RSS Feed

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, a former Kaplan Police Officer, identified as Terry Wayne Leopold Kraut Jr., 35, of Kaplan, has been arrested on a Third-Degree Rape charge.
Kaplan Chief of Police Joshua Hardy released a statement on Sunday that Kraut is no longer a member of the Kaplan Police Department.
The allegations against Kraut Jr. stem from an incident during the early morning hours of July 22, where Kraut Jr. was at a bar within the city limits of Kaplan when a female patron was about to leave. Kraut Jr. asked if he could bring the female home at which time she said no. Kraut persisted and stated that she would make it home safely.
Knowing Kraut Jr. was a local police officer, the victim accepted Kraut’s persisted request. Instead of bringing her home, the victim stated that Kraut Jr. traveled to a “country” road just outside of Kaplan city limits and committed a non-consensual sexual act on her.
The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the complaint and subsequently called out the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The Criminal Investigation Division obtained probable cause through the investigation, and an arrest warrant was secured for Third-Degree Rape, with a bond set at $25,000.
Kraut Jr. was booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center without incident and the investigation is on-going and more charges are possible.

November 30, 1948 – July 5, 2023

Ann was born on November 30, 1948 in Bellville, Texas to R.L. Walker, Jr. and Mabel Saltzman Walker. She spent her early childhood in Hempstead, then Kemah, Texas, and remained a proud Texan all her life, despite her Cajun roots. Her family moved to the Philippines in 1957 where her father was stationed by the Air Force. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1958, her family moved to Little Rock Air Force Base, Jacksonville, Arkansas where she spent the rest of her youth, graduating from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock in 1967. Ann married Kirby Henry in 1969, then moved to Lake Charles where she was working. A short time later, she and Kirby moved to Wright, Louisiana where they remained and raised their family. Over the years, Ann owned a bakery called “I Knead the Dough” where she baked wonderful creations and catered small events. In 2009 she was awarded “Woman of the Year” by the Kaplan Chamber of Commerce for her tireless work on many successful projects. During that time, she worked as Activities Director at Heritage Manor Nursing Home, while also operating Kaleidoscopes Educational Workshops where she was certified to train activity therapists in Alzheimer’s programs. Ann later enjoyed working as docent at Le Musee’, the Kaplan Museum. She particularly loved her work there where she would meet new people, enjoy the featured artist’s creations, and share her knowledge of local history.
Ann was kind, generous and compassionate; an artistic and curious person who enjoyed culture and learning new things. One of her favorite pastimes was watching Jeopardy and playing along -- she was pretty good. She was a loyal friend, selfless, and helped all those she could, even if it was just to lend a listening ear. She had a good sense of humor, and enjoyed people, and good conversation. For several years, her love of writing led her to publish her articles in Bonnes Nouvelles, a local newspaper. She also enjoyed traveling, having visited many states, Italy and Costa Rica. Her last trip was to Tacoma, Washington earlier this year.
She is survived by her husband, Kirby Henry; children, Caroline Henry, Mandy Henry, and Lee Henry (Linda Denais); sisters, Cecelia Walker Soderberg (Bob) and Barbara Walker Sandoz (Tommy LeBlanc); mother-in-law, Laura Mae Saltzman Henry; brother-in-law, Farley Henry; nieces and nephews, Penny Saltzman Vincent (Ronald) and their children, Jagger and Averi; Eric Soderberg (Laurie Oppel), Sonja Soderberg Quaintance; Paige Quaintance Minges (Derek) and their children, Maggie, Keller, and Jett; Jessica Petry Cooper (Ben) and their children, Grant and Lauren Grace; grandchildren, Quinn Guidry, Olivia Durand, Jackson Tisdall, Kari Caldwell (Craig) and their children, Easton and Raelyn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Lankston Walker, Jr. and Mabel Saltzman Walker; grandparents, Richard Lankston Walker, Sr. and Ella Guidry Walker, Isaac Saltzman and Agnes Frieu Saltzman; father-in-law, Leroy Henry; sister-in-law, Kathy Henry Mouton; and many other beloved family and close friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. David Chapel, Kaplan, Louisiana, on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 9 a.m. and a Celebration of Life immediately following at St. David’s Hall, next door to the church.
Donations in Ann’s memory may be made to: Mount St. Mary Academy (MSM Foundation 3224 Kavanaugh Blvd. Little Rock, AR 72205 or online: https://mtstmary.edu/support-msm/give-now), or to the Breast Cancer Society, Kaplan Museum, St. David Chapel, or a favorite charity.
Special thanks to Vincent Funeral Home for their kind assistance to the family.

