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With a shared mission and vision to enhance the Vermilion parish community, it made perfect sense for Pastor Walter August, Jr., senior pastor and chairperson of Bethel’s Place, to collaborate with Williams Scholar Academy (WSA) on his latest construction endeavor.
The newly-approved Type 2 charter in Vermilion is spearheaded by School Leaders, Dr. Twyla Williams-Damond and Mrs. Tiffany Williams-Spraggins. Williams Scholar Academy will serve as the academic anchor for the state-of-the-art Educational Center inclusive of office space, classrooms (6-12th grade), science laboratories, technology center, library, cafeteria, full gymnasium, and an outdoor recreational facility. The double-faced building will also be characterized by 65,000+ sq. ft. and 3+ levels.
Upon completion, the establishment will house:
• The Williams Scholar Academy in the Educational Center
• The James A. Herod Cultural Center, which will give homage to James A. Herod High School ‘s alumni and former educators
• An African-American History Museum
• Several Adult Learning suites
In dual roles, Dr. Damond and Mrs. Spraggins will also serve as the curators for the entire facility.
Dr. Williams-Damond states, “Immediately upon BESE approval this past December, WSA was blessed to be in the position of contemplating several respectable offers concerning facilities. We would be remiss if we did not express our gratefulness for the outpouring of support from local businesses and commercial real estate owners who were willing to house our school. However, Pastor Walter August, Jr. provided the vision that most closely aligns with WSA’s goals for students. In addition, his reputation for philanthropy and working in Vermilion is undeniable.”
Mrs. Spraggins says, “We all stand on the shoulders of the educators who started and kept James A. Herod going for many years. It is an honor to help revitalize that history and be a part of increasing the learning outcomes for students. Combining educational endeavors with the ability to rebuild at such a historic site is a rare opportunity and we are truly humbled to be a part of this venture. We intend to shift the narrative and commence a new story within our own historic borders. WSA’s belief: ‘Your school. Your choice’.”
With a goal of more than $10 million dollars, Bethel’s Place will officially start the Building Capital Campaign on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2020. During Abbeville’s MLK activities on Monday, Pastor August will share his vision for the property as one of the featured guest speakers. All social distancing requirements will be in place.
Interested in donating to the Building Capital Campaign? Please make checks payable to: Bethel’s Place- James A. Herod Project. All donations are tax deductible and can be sent directly to Gulf Coast Bank of Abbeville.
For more information on Williams Scholar Academy, visit wsascholar.com.

ABBEVILLE — Funeral Services for Adam John Edward Romero, 35, will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, January 22, 2021 at David Funeral Home Chapel of Abbeville. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Thursday, January 21, 2021 from 11:00AM until 9:00PM. Visitation will resume on Friday, January 22, 2021 from 8:00AM until the time of the services.
A native Abbeville and resident of the LeBlanc Community, Mr. Romero died at 1:54AM on Monday, January 19, 2021 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Adam was a Christian man who loved people and lived life to it fullest. He had many hobbies some of which included doing leather work, taxidermy, making sausage, trapping, and going to traveling to Tennessee. He also worked as a bails bondsmen in Abbeville.
He is survived by his parents, Francis Edward Romero, Jr. and Julie Romero of the LeBlanc Community; a brother, Payton Tyler Romero of Abbeville; his god mother, Donna Faye Romero; four uncles, Errol James Romero, Paul Romero, Dale Romero, and Gerald Romero; five aunts, Joslin Marie Cessac and her husband Ronald, Katherine Romero, Cynthia Romero, Nicole Romero, and Jennifer Romero; and numerous cousins including, Shawn Joseph Romero and Derika Romero.
He is preceded in death by his Paternal grandparents, Francis Edward Romero, Sr. and Dorthy Jean Gatte Romero; his maternal grandparents, John Dallas Romero and Delta Mae Menard Romero; his god father, Randall J. Romero, an uncle, Richard Keith “Butch” Romero; and a cousin, Randy James Romero.
