RSS Feed

Whether in business, within civic organizations, or as part of government entities, there are women in leadership roles throughout Vermilion Parish.
As the 100th president of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Megan Landry-Lalande wanted to help create an event that would not only recognize those women leaders but would help encourage other women to take a step to become leaders in the community.
That event came to fruition Thursday as the Vermilion Chamber played host to the first-ever women’s leadership luncheon, which took place at L’eglise.
More than 30 women in attendance heard the event’s theme, “Energize. Inspire. Celebrate. Women Leaders!”
“We are so grateful to be able to bring this kind of event to our members and guests,” Lalande said. “When I became president earlier this year, one event I felt so led to initiate was a summit for women. In Vermilion Parish, I feel our women are always seeking growth, always looking to network. There are several businesses and organizations that have women leading the way.
“We thank you, and we encourage you to continue to help our parish flourish.”
Attendees heard Thursday from three women who have flourished in leadership roles. Ashley Mudd, executive director of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana, Dr. Phyllis Dupuis, former chancellor of South Louisiana Community College, and Dr. Tina Chargois, supervisor of Distance Learning for the Vermilion Parish School System, each spoke on different aspects of leadership.
Chargois, who served as the keynote speaker, spoke about her life growing up in Kaplan, being a mother of three and all the work she put into becoming the leader she is today.
“I know each of us here today has a story about our journey to leadership,” Chargois said. “Looking at my bio, I’m sure it seems unusual for a person to list primary caregiver of her 81-year-old mom and being mother of three in a professional bio.
“Those are the very things that make us the unique leaders that we are.”
Chargois said leadership is not about separating a career from home.
“We multitask at work,” Chargois said. “Then, we go home for our second shift and start multitasking all over.
“This is one of the many things that make women uniquely qualified to be great leaders.”
Chargois said the home is where strong leaders can begin to grow. She said she received inspiration from her mother, Delores Broussard, the first woman elected to the Kaplan City Council.
“I bet most of you come from a line of strong women,” Chargois said.
Volunteering can strengthen one’s ability to become a better leader. Mudd, a graduate of Abbeville High, said community service is essential to her.
“I have built my entire career around this,” Mudd said. “My first job was as the office manager of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Acadiana. I really got to see the importance of having dedicated citizens who want to make the world a better place by volunteering their time.”
Volunteering can bring you in contact with people you may never otherwise meet.
“I would say that 90% of my profession and personal circle today,” Mudd said, “comes from relationships that were built through giving back in the Acadiana area.
“I would say that the friendships and bonds you can make through this type of work can be so much stronger.”
Mudd said it is no small thing to bring little ones along when volunteering.
“If you have an opportunity to bring your kids along,” Mudd said, “bring them. My mom, Annette Mudd, is in Rotary. She has always done those sorts of things. That is the message she always sent to us.
“If you care about the community you live in, you are going to go out to try to make it a better place, whether you’re paid to do it or not.”
Having a better understanding of strengths is something Dupuis said can help make a better leader. Dr. Dupuis is a certified Emergenetics associate for Enspire Consultants.
“Many of you have been in our workshops before,” Dupuis said. “We want people to understand their strengths and preferences. We want people to understand what they do well.”
Dupuis said that listening to opposing views and ideas is vital to leadership.
“A successful leader is one who understands their preferences,” Dupuis said, “and then surrounds themselves with people who are different from them.”
Women take different paths to leadership. Chargois said the key for all of them is always to press forward.
“Like most women,” Chargois said, “I know what it’s like to be overlooked and underestimated. Change is hard. We love predictability and consistency. Change is the catalyst for great things. If I had said no to quitting a job to pursue my doctorate, I would not be the person I am today in the name of predictability and consistency.”
Lalande said she hopes Thursday’s event can be something that has an impact well into the future.
