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LAFAYETTE — A new attorney is now on the job in the fifteenth judicial district.
Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion parishes swore in District Attorney Donald “Don” Landry Monday night. He started his first day in office this week before officially being sworn in.
Landry is familiar with the position. He worked for 34 years under former District Attorney Mike Harson before he lost reelection in 2014.
“I noticed that the six years that I was not in office that it looked like cases were kind of piling up,” Landry said, adding that the first goal in his term is to reduce the number of backlogged cases and ensure cases are prosecuted in a timely manner.
“I’m going to take the challenge and do my very best to find some creative ways to try to move those dockets,” Landry said. “I’m also going to really try my hardest to stay in touch with the community.”
Communication will be the key to what Landry does. He says plans are being made to meet with law enforcement on a regular basis. He also promised to always answer the phone or return anyone’s phone call.
“People like to communicate. They like to let you know what they think. They like for you to listen to their concerns and try to bring some solutions to their concern, and I learned that if you just work with people, if you just talk to them a little bit,” Landry said. “Talk to them a little bit that you’re just going to get a lot more done.”

Due to Covid restrictions, Dozier Elementary’s Beta Club couldn’t visit and work on holiday activities with the residents as they’ve done in the past years. They did, however, still create cards for the residents. Following that, Dozier Elementary Beta President Connor Toups and Sponsor Shelanne Richard delivered the Christmas cards handmade by Beta members to Eastridge Nursing Home in Abbeville.

(The Center Square) – Louisiana will stay in “Phase 2” of the White House-approved restrictions meant to limit the spread of COVID-19, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday.
The number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is increasing in every region of the state, officials report. The rate of COVID-19 tests coming back positive is well above 10 percent statewide; officials would prefer to see a rate below 5 percent.
Edwards said private events held over the holidays sparked the most recent coronavirus infection increase. He said federal officials believe the next four to six weeks will be the nation’s most difficult stretch since the pandemic began.
“The next several weeks are going to be incredibly tough,” he said.
Restaurants, gyms, barbers, salons, theaters and most retail businesses in Louisiana will continue to be limited to half of their normal indoor capacity. Places of worship will remain at a maximum of 75 percent of their capacity or the number of people who can physically distance with at least six feet between each immediate household.
For bars in parishes where the positivity rate (the proportion of COVID-19 tests that come back positive) is above 5 percent, barrooms are closed to indoor sales and consumption but can still serve up to 50 people outside. Indoor gatherings at event centers and sporting events are limited to 25 percent capacity, while outdoor gatherings where maintaining physical distance is not possible are limited to 25 percent capacity or up to 150 individuals.
At least 7,536 Louisiana residents with COVID-19 have died, officials reported along with 435 “probable deaths.” There were 53 new deaths reported on Tuesday.
At last count there were 2,035 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, 244 of whom were on ventilators. The number of hospitalizations exceeds the peak seen during Louisiana’s past two surges.
There have been nearly 353,000 cases of COVID-19 reported in Louisiana since the pandemic began. As of Jan. 4, officials said more than 280,000 COVID-19 of those people had recovered.
Edwards said a new variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 that is thought to be easier to transmit has not yet been identified in Louisiana, though it is likely safe to assume the new variant is present in the state. There is more COVID-19 in the state now than at any point during the pandemic, officials said.

ERATH – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Gloria Duplantis Benoit, 76, will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 14, 2021 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Andre Metrejean officiating. Internment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 9 a.m. until the time of the services with a recitation of the rosary at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m..
A native and resident of Erath, Mrs. Benoit died at 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, January 10, 2021 at her residence. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother-in-law who enjoyed spending time with her family, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. Mrs. Gloria was head cook at Erath head start for over 14 years; owned and operated A&G Janitorial Service; and was a member of the Catholic Daughters.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Alvin J. Benoit of Erath; a son, Ryan Benoit and his wife Annette of Abbeville; a brother, Daly Duplantis of Erath; a son in law, David Morvant; two grandchildren, Miranda Landry an her husband Eric and Matthew Morvant; and three great grandchildren, Kyler Dupuis, Emsley Landry, and one on the way.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Galbert and Loria Menard Duplantis; a daughter, Roxane Morvant; a brother, Junius Duplantis and his wife Venola; and a sister-in-law, Setsuko Marie Duplantis.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dave Falgout, Keith Landry, Matthew Morvant, Eric Landry, Larry Benoit, and Randy Landry.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Kyler Dupuis, Ronald Vincent, Daly Duplantis, Ryan Benoit, and Cori Broussard.
The family would like to thank the Erath Police Officers and Chief Anna LaPointe for always being there to help when they were needed anytime they were needed.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.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 Erath at 209 E. Putnam St. (337)937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.