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Marie Mable LeBlanc Langlinais

Thu, 09/24/2020 - 8:51am

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Marie Mable LeBlanc Langlinais ,89, will be held at 3:00PM Friday, September 25, 2020 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Andre Metrejean officiating. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
Visitation will be at David Funeral Home in Erath, Friday, September 25, 2020 from 10:00 AM until service time with recitation of the rosary at 11:00 AM and a scripture rosary at 1:00 PM.
Marie passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2020 in her residence. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. She was an excellent seamstress and she sewed infant apparel for Flo’s Baby Lane, then for Earl’s Baby Land in Abbeville. She also sewed christening dresses as heirlooms for her grandchildren. She loved her family very much.
She is survived by her son, Mike Langlinais and wife Jocelyn of Youngsville, her daughters, Judy L. Mistich Dartez of Erath, Barbara Melancon and husband Terry of Kaplan and Cecile “Sis” LeBlanc and husband Tony of Erath, a brother, Wilfred LeBlanc of Abbeville, 11 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Arestile Langlinais, her parents, Milton J. LeBlanc and Alice Hebert LeBlanc Perry; a brother, Emery LeBlanc and a sister, Clara Mae Dutil.
Serving as her Pallbearers will be Steven Broussard, Randy Dartez, Fabian LeBlanc, Jon Langlinais, Terry “T.J.” Melancon and Timothy Broussard.
Condolences may be shared with the family 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 is in charge of arrangements. 209 E. Putnam St. Erath, LA

“Billy” William Carlton East

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 2:25pm

April 2, 1967 - September 19, 2020

William “Billy” Carlton East, 53, passed away on Saturday, September 19, 2020, at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette.
Funeral services will be held at a later date.
William Carlton East, affectionately known as “Billy”, was born April 2, 1967, in Lafayette and was a lifetime resident of Acadiana. Billy had several hobbies and enjoyed his life. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandson and will be deeply missed.
Billy is survived by his father, Juris Joseph East and his wife, Cindy Maturin, of Lafayette; his son, Jacob Broussard, of Lafayette; his grandson, Wyatt Broussard of Lafayette; five brothers, Joey East, of Lake Charles, Jerry East and his wife Nita, of Houston, Texas, Kobe East, of Hessmer, Louisiana, Carol Barza and Keith Barza as well as several dear nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Geneva “Jenny” East; one son, Devin Smith; and one brother, Tony East.
The family wishes to thank Lafayette General Medical Center and the physicians and nursing staff at University Hospital and Clinics in Lafayette for the compassionate care given to Billy and family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Billy’s name to the charity of your choice.
Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St., is in charge of arrangements.

(Photo by Doug Dugas/University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Students study earlier this month in Edith Garland Dupre Library on the UL Lafayette campus.

Enrollment growth continues for UL Lafayette’s Graduate School

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 2:23pm

Graduate school enrollment is climbing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Fall 2020 graduate school enrollment is 2,430 students and marks a 46% growth over the past five years. UL Lafayette had 1,521 graduate students in Fall 2016.
Enrollment grew by 100 students between Fall 2019 and this semester. Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School, attributed the jump to the continued growth of online delivery of the MBA program and to increased retention rates across the University’s nearly 50 master’s and doctoral degree curriculums.
“The phenomenal enrollment progress we’ve seen reflects an institutional commitment to graduate education and to graduate students and faculty,” she said.
“We continue to add new graduate programs and to expand existing programs, such as the master’s in accounting, into online and executive formats that appeal to professionals who are looking to grow in their careers.”
UL Lafayette’s overall Fall 2020 undergraduate enrollment is 14,020 students, including 2,338 first-time freshmen. This year’s freshman class:
• includes 120 high school valedictorians, a 10% increase over last fall;
• averaged a 3.4 cumulative GPA while in high school; and
• scored an average 23.26 on the ACT.
An additional 2,728 non-degree-seeking students brings UL Lafayette’s overall Fall 2020 enrollment to 19,178. That figure reflects a 1.1% decrease over last fall’s overall enrollment of 19,403.
But, when dual enrollment figures are reported next month, the University anticipates a stable Fall 2020 enrollment that’s comparable to last year’s.
Dual enrollment students are high school juniors and seniors who take courses and earn college credits while still in high school. The University expects an uptick among these students this semester.
Louisiana’s public colleges and universities take a census of full- and part-time students on the 14th day of classes each fall semester, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, UL Lafayette’s vice president for Enrollment Management. The totals are reported to the Louisiana Board of Regents and, in the case of UL Lafayette, to the University of Louisiana System as well.
“The census does more than compile enrollment totals. It also provides the University with a snapshot of who our students are and what key metrics we’ve met as an institution over the past year. That information in turn enables us to ensure that we’re providing academic programs and support services that fuel student success,” Bowie explained.
For example, the fall census shows the University increased its overall student retention rate by 4 percentage points, from 75% in Fall 2019 to 79% this semester.
“Student retention is a national challenge at which we’re excelling,” Bowie said.

