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The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s masking requirement will remain in place through the end of the fall semester.
“The University's masking protocol has worked to successfully limit the spread of COVID-19, and we believe leaving the policy in place will enable us to continue to protect the well-being of the campus community,” UL Lafayette announced in an email to campus on Thursday.
“Employees, students, and visitors are still required to wear face coverings over their mouths and noses in all indoor spaces while on University property unless alone in their private offices or workspaces or while actively participating in indoor organized athletic activities,” the message continued.
UL Lafayette will reassess its COVID-19 health and safety guidelines before the start of the Spring 2022 semester and will communicate any changes to the campus community.
The full message to campus follows.
Although the statewide mask mandate was lifted on Tuesday, Oct. 26, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will continue to follow its Interim Face Covering Policy and its COVID-19 health and safety guidelines through the end of the fall semester.
The University's masking protocol has worked to successfully limit the spread of COVID-19, and we believe leaving the policy in place will enable us to continue to protect the well-being of the campus community.
Employees, students, and visitors are still required to wear face coverings over their mouths and noses in all indoor spaces while on University property unless alone in their private offices or workspaces or while actively participating in indoor organized athletic activities.
Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must wear face coverings in crowded outdoor settings or during outdoor activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated. This is consistent with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Otherwise, it is recommended, but not required, that individuals wear face coverings outdoors while on University property.
The University's health and safety guidelines and protocols will be reassessed prior to the Spring 2022 semester. Any modifications will be communicated to the campus community.
Employees with questions should email the Office of Human Resources at hrconsultancy@louisiana.edu. Students with questions should email deanofstudents@louisiana.edu.

The Old Spanish Trail that crossed south Louisiana owed its existence in part to a bicycle craze that swept America in the late 1890s, and south Louisiana was just as crazy as the rest of the nation. The fad put a spotlight on Jennings for a short while.
I’m sure you remember that in the late 1800s a coalition of farmers, bicyclists, riding clubs, and bike manufacturers formed the League of American Wheelmen to lobby for better country roads for riders to use. When cars came along, that effort turned into the Good Roads Movement, which led to formation of an Old Spanish Trail Association that pushed for a highway along the Gulf Coast.
South Louisiana bicycle riders played a small part in all of that. At the height of the craze, they were just as avid as any of them, and, according to an old article from the Jennings newspaper, “High wheel bicycle riding was one of the thrilling sports of the era.”
They were called “high wheel” bicycles because they had a huge front wheel and a little wheel in back, both with hard rubber tires, not air-filled ones like on today’s bikes. Most people rode them for pleasure, but bicycle races became one of the most popular attractions for fairs and festivities.
The Jennings paper wrote about bike riding because one of the best racers in the nation was Howard L. Cary. He was the son of S. L. Cary, one of the pioneers of Jennings. Howard was identified as a “railroad mail clerk,” which I think meant he was one of the guys who sorted letters in the railroad mail car. According to the article, he was more than six feet tall and rode a bicycle with a 56-inch front wheel, “which was among the largest in the state.”
A bigger wheel allowed a higher speed, but it also made it more difficult to get on to the bike in the first place.
Cary set the state speed record for bicycles in a race with Dr. George H. Tichenor, concoctor of “good ole Dr. Tichenor’s, best antiseptic in town,” (according to the old radio jingle). Tichenor practiced medicine in Baton Rouge from 1869 to 1887, and started bottling Dr. Tichenor’s Patent Medicine in New Orleans (alcohol, oil of peppermint, and the herb arnica) in the late 1880s.
Other bicyclists were more interested in endurance contests than speed.
An old hotel register in Jennings shows that F. E. Vanderbake of New York City was an overnight guest, passing through Jennings “on a wager to travel from New Orleans to San Francisco in one hundred days on a bicycle.”
Scientific American magazine commented on the craze in its edition of June 20, 1896, noting that by then the “bicycle built for two” had become popular, and that racing bikes for four or even six men were being tried.
That was about the time that the first “cushion” tires were introduced. They were built like a garden hose and were glued to the rim of the wheel. Pneumatic tires as we know them didn’t come along for another few years.
Their smoother ride increased the popularity of the bicycle even more and, according to the article, turned a bike into “something more than mere toy but a real help in both business and pleasure.”
That led to the invention of “all sorts of attachments” for the bikes, including a small motor. Those early motorbikes met with such success that some guys decided to make a four-wheeled machine that was powered by an internal combustion engine.
Those first cars completed the circle begun by the bicyclists, creating a still bigger demand for good roads.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

