RSS Feed

March 27, 1938 ~ July 31, 2021

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Kenneth Paul Harrington, My Love, as he was affectionately known, died peacefully on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Abbeville General Hospital.
He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Reverend Louis J. Richard officiating the services.
Pallbearers will be Tyler Harrington, Bryan Touchet, Eric LeBlanc, Branden LeBlanc, Sammy Laporte, Ralph Hutchinson, Wade Trahan and Taylor Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be the 1956 Abbeville High School classmates, Sheriff Michael Couvillon and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office personnel with whom he worked, and so many friends and family that are too numerous to name.
My Love was a 1956 Abbeville High School graduate, and still remained close with many of his classmates. He greatly enjoyed coaching many youths in Abbeville Little League and Babe Ruth baseball leagues for many years. He was retired from the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office after 33 years of loyal service, serving under the late Sheriff Euda Delcambre, Sheriff Ray Lemaire and current Sheriff Mike Couvillon.
He was 83 years old, and lived a long, beautiful and wonderful life filled with lots of music, love and laughter. My Love was a great man, who never met a stranger, always befriending everyone he met, and always had a great joke to share. He loved to cook, he loved to eat, but he loved his family more, never wanting to miss out on any chance to be with his grandchildren, his pride and joy, whom affectionately called him “Poppa Love,” which he proudly displayed on his pick-up truck, as he travelled around town.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 61 years, Joan Touchet Harrington, as well as his son, Greg Harrington, and his wife, Sheila LeBlanc Harrington, his grandchildren, Tyler Harrington and Kennedy Harrington, as well as his great grandson, Aiden (A.J.) Harrington. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Charlotte Dubois Touchet.
He was predeceased in death by his parents, Alton and Ella “Beco” Hebert Harrington, his in-laws, Denis, Annie and Amy Touchet, and his brother-in-law, Glen Touchet.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 from 9:00 AM until 1:45 PM when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary being prayed at 11:00 AM.
The family would like to extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the staff of Eastridge Nursing Home, where he was a resident since March, 2021, as well as the staff of Abbeville General Hospital, for the wonderful comfort and care provided to My Love. The family would also like to extend our great appreciation to all who called, texted, left a message or shared a story about My Love, as it has been a great comfort at this difficult time.
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.

BATON ROUGE — On Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards has temporarily reinstated Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate indoors for all people age five and older as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across Louisiana, threatening the ability of Louisiana’s hospitals to deliver care during this fourth surge of COVID. Louisiana is currently in the worst surge of the COVID-19 pandemic so far in terms of case growth rate, percent positivity and hospitalizations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday released data that shows that while vaccination reduces one’s chance of becoming infected with COVID-19, those who do become infected with the Delta variant despite being fully vaccinated are likely at risk of transmitting it to others.
Louisiana’s temporary indoor statewide mask mandate will stay in place until at least September 1, but may be extended if necessary.
Driven largely by Louisiana’s insufficient vaccination rate and the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, COVID-19 cases in the state have grown exponentially. Louisiana remains No. 1 nationwide for number of new COVID-19 cases per capita. The temporary indoor statewide mask mandate will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and limit suffering and death in Louisiana until we are through this fourth surge. The indoor mask mandate also applies to K-12 schools, universities, and other higher education institutions, which return to on-campus learning in August. In accordance with new guidance from the CDC, all people on campuses should be masked indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.
“It has never been more clear that we are in an unchecked COVID surge that, in addition to threatening the health and wellbeing of many Louisianans, also threatens the capacity of our hospitals and medical facilities to deliver care to their patients. That is simply unacceptable, and after reviewing new data from the CDC, speaking with public health advisors, and hearing from hospital leadership and the business community, I am reinstating Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate indoors, including in schools to protect our children who are too young to be vaccinated and our teachers and staff,” Gov. Edwards said. “This decision is not one I take lightly, but as the fourth surge of COVID-19 is upon us, we know that mask wearing when you are in public is one way to greatly lower your risk of spreading or catching COVID. Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is another. We have the tools we need to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and save lives, and I am pleading with unvaccinated Louisianans to get their shot as soon as they can to protect themselves. We can end this nightmare, but it is going to take all of us working together to do it.”
“The data in Louisiana clearly point to the severity of our situation, and the urgency to act now,” said Dr. Joseph Kanter, State Health Officer. “Over the weekend we reviewed new data from the CDC showing that while vaccination reduces one’s chance of becoming infected with COVID-19, those who do become infected with the Delta variant despite being fully vaccinated are likely at risk of transmitting it to others. This new information and other recent data showing the Delta variant is more than twice as transmissible as the original strains of COVID-19 bolster our recommendation to the Governor to put a universal mask mandate in place immediately.”
As has always been the case, local leaders may implement mitigation measures that are more comprehensive and restrictive than the current state guidelines, should they feel this is best for their communities.

STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE

Face masks that properly cover the wearer’s mouth and nose should be worn indoors at all times, unless a person is in a home, under the Governor’s statewide mask mandate, which will be in place until at least September 1.
The order requires face coverings for everyone age 5 or older or enrolled in kindergarten, except for the following:
• Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering
• Anyone who is consuming a drink or food
• Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired
• Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience
• Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes
• Face coverings are highly encouraged for those ages 2 to 4 as tolerated.

As with the Governor’s previous mandate, children younger than kindergarten age are exempted if they cannot wear a mask. However, the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health strongly encourage indoor mask wearing in public for all children aged two and older, especially as they are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine. Generally, LDH shares these reminders for individuals and families who are trying to stay as safe as possible during the COVID-10 pandemic:
• If you can do an activity outdoors instead of indoors, do it outdoors
• Follow good hygiene practices (wash your hands vigorously and frequently, and don’t touch your face)
• Stay away from crowded settings
• Work virtually if possible
• If you suspect you have been exposed to COVID-19, get tested immediately
• If you’re in an at-risk group, be extra careful
• Everyone who is sick or who has COVID symptoms should stay home

GUIDANCE FOR LARGE GATHERINGS

On Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health additionally issued guidance to the public about large event gatherings during the fourth surge of COVID-19 in Louisiana, including ways to lower risk for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

LDH recommends:

Limiting the size of indoor gatherings, moving events outdoors, or hosting meetings and events virtually to reduce the likelihood of COIVD-19 spread.
All participants of indoor meetings and events are required to be masked.
People with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to have severe COVID complications should avoid nonessential trips outside of the home.
Event hosts and facilities should practice strong sanitation and hygiene practices and provide hand sanitizer for those who need it.
Spaces should be staged to accommodate at least six feet of distance between guests.

TESTING AND QUARANTINE GUIDANCE

Under guidance issued by LDH two weeks ago, all businesses should review their operations to accommodate employees in a way that reduces unnecessary contact to avoid the spread of COVID in the workplace.
In addition, all people should take a COVID test immediately after a known or suspected exposure to COVID-19 and take the following actions:
• If positive, they should isolate immediately.
• If negative, they should retest again between five and seven days post-exposure.
• If they develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any point they should test and immediately isolate pending the results.
• This guidance will remain in place at least until Louisiana is safely out of its fourth COVID-19 surge, with additional guidance and mitigation measures put in place if and when necessary to slow the spread of the more contagious and virulent Delta variant and preserve hospital capacity.
At this time, the CDC advises that fully vaccinated individuals who are not experiencing COVID symptoms do not need to quarantine following an exposure to COVID-19, and LDH is not yet altering this guidance.
Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even those who are fully vaccinated or without a known exposure, should get tested.
Anyone who tests positive should immediately isolate. Isolation (for those who test positive for COVID-19) typically consists of:
• If symptomatic, at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, symptoms are improving, and at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication
• If asymptomatic but with a positive test, 10 days from the time the test sample was collected
• Call 211 to find a COVID-19 testing site near you.

HOW TO GET A COVID VACCINE IN LOUISIANA

Everyone aged 12 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Louisiana. The FDA has only authorized one of the three COVID-19 vaccines – from Pfizer – for children ages 12 to 17. Parents should confirm with the vaccine provider that their child is under 18 to ensure Pfizer vaccine is available before making an appointment.
COVID-19 vaccines are widely available at 1,437 locations in all of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, including at pharmacies, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctor’s offices.
For a list of locations, visit LDH’s vaccine directory or visit vaccines.gov, which is maintained by the federal government.
To get a list of vaccine locations near you text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English, or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish.
If you have questions, would like to speak with a medical professional, or need help scheduling an appointment, call 211 or Louisiana’s vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774.

