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Kiley Naomi is entering her sophomore season at Oklahoma State. She graduated from North Vermilion High School two years ago. She is off to a great start for the softball team. In 24 games, Kiley had a batting average of .355 which was third best on the team. In one game, she had four hits and knocked in four runs. She had 8 home runs and knocked in 18 runs after 24 games. She is also the lead off batter for the Cowgirls and has an on-base percentage of just above .450.
The softball season ended when the NCAA canceled it because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Here are Kiley’s thoughts about no softball season.

Where were you when you found out the season was canceled?

I was at my house, and Coach G called for a team meeting at the softball field. At that point I kind of had a feeling that he was going to tell us the season has been canceled. So I officially found out that day in the team room from Coach G.

What kind of reaction did you have?

At first I was in shock and thought to myself no way they are canceling sports. Then a few days passed and it actually hit me that I wasn’t going to be able to play the rest of the season and I got pretty angry/upset. No one wants to be told that the thing you love doing the most is canceled.

What did you do the first week of no softball?
The first week off with no softball I really tried to focus on school. When I wasn’t working on school I was hanging out with some of my teammates.

Are you having softball withdrawals?

I am without a doubt having softball withdrawals. There is nothing more that I want right now then to be playing on the field with my teammates. I never realized this but life without softball is so different for me.

How good was this year’s team? Is it disappointing knowing you will not be going to the World Series this year?

This year’s team had so much potential. We were one of the best teams in the country hands down. It upsets me that we didn’t have the chance to prove that we were going to make it to the world series again because we were!

Was that experience of the World Series one you will never forget?

Going to the World Series is every little girl’s dream and the fact that I was able to live up to my dream is something I will never forget. It is something I wish to keep experiencing so along with my teammates, I will be working hard to get there again.

Where have you been living since softball in canceled?

As of April 22, 2020 I am in Stillwater, but I will be returning home on April 25 to visit with family and friends.

This would be your second or third season with Oklahoma State?

This would have been my second season with the Cowgirl softball team, so this coming year I will be approaching my third season.

If you can, will you play an extra year because this season was canceled?

I am choosing to play an extra year due to our season being canceled. I love being a part of this program so I will take any chances I get to stay.

I see you were having a great season. Lead off batter and playing short stop. You had a great batting average (above .350) with a couple of home runs. What is the reason for the success at the plate?

My success at the plate came straight from my confidence and hard work. I knew I put in the hard work and I wasn’t going to let any pitcher beat me. Having the confidence in myself was a huge part of my success.

How did you like batting leadoff? What is the job of the lead-off batter?

At first it was a little intimidating because leadoff is such an important spot. But I knew if my coaches had enough trust to put me as lead off, I had to trust in my ability as well. Leading off comes with a lot of responsibilities. My teammates were looking to me to get the momentum going in the first inning. If I happen to get out, its my responsibility to let the rest of my team know what I saw in the box.

What are your plans after high school?

I would like to further my education in nursing at SLCC in Lafayette.

Who is/was your favorite teacher?

My favorite teacher is one I actually met a year ago, Ms Kristiana Williams. She’s the teacher you go to on a bad day, to make it better.

Who has had the greatest influence on you, why?

My mother has the greatest influence on me. She is the strongest person I know and I know if she can do it, anyone can.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite move is The Invisible Man

If you had a chance to have dinner with one person from history, who would it be?

I would have dinner with Walt Disney, I would love to hear how his successful live unraveled.

If you could go back, what advice would you give “freshman” you?

I would tell my freshman self that nothing is more important than school. A successful life/career is more important than the girl talking behind your back.

What was your most memorable moment from your senior year?

My most memorable moment from senior year would’ve been my graduation. Whether it happens or not, it would top everything else. knowing I’m done would be the best thing to happen!

Who would you count on to uplift your spirits when you’re feeling down?

My dad would be the person I would go to. Even if he isn’t funny, he tries and that means the most to me.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself being happy, rich, and done with school!!