“My hope is that as women, we can continue to create opportunities for ourselves,” Lalande said. “I want us to flourish, not only in our homes but to expand that into our communities. Let’s work together to mold a greater future for those who are going to follow the groundwork that we are leaving today.
“I look forward to seeing many of you become a bigger part of our Parish.”

BULLETIN
Tropical Storm Sally Intermediate Advisory Number 11A
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL192020
700 AM CDT Mon Sep 14 2020
...SALLY A LITTLE STRONGER AS IT MOVES SLOWLY WEST-NORTHWESTWARD
OVER THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO...
...LIKELY TO PRODUCE LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, HURRICANE-FORCE
WINDS, AND FLASH FLOODING ALONG PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN GULF COAST
STARTING LATE TODAY...
SUMMARY OF 700 AM CDT...1200 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...28.4N 87.4W
ABOUT 115 MI...185 KM ESE OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ABOUT 165 MI...265 KM SE OF BILOXI MISSISSIPPI
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...65 MPH...100 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB...29.35 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
None.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Port Fourchon Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida Border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
* Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New
Orleans
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama Border to Indian Pass Florida
* Intracoastal City Louisiana to west of Morgan City
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Indian Pass to Ochlockonee River Florida
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction
of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm
Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas
should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from
rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.
Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.
For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 700 AM CDT (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Sally was located near latitude 28.4 North, longitude 87.4 West. Sally is moving toward the west-northwest near 8 mph (13 km/h). This general motion is expected today, followed by a decrease in forward speed and a turn to the northwest tonight and a northward turn sometime on Tuesday. On the forecast track, the center of Sally will move over the north-central Gulf of Mexico today, approach southeastern
Louisiana this afternoon, and make landfall in the hurricane warning area on Tuesday. Afterward, Sally is expected to move slowly
north-northeastward near the northern Gulf Coast through Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h)
with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected over the next day or
so, and Sally is forecast to become a hurricane by tonight, with
additional strengthening possible before the center crosses the
northern Gulf Coast.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles (205 km)
from the center. NOAA buoy 42039, located about 130 miles (215 km)
south-southeast of Pensacola, Florida, recently reported peak
sustained winds of 49 mph (79 km/h) and a gust to 58 mph (94 km/h).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.35 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
Key messages for Sally can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC,
and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml(link is external)
STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could
reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated
areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide...
Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs including Lake
Borgne...7-11 ft
Ocean Springs to MS/AL Border...5-8 ft
MS/AL Border to AL/FL Border including Mobile Bay...4-6 ft
Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas...4-6 ft
Port Fourchon to Mouth of the Mississippi River...3-5 ft
AL/FL Border to Navarre including Pensacola Bay...2-4 ft
Navarre to Chassahowitzka including Choctawhatchee Bay and Saint
Andrew Bay...1-3 ft
Burns Point to Port Fourchon...1-3 ft
Overtopping of local levees outside of the Hurricane and Storm
Damage Risk Reduction System is possible where local inundation
values may be higher than those shown above.
The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
damaging waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances. For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the hurricane
warning area starting late today. Tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area during the next few hours, and are
expected within the warning area beginning this morning.
RAINFALL: Sally is expected to be a slow-moving system as it
approaches land producing 8 to 16 inches of rainfall with isolated
amounts of 24 inches over portions of the central Gulf Coast from
the western Florida Panhandle to far southeast Louisiana through the
middle of the week. Life-threatening flash flooding is possible. In
addition, this rainfall will likely lead to widespread minor to
isolated major flooding on area rivers.
Sally is forecast to move farther inland early Wednesday and track
into the Southeast with rainfall of 6 to 12 inches possible across
portions of inland southeast Mississippi and Alabama. Significant
flash and urban flooding is likely, as well as widespread minor to
moderate flooding on some rivers.
Further heavy rain is then anticipated across portions of eastern
Tennessee, northern Georgia and western North Carolina Thursday into
Friday. Flash, urban, and minor river flooding is possible across
this region.