DELCAMBRE - Parker LeBlanc has some big shoes to fill.
LeBlanc, a junior, steps into the quarterback position filled for the past couple of years by Kalob Moneaux. Moneaux helped lead the Panthers into the Class 2A playoffs last year. Unfortunately, they ran into a Kinder team that had several players from Barbe who transferred in due to the effects of two hurricanes that pummeled the Lake Charles area.
But Moneaux has graduated from DHS, so the a Panthers are now LeBlanc’s team.
“After being his backup for two years, they are some pretty big shoes to fill, but I’m pretty sure with good leadership and counting on my athleticism, I’m pretty sure that I can fill those shoes,” LeBlanc said. “People think that stepping into those shoes is a big deal, but I’ve been around these kids since third grade, and I don’t think that it’s going to be a lot of pressure on me.
“I think that it’s all about me being myself and not letting myself get ahead of myself.
“I just need to go out and play ball.”
What Head coach Artie Liuzza said about his new QB, “He is a hard-working young man with good speed and decision-making skills.”
LeBlanc steps into the role of the trigger man of Delcambre coach Artie Liuzza’s Wing-T offense and having been in it for a couple of years, and the DHS junior doesn’t feel that it’s that complicated to run.
“I don’t find it very hard at all,” he said. “I find it rather easy because it fits my speed. All I have to do is be calm, cool, and collected and trust my coaches, and they are going to put me in the right position to succeed.”
While the wing T is more geared toward handing the ball off to the running backs and letting them do the heavy work, a component of it needs a running quarterback. And with LeBlanc’s 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, he feels that he can take off and run with the ball if needed.
“I’m ready to run with the ball if the situation calls for it,” LeBlanc said. “If the coaches feel that I need to, I can do it.”
But there is also a passing component to the offense, and LeBlanc feels that he can take care of that.
“I know that people hate on my passing game, but I’ve been working hard on it and will do what I need to do to make it work,” he said.
What LeBlanc wants to do is bring back the magic and the mojo of Delcambre football.
“Let’s put it point-blank,” he said. “Delcambre has had some success recently, but let’s take it a step further. Let’s get into the playoffs and make a statement.
“Delcambre is not going to be the team that is going to back down every year. We’re going to be the team that perseveres; we’re going to be the team that makes sure that no matter what, you’re going to feel some pain on Friday nights.
“Let’s go off of that statement; there will be some pain inflicted. But, you will know that you played Delcambre football this year.”

MAURICE — There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed many facets of life.
Construction has seen that effect.
From shortages in material to manpower, completing a project on time has been challenging. Acknowledging that, the village of Maurice has moved to make the permit portion of the process a little easier.
During its monthly meeting on July 21, the Maurice Board of Aldermen voted to provide extensions for both new and previously issued building permits.
That move came after DSLD Homes, Manual Builders, AM Design and Raybuilt Quality Homes each requested extensions for various properties. The meeting’s agenda initially included a representative from each company.
Seeing a larger issue, Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot said a plan needed to be put in place. Theriot discussed the issue with Assistant Clerk Nichole Bonin, who deals with permits for the village, and Richard Primeaux, who serves as Maurice’s building code enforcement inspector.
“We have a building permit procedure,” Theriot said. “We had all of these people coming to request an extension. Due to circumstances, both economical and health from COVID-19, these builders are experiencing delays. They are delayed in getting materials and various other things.
“I recommend we adopt a policy for building permit time limits.”
Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, Maurice issued permits for six months, at which point the permits expired.
“Building permits for new commercial and residential construction will (now) be issued for a 12-month time period,” Theriot said. “Building permits for other types of construction will be issued for a six-month time period (previously for 90 days). That includes permits for additions. Applicants may apply for a 90-day extension, based upon documented circumstances, such as, if in the middle of construction, we had a historical flood.”
Previously issued permits for commercial and residential construction will automatically be extended to 12 months.
“That will be from the date of issuance and or the date of request,” Theriot said. “Previously issued permits for other types of construction will receive a 90-day extension from the date of issuance.”
Theriot said this move falls in line with other areas.
“In conversations I had with Richard Primeaux,” Theriot said, “this pretty much follows what Abbeville and Vermilion Parish are doing, in time frame.”
The Board of Aldermen voted 3-0 on the change. The new policy went in to effect following the meeting.
“I’m sure all of these builders thank you for that,” Theriot told the board.