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Second graders at Mount Carmel School of Abbeville received a special “back to school” blessing from Father Don & Sister Dominique for the first day of school.

Lonnie Vidrine, who works for the school district’s maintenance department, had a hunch that something bad would happen to the water pumps at Forked Island/E. Broussard School. Because of his suspicion, Lonnie and his son Blake decided to sleep in the school to protect it.
His hunch was correct.
Hours before Hurricane Laura was going to make landfall in Cameron Parish, the Vidrine men decided they would babysit the pumps and the dirt levy which surrounds the school. Lonnie’s wife headed to Dallas to avoid the storm, but Lonnie did not want to go.
Lonnie, who lives in Forked Island, decided the best place to be was FIEB, because it is surrounded by a levy wall, which protected it from the 10 to 15-foot storm surge that was predicted to hit Vermilion Parish.
Lonnie and his son brought something to sleep on and made the best of the situation until the storm rolled in that night.
“I stayed at the school to make sure the school did not flood,” said Lonnie on Monday morning. “I had a hunch something was going to go wrong, so I spent the night at the school. It was also a safe place to be and I did not want to leave home.”
Because there is a 10-foot high dirt levy around the school, Lonnie was not too worried about the storm surge affecting the school. He was more concerned about the rain from Laura staying inside of the levy and possibly flooding the school.
There are two regular generators and a backup generator at FIEB, that are used to pump water over the levy.
“I was worried about the rain,” he said. “They were predicting a lot of rain.”
With the winds blowing around 60 to 70 miles per hour at about 11 p.m. Wednesday, Lonnie heard the pumps were working. But then, hours later, the electricity blinked, and it kicked off the pumps. Later on in the night, Lonnie checked on the pumps but did not hear them running. The rain was starting to build up around the school.
He reset the breaker, and the pumps began working.
“I am not 100 percent sure it would have flooded the school had the pumps not came back on, but it would have been close,” said Lonnie. “We got five inches of rain that night.”
Lonnie and his son patiently waited for the hurricane to move north and by 5 a.m. Thursday, winds began to decrease. Next, they waited for the storm surge to arrive. It never did. When he left later that morning, the land around the school was dry. The pumps were turned off, and FIEB survived another hurricane.
Lonnie, who has been working for the school district for 13 years, had never babysat FIEB. The meteorologists said Laura was an intense hurricane, so he felt he should be at the school.
Kerry Richard, who is in charge of the school district’s entire maintenance department, received a phone call from Lonnie, who explained to him that he slept at the school.
“He had that feeling,” said Richard. “He had a feeling something was going to go wrong. These guys not only work here, but they take pride in what they do.”

DELCAMBRE – A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Samuel Joseph Barras, age 72, at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Fr. Korey LaVergne officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Lake Mausoleum.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Tuesday with a Rosary at 6:00 pm. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Wednesday until service time.
A native of Erath and resident of Delcambre, Mr. Barras passed away at 1:25 am on Monday, August 31, 2020 at Lafayette General Medical Center.
Mr. Barras was a veteran of the US Army who served his country honorably. He served in the Special Forces and as a Green Beret from April 24, 1967 to June 13, 1970. His combat duty included areas in Southeast Asia and Laos. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, three Purple Hearts, Combat Infantry Badge, US Army, South Vietnamese and Thailand Parachute Badge, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Medal 1967-1970 and numerous other honors.
Samuel was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved spending time outdoors.
He is survived by one sister, Thelma “Bing” Broussard of Erath; one brother, Harold Barras of Abbeville and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Thelma Schexnayder Barras; one brother, Palmer Barras and one sister, Linda B. Boudreaux.
Pallbearers will be Hal Barras, Treg Broussard, Kimp Broussard, Kenny Barras, Rory Boudreaux and Stacey Boudreaux.
To view the on-line obituary, and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Elita Ruth Mergist Landry, 85, was held at 11:00AM Monday, August 31, 2020 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Bill Melancon officiating. Mrs. Landry's grandson, Drew Hoffpauir was the vocalist for the mass. Interment followed at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation was held at David Funeral Home of Erath Monday, August 31, 2020 from 9:00AM until service time with a rosary at 10:00AM.
Elita Mergist Landry, known to all as “Ruth”, was born a twin, on Marsh Island in May of 1935. She was a resident of Erath and passed away after a 7 year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, at her residence on Saturday August 29th, surrounded by her loving family. Her husband of 67 years, her 6 children, 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren were her world. She had a love of life and people, was admired and loved by many, as she spent her life serving others. Ruth, a devout Catholic, was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Daughters in Erath and shared her faith as a catechism teacher for years. She was also a member of the Henry Busy Bees, a group of homemakers who participated in many community events associated with the Vermilion Association for Family and Community Education, Inc.. Ruth was employed by Vermilion Parish School Board as a bus driver for 20 years. She enjoyed decorating for and celebrating every holiday with her grandchildren, looked forward to lots of laughs with her monthly pokeno group and monthly get togethers with her EHS Class of ‘53 high school best friends, had a passion for cooking, baking, writing, and reading anything she could get her hands on. She loved tulips, working cross word puzzles, and watching all murder mystery TV shows. Ruth was most dedicated to and adored her family above all.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years; Calvin Louis Landry of Erath; son, Brandon Louis Landry and companion Demi of Erath; daughters, Vanessa Granger and husband Patrick of Abbeville, Lorraine Broussard and husband Joe of Abbeville, Robin Foreman of Erath, Rachel Hoffpauir of Erath, and Allison Migues and husband Shane of Erath; brothers, Adam Benny Mergist and wife Dorothy of Erath and Bradley Mergist and wife Barbara Erath; sisters, Connie LeBlanc and husband Francis of Henry and Genevieve Touchet and husband Timothy of Delcambre; 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; Adam and Eunite Hebert Mergist; brother, Paul Sullivan Mergist; sisters, Emily Mergist, Georgia Mergist and Annette Benoit; son-in-law Joel Hoffpauir and a grandchild Jeramy Granger.
Serving as her Pallbearers were Jacob Broussard, Zachary Broussard, Dylon Hoffpauir, Drake Hoffpauir, Dax Hoffpauir, and Tristan Migues.
Serving as her Honorary Pallbearers were Drew Hoffpauir, and Cooper Migues.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Diabetes Association.
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 of Erath is in charge of arrangements 209 E. Putnam St. Erath, LA 70533 (337) 937-0405.