Outer bands of Sally are expected to produce additional rainfall of
1 to 3 inches across the Florida peninsula today. This rainfall may
produce flash and urban flooding and prolong high flows and ongoing
minor flooding on rivers across central Florida.
TORNADOES: A tornado or two may occur this afternoon through
Tuesday over coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi,
Alabama, and extreme southeastern Louisiana.
SURF: Swells from Sally will continue to affect areas from the
west coast of the Florida peninsula westward through the coast of
southeastern Louisiana during the next couple of days. These swells
are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current
conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Some would say the offensive line’s left tackle is one of the most important positions on the field. Most coaches place their best and smartest lineman at that position.
Vermilion Catholic head coach Broc Prejean is not about to buck the football system. In his first year at the school, he inherited an offensive line with only one returning starter. That one person is senior Jude Roger. Roger played right guard last year.
The position of left tackle was made famous thanks to the movie “The Blind Side.” In the film, it stated that the left tackle position is the quarterback’s best friend. The left tackle’s responsibility is to make sure no one comes from behind and tackles the quarterback when his back is turned.
One of the first offensive moves Prejean made is moving Roger from right guard to left tackle in search for linemen.
Roger fits the left tackle mode.
• A left tackle has to have good footwork. Check. Roger is slim, making him fast on his feet.
• A left tackle must have good hand placement, so he can fight off a defender. Check. Roger, at 6-4, has one of the longest arm spans on the team.
• A left tackle must have good leverage and balance. At 6-4, Roger will be taller than 90 percent of the defensive linemen he will face.
• A bonus for a left tackle is to have brains. Check. Roger made a 30 on his ACT and plans to major in mechanical engineering at the Louisiana Tech after high school.
“He has the most experience up front, and his length and strength lends him to be more of a tackle than a guard,” said Prejean. “He is our tallest and longest lineman. It is nice to have a guy with experience taking care of Drew Lege’s blindside.”
Lege is VC’s four-year quarterback who has thrown for more than 6,000 yards in three years at a starter. If Lege goes down with an injury this year, it would be a big loss for the team.
“I am playing left tackle because I am a returner, and Coach wants to make sure I can keep our quarterback safe,” said Roger.
Learning a new position is hard enough, but throwing in the new head coach’s new offensive scheme makes it twice as challenging. Roger is also dealing with not having anyone on his left side. Last year, he played right guard, so he was surrounded by a center on his left side and a right tackle.
This year, the offensive line has five seniors, who played part-time last year.
“It is different having new linemen, plus, we have a whole new play scheme,” said Roger. “I try to advise the younger guys, but there are times where I am still learning the play scheme. The line is learning together, and we are helping each other out.”
The rest of VC’s linemen are Dayton Dubois at left guard, E.J. Chiasson at the center position, Trimmy Broussard at right guard, Josh Listi at right tackle, and Jacob Noegel at tight end.

This week the Vermilion Parish Police Jury was approved for debris removal reimbursement from FEMA.
This means to the parish residents that the police jury will be able to hire a contractor to remove all of the debris along the side of the road caused by Hurricane Laura.
Since the hurricane, the police jury has had a contractor on standby waiting to see if FEMA would approve debris assistance.
The contractor will be removing debris on Monday, and is expected to take around 30 days to have the debris removed.
The police jury asks residents to have Hurricane Laura related debris hauled to the side of the road by Sunday.
The Police Jury has guidelines residents must follow when placing debris on the side of the road.
The significant guideline is to have the debris separated. (look at the photo on the right)
• Construction debris should be in one pile
• Tree branches, leaves, and plants should be in a separate pile.
• Appliances such as washer and dryer, stove, and dishwasher should be alone in a pile. The police jury is asking refrigerator doors to be sealed and secured.
• Hazardous waste such as a battery, paint, and cleaning supply are also in a different pile.
The Police Jury warns that if everything is thrown into one large pile, the contractor will not pick up the debris.