September 28, 1934 ~ April 23, 2020

ABBEVILLE — Graveside services were held honoring the life of Lawrence Amedee Meaux, 85, who died Thursday, April 23, 2020 at his residence. He was laid to rest at St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Pallbearers were L. Karl Meaux, Kent Meaux, James Gahn and Kody Meaux.
Lawrence worked as a public server with the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court office. His hobbies included raising cattle and gardening. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 61 years, Myrna Broussard Meaux; two sons, L. Karl Meaux and Kent Paul Meaux and his wife, Karla; one daughter, Kristy Meaux Gahn and her husband, James; one grandson, Kody Meaux and his wife, Ashley; and two great grandchildren, Kelly and Caroline Meaux.
He was preceded in death by parents, Ameda Meaux and the former Marie Alix Frederick; infant daughter, Mary Kaye Meaux; and sister, Florine Lege.
The family would like to offer their sincere thanks to Jenine Citizen, Kathy Touchet, Helen Viator and Hospice of Acadiana.
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.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced antibodies-testing of shoppers at 3,000 supermarkets revealed 13.9 percent of New Yorkers had been infected with COVID-19 but in New York City, that number shot to 21 percent.  That would mean one in five people in the nation's largest city either has or has had the virus.  Governor Cuomo says that represents 1.7 million city dwellers, or 10 times the official count.  But the silver lining, Cuomo says, is if infections are indeed that high, the vast majority recover with minor symptoms and the death percentage is lower.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp takes a different view.  Having tested only 1 percent of Georgians, Kemp was one of the last to lock down his state and now is among the first to reopen. Despite an explosion of COVID cases in southern Georgia, the governor is catching flak for reopening businesses that cannot social distance such as hair salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, massage parlors, and small restaurants.

"It's too soon," said President Trump of Kemp's reopening plan.  "They can wait a little bit longer, not much, because safety has to predominate."  Kemp opened anyway.

Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee are also set for marginal reopening despite each state's continuing cases of the virus.

Jump-starting economies in some states is pressuring other states to do the same, including Louisiana which has been praised by the White House and Centers for Disease Control as one of the top 2 states to do the most testing and respond quickly.  Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana of all states has to get it right because the state is heavily dependent on tourism, conventions and sports enthusiasts.  

"I want people to have their expectations in check," said Governor Edwards, " because Phase One is a very gradual easing of current restrictions.  It's not as if we're going to be reopening to go back to where we were before this pandemic struck.  That's not the case.  We believe that when we meet the given threshold criteria, we will be able to go to Phase One, accompanied by robust testing and contact tracing."

Of paramount concern, Edwards says, is not just the reopening of businesses, but how quickly New Orleans and the state can attract conventions and tourists from around the world.  For instance, the Saints' NFL season starts in just four months while reigning NCAA National Football Champion LSU will be the team every other team wants to beat.

"How are we going to get tourists to Louisiana," Edwards questioned, "if we have cases spiking here in greater numbers than they're spiking elsewhere?  They're going to choose to go elsewhere with their conventions.  They're going to choose to take their vacations elsewhere.  In my conversations with the hospitality industry and the tourism folks, they fully understand that.  They want to go as fast as we can while we adequately protect public health."

Coronavirus is just another in a string of catastrophes Louisianans have endured over the last fifteen years.  Among them, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav; 2008's financial meltdown; 2010's Deepwater Horizon explosion; and years of repeated flooding with the Mississippi River setting record highs.  All these major setbacks have been balanced by record tourism fueled by Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, the Saints' Superbowl win in 2010 and LSU's National Championship this year with quarterback Joe Burrow the top pick in the NFL Draft this week.

But the state's residents continue to fight chronic health problems with some of the highest comorbidities of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in the nation, the key factors in COVID deaths.  To examine those problems and find solutions, Edwards accepted this weekend $500,000 from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to fund the Governor's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to find answer and solutions for why the state's minority and poor population has been particularly hard hit by the virus.  Though Louisiana's African-Americans account for one-third of the state's population, 60 percent of COVID deaths are African-Americans.  

"We've got find answers to this age-old question that's plagued us for generations," said Edwards.  CDC records show that the entire country has steadily become morbidly obese over the last 30 years, particularly in the Gulf South.