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Shirley Perry

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 5:11pm

May 5, 1936 ~ January 4, 2018

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Faith Christian Church honoring the life of Shirley Perry, 81, who passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Farley Painter and Reverend Jason Miller officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Cole Hebert, Derek Hidalgo, Adam Bernard, Kris LeBlanc, Wesley Conn, and Blake Wright.
She is survived by her two sons, Keith Hidalgo and his wife, Cassey of Erath and Chad Hidalgo of Lafayette; three daughters, Debbie Hidalgo of Church Point, Darlene and her husband, Randy Wright of Pineland, TX, and Kathy and her husband, Kevin LeBlanc of Abbeville; four sisters, Mary Meaux of Kaplan, Eula Bonnet of Kaplan, Delores Hargrave of Kaplan, and Glenda VanEaton of Lafayette; two brothers, Loicey Perry of Albany and Steve Perry of Kaplan; eight grandchildren, Tess Hebert, Kim Bernard, Brittany Conn, Blake Wright, Derek Hidalgo, Kris LeBlanc, Danyel Hidalgo, and Laura Hidalgo; and nine great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Wendy LeBlanc; her parents, Otis Perry, Sr. and the former Edolia Gaspard; two brothers, Raymond Perry and Otis Perry, Jr.; and one sister, Rose Nunez.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 9:00 AM until services.
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 Perry family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

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Norris Joseph Hebert

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 5:09pm

January 29, 1935 ~ January 03, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services were held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, January 06, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Norris Joseph Hebert who gained his angel wings on January 3, 2018. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Byron Soley officiating the services.
Norris was born on January 29, 1935 to Emanuel Hebert and Myrtle Luquette Hebert and was one of 5 children. Siblings are Dalton Hebert of Shreveport, La., Regina Hebert Ferguson of Abbeville, Jimmy Hebert Sr. (deceased) and Leo Hebert (deceased).
Norris married Yvonne Broussard Hebert on June 1, 1955. Together they raised 4 boys. Michael, Allen, Carl Brian, and Gregory Hebert.
He was an electrician by trade and started his own business “Norris Refrigeration” which was a very successful business for many years. He then worked for Zapata as an offshore electrician where he eventually retired.
Norris loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. He also loved gardening. He loved spending time with the family on weekends enjoying BBQ or gumbo which was one of his favorites. He was also known for baking the best home-made bread you ever ate and making huge pancakes for the grandkids.
Norris is survived by his children Allen Hebert and his wife Sylvia Sellers Hebert of Maurice, Carl Brian Hebert and his wife Lisa Leblanc Hebert of Abbeville, and Gregory Hebert and Jennifer Vaughn of Abbeville. His grandchildren Corey Hebert and his wife Staci Guillot Hebert of Maurice, Chrystal Hebert Abshire and her husband Lucas Abshire of Maurice, Lou Hebert and his wife Lindsey Poche’ Hebert of Maurice, Casey Hebert and his finance Brittni Paternostro of Alexandria, Ashley Hebert Menard and her husband Blair Menard of Leroy, and Brittany Hebert Richard and her husband Ethan Richard of Abbeville. His great grandchildren Remy Abshire, Esme Abshire, Hadli Hebert, Hudson Hebert, Bailey Hebert, Lucy Hebert, Avery Hebert, Ghazi Ayoub, Nicole Hebert and Ryan Richard, a sister Regina Hebert Ferguson and her husband Tommy of Abbeville, and a brother Dalton Hebert and his wife Martha of Shreveport, La. And numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Yvonne Hebert, a son Michael Hebert, his parents Emanuel Hebert, Myrtle Hebert, two brothers Leo Hebert and Jimmy Hebert Sr., and a great grandchild Nicole Hebert.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday January 06, 2018 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.

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Daniel Joseph Hebert

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 5:06pm

August 17, 1938 - December 30, 2017

Daniel Joseph Hebert, age 79, passed away December 30, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his wife Karen Hebert, his son Daniel Hebert the II, his brother Ronald Hebert, and his sister Elaine Sherman.
He is survived by daughters, Robin Gaylene Hebert Shatz and Denice Renee Hebert; son-in-law John J. Shatz, grandchildren Jacob Shatz, Shaun Shatz, Kristina D. Hebert and Katelynn D. Hebert; brother Arnold Hebert, and sisters Catherine Walters, Lisa Hebert, and Audrey Prejean.
The family has requested that no services be held.
You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com.
Porter Loring Mortuary North is in charge of arrangements.