March 25, 1935 ~ October 26, 2021

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Floyd James Broussard, 86, who died Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at his residence.  He will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be his three sons, Gary, Eric and Todd Broussard; two grandsons, Aaron and Matthew Broussard; and grandson-in-law, Kevin Choate. 
Floyd was born in a small farm house five miles north of Kaplan. Growing up on a rural farm, times were tough, work was hard and conveniences were few. He grew up without electricity or running water. They did not have a lot monetarily but they felt they were wealthy beyond measure because of the love of their family, faith, work ethic, friends and neighbors. He shared many stories of his youth and spoke of sitting on the front porch listening to his grampa tell stories in French and being spoiled by his gram-maw. He started working young in the rice fields, riding horseback to bring water to workers during plowing, planting and harvest. He picked cotton with his parents and siblings to earn extra money for the family. He graduated from Kaplan High in 1954. He retired from SLEMCO after 32 years working in Vermilion Parish helping countless customers who became lifelong friends. He also spent 16 years with the Police Jury providing the same level of service to the Kaplan area.
Floyd was drafted into the US Army, and spent six years in the Reserves where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).   
He enjoyed camping and traveled our great country with family and friends. He trapped and was a hunting guide at Pecan Island, crawfished at Forked Island and helped teach NRA hunting and safety courses. He was always working on projects, from fixing things around the house and helping others.   
He was a devout Catholic who loved and cared about his church, helping with the upkeep and repairs to the church pews. He also had a love for the rosary, which he prayed daily.  
Floyd was an artist. Some of his doodling became drawings which lead to some amazing paintings. He was asked by many nephews and nieces for help with drawing for their school projects.   
To our family he was dad or paw. To others he was known as Uncle Floyd, Bruce and Flooskie. He loved family get-togethers, many early mornings roasting turkeys on the ole smokey grill, Bar-B-Q’s, fish fry’s, crawfish boils, gumbos and countless games of Bourre’ (Boo-ray). Floyd loved speaking Cajun French and was proud of his Acadian Heritage.    
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Geneva "Genny" Nunez Broussard of Kaplan; three sons, Gary Broussard and his wife, Sheila of Bossier City, Eric Broussard and his wife, Andrea D. of Coteau and Todd Broussard of Kaplan; two sisters, Bertile Harrington and her husband, Mahlen of Nunez and Audrey Simon and her husband, Dayton of Abbeville; one brother, Theodore “Sam” Broussard and his wife, Dee of Cow Island; three grandchildren, Aaron Broussard and his wife, Julie of Kingwood, TX, Matthew Broussard and his wife, Eryn of San Angelo, TX and Ashley Choate and her husband, Kevin of Kaplan; eight great grandchildren, Eva Broussard, Aubrey Broussard, Brielle Broussard, Clara Broussard, Hayden Broussard, Rylan Broussard, Charlotte Choate and Samuel Choate; three step grandchildren, Ashley Sumrall, Brady Sumrall and his wife, Lauren and Emily Lancon; and five step great grandchildren, Cameron Decuir, Kale Decuir, Landon Decuir, Amalie Sumrall and Caroline Sumrall.   
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Broussard and the former Eve Abshire; two brothers, Wilson Broussard and Wilbert Broussard; and two sisters, Thelma Broussard and Ethel Broussard.   
The family wishes to send their heartfelt thanks to the many friends that called or visited during Floyd’s illness. Your prayers, calls and visits provided much comfort, joy, and encouragement. The family would like to also thank Hospice of Acadiana especially his nurse, Whitney Credeur for her care and compassion.   
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 9:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 12:45 PM with a rosary being prayed at 11:00 AM.   
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in his name to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church or Hospice of Acadiana.
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 Broussard family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

A funeral mass will be held for Judy Powell Lapeyrouse, 59, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Jeanerette on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 10:00 am, with Father Alexander Albert officiating. A rosary will be prayed in the church at 9:15 am.
Judy passed away peacefully on October 23, 2021. She was a resident of Jeanerette.
Judy was born on October 26, 1961, in San Francisco, California to Ahgua and Shelby Powell. She spent most of her childhood as an Army brat and lived in and visited many places, which was the seed for her life-long love of travel. She went to kindergarten, first, and second grades in Germany, then attended several other schools around the US. She graduated from DeRidder High School in 1979, then attended LSU in Baton Rouge where she earned a degree in French Education and later a Second Language Specialist Certification. She spent summers studying French in Dijon and Poitiers, France and in Trois-Rivières, Québec on CODOFIL scholarships. 
She married her best friend Michael, whom she met at LSU, in 1984 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in his hometown of Jeanerette, where they settled and raised their two beautiful daughters.
Judy was a dedicated teacher for over three decades. She began teaching at Jeanerette Senior High School in 1984, where she established and developed the French program. Known to her students as Mrs. Lap, she shared her passion for French language and culture, and she and her students were active in the state French Club. Judy also served as the cheerleading coach for 12 years and was a respected educator who served on several parish and state committees. After 30 years of service at JSHS, she retired from the parish school system and spent another four years teaching at Vermilion Catholic High School, where her vocation as a teacher could be combined with her strong faith. At both JSHS and VC, she shared her love of travel with students, leading five class exchanges and multiple tours to Québec, Canada; France; Spain; and England. Judy loved her job and every one of the thousands of students she taught over the course of her career.
She was a long-time parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church where she served as an extraordinary minister of communion and sacristan, and she treasured her Come Lord Jesus group. She served on the St. Joseph School Board for six years, most of them as president. Judy was a member of the Entre Nous Club of Jeanerette and a volunteer at the Unexpected Pregnancy Center.
Judy is survived by her husband Michael Lapeyrouse; daughter Juliette Lapeyrouse-Cherry (Jacob) of St. Paul, Minnesota; daughter Marielle Selig (Daniel) of Jeanerette; and grandchildren, who will always have a piece of her heart, Margot Camille Selig, Edmond Hugh Selig, and Mariska Lisette Selig. She is also survived by her mother Ahgua Powell Murry; brothers Weslie Powell (Kristi); Leslie Powell; sister Joan Powell Friend (Clarence); father-in-law JP and mother-in-law Camille Lapeyrouse; brother-in-law David Lapeyrouse; sister-in-law Jeanne Clement (Jeff); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Judy was preceded in death by her father, Shelby Norman Powell.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jacob Cherry, Daniel Selig, Weslie Powell, Leslie Powell, David Lapeyrouse, and Leroy Gary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Judy’s memory to the Vermilion Catholic High School scholarship fund, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Jeanerette, the Unexpected Pregnancy Center in New Iberia, or Jeanerette Senior High School.
Masks are requested to be worn during the funeral mass.
To view on-line obituary, sign guest book, and view video tribute, please go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com
Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337-365-3331.