The Fall 2020 census also shows:
• an increase in the number of freshmen who are first-generation college students, from 29.1% last year to 29.9% this fall;
• the number of Hispanic students increased by 3.3% over last fall. Hispanic students now make up 5.8% of the student body;
• the number of Black students increased by 1.8% over last fall. Black students now comprise 20.2% of the total student population;
• 57% of students are female, while 43% are male; and
• students who hail from 63 parishes in Louisiana; 51 states, U.S. possessions and the District of Columbia; and 88 countries.

Info needed for cattle theft in Vermilion Parish

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 12:40pm

BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Brand Commission and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office are looking for information regarding 10 head of cattle reported missing on September 21, 2020. The calves were last seen on a Dewberry Road property in the Leleux community.
“Our investigators have reason to believe the calves were taken from the property without permission from the owner,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “We are seeking the public’s help in tracking them down.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the LDAF Crimestoppers number at 800-558-9741 or the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-893-0871.
Callers will remain anonymous. Anyone with information resulting in the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible for the crime is eligible to receive a cash reward.

Erath native Elijah Mitchell earns Sun Belt Conference honors

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 8:47am

The Louisiana Football Team saw two players pick up Sun Belt Conference honors after Elijah Mitchell was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Rhys Byrns was named the Special Teams Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
With the announcement, Louisiana has now had at least two players earn the award in consecutive weeks for just the fourth time in the Sun Belt era and the 23rd time it has had two earn the honors in the same week overall.
Mitchell has now earned the award three times in his career, while Byrns has now earned the weekly recognition twice.
A native of Erath, Louisiana, Mitchell had a monster game against Georgia State, rushing the ball 16 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns, the second being the game winner. His 164 yards on the ground was the second-highest rushing output of his career and is tied for fourth most in all of college football this season.
He has now gone over the century mark 11 times in his career and has posted nine games in his career with at least two touchdowns.
Byrns played a pivotal role in helping the Ragin' Cajuns flip the field in the team's overtime win at Georgia State. He matched a career high with seven punts for 315 yards and averaged 45.0 yards per punt, a season high.
He also pinned three balls inside the 20 and sent two balls over 50 yards, including a season-high, 53-yard boot.
No. 19 Louisiana returns to Lafayette for its Sun Belt Conference home opener on Saturday, Sept. 26, when it hosts Georgia Southern at Cajun Field. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CST and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
More information on Louisiana Football tickets can be obtained by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the CAJUNDOME, (337) 265-2170. For information on parking passes, contact RCAF by phone at (337) 851-2903.

Unrestrained Driver Killed in Head-On Crash in Evangeline Parish

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 8:41am

EVANGELINE PARISH – Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on September 22, 2020, Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle crash on LA Highway 13 near Heritage Road in Evangeline Parish. The crash claimed the life of 21-year-old Deonte Walker of Eunice.
The preliminary investigation revealed a 2009 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Walker, was traveling north on LA 13. At the same time, a 2014 Freightliner 18-wheeler was traveling south on LA 13. For reasons still under investigation, Walker crossed the center line and struck the Freightliner head-on in the southbound lane of travel.
Troopers determined Walker was unrestrained, along with a front seat passenger. Walker and the passenger were both transported to a local hospital where Walker ultimately succumbed to his injuries. His passenger was treated for moderate injuries. The driver of the Freightliner was properly restrained and was uninjured. He submitted a breath sample which indicated no alcohol in his system and he displayed no signs of impairment. A toxicology sample was taken from Walker and results are pending. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Always ensure every occupant is properly restrained and follow all traffic laws. Taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop I has investigated 40 fatal crashes resulting in 44 deaths in 2020.

Courtlande Terrance Collins

Wed, 09/23/2020 - 8:36am

August 12, 1953 ~ September 19, 2020

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Courtlande Terrance Collins, 67, who died Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Abbeville General Hospital. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Fr. Daniel Picard officiating the services.
Courtlande was a very loving, compassionate, and giving man who cared more about others than himself. He was the kind of person who never met a stranger—he always treated everybody like a best friend. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Diane P. Collins; son, Courtlande Collins, Jr. of Lake Charles; Corlandra Thibodeaux of Abbeville; three grandchildren; mother, Agnes Goodwin Collins of Lake Charles; two brothers, Larry Collins and Troye Collins both of Lake Charles; and sister, Gabrielle Sonnier of Lake Charles.
He was preceded in death by his father, Moses Collins; and sister, Sheila Ozane; paternal grandparents, Woodman Collins, Sr. and Regina Collins; and maternal grandparents, Herbert and Stella Goodwin.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, September 23, 2020 from 8:00 AM until 9:45 AM when the procession will depart for the church.
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.