Two weeks after being involved in a two-vehicle accident, a Vermilion Catholic female student has been moved to a hospital in Dallas to further her care.
According to “Kallen’s Journey” Facebook page, it states that Kallen LeBlanc, 17, was transported to the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
Baylor’s trauma surgeon and the ECMO team flew to Lafayette on Monday with their equipment and connected Kallen to the ECMO machine and then transported her to Dallas.
The post on Facebook: “Kallen has shown some improvements in lung function throughout her stay at Ochsner Lafayette General but needed additional healing time that she can now get from being on ECMO. The ECMO machine will add oxygen to her blood and remove the carbon dioxide from her blood. This replaces the function of her lungs. She remains on a ventilator for now but with ECMO they are able to decrease the settings so her lungs do not have to work so hard and gives them rest. We thank the doctors and medical staff at Ochsner Lafayette General for the excellent care they have given to Kallen. Thank you for the prayers, please pray that Kallen will continue to make improvements throughout her healing process.”
LeBlanc was involved in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of La. 697 and La. 343 in the North Vermilion area.
For unknown reasons, LeBlanc went forward and did not see a white GMC truck heading north on La. 343. She drove into the path of the truck. The truck hit her on the driver’s side.
First responders and Acadiana Ambulance responded. LeBlanc had to be cut out from her 2014 Ford Focus with the help of the Jaws of Life (a hydraulic rescue tool used to cut through cars).
Her parents are Corey and Ladessa LeBlanc.
Earlier this week Vermilion Catholic seniors and their parents gathered in the chapel on the VC campus to say prayers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Estherwood, for Lela Hazel Marceaux, 89, who passed away on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 10:08 A.M. at Arboretum of Winnie Nursing Home in Winnie, TX.
Fr. Andrew Schumacher, Pastor of St. Margaret Catholic Church in Estherwood will be officiating for the services. Burial will be in Hanks Cemetery in Morse.
The family has requested the visitation to be held on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. in the Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Crowley. A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday at 6 o’clock in the evening in the Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will resume on Thursday at 8:00 A.M. until 1:30 P.M.
Survivors include two daughters, Amalie and husband, Paul Morris of Duson, Henrietta and husband, Roger Clement of Winnie, TX; one son, Pierre and wife, Estelle Marceaux of Morse; one daughter-in-law, Brenda Breaux of Abbeville; four sisters, Peggy and husband, Glen Navarre of Hayes, Jeanette Benoit of Jennings, Leta Mae Duplichain of Loreauville, and Bobby Lee Broussard of Sulphur; one brother, George and wife, Margaret Broussard of Hayes; nine grandchildren, Heather Breaux, Eric Breaux, Erica Howard, Rachel Howard, Bethany Howard, Heidi Marceaux, Anastasia Cashat, Zachariah Quebodeaux, Alyson Quebodeaux; ten great-grandchildren, Hope Green, Faith Breaux, Joseph Breaux, Isreal Breaux, Candice Miller, Cheyanne Breaux, Nicholas Quebodeaux, Payton Quebodeaux, Emma Quebodeaux, and Gunner Cashat; three great-great-grandchildren, Gracie Green, Brooklyn Green, and Heaven Breaux.
Ms. Marceaux was preceded in death by her one son, Ernie Breaux; her parents, Etiene and Melene L. Broussard; three sisters, Lucy Guidry, Lillian Braxton, and Nora Louvierre; two brothers, Etiene “T-Boy” Broussard, and Felix “Joe” Broussard.
Pallbearers for the service will be Felix Duplechain, Pierre Marceaux, Eric Breaux, George Broussard, Jr., Patrick Smith, and Zachariah Quebodeaux. Honorary Pallbearers for the service will be Mark Woods, (God Child), Wade Breaux, and Chris Benoit.
Ms. Hazel enjoyed making Rosaries for the mission; she liked playing Pokeno, cards, and rummy. We will miss her lemon pies, black berry cobblers, and she loved her Cajun coffee.
We will remember mom as being feisty, vibrant, unfiltered, strong willed and quick witted, generous to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Shrine.
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Ms. Marceaux’s family at www.duhonfuneralhome.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC of Crowley, LA, (337)783-1395, 1529 Crowley-Rayne Hwy, Crowley, La. 70526 is in charge of arrangements.