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Qualifying for March 24 elections in Vermilion Parish ends

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 5:00pm

Qualifying for the March 24 elections concluded Friday, with nearly 30 candidates in all taking the official steps to enter various races in Vermilion Parish.
Among the races on the March 24 ballot will be for Mayor and Chief of Police in both Abbeville and Kaplan as well as for seats on the Abbeville City Council, Kaplan Board of Aldermen and the Vermilion Parish School Board.
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. (District B), Councilman Brady Broussard Jr (District C) and Councilman-at-Large Francis Plaisance will return to the Abbeville Council, as each went unopposed during qualifying.
Three seeking re-election for Kaplan Board of Aldermen found themselves in a similar situation. Alderman-at-Large Dirk Gary, Alderwoman Eva Dell Morrison (District A) and Richard LeBlanc (District C) each went unchallenged during qualifying.
There will be special election for the District A seat on the School Board to fill the unexpired term of the late Ludy Herpin.

Candidates who qualified:

City of Abbeville

Mayor
• Mark Piazza
• Clay Thompson

Chief of Police
• Ronald Gaspard
• Mike Hardy
• William “Bill” Spearman

City Council

At-Large
• Francis Plaisance

District A
• Donald Borel
• Matt Suire
• David J. Trahan
• Roslyn White

District B
• Francis Touchet Jr.

District C
• Brady Broussard Jr.

District D
• Terry Broussard
• Wayne Landry

City of Kaplan

Mayor
• Kirk Champagne
• Michael “Mike” Kloesel
• Brodney Mouton

Chief of Police
• Joshua Hardy
• Jo Ann Hargrave Housden
• Edi Flores

Board of Aldermen

At-Large
• Dirk Gary

District A
• Eva Dell Morrison

District B
• John Carbaugh
• Gerard “Jerry” Touchet

District C
• Richard D. LeBlanc

District D
• Melissa Guidry
• Toby Gaspard

School Board

District A
• David Dupuis
• Julio “JB” Moreno

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Seven subjects cited for migratory game bird violations

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 3:22pm

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited seven subjects for alleged migratory game bird violations in Vermilion Parish.
Agents cited Brian Debarge, 53, of Cameron, Brandon Debarge, 26, of Cameron, Jody Trahan, 37, of Cameron, Allen Romero, 51, of Gueydan, and Timothy Nelton, 55, of Houma, for hunting migratory game birds from a vehicle and from a public road on Dec. 21. Agents also cited Jeremy Debarge, 32, of Cameron, Lakelyn Rougeau, 21, of Bell City, for the same violations on Dec. 25.
Agents also cited Brian Debarge, Brandon Debarge, Jeremy Debarge, Trahan, Romero and Nelton for possessing over the limit of geese. Trahan was additionally cited for hunting without a basic hunting license, hunting migratory game birds without the state duck license and the federal duck stamp, and hunting with an unplugged gun. Nelton was also cited for hunting with an unplugged gun.
Agents received a complaint about subjects shooting geese out of a moving vehicle from a public road on Dec. 21 in Gueydan.
Agents arrived on the scene and observed a vehicle matching the description and the subjects actively hunting for geese.
During questioning the subjects admitted to hunting from a public road for geese. Agents seized 198 light geese and donated them to a local charity. Licensed hunters are allowed 20 light geese per day.
Hunting migratory game birds from a vehicle, hunting migratory game birds from a public road, possessing over the limit of geese, and hunting with an unplugged gun each carry a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail. Hunting for migratory game birds without a basic hunting license, state duck license and federal duck stamp each bring up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.
The subjects may also face civil restitution totaling up to $10,212 for the replacement value of the illegally taken migratory game birds.

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Kevin Fouquier

Vermilion Catholic hires familiar face as its new head football coach

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 2:46pm

Vermilion Catholic Principal Mike Guilbeaux got the word Friday morning that VC defensive coordinator Kevin Fouquier has accepted the head coaching position at Vermilion Catholic.
He is expected to join the teaching and coaching staff fulltime in February.
Fouquier is no stranger to Vermilion Catholic. He has been the team’s defensive coordinator for the last seven years and coached under at least four head coaches. He coached the Eagles’ defense when they won a Division IV State Title.
After being a part of the VC head coaching carousel for seven years, Fouquier decided to apply for the head coaching position.
He was one of 17 who applied.
While the defensive coordinator at VC, Fouquier did not teach at the school. He worked in the oil field.
Now that he accepted the head coaching position, Fouquier is expected to be on the teaching staff.
He and Guilbeaux were out of town on Friday and could not be reached for a comment.
It is no secret why Guilbeaux hired the Hanson Memorial High alum. Fouquier has by far the most football coaching experience of anyone who applied for the VC job.
After graduating from Hanson, he walked onto the USL football team in 1984 but got hurt. That is when he took up coaching. He has 32 years of coaching experience, most in the college ranks.
He was the defensive coordinator at UL under Rickey Bustle for a few years. After Bustle was let go at UL, Fouquier was also let go. He went from UL to VC.
Before being named the defensive coordinator at UL, he held the same position at Florida International University.
He coached five years at Middle Tennessee, along with coaching jobs at Texas-El Paso, Texas A&M, Sam Houston and Louisiana Tech.
Fouquier also coached one year at Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette.

