gueydan area on charges of selling wild game.

Article Image Alt Text

The October 1961 edition of Sports Afield included an article by author Paul Kalman that was teased with a cover headline: “Special Expose: I Hunt the Market Hunter.”

‘The Peanut Man’

Wed, 01/07/2026 - 9:42am

GUEYDAN — It’s been 64 1/2 years, but Robert “Bobby” de’Perrodil remembers the events that unfolded here on May 5, 1961, as if it were yesterday — and how the infamous “Legend of The Peanut Man” became local lore.
His memories put a different twist on a tale that garnered national headlines, cast Gueydan in a negative light as a place with little or no regard for conservation or wildlife laws, and was lauded by a media that portrayed an ambitious federal undercover agent as nothing short of a super hero.

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

LeBlanc Elementary School’s Daedra Howard is the Vermilion Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R) Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner, Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Howard, Superintendent Tommy Byler and Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie.

Article Image Alt Text

J.H. Williams Middle School’s Katie Griffin is the Vermilion Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R) Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie, Superintendent Tommy Byler, Adrienne Theriot, Middle School Supervisor, and Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner.

Article Image Alt Text

Abbeville High School’s Devin Romero is the Vermilion Parish High School Teacher of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R) Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie, Superintendent Tommy Byler, Romero, Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner.

Article Image Alt Text

Eaton Park Elementary’s Briana Richard is the Vermilion Parish New Teacher of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R) Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie, Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Richard, Superintendent Tommy Byler and Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner.

Vermilion Parish Teachers of the Year announced

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 12:08pm

Each year, the Vermilion Parish School System has the tall order of naming Teachers of the Year.
It’s a challenge in that there are so many worthy of the honor. With that said, the challenge has been met, with the district honoring four across grade levels.
This year’s honorees are:
• Elementary Teacher of the Year - Daedra Howard, LeBlanc Elementary School
• Middle School Teacher of the Year - Katie Griffin, J.H. Williams Middle School
• High School Teacher of the Year - Devin Romero, Abbeville High School

Article Image Alt Text
Article Image Alt Text

Erath High’s Dr. Belisa Smith is the Vermilion Parish High School Principal of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R) Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Superintendent Tommy Byler, Smith, Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie and Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner.

Article Image Alt Text

North Vermilion Middle’s Kandice Broussard is the Vermilion Parish Elementary School Principal of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R), School Board member Kevin Meyers, Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Superintendent Tommy Byler, Broussard, Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie and Adrienne Theriot, Middle School Supervisor.

Article Image Alt Text

Left — Meaux Elementary’s Dawn Amy is the Vermilion Parish Elementary School Principal of the Year. Taking part in the presentation are (L-R), Shawri Landry, Supervisor of Elementary Education , Natalie Hebert, High School Curriculum Facilitator/District Test Coordinator, Assistant Superintendent Kim Etie, Amy, Superintendent Tommy Byler, Smith, School Board Member Kevin Meyers and Assistant Superintendent Marc Turner.

Vermilion Parish Principals of the Year named

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 12:03pm

There are numerous aspects that go into creating a successful school.
Leadership is among the most important.
The Vermilion Parish School System has honored three of its leaders by announcing the Principals of the Year.
This year’s award winners are:
• Elementary School Principal of the Year - Dawn Amy, Meaux Elementary
• Middle School Principal of the Year - Kandice Broussard, North Vermilion Middle
• High School Principal of the Year - Dr. Belisa Smith, Erath High

Article Image Alt Text

Doris Langlinais

Langlinais named temporary chief of Abbeville Fire Department following Mire’s retirement

Mon, 01/05/2026 - 11:56am

Here is a statement written by Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White on who will be the temporary fire chief of Abbeville.
“The City of Abbeville announces the retirement of fire chief Jude Mire and the appointment of Doris Langlinais, Jr. as temporary fire chief, effective December 18, 2025.
Chief Langlinais will lead the department during the transition period while the city proceeds with the Civil Service testing and selection process for a permanent Fire Chief.

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

The Abbeville Meridional Copyright © 2026