Serving as pallbearers will be Payton Romero, Errol Romero, I., Errol Romero, II., Joseph S. Davis, II., Joseph S. David, III., David Smith, Richard Romero, Jr., and Paul B. Johnson.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfunealhome.org
“In order to help keep the community safe we will honor the July 13, 2020 Louisiana Mandates.  All families and their guests are required to wear a face covering while at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.” 
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Education announced changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which provides federal funds to help low-income working families pay for child care. The changes, approved during today’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting, enable more Louisiana families to afford and qualify for child care assistance.
Effective February 1, 2021:
CCAP daily reimbursement rates will be increased to reflect the state’s current market rates for child care, significantly reducing out of pocket cost for working families and increasing family choice.
Income eligibility will be increased to 65% of the State Median Income (SMI) in order to align with other child care programs, allowing families to make more income and still qualify for child care subsidy (CCAP).
Providers will be reimbursed at the state’s newly established daily reimbursement rate irrespective of their own rates to assist with paying toward the true cost of quality child care.
“To reach our goal of ensuring all students are ready for kindergarten, it’s vital that we increase access to high-quality child care for Louisiana’s most vulnerable children,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “This shift puts higher quality programs within the reach of families who need them.”
Historically, families receiving child care assistance have been limited in their options by what they can afford with the help of child care assistance. Current CCAP reimbursement rates provide access to approximately one in four centers. The rate increase will allow CCAP-eligible families to choose between three in every four centers. This change will help ensure that more low-income families that are working, in school or actively seeking work can access high-quality child care for their children. This will expand options for families who couldn’t previously afford the gap between what a provider charged and what the state pays, and thereby, open the door to families who could not previously afford child care at all.
“These necessary updates to the CCAP program help to address the real financial needs of low-income families regarding child care,” said BESE President Sandy Holloway. “Raising the reimbursement rates and expanding income eligibility will greatly increase the number of quality child care options for more families across the state that need assistance, and that ultimately leads to more children being prepared to learn on day one of kindergarten.”
“The proposed changes to the CCAP rates are one of the most significant and impactful measures we can take that will have lifelong impacts on our youngest learners,” said Alan Young, Owner of Southland Park Learning Center and Early Childhood Advisory Council Member. “These proposed changes will provide families access to additional high-quality early learning centers,ensuring every child is ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.”
"The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children applauds the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE for making the necessary changes to both the reimbursement rates and eligibility criteria of the Child Care Assistance Program,” said Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Dr. Libbie Sonnier. “These changes will help more Louisiana families get back to work to support our economy as well as support the growth and development of young children entering kindergarten ready to learn.”
The income eligibility for CCAP is being increased to approximately 200% of the federal poverty level or $43,440 for a family of three. Along with making child care affordable for more families, this change also better aligns CCAP’s income eligibility with other early childhood programs like LA 4.
The policy changes are part of a broader effort by the Department — in collaboration with BESE, child care providers, advocates and families — to unify the system of early childhood education and to prepare all children for kindergarten by increasing access to and affordability of child care statewide.
To learn more about CCAP and how to apply, families can visit louisianabelieves.com, email LDEccap@la.gov or call 1-877-453-2721.

Prior to entry into politics, Donald Trump was a celebrity loved by the media and adored by millions of Americans. He was a successful real estate developer and the star of a reality TV show. His life was fabulous, full of success and praise from across the country.
It all changed for Donald Trump on June 16, 2015, when he announced his presidential campaign after the famous escalator ride. His media coverage immediately changed from positive to unrelentingly negative. During his speech, Trump told the truth about Mexico sending criminals into the country. He was immediately labeled a “racist” and the hateful attacks have never stopped.
In the following 67 months, he has faced a myriad of enemies including establishment Republicans, Democrats, the media, and the “Deep State.” Despite horrible media coverage and a false campaign to connect him to Russia, he was elected President of the United States in 2016. This was a major upset and it shocked and horrified the political establishment of both parties.