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Monet Bolden attempts a free throw in a recent game for Bossier Community College. Bolden is shooting 70 percent from the free throw line.

‘Mo’ doing well at Bossier

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 9:58am

BOSSIER - The best female basketball player to put on an Erath High School uniform is having success with her ...

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Jim Bradshaw

Chilly, but no record

Fri, 01/05/2018 - 9:43am
Jim Bradshaw, LSN columnist

It’s not unusual to get a night, or even two, when hard freezes visit Acadiana, but it is uncharacteristic for us to see a weeklong surge of frigid nights like the one that ushered in the new year.
Still, Old Man Winter will have to work some to beat the bleak, blizzardy January of 1940. The overnight temperature fell below freezing — most nights far below freezing — on 22 of the 31 days of that month, and into really icy weather for 18 consecutive nights. The temperature dropped to 25 degrees or below on 12 of those nights, and into the teens on five.
That was not only the coldest January on record for much of south Louisiana, it was the coldest of all months for most of us, although February 1905 holds the record in Abbeville (45.5), Grand Coteau (45.0), Jennings (44.2), New Iberia (46.4), Opelousas (43.3) and Rayne (45.4).
The chill of 1940 was tough on people, pipes, and plants. The headline on the front page of the Lafayette Advertiser on Jan. 19 reported, “Louisiana Shivers as Frigid Blast Sweeps to the Coast” as “Lafayette residents shivered and slipped their way to work this morning following one of the severest cold spells this city has experienced in several years.”
J.J. Davidson, the government forecaster in Lafayette, “declared … that after thawing out the box in which his instruments were kept … he found the lowest temperature reached last night was 14 degrees. Mr. Davidson stated that at 9 a.m. … the temperature was around 19 degrees but soon after begin rising and at noon was around 24 degrees.”
Service station attendants scrambled as “motorists began pouring in for anti-freeze fluid for their cars.” Driving was dangerous. “Vision was poor due to the rain and sleet freezing on the windshields.” Alongside the streets and highways “exposed places were bathed in sheets of white as the sleet did not melt but froze into a solid mass of ice.”
That ice stayed in place for the rest of the month; the average temperature at Lafayette for January 1940 was only 40.4 degrees. The average low temperature was 29.7 degrees, more than 12 degrees below the norm, and communities across south Louisiana registered similar readings.
Snow fell on the morning of Jan. 22. The Associated Press reported that “except in the coastal regions, Louisiana and Mississippi … are mantled in the heaviest snow in years, measuring from one to 13 inches.” According to that day’s Advertiser, “sleet which began early in the morning soon turned into snow.”
Broken pipes became a big problem Jan. 23. Mayors and fire chiefs worried about water pressure that reduced the flow to a trickle as people turned on the tap to prevent freezing or let water flow from broken pipes.
Plants also took a beating. E.A. McIlhenny reported “incalculable damage” to the Jungle Gardens at Avery Island. He said he lost $100,000 (more than $1.5 million in today’s dollars) in camellias alone and that ice accumulations broke many limbs on the island’s huge oak trees.
“Accumulated ice … played havoc in bamboo thickets,” the newspaper reported. “Mr. McIlhenny said it would take at least a month just to clear away the debris, and it would be ‘maybe years’ before the damage could be rectified.”
On Jan. 27, “Many cases of flu and colds [were] keeping doctors … busy and livestock men report[ed] that some stock has been lost although the greater portion of the cattle have been driven to wooded areas where they are sheltered from the biting north wind. Hay and rice straw is being spread … to give the animals bedding and food.”
Schools in Rayne closed on Jan. 29, “due to a prevailing intense epidemic of influenza.” Rayne High School made “several attempts” to continue classes, “but the absentee roll was too large to give a successful operation of the school.” Schools in some other towns were closed because they couldn’t be properly heated.
Toward the end of the month tugs and barges on the Mississippi began to run into floating blocks of ice. R. G. Lovette, chief of the New Orleans district of the Corps of Engineers, said “solid cakes of ice varying from four inches to 18 inches in thickness and some blocks 15 to 20 feet wide were as far down as Plaquemines,” drifting toward the Gulf at about a mile an hour.
The weather bureau’s Monthly Weather Review said there were also ice blocks on the Atchafalaya late in the month. The Review’s editors said the month saw “decidedly subnormal” temperatures.
Decidedly an understatement, I think.
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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