Second, final application window of 2019-20 P-EBT closes Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

Tue, 09/22/2020 - 3:29pm

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana families have one more week to apply for financial benefits from free and reduced-price school meals missed when schools closed in 2019-20 due to the pandemic. Eligible families who did not apply for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program in May and June can take advantage of the second application window that will remain open until September 29 at 5 p.m. This second application window for 2019-20 benefits opened September 8.
Families of children who normally receive free or reduced-price meals are eligible for the program. This includes all children who attend a Community Eligibility Provision school where all students receive free and reduced-price meals regardless of income. This second application period of the 2019-20 P-EBT is only for families of the estimated 264,111 students who did not apply to receive P-EBT benefits during the initial window in the spring. When the original application window closed June 15, the families of nearly 470,800 eligible children had signed up to receive benefits.
These one-time benefits, which total $285 per child, equate the cost of meals for the 50 days schools were closed in the spring because of the pandemic, from the onset of statewide school facility closures in March through the end of the 2019-20 academic year. Parents who applied for free meals in May, after the P-EBT program was announced, will receive $91.20 per eligible child, which covers the cost of meals for 16 school days in May.
Families must apply if they wish to receive the benefits. The application is available in a P-EBT portal on the Louisiana Department of Education website. The deadline to apply is September 29 at 5 p.m. The online application is simple, requiring only a name, address, date of birth, school district and school. Social security numbers, while helpful, are not required. The information submitted by the family, however, must exactly match the information on file with the school system in order for the application to successfully submit.
Once families complete an application in the portal, the computer system will notify them of their successful submission. Upon verification, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services will then request a P-EBT debit card for the household to be loaded with a one-time benefit. Applicants can expect their cards within 30 days of their application. Benefits will be available for 365 days.
P-EBT is different from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is issued on a Louisiana Purchase EBT card to approved low-income households. However, the P-EBT card can be used to purchase the same eligible food for the household as can be purchased with a SNAP card. All SNAP families with qualifying students are also eligible to receive P-EBT benefits if they apply, and P-EBT also is available to non-SNAP families if they meet the P-EBT guidelines.
P-EBT is not related to loss from Hurricane Laura. Eligibility is solely based on student participation in the free or reduced-price meal program.
Louisiana was approved by the federal government to offer the P-EBT program on May 15, and the original online application launched on May 18. At that time, 611,430 children were deemed eligible. After the program began and additional families applied for free and reduced-price meals, the number of eligible children increased to 729,507.
Various factors could have influenced the number of families who were eligible but who did not submit an application. Unlike other states offering the federal program, for example, Louisiana could not automatically provide benefits to eligible families because of the state's restrictive data privacy laws for students, so every eligible family was required to submit an application. In addition, Louisiana has a large number of Community Eligibility Provision schools at which every child, regardless of their family's income, receives free and reduced-price meals at school.
The P-EBT program was authorized by Congress in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. In obtaining federal approval for P-EBT, Louisiana joined more than 22 other states participating in the program.
For more information, consult a list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact the LAHelpU Customer Service Center at LaHELPU.DCFS@la.gov or 1-888-524-3578. Families can also access a flyer that has been translated into Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese. Families who need food assistance can also call 211 to inquire about food pantries and other available resources in their communities.
LDOE and DCFS are partnering with numerous non-profit organizations to connect these benefits with eligible families who did not apply for the program during the original application period. Those organizations are Feeding Louisiana, Food Research & Action Center, Louisiana Association of United Ways, Louisiana Budget Project, Louisiana Partnership for Children & Families, Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry America and Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry Louisiana.

Charles Bennett Bourque

Tue, 09/22/2020 - 9:09am

November 7, 1941 ~ September 19, 2020

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Charles Bennett Bourque, 78, who died Saturday, September 19, 2020, with Reverend John Joseph officiating the services. Lectors will be his granddaughters, Whitney and Sarah Bourque.
He was proud of his hometown and lived most of his life in Kaplan, LA. He was a beloved grandfather and lovingly called Paw. He had high standards for Hope, Cade, and his grandchildren and took pride in their accomplishments. His favorite pastime was talking to or about his grandchildren and mailing advice and gifts. He also loved politics, college football, and sharing a beverage with friends.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Charles graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1966. He served in the United States Army, the First Infantry Division, from 1966 to 1968. He was deployed to Vietnam from September 1966 to January 1968 and received the following medals during his service: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal-First Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, The First Infantry Division (The Big Red One) Certificate of Recognition, and the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal.
Following his service in the military, Charles managed his father’s business, Lafitte Wholesale, from 1968 to 1985 and then became a real estate broker and appraiser. Charles served on the Abrom Kaplan Hospital Board, Board of Directors of Acadiana Savings and Loan, Board of Kaplan Housing Authority, and the Louisiana State Tourist Commission. He was a Charter Member of Kaplan Rotary Club and member of Veterans of Foreign War. He was also a dedicated member of American Legion for over fifty years.
He is survived by his two children, Hope Kidder and Cade Bourque and his wife, Andrea; his four grandchildren, Jenna, Whitney, Eric, and Sarah; his sister, Genny and her husband, Russell Pierce; and his brother, Joey Bourque and wife, Charlotte.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan and Marie Bourque.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 600 N. Church Avenue, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 2:00 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Bourque family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Jim Bradshaw