The American people learned later Trump was the victim of a spying and disinformation campaign. The phony dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele led to the biased Mueller investigation, which ultimately exonerated the President of Russian “collusion” and found no evidence of obstruction of justice.
Once the President was finished with the Russian hoax, he was immediately thrust into the Ukrainian hoax. The scandal involves his “perfect” phone call to his Ukrainian counterpart asking for information about the investigation of the Biden family. Only later did the American people understand the extent of the shady Ukrainian deals involving Joe and Hunter Biden.
Even though Congress should have investigated the corrupt activities of the Biden family in Ukraine, the President was ultimately impeached in a phony and partisan witch hunt. Fortunately, he was acquitted by the U.S. Senate, but the impeachment certainly damaged his political standing, which was the goal of his enemies.
After COVID-19 was unleashed by communist China, the President was plunged into another scandal not of his own making. Despite his excellent leadership and the tremendous success of “Operation Warp Speed,” the President was blamed for a supposedly slow response. The harsh economic lockdowns, instituted in states led by Democrat Governors, were financially devastating for millions of Americans, making the President’s re-election even more challenging.
While the hurdles were enormous, the President still generated almost 75 million votes, an increase of 12 million from 2016. Surely, he won the election, but the vote counting kept going until former Vice President Joe Biden was declared the winner.
The disgraceful mail-in voting procedures guaranteed millions of votes would be counted by states after Election Day. Once the election was extended, the President never had a chance. His legal challenges were repeatedly dismissed by judges who refused to look at the overwhelming evidence that was assembled.
It should shock no one that the President and his supporters believe that the election was stolen. It is what spurred one million people to descend on Washington D.C. to participate in the January 6th “Stop the Steal” rally. This event was totally nonviolent, and almost all the participants acted peacefully.
Unfortunately, some rally goers, spurred on by Antifa organizers, breached security at the U.S. Capitol. It is a true outrage that some people committed acts of violence and innocent people died, but it was not President Trump’s fault.
In his speech on January 6, the President called for protesters to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard” by marching to the U.S. Capitol. He never called for security to be breached or for the police to be attacked. He never encouraged vandalism, theft, or violence.
Nevertheless, he has been impeached and could face a trial in the U.S. Senate. The second impeachment of President Trump was even more partisan, unwarranted, and vindictive than the first one. The unrelenting persecution of President Trump is a convenient way for the GOP establishment, the Democrats, the media, and the Deep State to divert attention from the massive electoral fraud which occurred in November and inflict even more political damage on a President they despise.
Instead of discussing electoral fraud in depth, the congressional debate was shortened, and the electoral votes were overwhelmingly confirmed. The nation’s attention was immediately diverted to the U.S. Capitol protests and the supposedly impeachable actions of President Trump.
Along with the impeachment, the President has been censored from all his social media platforms and the mainstream news media is not covering his live speeches. The PGA decided not to hold their championship tournament at his New Jersey golf club and his company was booted from multiple contracts in New York City.
To add insult to injury, the President’s bank dropped him, and other financial institutions will shy away from dealing with any entities associated with him in the future. No doubt, he will also face prosecution from deranged leftists when he leaves office.
Ironically, while these attacks continue, the true crimes of electoral fraud have not been punished or truly investigated. Why is this happening? Because Donald Trump tried to implement his “American First” platform that was the centerpiece of his 2016 presidential campaign. He had the courage and audacity to challenge the Deep State and expose their corruption. Their hatred for him will never end.
No one in political life has been mistreated as much as President Trump. Amazingly, he may want to run for the White House again in 2024. Hopefully, he will not give up this fight to “Make America Great Again.”
No other political leader has the same level of support as President Trump. No one is as courageous and forceful in pursuing this agenda. Hopefully, the American people will not forget how he has been victimized by his enemies.
The Biden administration will be a major failure and there will be an opening for President Trump to save the country again in 2024. Let us just hope there is a country left to save.