War hero’s cause moves forward

Tue, 09/22/2020 - 9:08am

Jim Bradshaw LSN columnist

The movement to proclaim Father Joseph Verbis Lafleur a saint has taken an important step with the opening of his Cause for Canonization by the Vatican.
The heroic World War II chaplain, who was born in Ville Platte, is now the third person from south Louisiana to be entered into the official process of investigation for sainthood. Bishop Douglas Deshotel began the process for Charlene Richard, the young girl from Acadia Parish, and Auguste “Nonco” Pelafigue of Arnaudville in January, but the announcement for Father Lafleur was delayed by red tape.
The Cause for Canonization is a process filled with red tape that includes testimony documenting how people were affected by Father Lafleur during his lifetime and after his death. It can take years and concludes with a recommendation to the Pope on whether he should declare someone worthy of our veneration. A growing number of people in south Louisiana believe that question doesn’t even have to be asked in this case.
Father Lafleur was an Army Air Corps chaplain who died saving the lives of fellow GIs who were Japanese prisoners of war.
He was born in 1912, the fourth child of Valentine and Agatha Dupré Lafleur, and entered the seminary in 1927. He was ordained in the spring of 1938, joined the air corps in 1941, and was sent to the Philippines that July. He was at Clark Field near Manila on December 8, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when Japanese planes carpeted the air base with bombs and raked it with gunfire.
Until that day, his superior officers worried about Father Lafleur. He wasn’t a very big man. He had something of a baby face—photos of him wearing rimless eyeglasses are reminiscent of Radar O’Reilly of the “M*A*S*H” television series — and still had traces of his Cajun accent. The officers thought he might have trouble earning the respect of the other men in his unit.
There was no need to worry. As waves of planes pounded the field, he calmly went about his business, doing what he could to comfort the hundreds of men who were wounded or dying.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in May 1942 for his “courageous ministrations” during that attack. According to the citation, he “refused to seek shelter despite the intensive attacks of dive bombers and the strafing of the field.”
As enemy troops steadily advanced, he declined evacuation from Manila, even though he knew the base was about to be overrun. He stayed behind to minister to his comrades, was taken prisoner with them, and spent two and a half years in Japanese captivity. One-third of his fellow prisoners died from disease, malnutrition, and mistreatment. Father Lafleur bartered everything he had, including his glasses, for bits of food and medicine to give to those who remained.
As the U. S. began to reclaim Pacific islands that had been taken by the Japanese, he and other prisoners were crammed into a small freighter to be taken to Japan. The ship was supposed to fly a white flag indicating that it was carrying 750 POWs. It didn’t do that, and was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine on September 7, 1944.
As the ship caught fire and began to sink, Father Lafleur held a rope ladder steady while other men scrambled to safety. That was how he was last seen, helping others to get out of the burning hold as the ship was going under.
Richard Lafleur, a nephew, and his wife Carol have over the past twenty years provided information to church leaders about Father Lafleur’s life and death and urged them to consider his canonization. Father James Brady, then pastor at St. Landry church in Opelousas, and Father Mark Ledoux, now pastor at St. Peter’s in Carencro, took up the cause several years ago.
The Lafleurs said a Vatican official was to going to come from Rome for the formal opening of the canonization process, but COVID-19 restrictions prevented that. Bishop Deshotel made the official announcement.
That probably would have been just fine with Father Lafleur. I suspect he is looking down on all of this with utter amazement that someone from the Vatican would want to come to Louisiana to talk about how he did what he considered his duty as a priest and as a soldier.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

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Marie Mable LeBlanc Langlinais

“Billy” William Carlton East

Enrollment growth continues for UL Lafayette’s Graduate School

Info needed for cattle theft in Vermilion Parish

Erath native Elijah Mitchell earns Sun Belt Conference honors

Unrestrained Driver Killed in Head-On Crash in Evangeline Parish

Courtlande Terrance Collins

Second, final application window of 2019-20 P-EBT closes Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

Charles Bennett Bourque

War hero’s cause moves forward

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